fund, as a national forest receipt of the fiscal year in which such transfer is made: Provided further, That the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, upon application of the Secretary of the Interior, to furnish seedlings, and/or young trees for replanting of burned-over areas in any national park. (16 U.S.C. 576b)

Land Acquisition-Declaration of Taking

• Act of February 26, 1931 (Ch. 307, 46 Stat. 1421; 40 U.S.C. 258a)

In any proceeding in any court of the United States outside of the District of Columbia which has been or may be instituted by and in the name of and under the authority of the United States for the acquisition of any land or easement or right of way in land for the public use, the petitioner may file in the cause, with the petition or at any time before judgment, a declaration of taking signed by the authority empowered by law to acquire the lands described in the petition, declaring that said lands are thereby taken for the use of the United States. Said declaration of taking shall contain or have annexed thereto-(1) A statement of the authority under which and the public use for which said lands are taken.

(2) A description of the lands taken sufficient for the identification thereof.

(3) A statement of the estate or interest in said lands taken for said public use.

(4) A plan showing the lands taken.

(5) A statement of the sum of money estimated by said acquiring authority to be just compensation for the land taken.

Upon the filing of said declaration of taking and of the deposit in the court, to the use of the persons entitled thereto, of the amount of the estimated compensation stated in said declaration, title to the said lands in fee simple absolute, or such less estate or interest therein as is specified in said declaration, shall vest in the United States of America, and said lands shall be deemed to be condemned and taken for the use of the United States, and the right to just compensation for the same shall vest in the persons entitled thereto; and said compensation shall be ascertained and awarded in said proceeding and established by judgment therein, and the said judgment shall include, as part of the just compensation awarded, interest at the rate of 6 per centum per annum on the amount finally awarded as the value of the property as of the date of taking, from said date to the date of payment; but interest shall not be allowed on so much thereof as shall have been paid into the court. No sum so paid into the court shall be charged with commission or poundage.

Upon the application of the parties in interest, the court may order that the money deposited in the court, or any part thereof, be paid forwith for or on account of the just compensation to be awarded in said proceeding. If the compensation finally awarded in respect of said lands, or any parcel thereof, shall exceed the amount of the money so received by any person entitled, the court shall enter judgment against the United States for the amount of the deficiency.

Upon the filing of a declaration of taking, the court shall have power to fix the time within which and the terms upon which the parties in possession shall be required to surrender possesion to the petitioner. The court shall have power to make such orders in respect of encumbrances, liens, rents, taxes, assessments, insurance, and other charges, if any, as shall be just and equitable. (40 U.S.C. 258a)

NOTE.--The purpose of the declaration of taking is to vest title immediately in the United States. It is a supplement to and can be used only in conjunction with condemnation proceedings. It may be filed at the time condemnation is requested or at any time prior to judgment in the proceedings.

Economy Act of 1932

• Act of June 30, 1932 (Ch. 314, 47 Stat. 382, as amended; 31 U.S.C. 686)

Sec. 601. (a) Any executive department or independent establishment of the government, or any bureau or office thereof, if funds are available there for and if it is determined by the head of such executive department, establishment, bureau, or office to be in the interest of the Government so to do, may place orders with any other such department, establishment, bureau, or office for materials, supplies, equipment, work, or services, of any kind that such requisitioned Federal agency may be in a position to supply or equipped to render, and shall pay promptly by check to such Federal agency as may be requisitioned, upon its written request, either in advance or upon the furnishing or performance thereof, all or part of the estimated or actual cost thereof as determined by such department, establishment, bureau, or office as may be requisitioned; but proper adjustments on the basis of the actual cost of the materials, supplies, or equipment furnished, or work or services performed, paid for in advance, shall be made as may be agreed upon by the departments, establishments, bureaus, or offices concerned: Provided, That the Department of the Army, Navy Department, Treasury Department, Federal Aviation Administration, and the Maritime Commission may place orders, as provided herein, for materials, supplies, equipment, work, or services, of any kind that any requisitioned Federal agency may be in a position to supply, or to render or to obtain by contract: Provided further, That if such work or services can be as conveniently or more cheaply performed by private agencies such work shall be let by competitive bids to such private agencies. Bills rendered, or requests for advance payments made, pursuant to any such order, shall not be subject to audit or certification in advance of payment.

(b) Amounts paid as provided in subsection (a) shall be credited, (1) in the case of advance payments, to special working funds, or (2) in the case of payments other than advance payments, to the appropriations or funds against which charges have been made pursuant to any such order, except as hereinafter provided. The Secretary of the Treasury shall establish such special working funds as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection. Such amounts paid shall be available for

expenditure in furnishing the materials, supplies, or equipment, or in performing the work or services, or for the objects specified in such appropriations or funds. Where materials, supplies, or equipment are furnished from stocks on hand, the amounts received in payment therefor shall be credited to appropriations or funds, as may be authorized by other law, or, if not so authorized, so as to be available to replace the materials, supplies or equipment, except that where the head of any such department, establishment, bureau, or office determines that such replacement is not necessary the amounts paid shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

(c) Orders placed as provided in subsecton (a) shall be considered as obligations upon appropriations in the same manner as orders or contracts placed with private contractors. Advance payments credited to special working funds shall remain available to the procuring agency for entering into contracts and other uses during the fiscal year or years for which the appropriation involved was made and thereafter until said appropriation lapses under the law to the surplus fund of the Treasury. (31 U.S.C. 686)

NOTE.--Amended by Act of Sept. 6, 1950.