cases arising out of contract to be sued; (c) to demand the fulfillment of obligations
under the law and to defend and prosecute all actions at law; (d) to acquire property by
purchase, exchange, donation or bequest, by virtue of proceedings for the collection of
taxes, by eminent-domain proceedings, or by any other means provided by law, and to
possess, administer, and govern such property; and (e) to alienate or encumber any of
their property, subject to the provisions of this Act. *



 4. {Transfer of property to Government; application of tonnage duties,
 navigation laws, etc.; existing powers of United States officers
 unaffected}

 (a) All property which may have been acquired by the United States from
 Denmark in the Virgin Islands under the convention entered into August 4, 1916, not
 reserved by the United States for public purposes prior to June 22, 1937, is placed
 under the control of the Government of the Virgin Islands.

 (b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, all laws of the United States for the
 protection and improvement of the navigable waters of the United States shall apply to
 the Virgin Islands.

 (c) No Federal laws levying tonnage duties, light money, or entrance and
clearance fees shall apply to the Virgin Islands.

 (d) The Legislative Assembly of the Virgin Islands shall have power to enact
navigation, boat inspection, and safety laws of local application; but the President shall
have power to make application to the Virgin Islands such of the navigation, vessel
inspection, and coastwise laws of the United States as he may find and declare to be
necessary in the public interest, and, to the extent that the laws so made applicable
conflict with any laws of local application enacted by the Legislative Assembly, such
laws enacted by the Legislative Assembly shall have no force and effect.

 (e) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect or impair in any manner the
terms and conditions of any authorizations, permits, or other powers heretofore
lawfully granted or exercised in or in respect of the Virgin Islands by any authorized
officer or agent of the United States. *