Code of Federal Regulations Title 43. Public Lands:  Interior § 43.1871.0–3 Authority

The Act of September 20, 1922 (42 Stat. 857;  43 U.S.C. 1161–1163), as modified by section 403 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1946 (60 Stat. 1100), reads as follows:

Sec. 1161. The Secretary of the Interior, or such officer as he may designate, is authorized to decide upon principles of equity and justice, as recognized in courts of equity, and in accordance with regulations to be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, consistently with such principles, all cases of suspended entries of public lands and of suspended preemption land claims, and to adjudge in what cases patents shall issue upon the same.

Sec. 1162. Every such adjudication shall be approved by the Secretary of the Interior and shall operate only to divest the United States of the title to the land embraced thereby, without prejudice to the rights of conflicting claimants.

Sec. 1163. Where patents have been already issued on entries which are approved by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior, or such officer as he may designate, upon the canceling of the outstanding patent, is authorized to issue a new patent, on such approval, to the person who made the entry, his heirs or assigns.