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the EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT BUREAU OF THE BUDGET WASHINGTON, 25, D.C. JUL 11 1945 My dear Mr. Latta: The Congress has enacted S. 134, "For the relief of Ida E. Laurie and Zella Rickard. " It is the purpose of the bill to pay the sum of $1,000 to Ida Erickson (now Laurie) and the sum of $250 to Zella Rickard, both of Marshfield, Oregon, in settlement of their claims against the United States by reason of personal injuries sustained as a result of an acci- dent which occurred when an Army vehicle in which they were riding as passengers collided with another Army vehicle near Marshfield on May 8, 1943. It appears that about 1 a.m. on the date in question, an Army truck on an authorized recreational trip transporting a group of girls from Shore Acres to Marshfield, Oregon, after a USO dance, was proceeding in a southerly direction along a highway near Marshfield when it was side- swiped by another Army truck which was travelling, partially over the center of the highway, from the opposite direction. The impact of the vehicles caused the Army truck in which the girls were riding to careen off the left side of the highway into a ditch, and four of the girls were injured. Miss Erickson (now Laurie) on arrival at the local hospital was found to have sustained a fracture of the right arm above the elbow. Medical evidence indicates that she will have a permanent loss of func- tion of the right arm to the extent of 25 per cent, as well as a scar and an enlargement of the elbow in the region of the break. The medical and hospital expenses incurred by the claimant in the amount of $448.45 by reason of the injury sustained have been paid to the claimant by the War Department under existing provisions of law. Miss Rickard filed claim with the War Department in t he amount of $290.19, representing $250 for personal injury and $40.19 for property damage. The War Department, in its report to the committee when the bill was pending before the Congress, expressed the view that an award of $250 would be fair and reasonable, as would the proposed payment to Miss Erickson (now Laurie) of $1,000. FRUMAR NARA