Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 50 Part 1.djvu/504

 [CHAPTER 4441 7 5TH CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION-CH. 444-JULY 8, 1937 AN ACT To dispense with the necessity for insurance by the Government against loss or damage to valuables in shipment, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That as soon as practicable after the approval of this Act the Secretary of the Treas- ury and the Postmaster General shall, jointly, with the approval of the President ., prescribe regulations governing the shipment of valuables by the executive departments, independent establishments, agencies, wholly owned corporations, officers, and employees of the United States, with a view to minimizing risks of loss and destruc- tion of, and damage to, such valuables in shipment. After the effec- tive date of such regulations, which shall be not more than thirty days after their issuance, it shall be the duty of every such executive department, independent establishment, agency, wholly owned cor- poration, officer, and employee, and of every person acting for him or it, or at his or its direction, to comply with such regulations in making any shipment of valuables. SEC. 2 . There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $500,000 to be used, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, for the replacement of valuables, or the value thereof, lost, destroyed, or damaged in the course of shipment effected pur- suant to the regulations prescribed under section 1. There is hereby further authorized to be appropriated annually, beginning with the fiscal year 1939 and ending with the fiscal year 1948, inclusive, the sum of $200,000 for the said purposes, and from time to time such additional sums as may be necessary for the said purposes. There shall be in the Treasury of the United States a revolving fund, to be known as "the fund for the payment of Government losses in shi pment" (here inafte r refe rred t o as " the fun d"), t o be c onstit uted of the said sum of $500,000 and the sums hereafter appropriated for the s aid pu rposes, toge ther w ith al l recov eries and re paymen ts cre d- ited to the fund as hereinafter provided. There is hereby further authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $10,000, for expenditures under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, to be used for the payment of administrative expenses, including personal services, necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act for the fiscal year 1938. SEC. 3. In the event of lo ss or destru ction of, or damage to, v al- uables of which shipment shall have been made pursuant to the regulations prescribed under section 1, a claim in writing for replace- ment shall be made upon the Secretary of the Treasury who, if he shall be satisfied that such loss, destruction, or damage has occurred an d tha t sh ipmen t was made sub stant ially in accor dance with suc h regulations, shall cause replacement to be made out of the fund th rough suc h off icers as h e ma y des ignat e. Notwithstand ing any provision of law to the contrary, the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury that such loss, destruction, or damage has occurred or that such shipment was made substantially in accordance with such regulations shall be final and conclusive and shall not be subject to review by any other officer of the United States : Provided, however, That where the Secretary of the Treasury determines that such replacement can be effected, in whole or in part, without actual or ultimate injury to the United States, by a credit in the accounts of 479 July 8, 1937 TH. It.6835] _ [Public, No. 192] Government Losses in Shipment Act. Shipments of valu- ables by Federal de- partments, agencies, et c. Sum authorized for repla cement of los ses, etc. Ante, p. 471. Annual appropria. tions author ized. Revolving fund es- tablished. Amount for adminis- trati ve expe nses. Procedure for satis- fying claims. Decisions of Secre- tary of the Treasury. Provisos. Fund not to be re- sorted to if replace- ment effected by credit in accounts.