B-139359, JUL. 1, 1959
Highlights
PAYMENT OF PER DIEM FROM TIME OF DEPARTURE FROM OR ARRIVAL AT THE OFFICIAL STATION IS AUTHORIZED ON A TRAVEL VOUCHER TRANSMITTED THEREWITH IN FAVOR OF MR. YOU ALSO SAY THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HARVARD AND BOSTON IS 37 MILES AND THAT MILEAGE TO AND FROM BOSTON AT THE RATE OF ?10 PER MILE WAS AUTHORIZED TO MR. WHEN THE COMMON CARRIER TERMINAL IS A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FROM THE DESIGNATED POST OF DUTY AND A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION OTHER THAN COMMON CARRIER IS USED TO REACH THE COMMON CARRIER TERMINAL. YOU HAVE SAID THAT THIS PROCEDURE ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT SIX OF YOUR REGIONAL OFFICES ARE LOCATED AT OUT OF THE WAY PLACES RANGING IN DISTANCE FROM 25 TO 55 MILES FROM COMMON CARRIER TERMINALS AND THAT THE MOST ECONOMICAL MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE IS PRIVATELY OR GOVERNMENT OWNED AUTOMOBILE.
B-139359, JUL. 1, 1959
TO MR. W. R. WILSON, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, OFFICE OF CIVIL AND DEFENSE MOBILIZATION:
YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 15, 1959, REQUESTS OUR DECISION AS TO WHETHER, UNDER THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES HEREINAFTER RELATED, PAYMENT OF PER DIEM FROM TIME OF DEPARTURE FROM OR ARRIVAL AT THE OFFICIAL STATION IS AUTHORIZED ON A TRAVEL VOUCHER TRANSMITTED THEREWITH IN FAVOR OF MR. WILLARD D. WHITFIELD.
YOU SAY THAT MR. WHITFIELD CLAIMS PER DIEM INCIDENTAL TO OFFICIAL TRAVEL FROM THE TIME HE LEFT HIS OFFICIAL STATION AT HARVARD, MASSACHUSETTS, 10:00 P.M., UNTIL DEPARTURE OF THE RAIL CARRIER FROM THE TERMINAL AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, 12:30 A.M., AND FROM THE TIME OF RETURN TO THE RAIL TERMINAL TO THE TIME OF RETURN TO OFFICIAL STATION IN ADDITION TO THE TRAVEL TIME BY COMMON CARRIER. YOU ALSO SAY THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HARVARD AND BOSTON IS 37 MILES AND THAT MILEAGE TO AND FROM BOSTON AT THE RATE OF ?10 PER MILE WAS AUTHORIZED TO MR. WHITFIELD. IN ADDITION, YOU SAY THAT IN THE PAST YOUR AGENCY HAS ALLOWED PER DIEM FROM THE TIME OF DEPARTURE FROM THE OFFICIAL DUTY STATION OR RESIDENCE, WHEN THE COMMON CARRIER TERMINAL IS A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FROM THE DESIGNATED POST OF DUTY AND A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION OTHER THAN COMMON CARRIER IS USED TO REACH THE COMMON CARRIER TERMINAL. YOU HAVE SAID THAT THIS PROCEDURE ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT SIX OF YOUR REGIONAL OFFICES ARE LOCATED AT OUT OF THE WAY PLACES RANGING IN DISTANCE FROM 25 TO 55 MILES FROM COMMON CARRIER TERMINALS AND THAT THE MOST ECONOMICAL MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE IS PRIVATELY OR GOVERNMENT OWNED AUTOMOBILE.
IN 38 COMP. GEN. 511 (B-51729, JANUARY 29, 1959), REFERRED TO IN YOUR LETTER, WE HELD THAT SECTION 6.9C OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS "RESTRICTS THE COMMENCEMENT OR TERMINATION OF PER DIEM TO THE TIME OF ACTUAL DEPARTURE FROM OR ARRIVAL AT THE REGULAR TERMINAL OF THE TRAIN, BOAT, OR OTHER CONVEYANCE USED BY THE TRAVELER, AND THIS APPLIES IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE TERMINAL OR PLACE OF RESIDENCE IS WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE EMPLOYEE.' ALSO, SEE SECTION 6.9C, AS REVISED EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 1959, TO THE SAME EFFECT.
THEREFORE, THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.