
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 43USC99]

 
                         TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
 
                    CHAPTER 4--DISTRICT LAND OFFICES
 
Sec. 99. Repayment of moneys deposited and covered into Treasury

    Any person or persons who shall have made payment to an officer 
designated by the Secretary of the Interior or to his predecessor, and 
the money shall have been covered into the Treasury pursuant to section 
91 or 93 of this title, shall, on presenting satisfactory evidence of 
such payment to the General Accounting Office, be entitled to have the 
same returned by the settlement of an account and the issuing of a 
warrant in his favor according to the practice in other cases of 
authorized and liquidated claims against the United States: Provided, 
That when such moneys shall remain unclaimed in the Treasury for more 
than five years the right to recover the same shall be barred: Provided, 
That no homestead entryman shall be required to make payment of the 
purchase money on any application to make a cash entry until the same 
shall have been approved by the officer designated by the Secretary of 
the Interior, but such payment shall be made within ten days after 
notice of such approval.

(Mar. 2, 1907, ch. 2562, Sec. 4, 34 Stat. 1245; June 10, 1921, ch. 18, 
title III, Sec. 304, 42 Stat. 24; Oct. 28, 1921, ch. 114, Sec. 1, 42 
Stat. 208; Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 462, 43 Stat. 1145; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, 
Sec. 403, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7876, 60 Stat. 1100.)

                          Codification

    This section, as originally enacted, related to receivers of public 
moneys for land districts. The office of receiver was consolidated with 
that of register by acts Mar. 3, 1925, and Oct. 28, 1921, under which 
the office of receiver was abolished. See, also, Transfer of Functions 
note below.

                          Transfer of Functions

    For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies 
of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of 
the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, 
Secs. 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out 
under section 1451 of this title.
    Words ``officer designated by the Secretary of the Interior'' 
substituted for ``register'' on authority of section 403 of Reorg. Plan 
No. 3 of 1946. See note set out under section 1 of this title.
    ``General Accounting Office'' substituted for ``proper officer of 
the Treasury Department'' pursuant to act June 10, 1921, which 
transferred all powers and duties of the Comptroller, six auditors, and 
certain other employees of the Treasury to the General Accounting 
Office. See section 701 et seq. of Title 31, Money and Finance.


                            Cross References

    Moneys received as ``unearned moneys, lands,'' to be deposited into 
Treasury and be available for refunds, see section 1323 of Title 31, 
Money and Finance.
    Unobligated balances under account for ``outstanding liabilities,'' 
to be covered into trust fund receipt account in Treasury designated as 
``Unclaimed Moneys of Individuals Whose Whereabouts Are Unknown,'' see 
section 1322 of Title 31.
