Executive Order 10523—Designating March 31, 1954, as the Day For Dedication of the Memorial to Major General George W. Goethals and Excusing Federal Employees on the Isthmus of Panama From Duty on That Day

WHEREAS the Congress, by act of August 24, 1935, 49 Stat. 743, authorized the President, through such person or persons as he might designate, to cause to be erected within the Canal Zone a suitable memorial to Major General George W. Goethals in commemoration of his signally distinguished services in connection with the construction and operation of the Panama Canal, and, by acts of July 19, 1937, 50 Stat. 515, 520, and May 2, 1939, 53 Stat. 626, 642, appropriated the necessary funds for such purpose; and

WHEREAS the Commission designated by the President to secure the erection of such memorial has reported the completion of its work; and

WHEREAS the year 1954 is the 40th anniversary of the appointment of General Goethals as first Governor of the Panama Canal, the 47th anniversary of his appointment as Chairman and Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission, and the 50th anniversary of the taking over of the construction of the Panama Canal by the United States; and

WHEREAS it is appropriate that the memorial to General Goethals be dedicated with suitable ceremonies and observances:

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:

1. Wednesday, March 31, 1954, is hereby designated as the day for the dedication of the memorial erected within the Canal Zone in honor of Major General George W. Goethals, and the Governor of the Canal Zone may arrange for suitable ceremonies in connection with such dedication.

2. All officers and employees of the Federal Government on the Isthmus of Panama, except those who may for special public reasons be excluded from the provisions of this order by the heads of their respective departments, establishments, or agencies, or those whose absence from duty would be inconsistent with the provisions of existing law, shall be excused from duty on March 31, 1954; and such day shall be considered a holiday on the Isthmus of Panama within the meaning of Executive Order No. 10358 of June 9, 1952, and of all statutes so far as they relate to the compensation and leave of employees of the United States.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

THE WHITE HOUSE,

March 26, 1954.