Decisions of the Treasury: Donation Of Land To The United States

The prohibition in section 3736, Revised Statutes, against the purchase of land on account of the United States except under a law authorizing such purchase, does not extend to land donated to the United States where such donation does not involve an expenditure of the public money, but the use of a general appropriation or one for contingent expenses. In the absence of express authority of law, is not authorized to pay off liens against the property donated to the United States existing at the time of transfer. Expenditures from the appropriation, "Contingent expenses, Department of Agriculture, 1912," can be made only upon the prior order of the head of the department under section 3683, Revised Statutes, and the waiver by the head of a department of a departmental regulation that requires prior formal authority to make such expenditures does not operate to waive the express requirements of the Revised Statutes as to such prior order.