SI Bredin Exp.— Society Ids. 
Filed: McConnaughey , James 
43ft.. 8A3I* February 21, lp$7 
Utr. Janes McConnaughey 
The Kettering-Oakwood ftees 
2600 Far Hills Building 
Dayton 9, Ohio . 
Bear Hr. McConnaughey: 
If I had ray say you would hare the promised #3,000 in hand long 
ago. Please bear with us a Few days longer as our Secretary is getting 
sons cautious or scary adrice from son© of his advisers (?), They want 
to be certain that if the vessel is damaged the insurance company would 
not sue the Smithsonian after paying you (the owner of the vessel). 
Son© of their talk la ’’Greek'* to n®, l#iat they fear is a subrogation 
clause that nay be in your insurance policy which would render the 
Institution liable for aqy or everything beyond the first #1,000 if 
the vessel is in collision, wrecked, or lost. 
A carbon of the letter that I drafted for the Secretary's sig- 
nature for sending to you with the check is enclosed. This was - : 
witten when their objections were first conveyed to ne. It is a 
good and valid document when accepted by you, but hang it all, tell 
ne something about a subrogation clause, if any. I would have eon- 
suited an insurance friend of mine, but he would, not know anything 
about the nature of your policy* Do you carry collision damage, and 
do we need it in order to escape any and all liability above the 
first 11,000? It puts me out to have to delay matters or bring up 
these questions, but Caesar’s Ghost, I mat to get things settled and 
promptly so that I can mail or have nailed to you that check. 
_ I psms you have been up against what we call bureaucrats or 
“things of that sort before. The #3,000 payment will be forth- 
coming real soon. 
Thank you for your patience and forebearanee. 
Sincerely, 
Wald© L. Schmitt 
Head Curator 
Department of Zoology 
End. 
St S seek 
