By virtue of and pursuant to the authority vested in me under the Emergency
Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, approved April 8, 1935 (Public Resolution No.
11, 74th Congress), I hereby establish an agency within the Government to be
known as the "Rural Electrification Administration", the head thereof to be known
as the Administrator.

      I hereby prescribe the following duties and functions of the said Rural Elec-
trification Administration to be exercised and performed by the Administrator
thereof to be hereafter appointed:

   To initiate, formulate, administer, and supervise a program of ap-
proved projects with respect to the generation, transmission, and
distribution of electric energy in rural areas.

      In the performance of such duties and functions, expenditures are hereby
authorized for necessary supplies and equipment; law books and books of reference,
directories, periodicals, newspapers and press clippings; travel expenses, including
the expense of attendance at meetings when specifically authorized by the Ad-
ministrator; rental at the seat of Government and elsewhere; purchase, operation
and maintenance of passenger-carrying vehicles;l printing and binding; and inciden-
tal expenses; and I hereby authorize the Administrator to accept and utilitze such
voluntary and uncompensated services and, with the consent of the State, such State
and local officers and employees, and appoint, without regard to the provisions of
the civil service laws, such officers and employees, as may be necessary, prescribe
their duties and responsibilities and, without regard to the Classification Act of
1923, as amended, fix their compensation: Provided, That in so far as practicable,
the persons employed under the authority of this Executive Order shall be selected
from those on relief.

      To the extent necessary to carry out the provisions of this Executive Order
the Administrator is authorized to acquire, by purchase or by the power of eminent
domain, any real property or any interest therein and improve, develop, grant, sell,
base (with or without the privilege of purchasing), or otherwise dispose of any such
property or interest therein.

      For the administrative expenses of the Rural Electrification Administration
there is hereby allocated to the Administration from the appropriation made by the
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 the sum of $75,000. Allocations will be
made hereafter for authorized projects.

The White House,
   May 11, 1935

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