A-5195, OCTOBER 1, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 342

A-5195, OCTOBER 1, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 342

CLASSIFICATION OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES - UNIT OF APPROPRIATION - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE THE TOTAL AMOUNTS PROVIDED FOR PERSONAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA UNDER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING MAJOR APPROPRIATION HEADINGS APPEARING IN THE ACT OF MAY 28, 1924, 43 STAT. 224, PROVIDING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1925, CONSTITUTE SEPARATE APPROPRIATION UNITS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPUTING THE AVERAGE OF COMPENSATION UNDER THE CLASSIFICATION ACT OF MARCH 4, 1923, 42 STAT. 1488: OFFICE OF SECRETARY. BUREAU OF NAVIGATION. BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC BUREAU OF STANDARDS. COMMERCE. BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES. BUREAU OF CENSUS. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. (MODIFIED BY 4 COMP. GEN. 456; ID. 817.)

COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, OCTOBER 1, 1924:

I HAVE YOUR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 11, 1924, SUBMITTING THE LIST OF APPROPRIATION HEADINGS AND SUBHEADINGS PROVIDED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1925, IN THE ACT OF MAY 28, 1924, 43 STAT. 224, AND REQUESTING DECISION AS TO WHICH CONSTITUTE A "BUREAU, OFFICE, OR OTHER APPROPRIATION UNIT" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE "AVERAGE" PROVISION APPEARING IN THE SAME APPROPRIATION ACT WHICH CONTROLS PAYMENTS FOR PERSONAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA UNDER THE CLASSIFICATION ACT OF 1923.

THE DECISION OF AUGUST 8, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 167, HELD AS FOLLOWS:

IN DECISION OF JUNE 26, 1924, 3 COMP. GEN. 1001, IN ANSWER TO QUESTION ONE THE FOLLOWING WAS STATED:

" * * * IF THE BUREAU OR OFFICE IS OPERATING UNDER ONE APPROPRIATION THE UNIT IS THE BUREAU OR OFFICE, WHEREAS IF THE BUREAU OR OFFICE IS OPERATING UNDER TWO OR MORE APPROPRIATIONS THE UNIT IS THE APPROPRIATION. IF THERE BE AN INSTANCE OF TWO OR MORE BUREAUS OR OFFICES OPERATING UNDER ONE APPROPRIATION, THE UNIT WOULD BE THE BUREAU OR OFFICE.'

THIS QUOTED STATEMENT WAS AND IS INTENDED MERELY AS A GENERAL RULE SUBJECT TO AMPLIFICATION UPON SUBMISSION OF SPECIFIC CASES. IT MAY BE SAID THAT THE STATEMENT "IF THE BUREAU OR OFFICE IS OPERATING UNDER TWO OR MORE APPROPRIATIONS THE UNIT IS THE APPROPRIATION" WAS INTENDED TO RELATE MORE PARTICULARLY TO A BUREAU OR OFFICE IN WHICH THERE ARE DISSIMILAR OR UNRELATED ACTIVITIES PROVIDED FOR UNDER SEPARATE APPROPRIATIONS.

THE ACT OF MAY 28, 1924, SUPRA, PROVIDES UNDER "TITLE III, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE," THE FOLLOWING MAJOR OR GENERAL APPROPRIATION HEADINGS:

OFFICE OF SECRETARY.

BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE.

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS.

STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE.

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION.

BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES.

COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY.

BUREAU OF FISHERIES.

UNDER EACH OF THESE MAJOR OR GENERAL APPROPRIATION HEADINGS ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN SEPARATE PARAGRAPHS. SOME OF THESE ITEMS DO NOT PROVIDE FOR PERSONAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED THE CLASSIFICATION ACT HAS NO APPLICATION. THE MAJOR APPROPRIATION HEADINGS APPEAR TO BE FOR DISSIMILAR AND UNRELATED ACTIVITIES. THE ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH THE SEPARATE PARAGRAPH ITEMS PROVIDE SHOW A SIMILARITY OF PURPOSE, ALL HAVING A COMMON RELATIONSHIP TO THE MAJOR OR GENERAL APPROPRIATION HEADING UNDER WHICH THEY APPEAR.

ACCORDINGLY THE TOTAL AMOUNTS PROVIDED FOR PERSONAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA UNDER EACH OF THE SEVERAL MAJOR OR GENERAL APPROPRIATION HEADINGS ABOVE ENUMERATED CONSTITUTE THE BUREAUS THE UNITS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE AVERAGE PROVISION.