Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 1.djvu/261

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62 STAT.] 80TH CONG. , 2D SESS.-CHS. 276, 277, 284 -MAY 11, 12, 1948 shall be construed as applying to all inmates of Federal penal and correctional institutions qualified for such training and schooling without regard to their industrial or other assignments. The prison industries fund established by section 4 of the Act of June 23, 1934 (48 Stat. 1211; 18 U. S. C . 744-L), may be employed in paying the expense of such training and schooling within the limits of amounts specifically authorized annually in the Government Corporations Appropriations Act. Approved May 11, 1948. [CHAPTER 277] JOINT RESOLUTION To authorize the Postmaster General to withhold the awarding of star-route contracts for a period of sixty days. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Postmaster Gen- eral is authorized and directed to withhold the awarding of star-route contracts for which bids have been received in the second contract section for a period of sixty days after March 30, 1948. Approved May 11, 1948. [CHAPTER 284] AN ACT To validate payments heretofore made by disbursing officers of the United States Government covering cost of shipment of household effects of civilian employees, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,That payments here- tofore made by disbursing officers covering the cost of shipment of household effects of civilian employees of the Government of the United States made under orders directing permanent change of sta- tion of said employees where such shipments were made from the last permanent-duty station of said employees or from some other place, to some place other than the new permanent-duty station of such employees, are hereby validated, if otherwise proper, and such employees shall be relieved of indebtedness to the United States on account of such shipments to the extent that such payments do not exceed the cost which would have been properly borne by the United States for such shipments under laws and regulations in effect at the time of such shipments, had such shipments been made from the old to the new permanent-duty station of such employees: Provided,That in any case where a civilian employee has made refundment to the United States on account of payments herein validated, reimbursement of the amount so refunded is hereby authorized to be made to such employee on the presentation of a claim therefor to the General Accounting Office: Provided further, That employees who paid the carriers the amount due covering the shipment of their household effects shall be entitled to reimbursement of so much of the amount expended, if otherwise proper, as does not exceed the cost of such ship- ment from the old to the new permanent-duty station upon presen- tation of a claim therefor to the General Accounting Office: And provided further, That amounts due deceased persons or persons determined to be mentally incompetent shall be paid to the extent herein provided upon presentation of a claim therefor to the General Accounting Office by their heirs or personal representatives. SEC. 2. The Comptroller General of the United States is authorized and directed to allow credit in the settlement of accounts of disbursing officers of the Government of the United States covering payments May 12, 1948 [S. 1298] [Public Law 523] Disbursing officers. Validation of cer- tain payments. Reimbursements. Amounts due de- ceased or incompe- tent persons. Credit In acounts. 231 18 U.s. c. § 7441. Post, p. 866 . May 11, 1948 IS. J. Res. 198] [Public Law 522]