Chap. 458.—An ACT to reimburse John FE. Ross for a certain sum improperly
paid into the treasury of the State of Virginia. [H B 322]

Approved March 26, 1928

Whereas John E. Ross was the holder, in the manner provided by
law of a lease from the Commonwealth of two hundred and thirty-five
and nine-one-hundredths 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-five; and

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

Whereas under the provisions of 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 John E. Ross, 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 John E. Ross was required by the commis-
sion 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 seven years thereafter. at
two hundred and thirty-five dollars and nine cents per year, or a total
of eighteen hundred and eighty dollars and seventy-two cents; and

Whereas there is no method by which the said John E. Ross 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
comptroller be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to draw his
warrant in favor of John E. Ross for the sum of eighteen hundred and
eighty dollars and seventy-two 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 John E. Ross for reimburse-
ment of the said amount as erroneously paid.