Liability for Typewriter Destroyed by Fire

An agency questioned a claim for payment of $325 incident to destruction of a leased typewriter. The rental of the typewriter is regarded as a bailment for mutual benefit and, since there was no evidence of the government's negligence as bailee, the destruction of the bailment by fire did not create a presumption of the government's liability. The availability of the bailed property for use was ended, and rental payments were not authorized beyond the date of the fire.