The sum of $3,000 a year is authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the support and maintenance of the permanent international commission of the congresses of navigation and for the payment of the actual expenses of the properly accredited national delegates of the United States to the meetings of the congresses and of the commission; and the Secretary of the Army is authorized to draw his warrant each year upon the Secretary of the Treasury for such sum, not to exceed $3,000, as may in his opinion be proper to apply to the purposes above mentioned, and the said sum shall be disbursed under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Army.

The national delegates aforesaid from the United States shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred while traveling to and from the meetings, and while in attendance thereon, from the funds appropriated in this section and authorized to be expended.