Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 54 Part 1.djvu/1227

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54 STAT.] 76TH CONG. , 3D SESS. -CHS. 892, 893-OCT. 17, 1940 [CHAPTER 892] AN ACT 1193 October 17, 1940 To authorize the exchange of certain patented lands in the Death Valley National [H. B. 8646] Monument for Government lands in the monument. [Public, No. 865] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the owner of the east half of the northeast quarter, section 35, township 15 south, range 44 east, of the Mount Diablo meridian, Inyo County, Cali- fornia, within the Death Valley National Monument, is hereby per- mitted and authorized to convey the fee-simple title thereto to the United States, and select in lieu thereof the west half of the southeast quarter, section 36, township 15 south, range 44 east, of the Mount Diablo meridian; and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby author- ized and empowered to accept such conveyance, and thereafter cause a patent for the lands so selected to be issued to such owner, reserv- ing to the United States, however, such rights-of-way as may be needed for the construction and maintenance of roads in the national monument: Provided, That the lands so conveyed to the United States shall become and be a part of the said national monument, and also subject to all laws and regulations relating to other lands therein: And provided further, That the owner of such privately owned lands within said national monument shall, before any exchange is effective, furnish to the Secretary of the Interior evidence satis- factory to him of title to the patent lands offered in exchange. Approved, October 17, 1940. [CHAPTER 893] AN ACT To amend section 202 (3), World War Veterans' Act, 1924, as amended, to pro- vide more adequate and uniform administrative provisions in veterans' laws, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Public Law Numbered 484, Seventy-third Congress, approved June 28, 1934, as amended, is hereby amended by adding a new section thereto num- bered 6 to read as follows: "SEC. 6. There shall be no recovery of payments heretofore or hereafter made under the provisions of this Act from any person who, in the judgment of the Administrator, is without fault on his part and where, in the judgment of the Administrator, such recov- ery would defeat the purpose of benefits otherwise authorized or would be against equity and good conscience. No disbursing officer and no certifying officer shall be held liable for any amount paid to any person where the recovery of such amount from the payee is waived under the provisions of this section. This section shall be deemed to be in effect as of June 28,1934." SEc. 2. (a) That paragraphs II, III, and IV of Veterans Regula- tion Numbered 9 (a), as amended, be further amended to read as follows: "II. Where an honorably discharged veteran of any war, a veteran of any war in receipt of pension or compensation, a veteran dis- charged from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard for disability incurred in line of duty, or a veteran of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard in receipt of pension for service-connected disability dies after discharge, the Administrator, in his discretion and with due regard to the circumstances in each case, shall pay, for burial and funeral expenses and transportation Death Valley Na- tional Monument, Calif. Lands in, conveyed to United States. Selection in lieu thereof. Provisos. Lands to become part of monument. Evidence of title. October 17, 1940 [H. R. 8930] [Public, No. 866] Administrative pro- visions in veterans' laws. 48 Stat. 1281 . 38U.S.(. §§503- 507; Supp. V, § §503- MBi. Veterans' bneflts. No recovery from behetlfciry if without fault, etc. No liability of dis- bursing officer. Provision retroac- tive. 38U. S. C., 1934ed., p. 1702; Supp. V, p. 998. Burial allowances. Ante, p. 963.