A-30477, APRIL 16, 1937, 16 COMP. GEN. 926

A-30477, APRIL 16, 1937, 16 COMP. GEN. 926

TRANSPORTATION - STEAMSHIP, ETC., TRAVEL - FISCAL YEAR APPROPRIATION CHARGEABLE THE HOLDING IN DECISION A-30477, MARCH 16, 1937, 16 COMP. GEN. 858, THAT "HEREAFTER THE APPROPRIATION TO BE CHARGED WITH THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION UPON STEAMSHIPS WILL BE THE APPROPRIATION CURRENT AT THE DATE THE VESSEL SAILS IRRESPECTIVE OF WHEN THE TICKET WAS ACTUALLY PURCHASED," HAS REFERENCE TO THE DATE REGULARLY SCHEDULED AND NOT THE CHANGED DATE DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER CONDITIONS, AND TO THE BEGINNING OF A CONTINUOUS JOURNEY WHETHER INVOLVING A TRANSFER EN ROUTE TO ANOTHER VESSEL OR OTHER MODE OF CONVEYANCE, OR THE PURCHASE OF A ROUND TRIP TICKET.

ACTING COMPTROLLER GENERAL ELLIOTT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, APRIL 16, 1937:

YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 9, 1937, IS AS FOLLOWS:

MY ATTENTION HAS BEEN CALLED TO YOUR DECISION NO. A-30477 OF MARCH 16, 1937, ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AND HOLDING THAT "HEREAFTER THE APPROPRIATION TO BE CHARGED WITH THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION UPON STEAMSHIPS WILL BE THE APPROPRIATION CURRENT AT THE DATE THE VESSEL SAILS IRRESPECTIVE OF WHEN THE TICKET WAS ACTUALLY PURCHASED.' IT IS ASSUMED, AND I WOULD BE GLAD TO HAVE YOUR CONFIRMATION AS TO THIS, THAT THE RULING REFERS ONLY TO THE DATE ON WHICH AN OFFICER STARTS ON A TRIP.

FREQUENTLY, IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE WHEN AN OFFICER IS ORDERED FROM ONE POST TO ANOTHER IT IS NECESSARY TO TRANSFER EN ROUTE FROM ONE STEAMER TO ANOTHER WITH POSSIBLE RAIL TRANSPORTATION ALSO FOR A PART OF THE JOURNEY. IN SUCH CASES THE DEPARTMENT FREQUENTLY FINDS THAT IT CAN PURCHASE A TICKET THROUGH TO DESTINATION OVER THE VARIOUS STEAMSHIP AND RAIL LINES SOMETIMES AT CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE EXPENDITURES IF MADE IN THIS MANNER INSTEAD OF SEPARATELY FOR EACH MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO, WHEN AN OFFICER IS ORDERED TO WASHINGTON FOR CONSULTATION OR DETAILED TEMPORARILY FROM ONE POST TO ANOTHER, IT IS USUALLY POSSIBLE TO PURCHASE ROUND-TRIP TICKETS AT CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS.

FOR CONVENIENCE AS WELL AS REASONS OF ECONOMY, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE. IT WOULD, HOWEVER, BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT IF, WHEN THE TRAVEL COVERS PART OF TWO FISCAL YEARS, THE EXPENDITURES MUST BE DIVIDED ACCORDINGLY.

OCCASIONALLY, ALSO, NEAR THE END OF A FISCAL YEAR TRANSPORTATION MAY BE PURCHASED ON A VESSEL LISTED TO SAIL BEFORE JUNE 30 AND DUE TO SOME UNFORESEEN HAPPENING SUCH AS STORMS, STRIKES, ET CETERA, SAILING MAY ACTUALLY BE DELAYED UNTIL LATER; OR A VESSEL LISTED TO SAIL ON JULY 1 MIGHT ACTUALLY LEAVE THE 30TH OF JUNE. IN SUCH CASES, THE TRANSFER TO THE SUCCEEDING YEAR'S APPROPRIATION OF THE EXPENDITURE ALREADY AUTHORIZED AND ACTUALLY CONTRACTED FOR IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR WOULD UPSET THE BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR AND MIGHT EASILY, UNDER A LIMITED AND CAREFULLY ALLOTTED APPROPRIATION, CREATE A DEFICIENCY IN THE APPROPRIATION WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER BEING AWARE OF IT.

WHILE I FEEL CERTAIN THAT YOUR RULING IS NOT INTENDED TO BE APPLICABLE TO CASES SUCH AS I HAVE MENTIONED, I WOULD BE GLAD TO BE DEFINITELY SO INFORMED.

THE DECISION OF MARCH 16, 1937, HAD REFERENCE TO THE BEGINNING OF A CONTINUOUS JOURNEY AND THE DATE OF THE SAILING OF THE VESSEL WAS HELD IN THAT DECISION TO FIX THE FISCAL YEAR APPROPRIATION TO BE CHARGED, THAT IS TO SAY, WITH THE ENTIRE COST OF THE JOURNEY IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER IT WAS NECESSARY TO CHANGE VESSELS OR TO PERFORM A PORTION OF THE JOURNEY BY SOME OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. IN CASES WHERE A ROUND-TRIP TICKET IS PURCHASED THE ENTIRE ROUND-TRIP FARE WILL BE CHARGED TO THE APPROPRIATION OBLIGATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIP. THE DATE OF SAILING TO BE CONSIDERED DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATION TO BE OBLIGATED WILL BE THE DATE REGULARLY SCHEDULED FOR THAT TRIP. THE FACT THAT DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER CONDITIONS THE SAILING DATE MAY BE CHANGED AFTER THE TICKET IS PURCHASED WILL NOT NECESSITATE CHANGING THE FISCAL YEAR APPROPRIATION TO BE CHARGED THEREWITH. 5 COMP. GEN. 1; A-20367, NOVEMBER 15, 1927, AND A-9986, JULY 3, 1925.