Chapter 256.
567 words·~3 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-27/chapter-256-1133416·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 256.— An act to legalize the deed and other records of the Office of Indian Affairs, and to provide and authorize the use of a seal by said officeJuly 26, 1892. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Indian Department. That the recording of all deeds and papersRecording of deeds, etc., in Indian Office, legalized. heretofore made and done in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs be, and is hereby, confirmed, approved, and legalized; and said record heretofore made shall be deemed, taken, and held to be good and valid and shall have all the force and effect and be entitled to the same credit as if it had been made in pursuance of and in conformity 273 to law.
But shall have no effect whatever upon the validity or invalidityValidity of deed, etc., not affected. of the deed or paper so recorded, and shall be no evidence of constructive notice to any persons not actually knowing the contents. Sec. 2. That the Commissioner of Indian Affairs is hereby empoweredRecords of all deeds by Indians to be kept. and directed to continue to make and keep a record of every deed executed by any Indian, his heirs, representatives, or assigns, which may require the approval of the President of the United States or of the Secretary of the Interior, whenever such approval shall have been given, and the deed so approved returned to said office.
Sec. 3. That the Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall cause a sealSeal to be made. to be made and provided for the said office, with such device as the President of the United States shall approve, and copies of any public documents, records, books, maps, or papers belonging to or on the files of said office, authenticated by the seal and certified by the CommissionerCertifications. thereof, or by such officer as may, for the time being, be acting as or for such Commissioner, shall be evidence equally with the originals thereof.
Sec. 4. That the Commissioner of Indian Affairs shall have the custody Furnishing certified copies of records.of said seal, and shall furnish certified copies of any such records, books, maps, or papers belonging to or on the tiles of said office, to any person applying therefor who shall comply with the requirements of said office, upon the payment by such parties at the rate of ten centsFeed. per hundred words, and one dollar for copies of maps or plats, and the additional sum of twenty-five cents for the Commissioner’s certificate of verification, with the seal of said office; and one of the employesReceiving clerk. of said office shall be designated by the Commissioner as the receiving clerk, who shall give bond in the sum of one thousand dollars, and the amounts so received shall, under the direction of the Commissioner, be paid into the Treasury of the United States; but fees shall not be demandedNo fees for copies for official use., etc. for such authenticated copies as may be required by the officers of any branch of the Government or by any Indian who shall satisfy the Commissioner by satisfactory legal evidence that he or she is not able, by reason of poverty, to pay such fees, nor for such unverified copies as the Commissioner in his discretion may deem proper to furnish.
Approved, July 26, 1892.