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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT BUREAU OF THE BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 7 MAR 6 1946 My dear Mr. Latta: On February 28, 1946, you advised this office that H. R. 854, "For the relief of Isabel Carlson", had been received at the White House, and re- quested reports and recommendations as to the approval of the bill. It is the purpose of the bill to pay the sum of $2,500 to Isabel Carlson of Chicago, Illinois, in settlement of all claims against the United States for personal injuries sustained and medical and hospital expenses incurred as the result of having been struck by a United States post-office vehicle, on Clark Street, Chicago, on March 15, 1943. As a result of the accident, the claimant, who was 26 years of age at the time, sustained a skull fracture and a contusion of the brain which resulted in unconsciousness, headaches, dizziness, and other cerebral symptoms, which medical evidence indicates are permanent. She has in- curred medical and hospital expenses in the amount of $691.60. She also sustained the loss of wages for the period from March 15, 1943 to November 24, 1943, in the amount of $752.95. Medical evidence indicates that while the claimant has attempted to resume her duties on several occassions she has been unable to work except for short and irregular intervals. Facsimiles of the enrolled enactment have been referred to the Post Office Department and the General Accounting Office, and their replies are attached herewith. The Post Office Department interposes no objec- tion to the approval of the measure. The General Accounting Office recom- mends its disapproval, and submits an attached draft of veto message which cites the original disallowance of the claim by the Post Office Department upon the ground that the claimant's injuries were due to her own negligence and that the employee of the Postal Service involved in the accident was not at fault. In reporting on the bill when it was pending before the Congress, the Post Office Department expressed the opinion that in the circumstances the bill should not receive favorable consideration. The report, however, of the House Committee on Claims contains affidavits of three persons in which they stated that the driver of the Government car in describing the cause of the accident said that II got excited and stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes