after which the torch was used to cut a hole sufficiently large in one of the inner doors for a man to crawl through and remove the lock mechanism from the inside. The safe in the vault was then opened by cutting a small hole in the door near the combination which permitted the safe to be opened. EXTENT OF LOSS The amount lost as shown by the postmaster's claim for credit and affidavit and as verified by the inspectors' computations consists of the following items: PROTECTION GIVEN TO PUBLIC FUNDS AND STAMP STOCK The strong box in the vault, presumably a burglarproof chest, was not opened by the burglars and apparently contained public funds and other articles which took up all of the available space therein. The loss in the postal account consisted of the main supply of postage stamps in the shell type safe and the various credits of the stamp clerks placed in their proper receptacles in the vault. The balance of the loss consisted of internal revenue funds and stamps and Federal migratory bird hunting stamps and funds also placed in the shell type safe, all of the property apparently being protected in compliance with the Postal Laws and Regulations. RECOMMENDATION In view of all the circumstances and it appearing from the evidence that the loss by burglary at Melrose Park, Ill., on April 21, 1937, heretofore enumerated, resulted from no fault or negligence, I recommend that the facts in this case be reported to Congress with the recommendation for authority in the form of a special act to credit James D. Larry, Sr., in his accounts with the following items: J. C. GRICE JUNE 23, 1939.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. COFFEE of Washington, from the Committee on Claims, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 891] The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (S. 891) for the relief of J. C. Grice, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendment is as follows: Beginning with the word "Provided" in line 12, strike out the remaining language of the bill and insert in lieu thereof: : 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 in 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. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to pay to J. C. Grice, of Whittier, N. C., the sum of $201.15, in full settlement of his claim against the United States for mileage allowance for travel performed by means of his personally owned automobile during the period May 27, 1936, to January 8, 1938, while supervising certain construction projects for the Department of the Interior, on the Cherokee Reservation at Cherokee, N. C. Your committee concurs with the recommendation of the Senate, and appends hereto Senate Report No. 253, Seventy-sixth Congress, which carries the facts concerning the claim which is the subject matter of this report. [S. Rept. No. 253, 76th Cong., 1st sess.] The Department has no objection to the enactment of the bill. The facts are fully set forth in the following letter from the Acting Secretary of the Interior, which is appended hereto and made a part of this report. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. M. M. LOGAN, Chairman, Committee on Claims, United States Senate. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Further reference is made to your request for a report on S. 891 for relief of J. C. Grice. He Mr. Grice was appointed construction inspector on May 19, 1936, to supervise the construction of certain projects at the Cherokee Indian Ágency, N. Ĉ. entered on duty May 27, 1936, and served until March 4, 1938. During the course of his employment it was necessary for Mr. Grice to make frequent trips from the Cherokee Agency to Bryson City, Whittier, and Sylva. N. C., to obtain express packages and correspondence addressed to him by the Office of Indian Affairs; to mail correspondence and express packages to the Office of Indian Affairs; to meet and return visiting officials who had been detailed to inspect the work; and to transport himself to and from the sites of the projects over which he had supervision. In making these trips he used his privately owned automobile although he did not request, nor was he granted, authority to travel on a mileage basis. After his appointment had been terminated, he filed a claim with the Office of Indian Affairs for mileage in the amount of $241.38, which represents a total of 4,023 miles at 6 cents per mile, for the use of his automobile in the performance of his official duties. In support of his claim he submitted a detailed statement of his travel, giving the number of trips and the length in miles of each. In the light of his duties, the distances which he claims to have traveled appear reasonable. His claim was disapproved by the Office of Indian Affairs because the Government travel regulations require that authority to travel on a mileage basis must be granted in advance. Under the Government travel regulations the maximum amount collectible, when authority is granted to travel on a mileage basis, is 5 cents per mile. Accordingly, it is recommended that the amount of Mr. Grice's claim, calculated upon that basis, be reduced to $201.15. In view of the circumstances in this case, this Department will interpose no objection to the enactment of S. 891 if the bill is amended by striking out "$241.38" in line 6, page 1, and inserting "$201.15." Sincerely yours, HARRY SLATTERY, о RENT-A-CAR CO. JUNE 23, 1939.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. McGEHEE, from the Committee on Claims, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 1258] The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1258) for the relief of the Rent-A-Car Co., having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendment is as follows: Beginning with the word "Provided" in line 11, page 1, strike out the remaining language of the bill and insert in lieu thereof 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 in 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. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to pay to the Rent-A-Car Co. of Memphis, Tenn., the sum of $144.80 in full settlement of its claim against the United States for reimbursement of expenses incurred in repairing an automobile rented on November 14, 1933, by a special agent of the Department of Justice and damaged while being used by such person on official business. Senate Report No. 199, Seventy-sixth Congress, first session, is appended hereto, together with a letter from the Attorney General, dated May 23, 1939, stating that the Department of Justice had no authority to settle this claim direct, and that they advised the claimant company that a special act of Congress would be necessary. It will be noted that the Department has no objection to the passage of the bill, and your committee concurs in the recommendation of the Senate. |