Mr. William R. Lusby, as committee of the person and estate of his wife, Frances M. Lusby, 1226 Pennsylvania Avenue SE., Washington, D. C. The claim arises from the loss at St. Elizabeths Hospital, a Federal institution in Washington, D. C., of property belonging to Frances M. Lusby, a patient admitted to the hospital and receiving care as a pay patient. On September 24, 1942, Mrs. Lusby, returning to the hospital from a periodical visit to her home, left with the hospital authorities a three-quarter carat diamond ring, a sapphire ring, an Elgin watch, and a brooch. The hospital records show that these articles were received and brought to the chief clerk's office; they were signed for by the chief clerk's assistant on September 28, 1942. However, neither the hospital records nor the statements of any employee show that Mrs. Lusby's jewelry ever was stored in the property vault of the hospital, where articles of value belonging to patients ordinarily are kept. In February 1943 Mrs. Lusby requested the return of the articles, but a careful search failed to disclose them and nothing was revealed by consulting all employees who might have had knowledge of their whereabouts. When possession of the property was surrendered to the hospital authorities, the officers and employees of the hospital had sole control over it. There is no evidence of its destruction or disappearance by fire, burglary of the property vault, or other act over which neither the hospital nor its officers or employees had any control. Therefore, it may be reasonably concluded that the negligence of such employees was the immediate cause of the disappearance of the property. Amount claimed, $275; amount allowed, $275. WATSON B. MILLER, Hon. HAROLD D. SMITH, Acting Administrator. FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY, Director of the Bureau of the Budget, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. SMITH: In accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress, approved December 28, 1922 (42 Stat. 1066, 31 U. S. C. 215-217), I have considered, ascertained, adjusted, and determined the following-described claim, which does not exceed $1,000, on account of damages to privately owned property, caused by the negligence of officers or employees of the Government, acting within the scope of thier employment, and presented to this Agency within 1 year of the date of accrual. Mr. Earl Woodland, 118 East Heron Street, Aberdeen, Wash.. has proved the following claim: Mr. Woodland, at 10 a. m. on October 30, 1943, was driving his automobile bearing license number "Washington H. 10450" on Wiskah Street, in the city of Aberdeen, State of Washington, when he properly stopped his car, on account of the traffic light in his front turning red. Assistant Food and Drug Inspector C. Paul Marshall was driving the Food and Drug Administration's 1939 Plymouth coupe, carrying service number "F. S. 1062," in the rear of Mr. Earl Woodland's said automobile, and as Mr. Marshall was coasting into position, behind Mr. Woodland's automobile, the foot brake on the Government car failed to work, and the Government car collided with the rear of Mr. Woodland's car. The damage to Mr. Earl Woodland's car consisted of damages to his rear bumper, and the destruction of his gravel deflector, aggregating altogether to the sum of $10.30. Mr. Woodland has furnished the Food and Drug Administration with a receipted bill showing that he has paid said sum for said repairs on account of said collision. The foot brake on the Government car was defective, and this defect was the cause of the collision. Under the jurisprudence of the State of Washington, the operator of an automobile is bound to take notice that he may be called upon to make emergency stops, and is guilty of negligence, if he fails to keep his automobile in such condition that such stops are possible. Amount claimed, $10.30; amount allowed, $10.30. DEAR MR. SMITH: In accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress approved December 28, 1922 (42 Stat. 1066, 31 U. S. C. 215-217), I have considered, ascertained, adjusted, and determined the following described claim on account of damages to privately owned property, caused by the negligence of an employee of the Government acting within the scope of his employment, and presented to this Agency within 1 year of the date of accrual. This claim has been examined by the general counsel of this Agency, who advises me that it is a legal claim for submission under the said act. I certify the amount found due the claimant, as herein set forth, is a legal claim and recommend that it be submitted to Congress for payment out of appropriations that may be made therefor. Below is a brief statement of the character of the claim, the amount claimed, and the amount allowed. Mr. Troy S. Carroll, Lonoke, Ark. On June 23, 1943, on a highway in or near West Helena, Ark., a Public Health Service truck, which was turning around, backed into the claimant's car which was parked on the right side of the highway. The claimant was without fault, and the Government driver was negligent in not exercising the proper degree of care necessary to avoid hitting the claimant's car in the process of backing. Amount claimed, $85; amount allowed, $85. SIR: In accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress approved December 28, 1922 (42 Stat. 1066), the following-described claim accruing after April 6, 1917, on account of damages to or loss of privately owned property, due to the negligence of officers or employees of the Federal Works Agency, acting within the scope of their employment and presented to this Agency within 1 year from the date of accrual of said claim, is submitted. The claim has been determined by the general counsel of this Agency as a legal claim for submission under the said act, and it is H. Does., 78-2, vol. 14- -52 recommended that it be submitted to Congress for payment out of appropriations that may be made therefor: Mr. Andrew H. Dedeaux, 529 Gresham Place NW., Washington, D. C. On December 30, 1943, a truck of this Agency was parked at the southwest entrance to the Federal Works Building, and due to a defective handbrake started in motion when it was unattended and as a result coasted back into the privately owned vehicle, damaging the same to the extent of $6. Amount claimed, $6; amount allowed, $6. SIR: In accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress approved December 28, 1922 (42 Stat. 1066), the following described claim accruing after April 6, 1917, on account of damages to or loss of privately owned property, due to the negligence of officers or employees of the Federal Works Agency, acting within the scope of their employment and presented to this Agency within 1 year from the date of accrual of said claim, is submitted. The claim has been determined by the general counsel of this Agency as a legal claim for submission under the said act, and it is recommended that it be submitted to Congress for payment out of appropriations that may be made therefor: Mr. Jay M. Miller, 1800 Key Boulevard, Apartment 491, Arlington, Va On December 9, 1943, the automobile of the claimant was damaged due to the negligence of an employee of this Agency in following the privately owned car too closely for proper control of the Government vehicle, and as a result when the claimant's automobile stopped, in compliance with the traffic signal, the Government owned vehicle collided with the privately owned automobile damıaging the same in the amount of $23.59. Amount claimed, $23.59; amount allowed, $23.59. Very truly yours, PHILIP B. FLEMING, Major General, United States Army, FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY, The DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, J. C. SIR: In accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress approved December 28, 1922 (42 Stat. 1066; U. S. C., title 31, secs. 215-217), I have considered, ascertained, adjusted, and determined the following-described claim accruing after April 6, 1917, on account of damage to or loss of privately owned property, due to the negligence of officers or employees of the Work Projects Administration, acting within the scope of their employment, and presented to the Work Projects Administration within 1 year from the date of accruing. The claim has been examined by the general counsel for the Federal Works Agency, who advises me that it is a legal claim for submission under said act. I certify the amount found due the claimant, as herein set forth, as a legal claim, and recommend that it be submitted to Congress for payment out of appropriations that may be made therefor. Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc., 4 Irving Place, New York, N. Y. On January 22, 1941, at New York, N. Y., an employee of the Work Projects Administration, while acting within the scope of his employment, negligently failed to notify a subordinate of the location of claimant's underground cable, although aware of its location, with the result that the subordinate, while excavating a trench with a crowbar, struck and damaged the cable. Amount claimed, $1,000; recommended for allowance, $1,000. Sincerely yours, BAIRD SNYDER 3d (Acting for Philip B. Fleming, Major General, United States Army, Administrator). FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY, Washington, November 25, 1943. The DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. DIRECTOR: In accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress approved December 28, 1922 (42 Stat. 1066), the following-described claim accruing after April 6, 1917, on account of damages to or loss of privately owned property, due to the negligence of officers or employees of the Federal Works Agency, acting within the scope of their employment, and presented to this Agency within 1 year from the date of accrual of said claim, is submitted. The claim has been determined by the general counsel of this Agency as a legal claim for submission under the said act, and it is recommended that it be submitted to Congress for payment out of appropriations that may be made therefor. Mr. Gilbert I. Cox, 1234 Penn Street NE. On June 6, 1943, the driver of a Government truck made a left-hand turn in violation of the traffic regulations and in so doing brought the truck into collision with the automobile of the claimant, damaging the same to the extent of $95.21. Amount claimed, $95.21; amount allowed, $95.21. Sincerely yours, Mr. HAROLD D. SMITH, NATIONAL HOUSING AGENCY, Washington, D. C., February 17, 1944. Director, Bureau of the Budget, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. SMITH: In accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress approved December 28, 1922 (42 Stat. 1066), I have considered, ascertained, adjusted, and determined the following-described claim accruing after April 6, 1917, on account of damage to privately owned property, due to negligence of an employee of the Federal Housing Administration, National Housing Agency, acting within the scope of his employment, and presented to this Agency within 1 year from the date of accrual of said claim. I certify the amount due the claimant, as herein set forth, as a legal claim, and recommend that it be submitted to the Congress for payment out of appropriations that may be made therefor. On November 20, 1943, a truck owned by the Federal Housing Administration and operated by one of its employees struck an automobile owned by Mr. Roy Boyd, 1440 Meridian Place NW., Washington, D. C., smashing the left rear light and left license bracket of Mr. Boyd's automobile. Mr. Boyd's car was parked at the time and the operator of the truck negligently failed to obtain proper clearance in backing the truck to the entrance of the property occupied by the Federal Housing Administration at Fourteenth and L Streets NW. Amount of claim, $6.15; amount allowed, $6.15. DEAR MR. SMITH: In accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress of December 28, 1922 (42 Stat. 1066), this Department has considered, ascertained, adjusted, and determined the following claims on account of damage to or loss of privately owned property caused by the negligence of officers or employees of the Department acting within the scope of their employment. These claims were presented by the claimants within 1 year from the date of their accrual, and it is recommended that the amounts found due the claimants, as hereinafter indicated, be reported to Congress for payment. 1. John W. Baiter, 1114 West Gift Street, Peoria, Ill. On July 2, 1943, near Farmington, Ill., the claimant's car was damaged when a driver of a Soil Conservation Service automobile, in backing to clear a one-way lane for traffic entering from the opposite direction, collided with an automobile parked halfway off the pavement immediately behind the Government truck. Claimed and allowed, $28.12. 2. Mrs. Ella Campbell, Route 1, Coshocton, Ohio. On August 12, 1943, near Warsaw, Ohio, the driver of a vehicle of the Soil Conservation Service, on approaching an intersection, failed to see a "Stop" sign indicating a through highway, and collided with a private vehicle being driven by Mrs. Campbell. As a result, the private car was damaged to the extent of $123.89, of which amount $99.11 was paid by the Farm Bureau Mutual Auto Insurance Co., in accordance with the terms of the policy, leaving a balance of $24.78 to be paid by the claimant. Claimed and allowed, $24.78. 3. Commercial Union Assurance Co., 315 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, Calif. On January 24, 1943, at Bradley, Calif., a driver of a Forest Service (emergency rubber project) truck, in attempting to cross Highway 101, failed to allow sufficient time to cover the distance before the approach of a vehicle, driven by Mrs. Anna Salamoni, the claimant's assured. The private vehic.e struck the right wheel and fender of the Government truck, causing the private truck to overturn, damaging a trailer which it was towing. The claim is supported by an itemized receipted bill in the amount of $503.63, $403.63 of which has been paid by the Commercial Union Assurance Co., in accordance with the terms of a $100 deductible collision insurance policy. However, the Forest Service, upon investigating the bill, found that the cost of the material used was higher than the present market price and that some of the damages included in the claim were not caused by the collision. As a result, the damage was estimated at $350, plus $20 towage charge, of which amount the owner of the damaged vehicle paid $100, |