A-10950, SEPTEMBER 21, 1925, 5 COMP. GEN. 211
Highlights
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. FOR DECISION WHETHER PAYMENT IS AUTHORIZED OF THREE VOUCHERS SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COVERING MEDICAL ATTENDANCE. THESE MEN WERE EMPLOYEES (MEMBERS OF A CREW) OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION AT THE TIME OF THEIR ADMISSION TO THE HOSPITAL. THE EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVED THE TREATMENT FOR WHICH THE VOUCHERS WERE SUBMITTED WERE SEAMEN ON BOATS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION AND THEREFORE ENTITLED TO TREATMENT AT A PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE HOSPITAL UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SAID ACT. THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE FOR THE PERIODS DURING WHICH THE SEAMEN WERE GIVEN HOSPITAL TREATMENT WERE AVAILABLE FOR MEDICAL.
A-10950, SEPTEMBER 21, 1925, 5 COMP. GEN. 211
MEDICAL TREATMENT - EMPLOYEES OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION AS THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1919, 40 STAT. 1302, AUTHORIZES THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY TO PROVIDE HOSPITAL AND SANITARIUM FACILITIES FOR SEAMEN ON BOATS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION, THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT, BOARD, ETC., FURNISHED SUCH SEAMEN.
COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL TO THE DISTRICT ENGINEER, MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION, SEPTEMBER 21, 1925:
BY INDORSEMENT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS THERE HAS BEEN RECEIVED YOUR REQUEST OF JULY 24, 1925, FOR DECISION WHETHER PAYMENT IS AUTHORIZED OF THREE VOUCHERS SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COVERING MEDICAL ATTENDANCE, BOARD, NURSING, ETC., FURNISHED BY UNITED STATES MARINE HOSPITAL NO. 14, NEW ORLEANS, LA., TO NOAH RODEILLAT, SHIP KEEPER, BETWEEN THE DATES OF JANUARY 17, 1923, AND APRIL 17, 1924; JOHN TUBB, SHIP KEEPER, BETWEEN THE DATES OF DECEMBER 15, 1923, AND FEBRUARY 25, 1924; AND JOSEPH DONOHUE, DECK HAND, BETWEEN THE DATES OF OCTOBER 17 AND NOVEMBER 9, 1923. THESE MEN WERE EMPLOYEES (MEMBERS OF A CREW) OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION AT THE TIME OF THEIR ADMISSION TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1919, 40 STAT. 1302, AUTHORIZES THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY TO PROVIDE HOSPITAL AND SANITARIUM FACILITIES FOR SEAMEN ON BOATS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION. THE EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVED THE TREATMENT FOR WHICH THE VOUCHERS WERE SUBMITTED WERE SEAMEN ON BOATS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION AND THEREFORE ENTITLED TO TREATMENT AT A PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE HOSPITAL UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SAID ACT.
THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE FOR THE PERIODS DURING WHICH THE SEAMEN WERE GIVEN HOSPITAL TREATMENT WERE AVAILABLE FOR MEDICAL, SURGICAL, AND HOSPITAL SERVICES AND SUPPLIES FOR BENEFICIARIES OTHER THAN PATIENTS OF THE UNITED STATES VETERANS' BUREAU. SINCE THE SEAMEN IN QUESTION WERE BY STATUTE MADE BENEFICIARIES OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID SERVICE WERE AVAILABLE FOR THEIR TREATMENT.
THE RULE IS WELL SETTLED THAT WHEN AN APPROPRIATION IS SPECIFICALLY MADE AVAILABLE FOR A GIVEN OBJECT NO APPROPRIATION IN GENERAL TERMS IS AVAILABLE THEREFOR. THIS IS NOT A CASE WHERE A SERVICE HAS BEEN RENDERED BY ONE DEPARTMENT FOR ANOTHER SO AS TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATION OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR WHICH THE SERVICE WAS RENDERED AVAILABLE TO REIMBURSE THE APPROPRIATION OF THE DEPARTMENT RENDERING THE SERVICE.
ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT PAYMENT ON THE VOUCHERS SUBMITTED IS NOT AUTHORIZED.