48 U.S.C. § 1663 — Acknowledgment of deeds

Page 165 TITLE 48—TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS § 1664 Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The existing laws of the United States relative to public lands, referred to in subsec. (b), are classified generally to Title 43, Public Lands. CODIFICATION Subsec. (d) of this section, which provided for rec- ommendation of legislation concerning the islands of eastern Samoa by seven commissioners as soon as rea- sonably practicable, was omitted from the Code. Section was formerly classified to section 1431a of this title. AMENDMENTS 1929—Subsec. (d). Act May 22, 1929, substituted ‘‘seven’’ and ‘‘three’’ for ‘‘six’’ and ‘‘two’’, respectively, and inserted ‘‘or high chiefs’’ after ‘‘chiefs’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries AUTHORITY OF GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS TO ENACT REVENUE LAWS See section 1271 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 931 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. SUBMERGED LANDS, CONVEYANCE TO TERRITORY Conveyance of submerged lands to the government of American Samoa, see section 1701 et seq. of this title. § 1662. Sovereignty of United States extended over Swains Island The sovereignty of the United States over American Samoa is extended over Swains Is- land, which is made a part of American Samoa and placed under the jurisdiction of the adminis- trative and judicial authorities of the govern- ment established therein by the United States. (Mar. 4, 1925, ch. 563, 43 Stat. 1357.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 1431 of this title. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TRANSFER OF PERSONAL PROPERTY TO GOVERNMENT OF AMERICAN SAMOA Pub. L. 96–597, title I, § 101, Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3477, provided that: ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the Government of the United States in personal property situated in American Samoa shall be transferred, without reimbursement, to the American Samoa government on October 1, 1981, unless the agen- cy of the Government of the United States having ad- ministrative responsibility for the property advises the Secretary of the Interior in writing before the date of transfer that it has a continuing requirement for such property.’’ TRANSFER OF CERTAIN PROPERTY TO GOVERNMENT OF AMERICAN SAMOA Pub. L. 87–158, Aug. 17, 1961, 75 Stat. 392, authorized the Secretary of the Navy to transfer, without reim- bursement or transfer of funds, to the government of American Samoa, within ninety days after August 17, 1961, title to all property, real and personal, located in American Samoa on that date which was owned by the United States and was within the administrative super- vision of the Department of the Navy on such date. SUBMERGED LANDS, CONVEYANCE TO TERRITORY Conveyance of submerged lands to the government of American Samoa, see section 1701 et seq. of this title. Executive Documents EX. ORD. NO. 10264. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION OF AMERICAN SAMOA Ex. Ord. No. 10264, eff. June 29, 1951, 16 F.R. 6419, pro- vided: 1. The administration of American Samoa is hereby transferred from the Secretary of the Navy to the Sec- retary of the Interior, such transfer to become effective on July 1, 1951. 2. The Department of the Navy and the Department of the Interior shall proceed with the plans for the transfer of administration of American Samoa as em- bodied in the above-mentioned memorandum of under- standing between the two departments. 3. When the transfer of administration made by this order becomes effective, the Secretary of the Interior shall take such action as may be necessary and appro- priate, and in harmony with applicable law, for the ad- ministration of civil government in American Samoa. 4. The executive departments and agencies of the Government are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Departments of the Navy and Interior in the effectuation of the provisions of this order. 5. The said Executive order of February 19, 1900 [Ex. Ord. 125–A], is revoked, effective July 1, 1951. HARRY S. TRUMAN. § 1662a. Repealed. Pub. L. 118–232, § 1, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2834 Section, Pub. L. 98–213, § 12, Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1462, provided that amendments or modifications to the con- stitution of American Samoa, as approved pursuant to Executive Order 10264 as in effect Jan. 1, 1983, could be made only by Congress. § 1663. Acknowledgment of deeds Deeds and other instruments affecting land situate in the District of Columbia or any Terri- tory of the United States may be acknowledged in the islands of Guam and Samoa or in the Canal Zone before any notary public or judge, appointed therein by proper authority, or by any officer therein who has ex officio the powers of a notary public: Provided, That the certificate by such notary in Guam, Samoa, or the Canal Zone, as the case may be, shall be accompanied by the certificate of the governor or acting gov- ernor of such place to the effect that the notary taking said acknowledgment was in fact the of- ficer he purported to be; and any deeds or other instruments affecting lands so situate, so ac- knowledged since the first day of January, 1905, and accompanied by such certificate shall have the same effect as such deeds or other instru- ments hereafter so acknowledged and certified. (June 28, 1906, ch. 3585, 34 Stat. 552.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT For definition of Canal Zone, referred to in text, see section 3602(b) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Inter- course. CODIFICATION Section is also classified to section 1421f–1 of this title. Section was formerly classified to sections 1358 and 1432 of this title. § 1664. Repealed. Pub. L. 109–304, § 19, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1710 Section, act June 14, 1934, ch. 523, 48 Stat. 963, made coastwise shipping laws of United States inapplicable