Section was formerly classified to section 598 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, § 1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Section is based on the second par. of section 4 of act Feb. 14, 1903. The first par. of section 4 is classified to sections 1511 and 1516 of this title.

Act Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, 37 Stat. 736, provided that the Department of Commerce and Labor and Secretary of Commerce and Labor were to be thereafter called the Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce and that the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor (act Feb. 14, 1903) was amended accordingly.