Chap. 402.—An ACT to reimburse George W. Richardson for a certain sum im-
properly paid into the treasury of the State of Virginia. [S B 188]

Approved March 20, 1924.

Whereas, George W. Richardson, in the year nineteen hundred and
one, became the holder, in the manner provided by law, of a lease from
the Commonwealth of approximately one hundred and fifteen acres
of oyster planting ground in the York river, and has annually paid
the rental thereon, as required by law, until and including the year
nineteen hundred and twenty-one; and

Whereas, before the expiration of the said lease the general assembly
of Virginia, by act approved March sixteenth, nineteen hundred and
eighteen, ceded to the United States all the rights and interest of the
Commonwealth in lands acquired by the United States government,
abutting upon navigable waters, and including under-water lands be-
tween low water mark and the bulkhead, or pierhead line; and

Whereas, under the rrovisions of the said act, and by presidential
proclamation of November second, nineteen hundred and eighteen,
the title to the lands abutting the oyster planting grounds, so leased
to the said Richardson as above described, passed to the United States
government, and all rights of the Commonwealth pertaining to said
planting grounds ceased and were determined; and

Whereas, notwithstanding such termination of the rights of the
Commonwealth, the said Richardson was. required by the commis-
sioner of fisheries to pay to the Commonwealth the annual rental upon
the said planting grounds for the year beginning September first,
nineteen hundred and eighteen, and for three years thereafter, at one
hundred and fifteen dollars and twelve cents per year, or a total of
four hundred and sixty dollars and forty-eight cents; and

Whereas, there is no method by which the said Richardson may be
reimbursed for the rental so unlawfully collected, other than by act of
the general assembly, now, therefore,
1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
auditor of public accounts be, and he is hereby authorized and directed
to draw his warrant in favor of George W. Richardson, for the sum of
four hundred and sixty dollars and forty-eight cents, on the treasurer
of Virginia, payable out of any funds in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated, in full payment of the claim of the said George W. Rich-
ardson for reimbursement of the said amount as erroneously paid.