PAYMENT OF ADJUSTED COMPENSATION AND FURNISHING QUARTERS, ETC., TO EMPLOYEES

[Extract from] An act making appropriations for the Treasury and Post Office Departments for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1927, and for other purposes. (Act March 2, 1926, ch. 43, 44 Stat. 136)

Sec. 2. [Field employees to be paid adjusted compensation.]-Those civilian positions in the field services under the several executive departments and independent establishments, the compensation of which was fixed or limited by law but adjusted for the fiscal year 1925 under the authority and appropriations contained in the act entitled "An act making additional appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925, to enable the heads of the several executive departments and independent establishments to adjust the rates of compensation of civilian employees in certain of the field services," approved December 6, 1924, may be paid under the applicable appropriations for the fiscal year 1927 at rates not in excess of those permitted for them under the provisions of such act of December 6, 1924. (44 Stat. 161.)

Sec. 3. [Quarters, etc., to be furnished field employees-Appropriations avaliable Value considered part of compensation.]-The head of an executive department or independent establishment, where, in his judgment, conditions of employment require it, may continue to furnish civilians employed in the field service with quarters, heat, light, household equipment, subsistence, and laundry service; and appropriations for the fiscal year 1927 of the character heretofore used for such purposes are hereby made available therefor: Provided, That the reasonable value of such allowances shall be detemined and considered as part of the compensation in fixing the salary rate of such civilians. (44 Stat. 161.)

NOTES

Regulations. See 5 Comp. Gen. 957, dated June 3, 1926 (A-12324), interpreting section 3 of this act. This decision requires an adjustment of field pay, and the determination of deductions for subsistence, etc., on the basis of the reasonable value thereof to employees. (See C. L. 1547, June 18, 1926.) C. L. 1593, January 4, 1927, relates to rental of cottages, etc., to employees. Quarters of leave without pay employees. In case an employee is on leave without pay the established value of the quarters or equipment furnished during the leave period should be deducted from any sums due or which may become due the employee. Where the quarters are entirely vacated by the employee during the period and they are available for other assignment, no deduction should be made for their value; but if such quarters are reserved for the employee during his absence, deduction should be made as if the quarters were actually occupied by him. (5 Comp. Gen. 999.)

GRANT OF LANDS IN SHOSHONE PROJECT TO PARK COUNTY, WYOMING, FOR FAIR GROUNDS

An act authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain lands in Powell town site, Shoshone reclamation project, Wyoming, to Park County, Wyoming. (Act April 3, 1926, ch. 104, 44 Stat. 235)

[Sec. 1. Right to oil, coal, and other mineral deposits reserved to United States.]-That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to cause a patent to issue conveying blocks 3, 4, 5, 14, 15, 16, and the east half of blocks 6 and 13, town site of Powell, on the Shoshone reclamation project, Wyoming, to Park County, Wyoming, in trust for use as a county fair grounds; but in said patent there shall be reserved to the United States all oil, coal, and other mineral deposits within said lands and the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the same. (44 Stat. 235.)

Sec. 2. [County clerk to make report as to use of land granted-Grant forfeited unless terms complied with.]-The conveyance herein is made upon the express condition that within thirty days of the receipt of any request therefor from the Secretary of the Interior the county clerk of Park County, Wyoming, shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior a report as to the use made of the land herein granted the county during the preceding period named in such request, showing compliance with the terms and conditions stated in this act; and that in the event of his failure to so report, or in the event of a showing in such report to the Secretary of the Interior that the terms of the grant have not been complied with, the grant shall be held to be forfeited, and the title shall revert to the United States, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and empowered to determine the facts and declare such forfeiture and such reversion and restore said land to the public domain, and such order of the Secretary shall be final and conclusive. (44′ Stat. 235.)

COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT ACT EXTENDED

An act authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington in allocation of the waters of the Columbia River and its tributaries, and for other purposes, and authorizing an appropriation therefor. (Act April 13, 1926, ch. 129, 44 Stat. 247)

[Sec. 1. Time extended for completion of compact by participating States.]-That the provisions of the act of March 4, 1925, entitled "An act to permit a compact or agreement between the States of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana respecting the disposition and apportionment of the waters of the Columbia River and its tributaries, and for other purposes," be continued and extended, and the said States are hereby authorized to negotiate or enter into a compact or agreement and report to Congress in accordance with the provisions of the said act not later than December 1, 1927. (44 Stat. 247.)

Sec. 2. [Appropriation authorized.]-There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of not more than $25,000, for completing investigations of the feasibility of irrigation by gravity or pumping, water sources, water storage, and related problems on the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Columbia Basin project. (44 Stat. 247.)

SCHOOL LAND GRANT, SUN RIVER PROJECT, MONTANA

An act making a grant of land for school purposes, Fort Shaw division, Sun River project, Montana. (Act April 17, 1926, ch. 153, 44 Stat. 299)

[Sec. 1. Public lands granted Cascade County-Reversion to United States when land no longer used for school purposes-Reservation of mineral deposits.]-That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to issue patent conveying lots 14 and 15, section 2, and lots 11 and 12, section 11, township 20 north, range 2 west, containing thirty and seventy-six one-hundredths acres, to school district numbered 82, Cascade County, State of Montana, for school purposes: Provided, That this grant is made upon the payment of $1.25 per acre: Provided further, That said patent shall be issued upon the express condition that the said school district shall use said tract of land for public school purposes: Provided further, That whenever said land shall cease to be used by said school district for school purposes or attempted to be sold or conveyed, then, and in that event, title to such land and the whole thereof shall revert to the United States: Provided further, That such patent shall contain a reservation to the United States of all gas, oil, coal, and other mineral deposits as may be found in such land and the right to the use of the land for extracting and removing the same. (44 Stat. 299.)

SPECIAL PROVISIONS OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION ACT FOR 1927

[Extracts from] An act making appropriations for the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1927, and for other purposes. (Act May 10, 1926, ch. 277, 44 Stat. 453)

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[Extension of time for payment of unpaid operation and maintenance or water-rental charges-Interest-Contracts for payment of unpaid construction charges Interest.]-Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized, in his discretion, until June 30, 1927, to extend the time for payment of operation and maintenance or water-rental charges due and unpaid for such period as in his judgment may be necessary, not exceeding five years. The charges so extended shall bear interest, payable annually, at the rate of 6 per centum per annum until paid. The Secretary of the Interior is also authorized, in his discretion, until June 30, 1927, to contract with any irrigation district or water-users' association for the payment of the construction charges then remaining unpaid within such term of years as the Secretary may find to be necessary. The construction charges due and unpaid when such contract is executed shall bear interest payable annually at the rate of 6 per centum per annum until paid. (44 Stat. 479.)

[Sun River, Owyhee, Vale, and Baker projects-Contracts for payment of cost of constructing, operating, and maintaining works while in control of United States-Cooperation by States-Operation and maintenance charges.]-No part of the sums provided for in this act for the Sun River, Owyhee, Vale, and Baker projects shall he expended for construction purposes until a contract or contracts in form approved by the Secretary of the Interior shall have been made with an irrigation district or irrigation districts organized under State law providing for payment by the district or districts of the cost of constructing, operating, and maintaining the works during the time they are in control of the United States, such cost of constructing to be repaid within such terms of years as the Secretary may find to be necessary, in any event not more than 40 years from the date of public notice hereinafter referred to, and the execution of said contract or contracts shall have been confirmed by a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. Upon such confirmation of such contract as to any one of such projects, the construction thereof shall proceed in accordance with any appropriations therefor provided for in this act. Prior to or in connection with the settlement and development of each of these projects, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized in his discretion to enter into agreement with the proper authorities of the State or States wherein said projects or divisions are located whereby such State or States shall cooperate with the United States in promoting