Public Law 69–397

That the Comptroller General of the United States is hereby authorized and directed to allow credit in. the accounts of disbursing officers for payments of commutation of quarters, heat, and light under the Act approved April 16, 1918 (Fortieth Statutes, page 530), because of a dependent parent, and as rental and subsistence allowance

Vol. 42, p. 625.

under the Act of June 10, 1922 (Forty-second Statutes, page 625), because of a dependent mother, made in good faith by disbursing

Proviso.

No collection if made for needy family condition, etc.

officers prior to July 1, 1923: Provided, That where the payee responded to a needy family condition in an amount at least equal to the allowances obtained by him no collection shall be made on account of payment of the allowances to him prior to July 1, 1923;

Refund if collected under protest, etc.

and amounts heretofore collected as refund of the allowances obtained in such cases prior to July 1, 1923, notwithstanding the

Restriction on refund, etc.

protest of the payee, either by stoppage of pay, payment in cash, allotment of pay, or offset, shall be refunded; but this proviso shall not be applicable where the payee has admitted there was no dependency on him, or where he has refused to furnish evidence of the dependency, or where the payee has voluntarily refunded the payments in whole or in part, or has submitted no claim for the allowances in the nature of a protest against offset of his pay as refund of the payments.