B-111099, SEPTEMBER 23, 1952, 32 COMP. GEN. 137

B-111099, SEPTEMBER 23, 1952, 32 COMP. GEN. 137

TRAVELING EXPENSES - TAXICAB FARES - TRAVEL BETWEEN PLACE OF LODGING AND PLACE OF DUTY A STATEMENT THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WAS IRREGULAR AND INDIRECT WHICH FAILS TO CONTAIN ANY FACTUAL INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF A CLAIM FOR TAXICAB FARES FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN HOTELS AND TEMPORARY PLACES OF DUTY DOES NOT SATISFY THE "STATEMENT OF THE NECESSITY" REQUIREMENT OF PARAGRAPH 8 (B) OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS SO AS TO AUTHORIZE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF DAILY TRAVEL BY TAXICAB AS AN ITEM OF TRANSPORTATION NOT INCIDENTAL TO SUBSISTENCE; ALSO, THE COST OF SUCH TRAVEL MAY NOT BE ALLOWED UNDER THE SPECIAL CONVEYANCE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH 11 OF THE REGULATIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORIZATION OR APPROVAL OF SAID TRAVEL AS BEING ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

COMPTROLLER GENERAL WARREN TO H. NUNN, CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION, SEPTEMBER 23, 1952:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JULY 16, 1952, TRANSMITTED HERE BY CHIEF, ACCOUNTING DIVISION, CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION, UNDER DATE OF JULY 29, RELATIVE TO THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING FOR PAYMENT A VOUCHER TRANSMITTED THEREWITH IN FAVOR OF DUDLEY R. RIDER FOR $18.50, REPRESENTING TAXICAB FARES INCURRED IN DAILY TRAVEL BETWEEN HOTELS (PLACES OF LODGING) AND TEMPORARY DUTY POINTS LOCATED AT AIRPORTS IN CLEVELAND, BOSTON, CHICAGO, AND NEW YORK.

YOU ADVISE THAT NONE OF THE FARES CLAIMED WERE FOR PURPOSES OF ARRIVAL OR DEPARTURE FROM THE TEMPORARY DUTY STATIONS AND THAT YOUR DOUBT AS TO THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING THE CLAIM FOR PAYMENT UNDER PARAGRAPH 8 (B) OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS ARISES BY REASON OF THE PROVISION OF PARAGRAPH 44 OF THOSE REGULATIONS. AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR HIS CLAIM, THE EMPLOYEE STATES AS FOLLOWS:

SUITABLE ACCOMMODATIONS WERE NOT AVAILABLE NEAR IDLEWILD AIRPORT AT JAMAICA, NEW YORK, THEREFORE IT WAS NECESSARY TO GO INTO THE CITY TO OBTAIN SUITABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO CLEVELAND, BOSTON, AND CHICAGO.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WAS SO IRREGULAR AND INDIRECT AS TO PRECLUDE ARRIVAL AT DUTY POINTS AT THE REQUIRED TIME WITHOUT THE USE OF TAXIS.

PARAGRAPH 44 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS PROVIDES THAT THE PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE WILL BE HELD TO INCLUDE "TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN PLACES OF LODGINGS OR WHERE MEALS ARE TAKEN AND PLACES OF DUTY.' HOWEVER, WHERE THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH 8 (B) OF THOSE REGULATIONS ARE SATISFIED, SUCH TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES MAY BE ALLOWED AS AN ITEM OF TRANSPORTATION. PARAGRAPH 11 OF THE SAID REGULATIONS REQUIRES THAT WHERE A SPECIAL CONVEYANCE, SUCH AS TAXICAB, IS USED, THE COST THEREOF WILL BE ALLOWED WHEN AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

IN DECISION OF DECEMBER 13, 1951, B-106623, 31 COMP. GEN. 208, INVOLVING A CLAIM FOR TAXICAB FARES INCURRED FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN HOTEL AND PLACES OF TEMPORARY DUTY, THIS OFFICE CONCLUDED THAT THE PARTICULAR CLAIM COULD NOT BE ALLOWED "AS NO FACTUAL INFORMATION" HAD BEEN FURNISHED WHICH WOULD WARRANT PAYMENT OF THE CLAIM UNDER PARAGRAPH 8 (B) OF THE TRAVEL REGULATIONS. THE STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY THE EMPLOYEE IN THE INSTANT CASE PRIMARILY IS ONE OF CONCLUSION RATHER THAN FACTUAL. ACCORDINGLY, IN THE ABSENCE OF MORE SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION IN THE MATTER, PAYMENT OF THE CLAIM UNDER PARAGRAPH 8 (B) WOULD NOT BE PROPER. FURTHERMORE, SINCE A SPECIAL CONVEYANCE WAS USED BY THE EMPLOYEE, AS DISTINGUISHED FROM REGULAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PAYMENT ALSO IS PRECLUDED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORIZATION OR APPROVAL OF THE USE OF THE SPECIAL CONVEYANCE AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH 11 OF THE TRAVEL REGULATIONS.

ON THE EXISTING RECORD, THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.