"PAMPLICO, S. C., July 18, 1947. "I, Dolan Calcutt, was driving my privately owned automobile, on United States Highway No. 52, headed south, en route to Charleston, S. C., on the afternoon of December 27, 1943. As I approached the intersection at Moncks Corner, S. C., at the rate of approximately 45 miles per hour, a Coast Guard truck approached the highway from the Moncks Corner road. I thought the truck was going to stop since I had the right of way but instead of stopping, the truck rolled directly in front of me as indicated on the attached drawing. I had no alternative except to run, head-on, into the truck. My front hit the left front fender of the truck. The impact threw my wife against the front window, breaking the window and inflicting severe wounds in my wife's face. My left arm was broken against the steering wheel. The entire front end of my car was smashed, radiator smashed, chassis bent, hood and fenders completely smashed up. "There were seven passengers in my car, my wife, my three children, my sister, brother, and niece, aside from myself. All of us were taken immediately to the hospital at Moncks Corner. One child, aged 3, had been knocked unconscious but was revived at the hospital. My wife's face was sewn up (seven stitches). It was the following day when I discovered that my arm had been broken. I then went to the Roper Hospital in Charleston, S. C., where the arm was X-rayed. I then went to my own doctor on Highway 52, near the navy yard, to have my arm set and for other necessary treatment. I do not remember the name of this doctor. "Immediately after the accident, described in paragraph 1 above, a Coast Guard man, identified as Marvin D. Wall, was brought into Moncks Corner Hospital by the county sheriff and a State patrolman. Wall was further identified as the driver of the Coast Guard truck. I talked to Wall in private. He pleaded with me not to press charges against him and promised to pay me in full for damages caused by the accident. He then stated that he was, at that time, making $150 per month and that if I report the accident he would be cut down to $50 per month and that he had rather pay me the money than lose it. Wall then got into another Coast Guard truck, leaving the one involved in the accident at the Chevrolet agency in Moncks Corner. He asked me if he could drive me home. I accepted his offer, since there was no other way to get home, and he drove me and my family to our home in Charleston. I noticed the odor of whiskey on Wall's breath. I also saw Wall take a bottle out of the Coast Guard truck and throw it into the woods. "The hospital and doctor bills totaled approximately $70. "Approximately 1 week after the accident, I hired a truck to tow my car from Moncks Corner to the Service Motor Co., in Pamplico, S. C., for repairs. I then had to buy another car of the same make and model for $150 in order that I could take parts from both cars and make one run. The repairs were made by the Service Motor Co. at a total cost of approximately $425. "The bills from the Service Motor Co. for repairs and all doctor and hospital bills have been turned over to George W. Keels in January 1944. Mr. Keels, an attorney in Florence, S. C., told me that he had forwarded these bills to Washington, D. C., in attempt to obtain reimbursement for my damages. A statement, signed by three witnesses of the accident, was also turned over to Mr. Keels. "I saw Wall one time after the accident; he came to my home about a week afterward and again promised to pay me for all damages. I have not seen or heard from him since. "I certify that this statement is true to the best of my knowledge. "Signed in witness of signature: "(Signed) DOLAN L. CALCUTT. "A. J. BEARD, Lieutenant (junior grade), United States Coast Guard. "J. N. ALEWINE, Pay Clerk, United States Coast Guard." The sheriff of Berkeley County at Moncks Corner, S. C., made a thorough search of his files but no record of the accident was found. The sheriff stated, however, that he vaguely recalled the accident and that Patrolman James Belger of the State Highway Department was on the scene and supposedly made a report. Patrolman James Belger is no longer on the force. The sheriff stated further that he remembered Mabron D. Wall in connection with the accident and that he assumed that some sort of agreement had been made between Wall and Calcutt. A search of the Coast Guard records in Charleston reveals that Wall was in a travel status at the time of the alleged accident, and in possession of a Coast Guard vehicle. The travel log prepared and submitted by Wall indicates that he arrived in Beaufort, S. C. approximately 89 miles from Moncks Corner, at 1:30 p. m. on the 27th of December and that he remained there until 8 a. m. the following morning. It seems probable that Wall drove to Moncks Corner in the Coast Guard vehicle after arriving at Beaufort, but the records show nothing on this due to the fact that the accident was never reported. Apparently repairs to the Coast Guard vehicle were effected by Wall without knowledge on the part of Coast Guard authorities that an accident had occurred. If Wall did drive to Moncks Corner as surmised above, it constituted unauthorized use of a Government vehicle. Wall, who is no longer in the service, does not answer letters addressed to him at his last known address, 316 Orchard Street, Bowie, Tex. The statement of the claimant indicates he was driving at approximately 45 miles per hour in approaching the intersection where the alleged accident occurred. The speed limit for some distance on either side of that intersection is 25 miles per hour. His statement also indicates that he did not use due caution by taking action in a timely manner to avert a possible collision. It seems apparent to the Treasury Department that, if this accident did occur as described by claimant in his statement, both drivers involved were guilty of negligence, and for that reason the Department recommends against the enactment of H. R. 5271. The Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your committee. Very truly yours, E. H. FOLEY, Jr., Actirg Secretary of the Treasury. PAMPLICO, S. C., July 18, 1947. I, Dolan Calcutt, was driving my privately owned automobile, on United States Highway No. 52, headed south, en route to Charleston, S. C., on the afternoon of December 27, 1943. As I approached the intersection at Moncks Corner, S. C., at the rate of approximately 45 miles per hour, a Coast Guard truck approached the highway from the Moncks Corner road. I thought the truck was going to to stop since I had the right-of-way but instead of stopping the truck rolled directly in front of me as indicated on the attached drawing. I had no alternative except to run, head-on, into the truck. My front hit the left front fender of the truck. The impact threw my wife against the front window, breaking the window and inflicting severe wounds in my wife's face. My left arm was broken against the steering wheel. The entire front end of my car was smashed, radiator smashed, chassis bent, hood and fenders completely smashed up. There were seven passengers in my car, my wife, my three children, my sister, brother, and niece aside from myself. All of us were taken immediately to the hospital at Moncks Corner. One child, aged 3 had been knocked unconscious but was revived at the hospital. My wife's face was sewn up (seven stitches). It was the following day when I discovered that my arm had been broken. I then went to the Roper Hospital in Charleston, S. Č., where the arm was X-rayed. I then went to my own doctor on Highway 52, near the navy yard to have my arm set and for other necessary treatment. I do not remember the name of this doctor. Immediately after the accident, described in paragraphs 1 above, a Coast Guard man, identified as Marvin D. Wall, was brought into Moncks Corner Hospital by the county sheriff and a State patrolman. Wall was further identified as the driver of the Coast Guard truck. I talked to Wall in private. He pleaded with me not to press charges against him and promised to pay me in full for damages caused by the accident. He then stated that he was, at that time, making $150 per month and that if I report the accident he would be cut down to $50 per month and that he had rather pay me the money than lose it. Wall then got into another Coast Guard truck, leaving the one involved in the accident at the Chevrolet agency in Moncks Corner. He asked me if he could drive me home. I accepted his offer, since there was no other way to get home, and he drove me and my family to our home in Charleston. I noticed the odor of whisky on Wall's breath. I also saw Wall take a bottle out of the Coast Guard truck and throw it into the woods. The hospital and doctor bills totaled approximately $70. Approximately 1 week after the accident, I hired a truck to tow my car from Moncks Corner to the Service Motor Co., in Pamplico, S. C., for repairs. I then had to buy another car of the same make and model for $150 in order that I could take parts from both cars and make one run. The repairs were made by the Service Motor Co. at a total cost of approximately $425. H. Repts., 81-1, vol. 3-84 The bills from the Service Motor Co. for repairs and all doctor and hospital bills have been turned over to George W. Keels in January 1944. Mr. Keels, an attorney in Florence, S. C., told me that he had forwarded these bills to Washington, D. C., in attempt to obtain reimbursement for my damages. A statement, signed by three witnesses of the accident, was also turned over to Mr. Keels. I saw Wall one time after the accident; he came to my home about a week afterwards and again promised to pay me for all damages. I have not seen or heard from him since. I certify that this statement is true to the best of my knowledge. Personally appeared before me, George W. Keels, who being first duly sworn, says that deponent was in Charleston, S. C., just a day or two after the wreck which involved a United States Coast Guard truck, driven by a Mr. Wall, and an automobile driven by Dolan Calcutt, Pamplico, S. C., in which his family were riding with him to their home in Charleston; that papers have heretofore been referred to Congressman John L. McMillan, which papers disclose, as well as I recall, the initials of Mr. Wall; that while I was at the home of Dolan Calcutt in Charleston, S. C., at said time, Mr. Wall came to the home of Dolan Calcutt and while there, admitted without any reservations, that the accident was due to his fault and at that time begged Mr. Dolan Calcutt not to make any report of his drinking condition because it would cause him to lose his job and admitted, absolutely without any reservations, that he was in a highly intoxicated condition at the time the collision occurred. He further stated to Mr. Dolan Calcutt, in my presence, that if Mr. Dolan Calcutt would not make any report of his inebriated condition so that he would not lose his job he would pay, for the damage done to Dolan Calcutt and his family because of this wreck involving said Coast Guard truck and automobile of Dolan Calcutt, so much per month out of his salary. I feel that it is almost shameful for Dolan Calcutt and his family to be treated by the Coast Guard Department and the Government in any such manner. If I could try them before a jury, they would certainly have to pay for the damages sustained by Mr. Dolan Calcutt and his family, which consists of practical destruction of this man's automobile and serious, painful personal injuries to him and three members of his family, requiring hospitalization and medical care. If there is any further information desired as to this matter, I will be glad to furnish same, so far as I know. GEORGE W. KEELS. RUFUS C. HEWITT, Sworn to and subscribed before me this 29th day of April 1949. [SEAL] Notary Public in and for South Carolina. О MABEL H. SLOCUM MAY 18, 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and ordered to be printed Mr. LANE, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 1132] The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 1132) for the relief of Mabel H. Slocum, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. The purpose of the proposed legislation is that the Civil Service Commission is authorized and directed to pay out any money in the civil service retirement and disability fund, to Mabel H. Slocum, of Hyattsville, Md., the widow of Rob R. Slocum, formerly an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture, an annuity equal in amount to the annuity which she would have been entitled to receive had the retirement of the said Rob R. Slocum become effective on January 31, 1944, and had he elected in writing, at the time of such retirement, to receive a reduced annuity payable after his death to said Mabel H. Slocum, as surviving beneficiary. STATEMENT OF FACTS On November 30, 1943, the Department of Agriculture received notice in its Personnel Division of the intended voluntary retirement of one Mr. Rob R. Slocum. The retirement was to become effective March 21, 1944. Mr. Slocum had been in continuous employment of this Department since 1906, except for part of 1 year (October 12, 1921, to May 16, 1922) during which period he was employed by the Veterans' Bureau. He rejoined the Départment of Agriculture in 1922 and remained with them until his death on March 3, 1944. On the 6th of January 1944. Mr. Slocum executed the United States Civil Service Commission Form No. 3001, Application for Annuity, in the presence of proper parties of the Department of Agriculture. On the 18th of the same month the form reached the Civil Service Commission. In March of 1944, Mr. Slocum signed a properly witnessed statement, addressed to the Personnel Division of the Department of Agriculture, to the effect that he wished to advance his optional voluntary retirement to become effective as of February 1, 1944. Mr. Slocum died 2 days later. The Retirement Division of Civil Service informed Personnel Division of the Department of Agriculture that the effective date of Slocum's optional retirement could not be advanced to become retroactive to the earlier date of February 1, 1944. Mrs. Slocum, widow of the above-named, paid back to the United States Treasurer the money received by her husband for the earned annual leave which had been paid him up to the time of his death; this was on the ruling of the Civil Service Commission. Said Commission is opposed to passage of this bill for an individual case, stating it would set a precedent. However, your committee is of the opinion that, due to the fact that the application was only a few days late, it should be executed and in force for the benefit of Mrs. Slocum. A similar bill (H. R. 1386), Private Law 41 (79th Cong.), was enacted and approved April 17, 1945. Attached hereto and made a part of this record is a copy of Private Law 41. Therefore, your committee recommends favorable consideration to the bill. [PRIVATE LAW 41-79TH CONGRESS) [CHAPTER 73-1ST SESSION] (H. R. 1396! AN ACT For the reliet of Anne Loacker Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Civil Service Commission is authorized and directed to pay, out of any money in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, to Anne Loacker, of Spokane, Washington, the widow of Leo G. Loacker, formerly a railway-mail clerk, an annuity equal in amount to the annuity which she would have been entitled to receive had the retirement of the said Leo G. Loacker become effective on November 1, 1941, and had he elected in writing, at the time of such retirement, to receive a reduced annuity equal to such reduced annuity payable after his death to the said Anne Loacker, as surviving .beneficiary. Approved April 17, 1945. Hon. EARL C. MICHENER, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULture, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. MICHENER: This is in reply to your request of April 16, 1947, for a report on H. R. 1315, a bill for the relief of Mabel H. Slocum. Mrs. Slocum is the widow of Rob R. Slocum, formerly an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture. Mr. Rob R. Slocum began his employment with the United States Department of Agriculture on July 16, 1906, and except for the period from October 12, 1921 to May 16, 1922, when he was employed by the Veterans' Bureau, remained with this Department until his death on March 3, 1944. According to our official records, on November 30, 1943, the administrative officer of the Dairy and Poultry Branch in which Mr. Slocum was employed requested the Personnel Division to process an official action as Mr. Slocum wanted to exercise his optional retirement rights. This personnel transaction |