Measure of liability of persons accountable for government property.
Section 22
SEC. 22. Measure of liability of persons accountable for government property.—The person immediately accountable for government property shall be liable for its money value in case of the illegal, improper or unauthorized use of the property, or misapplication thereof, by himself or any other person for whose acts he may be responsible, and he shall be liable for all loss, damage, or deterioration occasioned by negligence in the keeping or use of such property unless it is shown or proved that he has exercised due diligence and care in the utilization and safekeeping of the property. No accountable person shall be relieved from liability by reason of his having acted under the direction of a superior officer in using property with which he is chargeable; but the officer directing any illegal, unauthorized or improper use of property shall first be required to answer therefor. In cases of loss, damage or deterioration of government property arising from, or attributable to, negligence in security, the head of the security agency shall be held liable therefor.