55 STAT.] 77TH CONG., IST SESS. - CHS. 640, 641-DEC. 29, 1941 [CHAPTER 640] AN ACT To provide for a national cemetery in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War is authorized and directed to establish and maintain, in accordance with the provisions of law governing national ceme- teries, a national cemetery in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon. The Secretary of War is authorized to acquire by donation, purchase, con- demnation, or otherwise such suitable lands as are in his judgment necessary for the establishment and maintenance of such cemetery. SEa. 2. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act. Approved, December 29, 1941. [CHAPTER 641] AN ACT To fix the responsibilities of disbursing and certifying officers, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter, not- withstanding the provisions of the Act of August 23, 1912 (37 Stat. 375; 31 U. S . C . 82), and section 4 of Executive Order Numbered 6166, dated June 10, 1933, disbursing officers under the executive branch of the Government shall (1) disburse moneys only upon, and in strict accordance with, vouchers duly certified by the head of the department, establishment, or agency concerned, or by an officer or employee thereof duly authorized in writing by such head to certify such vouchers; (2) make such examination of vouchers as may be necessary to ascertain whether they are in proper form, duly certified and approved, and correctly computed on the basis of the facts cer- tified; and (3) be held accountable accordingly. SEc. 2 . The officer or emlployee certifying a voucher shall (1) be held responsible for the existence and correctness of the facts recited in the certificate or otherwise stated on the voucher or its sutpporting papers and for the legality of tle proposed payment under the appro- priation or fund involved: (2) be required to give bond to the Unlted States, with good and sufficient surety approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, in such amount as may be determined by the head of the department, agency, or establishment concerned, pursuant to standards prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; and (3) be held accountable for and required to make good to the United States the amount of any illegal, improper. or incorrect pay- ment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate made by him, as well as for any payment prohibited by law or which did not represent a legal obligation under the appropriation or fund involved: Provided, That the Comptroller General may, in his dis- cretion, relieve such certifying officer or employee of liability for any payment otherwise proper whenever he finds (1) that the certification was based on official records and that such certifying officer or employee did not know, and by reasonable diligence and inquiry could not have ascertained, the actual facts, or (2) that the obliga- tion was incurred in good faith, that the payment was not contrary to any statutory provision specifically prohibiting payments of the char- December 29, 1941 IS. 793] [Public Law 388] National cemetery, Portland, Oreg. Establishment and maintenance. Appropriation au- thorized. December 29,1941 [H. R. 5785] [Public Law 389] Public accounts. Duties of disbursing officers. 5U. S.C. §132note. Disbursement only upon certified vouch- ers. Examination of voillchers. A countabllity. I'sjponsilliti't's of certifying olllfirs, etc. Bond required. Accountability. Protios. Relief of certifying officers, etc. 875
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