Chap. 338.—An ACT to authorize and empower the governor, with the advice
of the attorney gencral, to employ special counsel or attorneys for the State
of Virginia to prosecute and recover any claims that may be due this State
from the United States of America, on account of putting the public school
system of the State of Virginia on an equal basis with other States of the
Union that have received public lands from the United States of America
for the maintenance of their public school system. {H B 451)

Approved March 23, 1922.

Whereas, pursuant to acts of Congress from seventeen hundred
and eighty-five until eighteen hundred and fifty-three the United
States of America has donated to certain States of he Union, upon
their coming into the Union, certain portions of the public lands for
public school purposes ; and

Whereas, a large number of the States of the Union, Virginia
included, have not thus far participated in this allotment of distri-
bution. resulting, among‘ other things, in the retarding of the develop-
ment of the public school system of the States thus discriminated
against; and

Whereas, it is expected that legislation will be introduced in the
Congress of the United States on behalf of these participating States,
Virginia included, looking to their further participation in the allot-
ment of public lands of the United States for the improvement and
betterment of their public school system; and

Whereas, it 1s desirable that all proper steps be taken on behali
of the State of Virginia, looking to the participation of this Common-
wealth in such allotment or apportionment of public lands for the
purposes indicated; therefore,
1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
governor, with the advice of the attorney general, is hereby author-
ized and empowered to employ special counsel or attorneys for the
State of Virginia for the purpose of using all proper diligence and
means for and on behalf of the State of Virginia to prosecute and
collect against the United States any claim of the State of Virginia
involving said equalization and adjustment of the public lands of the
United States for the benefit of the school system of the State of
Virginia and generally collect and recover from the United States
all such claims made or to be made against the United States by the
State of Virginia.

2. It is understood, however, that the employment of such counsel
or attorneys shall be upon such terms as will insure their best services
and skill as the interest of the State of Virginia may require, and
they shall receive for such services and expenses connected - there-
with a sum not exceeding fifteen per centum of the amount of any
sum recovered and paid to the State of Virginia on such claims so
prosecuted by said counsel or attorneys, it being understood, however,
that no obligation shall be due from or binding upon the State of
Virginia until the money recovered by such counsel or attorneys shall
be actually paid into the treasury for the State of Virginia or the
property recovered passed into the possession of the State of Virginia.

3. The governor shall have the power and authority to contract
and agree that upon the payment into the treasury of the State of
Virginia of any sum of money, as herein provided, under any such
contract made -with such counsel or attorneys, their successors or
assigns, that a sum, not exceeding fifteen per centum of such sum
recovered, and paid into the State treasury, or fifteen per centum of
the value of the property passing into the possession of the State
of Virginia shall be paid to said counsel or attorneys, their successors
or assigns, and the State auditor is hereby authorized to draw his
warrant for the sum so due such counsel or attorneys upon the cer-
tificate and approval of the governor.

4. The State of Virginia shall not under any circumstances be held
liable for any cost or expenses whatsoever therein or paid for the
prosecution and collection of such claims, and all the cost and ex-
penses necessary and proper therein shall be paid and discharged by
said counsel or attorneys at their own proper cost and expense.