An Act to eliminate certain discriminatory legislation against Indians in the United States
PL 83-277 (H.R.1055), enacted 08/15/1953

586 
PUBLIC LAW 277-AUG. 15, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
Proceeds 
f r o m 
s a l e s , transfers, 
etc. 
15 u s e 721-728. 
R e p o r t to Con-
gress. 
and void and of no effect immediately or upon the satisfaction of said 
liens, as the case may be, and thereafter the owner of property de-
scribed in any such deed may use, transfer, mortgage, lease, sell, or 
otherwise encumber or dispose of said property without regard to 
such restrictions. 
(b) The Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration shall not 
impose, in any deed of conveyance executed by it during the period 
of liquidation prescribed by this joint resolution, any restrictions 
except such restrictions as may be required by the laws of the United 
States or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
SEC. 5. There shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United 
States, as miscellaneous receipts, (a) any and all proceeds from the 
sale, transfer, or other disposition of the properties and interests 
aforesaid, (b) the balance remaining in the so-called revolving fund 
established by the Act of February 11,1936 (49 Stat. 1135), after costs 
of liquidation, salaries of employees, and other similar obligations, 
are paid, and (c) all sums realized from the liquidation of accounts 
receivable. 
SEC. 6. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and empowered 
to do all necessary acts and things in addition to those specifically 
authorized in this joint resolution to enable him to accomplish the 
purposes thereof. 
SEC. 7. The Secretary of the Interior shall, upon completion of the 
liquidation as directed by this joint resolution, submit a report thereon 
to the Congress of the United States, reciting the disposition made 
of properties and moneys. 
Approved August 15, 1953. 
. , 
. . . . 
August 15, 1953 
[H. R. 1055] 
Public Law 277 
CHAPTER 502 
AN ACT 
To eliminate certain discriminatory legislation against Indians in the 
United States. 
I n d i a n 1 i quor 
laws. 
62 Stat. 75 7. 
Be it enacted hy the Seimte and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That chapter 53 of 
title 18, United States Code, is hereby amended by inserting at the 
end of the chapter analysis preceding section 1151 of such title the 
following new item: 
"1161. Application of Indian liquor laws." 
' 
' 
' 
SEC. 2. Title 18, United States Code, is hereby further amended by 
inserting in chapter 53 thereof immediately after section 1160 a new 
section, to be designated as section 1161, as follows: 
"§ 1161. Application of Indian liquor laws 
"The provisions of sections 1154,1156, 3113, 3488, and 3618, of this 
title, shall not apply within any area that is not Indian country, nor to 
any act or transaction within any area of Indian country provided 
such act or transaction is in conformity both with the laws of the State 
in which such act or transaction occurs and with an ordinance duly 
adopted by the tribe having jurisdiction over such area of Indian 
country, certified by the Secretary of the Interior, and published in 
the Federal Register." 
SEC. 3. The consent of the United States is hereby given to repeal 
of the third and eleventh paragraphs of article 20 of the constitution 
of Arizona, and that part of section 1 of article 21 of the constitution 
67 ST AT.1 
PUBLIC LAW 279-AUG. 15, 1953 
587 
of New Mexico relating to the sales of intoxicants to Indians, if the 
people of Arizona and New Mexico shall adopt constitutional amend-
ments to accomplish such repeal. 
SEC. 4. Section 9 of the Act of June 4, 1920, An Act to provide for 
allotment of lands of the Crow Tribe, for the distribution of tribal 
funds, and for other purposes (41 Stat. T51), is hereby repealed. 
Approved August 15, 1953. 
Repeal. 
Public Law 278 
CHAPTER 503 
AN ACT 
To facilitate the development and construction of water conservation facilities 
by States and municipalities, and for other purposes. 
August 15, 1953 
[S.2094] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That in order to 
facilitate the development and construction by States and municipali-
ties of water conservation facilities, certain requirements in the Fed-
eral Power Act are made inapplicable to States and municipalities 
as provided in this Act. 
SEC. 2. The words used in this Act shall have the same meanings 
ascribed to them in the Federal Power Act. 
SEC. 3. Section 14 of the Federal Power Act pertaining to the taking 
over b^ the United States of any project upon or after the expiration 
of a license, and sections 301 and 3(fe of said Act requiring certain 
records and accounting procedures and section 4 (b) requiring the 
preparation and filing of the statement of actual legitimate original 
cost of a project, shall not be applicable to any project owned by a 
State or municipality, and such rights and requirements shall not 
exist under any license heretofore or hereafter granted to any State 
or municipality, except that the provisions of section 14 and section 4 
(b) shall continue to be applicable to any license issued for a hydro-
electric development in the International Eapids section of the Saint 
Lawrence River. The Federal Power Commission in determining the 
amount of annual charges applicable to any such project may deter-
mine the annual charges with reference to the actual cost of services 
incurred by the Commission with respect to the project. 
SEC. 4. Except as herein provided, the provisions of this Act shall 
not be construed as repealing or affecting any of the provisions of the 
Federal Power Act. 
Approved August 15, 1953. 
Water conserva-
tion facilities. 
41 Stat. 1063; 49 
Stat. 863. 
16 u s e 791a. 
16 u s e 807,825, 
825a, 797. 
Annual charges. 
Public Law 279 
CHAPTER 504 
AN ACT 
To permit the coordination of the Wisconsin retirement fund with the Federal 
old-age and survivors insurance system. 
August 15, 1953 
[H. R. 2062] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of'America in Congress a.'^sembled, That section 218 of 
the Social Security Act (relating to voluntary agreements for cover-
age of State and local employees) is hereby amended by adding at the 
end thereof the following new subsection: 
Wis c ons in retire-
ment fund. 
64 Stat. 514. 
42 u s e 418. 
WISCONSIN RETIREMENT FUND 
"(m) (1) Notwithstanding subsection (d), the agreement with the 
State of Wisconsin may, subject to the provisions of this subsection,