An Act for the relief of the State of Maryland
PL 82-56 (H.R.389), enacted 06/27/1951

90 
PUBLIC LAW 54—JUNE 26, 1951 
[65 STAT. 
"(2) Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the appointment 
of and payment of compensation to retired officers or warrant officers 
not presently or hereafter prohibited by law." 
Approved June 26, 1951. 
June 26,1951 
[H. R. 4393] 
Public Law 54 
CHAPTER 152 
AN ACT 
To extend for two years the period during which free postage for members of the 
Armed Forces of the United States in Korea and other specified areas shall be 
in effect. 
64 Stat. 336. 
60 U. S. C. app. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Amenca 
in Congress assembled, That section 2 of 
the Act entitled "An Act to provide free postage for members of the 
Armed Forces of the United States in specified areas", approved July 
12, 1950 (Public Law 609, Eighty-first Congress), is hereby amended 
by striking out "June 30, 1951" and inserting in lieu thereof "June 
30, 1953". 
Approved June 26, 1951. 
Public Law 55 
June 27, 1951 
[H. R. 157] 
Alaska. 
Transportation 
Canadian vessels. 
CHAPTER 153 
AN ACT 
To provide transportation on Canadian vessels between Skagway, Alaska, and 
other points in Alaska, between Haines, Alaska, and other points in Alaska, 
and between Hyder, Alaska, and other points in Alaska or the continental 
United States, either directly or via a foreign port, or for any part of the 
transportation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That, until June 30, 
1952, notwithstanding the provisions of law of the United States 
restricting to vessels of the United States the transportation of pas-
sengers and merchandise directly or indirectly from any port in the 
United States to another port of the United States, passengers may be 
transported on Canadian vessels between Skagway, Alaska, and other 
points in Alaska, between Haines, Alaska, and other points in Alaska, 
and between Hyder, Alaska, and other points in Alaska or the conti-
nental United States, either directly or via a foreign port, or for any 
part of the transportation: Provided^ That such Canadian vessels 
may transport merchandise between Hyder, Alaska, and other ports 
and points herein enumerated. 
Approved June 27, 1951. 
June 27,1951 
[H. R. 389] 
Public Law 56 
CHAPTER 
154 
AN ACT 
For the relief of the State of Maryland. 
state of Maryland. 
Payment for dam-
age to oyster bars. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Secretary 
of the Treasury is authorized and directed to pay, out of any money 
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the State of Maryland 
the sum of $20,000. The payment of such sum shall be in full settle-
ment of all claims of such State against the United States on account 
of damage to natural oyster bars in the Patuxent and Severn Rivers 
65 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 58—JUNE 28, 1951 
91 
heretofore caused by dredging operations conducted by the Department 
of the Navy: Provided^ 
That no part of the amount appropriated in 
this Act in excess of 10 per centum thereof shall be paid or delivered 
to or received by any agent or attorney on account of services rendered 
m connection with this claim, and the same shall be unlawful, any 
contract to the contrary notwithstanding. 
Any person violating the 
provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and 
upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $1,000. 
Approved June 27, 1951. 
Public Law 57 
CHAPTER 155 
AN ACT 
To extend the time for completing the construction of a toll bridge across the 
Delaware River near Wilmington, Delaware. 
Be it ermcted by the Senate 
and House 
of Representatives 
of 
the 
United 
States 
of America 
in Congress 
assembled^ 
T h a t section 5 of 
the Act entitled "An Act authorizing the State of Delaware, by and 
through its State highway department, to construct, maintain, and 
operate a toll bridge across the Delaware River near Wilmington, 
Delaware", approved July 13, 1946, is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
" S E C . 5. The authority hereby granted shall cease and be null and 
void unless the actual construction of said bridge and its approaches 
be commenced within three years and completed within six years 
from J u l y 13, 1946." 
Approved J u n e 27, 1951. 
June 27,1951 
[H. R. 4338] 
Toll bridge. 
Delaware River. 
60 Stat. 533. 
Time limitation. 
Public Law 58 
CHAPTER 165 
AN ACT 
Relatint to the treatment of powei's of appointment for estate and gift tax 
purposes. 
June 28,1951 
[H. R. 20841 
United 
States 
of America 
in Congress 
assembled^ T h a t this Act may mrnTAcI, o
f mi!°'"^ 
53 Stat. 122. 
26 U.S.C. §811 (f). 
Be it enacted 
hy the Senate 
and House 
of Representatives 
of 
the 
nited States 
of America 
in Congress 
assembled^ 
T l 
be cited as the "Powers of Appointment Act of 1951". 
SEC. 2. ESTATE TAX—POWERS OF APPOINTMENT. 
(a) Section 811 (f) of the Internal Revenue Code (relating to 
powers of appointment) is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"(f) 
POWERS OF 
A P P O I N T M E N T . — 
"(1) 
PROPERTY WITH RESPECT TO W H I C H DECEDENT EXERCISES A 
GENERAL POWER OF APPOINTMENT CREATED ON OR BEFORE OC'IX)BER 
21, 19 42.—To the extent of any property with respect to which a 
general power of appointment created on or before October 21, 
1942, is exercised by the decedent (1) by will or (2) by a dispo-
sition which is of such nature that if it were a transfer of property 
owned by the decedent, such property would be includible iii the 
decedent's gross estate under subsection (c) or (d) ; but the failure 
to exercise such a power or the complete release of such a power 
shall not be deemed an exercise thereof. 
"If before November 1, 1951, or within the time limited by 
paragraph (2) of section 403 (d) of the Revenue Act of 1942, as 
amended, in cases to which such paragraph is applicable, a general 
26^u*'^s^^c § sii 
power of appointment created on or before October 21, 1942, shall notes. 
have been partially released so that it is no longer a general power