Public Law 79–92

That the Secretary

Payment of damage claims.

of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to pay, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and the Memphis Park Commission, the sum of $45,000, in full settlement of all claims against the Government of the United States for compensation for damages sustained by said city and its park commission on account of the destruction of the building known as the Woman’s Building and its fixtures and equipment located in the fair grounds of said city by fire on January 19, 1943, occasioned by the. negligence of agents and representatives of the United States Army, who, at the time, were in possession and control of said building, together with a large portion of the Memphis Fair Grounds and improvements thereon, for use exclusively for the purposes of a military reservation under lease thereof by the city of Memphis to the United States, wherein, in effect, the United States agreed that it would restore the leased premises to the same condition as that existing at the time of entering upon the same in the event of the damage or destruction thereof occasioned by the negligence of the lessee: 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.