Private Law 74–869

That the Secretary

“Betsy Ross,” schooner.

Payment to owners, etc., of.

of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to pay, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, jointly to Amos D. Carver, S. E. Turner, Clifford N. Carver, Scott Blanchard, P. B. Blanchard, James B. Parse, A. N. Blanchard, and W. A. Blanchard, owners of the schooner Betsy Ross and/or to the widows of any of said owners as may be deceased at the time of payment, each to receive of the amount hereby appropriated the portion thereof to which her husband would be entitled if living, the sum of $35,916.68, in full and final settlement of all claims against the United States for loss or losses which they may have suffered by reason of the interference with, the delays to, the enforced cancelation of the private charter of, and the appropriation of the use of, the schooner Betsy Ross by the United States Shipping Board or other governmental agencies at the port of Melbourne, Australia, on or about April 5, 1918: Provided, That no part of the amount

Proviso.

Limitation on attorney’s, etc., fees.

appropriated in this Act in excess of 10 per centum thereof shall be paid or delivered to or received by any agent or agents, attorney or attorneys, on account of services rendered in connection with said claim. It shall be unlawful for any agent or agents, attorney or attorneys, to exact, collect, withhold, or receive any sum of the amount appropriated in this Act in excess of 10 per centum thereof on account of services rendered in connection with said claim, any contract to the contrary notwithstanding. Any person violating the

Penalty for violation.

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.