A-4198, NOVEMBER 22, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 471

A-4198, NOVEMBER 22, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 471

APPROPRIATIONS - SPECIFIC V. GENERAL UPON ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT THE HOT-WATER TANK INSTALLED IN THE GARAGE OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT AT FIRST AND G STREETS NE., WASHINGTON, D.C., WAS NECESSITATED BY THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES REQUIRED TO BE WASHED, AND WAS NOT THE INSTALLATION OF BATHING EQUIPMENT FOR EMPLOYEES SUCH AS IS ORDINARILY PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BUILDING, THE COST THEREOF IS A PROPER CHARGE AGAINST THE APPROPRIATION "VEHICLE SERVICE, 1924," ACT OF FEBRUARY 14, 1923, 42 STAT. 1255. 4 COMP. GEN. 173, REVERSED.

COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, NOVEMBER 22, 1924:

RECEIPT IS ACKNOWLEDGED OF YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 29, 1924, IN WHICH YOU REFER TO A DECISION OF THIS OFFICE DATED AUGUST 12, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 173, WHEREIN IT WAS HELD THAT AS THE APPROPRIATION OF $60,000 FOR THE ERECTION AND EQUIPMENT OF A POST-OFFICE GARAGE AT FIRST AND G STREETS NE., WASHINGTON, D.C., WAS EXCLUSIVE FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND THE TOTAL SUM APPROPRIATED HAVING BEEN EXHAUSTED, THE APPROPRIATION "VEHICLE SERVICE, 1924," WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR INSTALLING BATHING FACILITIES IN SAID BUILDING, UPON THE PRINCIPLE THAT WHEN AN APPROPRIATION TO WHICH AN EXPENSE IS PROPERLY CHARGEABLE IS EXHAUSTED ANOTHER APPROPRIATION CAN NOT BE USED. YOU REQUEST A RECONSIDERATION OF SAID DECISION, AND IN SUPPORT THEREOF STATE:

THE POSTMASTER OF WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS DEPARTMENT YOUR DECISION A-4198, DATED AUGUST 12, 1924, IN WHICH IT IS HELD THAT AN EXPENDITURE OF $392 FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A HOT-WATER TANK IN THE POST-OFFICE GARAGE IN THIS CITY IS NOT A PROPER CHARGE AGAINST THE APPROPRIATION FOR VEHICLE SERVICE. IT FURTHER APPEARS THAT THIS DECISION WAS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS INSTALLATION WAS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING BATHING FACILITIES IN THE GARAGE.

IN THIS CONNECTION I WISH TO ADVISE YOU THAT AT THE TIME THIS BUILDING WAS ERECTED NECESSARY BATHING FACILITIES WERE INSTALLED AS WELL AS HOT- WATER LINES TO THE WASH RACK FOR WASHING TRUCKS. THE HOT WATER LINES IN THE GARAGE COMPRISE A SINGLE SYSTEM. WITH THE INCREASE IN THE FLEET OF GOVERNMENT-OWNED TRUCKS ASSIGNED TO THE WASHINGTON POST OFFICE, WHICH AMOUNTS TO 125 VEHICLES AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE HOT-WATER SUPPLY BECAME INADEQUATE AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO INSTALL A HOT-WATER HEATER. THE APPROPRIATION FOR VEHICLE SERVICE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES FOR THE PURCHASE AND MAINTENANCE OF GARAGE FACILITIES. A HOT WATER SUPPLY IS CONSIDERED A VERY ESSENTIAL GARAGE FACILITY, AND IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO SECURE SUCH FACILITIES IN THE RENTAL OF GARAGES THE INSTALLATION HAS BEEN MADE FROM THE APPROPRIATION FOR VEHICLE SERVICE AND THE ACCOUNTS HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN APPROVED WITHOUT QUESTION BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL'S OFFICE, AS NO PREVIOUS QUESTION HAS BEEN RAISED ON A SIMILAR EXPENDITURE.

AS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED, THE HOT-WATER LINES IN THE POST-OFFICE GARAGE IN THIS CITY ARE ON ONE SYSTEM, AND AS THE FLEET OF 125 TRUCKS IS WASHED NOT LESS THAN ONCE A WEEK, IT CAN BE READILY UNDERSTOOD THAT A VERY CONSIDERABLE QUANTITY OF HOT WATER IS REQUIRED FOR THIS PURPOSE AND IN FACT THE CONSUMPTION FOR TRUCK-WASHING PURPOSES IS VERY GREATLY IN EXCESS OF THE SMALL QUANTITY USED IN THE SWING ROOM.

IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACTS RELATED ABOVE, IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE MATTER BE REOPENED AND THAT CREDIT BE RESTORED IN THE ACCOUNT OF THE POSTMASTER OF WASHINGTON FOR THIS EXPENDITURE.

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE PURPOSE OF THE EXPENDITURE, CREDIT FOR THE PAYMENT AS MADE WILL BE ALLOWED AS A PROPER CHARGE UNDER THE APPROPRIATION "VEHICLE SERVICE, 24.'