B-61938, NOV 30, 1948
Highlights
BRINGS OUT CERTAIN MATTERS TO WHICH IT IS DEEMED ADVISABLE TO INVITE YOUR ATTENTION AND WHICH ARE REPORTED SUBSTANTIALLY AS FOLLOWS: 1. AN EXAMINATION OF RECORDS PERTAINING TO ASSIGNMENT OF OFFICERS TO GOVERNMENT-OWNED QUARTERS REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE COTTAGES AT THE BASE WAS OCCUPIED BY CAPT. NO RENTAL FOR THE QUARTERS WAS PAID BY CAPTAIN SHAPRIN FOR THE PERIOD OF OCCUPANCY NOR WAS ANY DEDUCTION MADE FROM THE RENTAL ALLOWANCE FOR EITHER MONTH. RENTAL ALLOWANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $105 FOR JULY 1948 WAS PAID ON D.O. BOTH VOUCHERS WERE PAID BY C. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS ON BOTH VOUCHERS WAS SHOWN AS 1627 OAKLAWN PLACE. THE ORDERS WERE CANCELLED AND AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO REPURCHASE HIS HOME CAPTAIN SHAPRIN WAS FORCED TO SECURE TEMPORARY LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS AT ONE OF THE BEACH HOTELS.
B-61938, NOV 30, 1948
PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE
THE HONORABLE, THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE:
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS OF C. S. VON NUNES, MAJOR F. D., DISBURSING OFFICER, KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, BILOXI, MISS., BRINGS OUT CERTAIN MATTERS TO WHICH IT IS DEEMED ADVISABLE TO INVITE YOUR ATTENTION AND WHICH ARE REPORTED SUBSTANTIALLY AS FOLLOWS:
1. AN EXAMINATION OF RECORDS PERTAINING TO ASSIGNMENT OF OFFICERS TO GOVERNMENT-OWNED QUARTERS REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE COTTAGES AT THE BASE WAS OCCUPIED BY CAPT. H. J. SHAPRIN AND FAMILY FROM JULY 13 TO AUGUST 18, 1948. NO RENTAL FOR THE QUARTERS WAS PAID BY CAPTAIN SHAPRIN FOR THE PERIOD OF OCCUPANCY NOR WAS ANY DEDUCTION MADE FROM THE RENTAL ALLOWANCE FOR EITHER MONTH. RENTAL ALLOWANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $105 FOR JULY 1948 WAS PAID ON D.O. VOUCHER NO. 1664 DATED JULY 31, 1948, AND IN THE SAME AMOUNT FOR AUGUST ON D.O. VOUCHER NO. 3942 DATED AUGUST 31, 1948. BOTH VOUCHERS WERE PAID BY C. S. VON NUNES, MAJOR, F. D., SYMBOL 222-033.
IT WAS NOTED THAT THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS ON BOTH VOUCHERS WAS SHOWN AS 1627 OAKLAWN PLACE, BILOXI, MISS. INQUIRY REVEALED THAT CAPTAIN SHAPRIN FORMERLY LIVED AT THE ADDRESS BUT HAD NOT LIVED THERE DURING THE PERIOD JULY 13 TO AUGUST 18, 1948. RENTAL ALLOWANCES PAID CAPTAIN SHAPRIN WHILE OCCUPYING GOVERNMENT-OWNED QUARTERS AMOUNTED TO $122.50 (35 DAYS AT $3.50 PER DAY).
IN EXPLANATION OF THE TRANSACTION, MAJOR MARTIN STATED THAT CAPTAIN SHAPRIN HAD SOLD HIS HOME AT A CONSIDERABLE LOSS UPON RECEIPT OF ORDERS FOR OVERSEAS DUTY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ORDERS WERE CANCELLED AND AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO REPURCHASE HIS HOME CAPTAIN SHAPRIN WAS FORCED TO SECURE TEMPORARY LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS AT ONE OF THE BEACH HOTELS. THE COST OF SUCH ACCOMMODATIONS PROVED TO BE PROHIBITIVE AND AS A RESULT ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR OCCUPANCY OF ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED COTTAGES PENDING FINAL DETERMINATION OF TRANSFER ORDERS. MAJOR MARTIN STATED FURTHER THAT THE QUARTERS HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY ASSIGNED TO CAPTAIN SHAPRIN NOR HAD A DETERMINATION BEEN MADE AS TO THE ADEQUACY OF SUCH QUARTERS; ALSO, THAT WHEN THE MATTER WAS OFFICIALLY CALLED TO HIS ATTENTION, NOTICE WAS GIVEN CAPTAIN SHAPRIN TO VACATE THE QUARTERS OR SHOW CAUSE WHY RENTAL ALLOWANCE SHOULD NOT BE DISCONTINUED. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER CAPTAIN SHAPRIN RECEIVED ADDITIONAL TRANSFER ORDERS AND THE QUARTERS WERE VACATED. MAJOR MARTIN DID NOT AGREE TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO EFFECT COLLECTION OF RENTAL ALLOWANCE PAID CAPTAIN SHAPRIN DURING THE PERIOD OF OCCUPANCY OF THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED QUARTERS.
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE AMOUNT OF RENTAL ALLOWANCE PAID CAPTAIN SHAPRIN DURING THE PERIOD HE AND HIS FAMILY OCCUPIED THE SUBJECT QUARTERS IS FOR RECOVERY.
2. PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT TO THE TREASURER OF THE UNITED STATES OF WAGES OF CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ATTRIBUTED TO HANDLING UNOFFICIAL TELEGRAPH MESSAGES WAS DISCONTINUED EFFECTIVE AFTER SEPTEMBER 25, 1947. THE REASON FOR DISCONTINUATION WAS STATED TO BE THE IMPROPER METHOD OF COMPUTATION OF TIME SPEND BY THE EMPLOYEES IN HANDLING UNOFFICIAL MESSAGES UNDER PARAGRAPH 81, TM 24-205, DATED DECEMBER 1946.
IT WAS FURTHER STATED THAT A CONTROL HAD BEEN INSTITUTED TO PREVENT CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES DEVOTING AS MUCH AS 30 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME TO HANDLING UNOFFICIAL MESSAGES. THIS CONTROL BRINGS THE EMPLOYEES UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE MANUAL CITED ABOVE, AND AS THEY ARE NOT DEVOTING 30 PERCENT OF TIME TO COMMERCIAL TELEGRAPH BUSINESS THE TIME SPENT ON THIS WORK IS DISREGARDED FOR PURPOSES OF REIMBURSEMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED. ALL UNOFFICIAL MESSAGES OVER AND ABOVE THE LESS THAN 30 PERCENT HANDLED BY THE EMPLOYEES WERE HANDLED BY ENLISTED MEN.
IT APPEARS THE CONTROL TO PREVENT THE EMPLOYEES DEVOTING MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME TO COMMERCIAL MESSAGES WAS INSTITUTED SO THAT NO PORTION OF THE EMPLOYEES' SALARY WOULD BE FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF COMMISSIONS RECEIVED FOR THE HANDLING OF THE COMMERCIAL MESSAGES WOULD BE FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE POST COMMUNICATION SERVICES ACCOUNT.
ADVICE AS TO THE ACTION TAKEN IN THE MATTERS WILL BE APPRECIATED.