CONGRESS JOHN W. BOOTH III MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RETURNING WITHOUT HIS APPROVAL A BILL (H. R. 2993) FOR THE RELIEF OF JOHN W. BOOTH III MARCH 27, 1944.-Referred to the Committee on Claims, and ordered to be printed To the House of Representatives: I return herewith, without my approval, H. R. 2993, a bill for the relief of John W. Booth III. It is the purpose of the bill to pay the sum of $5,000 to John W. Booth III, of Mansfield, La., in settlement of his claims against the United States by reason of personal injuries sustained when the automobile which he was driving was involved in a collision with an Army truck near Mansfield, La., on or about August 13, 1941. The record shows that the claimant was hospitalized for about 45 days; that 1 month after having been discharged from the hospital he enlisted at Barksdale Field as an aviation cadet; that he was found physically disqualified for flying duty; that a medical examination on May 25, 1942, by the claimant's physician, showed that the claimant's left eyeball was slightly recessed, which caused dimness of vision or double vision under certain circumstances, but that such conditions frequently follow a traumatic injury and have a tendency to improve spontaneously and that such improvement was expected in this case; and that the claimant recovered from the injuries sufficiently to be accepted as an apprentice seaman in the United States Navy on July 2, 1942, where he is now serving. The evidence of record indicates that while the Army driver may have been negligent to some extent in making a left turn in front of the privately owned vehicle, the driver of that vehicle was much more negligent in operating it at an excessive rate of speed, estimated by H. Docs., 78-2, vol. 14- -71 one witness at 85 miles per hour. But even if the Government were to assume liability for the accident, the fact of the claimant's early recovery and present service in the United States Navy would indicate that the amount of the proposed payment of $5,000 would be excessive. I regret, therefore, that I find it necessary to return the bill without my approval. THE WHITE HOUSE, March 27, 1944. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. H. R. 2993 SEVENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF America; at THE SECOND SESSION, BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON ON MONDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF JANUARY, ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR AN ACT For the relief of John W. Booth III Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 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 appro priated, to John W. Booth III, of Mansfield, Louisiana, the sum of $5,000, in ful satisfaction of all claims against the United States as compensation for persons! injuries sustained when an automobile in which he was driving was involved in a collision with a United States Army truck near Mansfield, Louisiana, on or about August 13, 1941: Provided, That no part of the amount appropriated in this Ac 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. SAM RAYBURN, Speaker of the House of Representatives H. A. WALLACE, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate [Endorsement on back of bill:] I certify that this Act originated in the House of Representatives. SOUTH TRIMBLE, Clerk. SURVEY REPORT ON SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATERSHED, CALIFORNIA LETTER FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TRANSMITTING A REPORT OF A SURVEY OF THE SANTA YNEZ MARCH 28, 1944.-Referred to the Committee on Flood Control and ordered to be printed, with illustrations UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1944 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Washington, March 23, 1944. The honorable the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a report of a survey of the Santa Ynez River watershed in California, made by this Department pursuant to the Flood Control Act of June 22, 1936. The report describes an investigation of a program of water-flow retardation and soil-erosion prevention in aid of flood control. A program of this kind, pursuant to the flood control acts, is recommended for installation in the watershed. We have been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that while there would be no objection to the submission of the proposed report to the Congress, it should be understood that no commitment would thereby be made as to any early financing of a land-use and management program for the Santa Ynez River watershed in California. Sincerely, GROVER B. HILL, m |