B-124590, AUG. 25, 1955

B-124590, AUG. 25, 1955

TO MR. H. E. CONN, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, BUREAU OF FINANCE, POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT:

YOUR LETTER OF JULY 1, 1955, REQUESTS OUR DECISION AS TO WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT TWO VOUCHERS THEREWITH TRANSMITTED IN FAVOR OF DONALD A. DEBUHR, INSOFAR AS THEY CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT FOR STORAGE AND DRAYAGE OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS TO AND FROM STORAGE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IT APPEARS THAT THE EMPLOYEE WAS TRANSFERRED TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 5, 1954.

HE PLACED HIS EFFECTS, WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 8400 POUNDS, IN STORAGE IN WASHINGTON ON DECEMBER 16, 1954. EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 13, 1955, HE WAS RETRANSFERRED TO THAT CITY. ON FEBRUARY 12, 1955, THE EFFECTS WERE MOVED FROM STORAGE TO THE NEW RESIDENCE IN WASHINGTON. ONE OF THE VOUCHERS INCLUDES STORAGE AND CHARGES INCIDENTAL THERETO IN THE SUM OF $127. THE OTHER VOUCHER INCLUDES CHARGES OF $116.25 FOR REMOVAL OF THE EFFECTS FROM STORAGE, INCLUDING AN ITEM OF $70 FOR DRAYAGE TO THE NEW RESIDENCE IN WASHINGTON. BOTH TRANSFER ORDERS AUTHORIZED SHIPMENT OF HIS HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS.

SECTION 10 (B) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 8905 AUTHORIZES PAYMENT OF ACTUAL EXPENSES OF TEMPORARY STORAGE, NOT TO EXCEED THE COMMUTED RATE OF $2.00 PER HUNDRED POUNDS FOR THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF STORAGE OR FRACTION THEREOF PLUS 50 CENTS PER HUNDRED POUNDS FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS OR FRACTION THEREOF, INCURRED INCIDENT TO A TRANSFER OF OFFICIAL STATION. IN 32 COMP. GEN. 471 WE HELD (QUOTING FROM THE SYLLABUS):

"A TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEE WHO PLACED HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS IN STORAGE AT OLD STATION IN ANTICIPATION OF SHIPMENT TO NEW PERMANENT STATION BUT WHO DID NOT SHIP THEM BECAUSE OF LACK OF HOUSING AND ANTICIPATION OF A FURTHER TRANSFER, AND WHO TWO MONTHS LATER WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE OLD STATION FOR PERMANENT DUTY, IS ENTITLED UNDER SECTION 12 (B) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 9805 AS ADDED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 9933, TO REIMBURSEMENT AT NOT TO EXCEED THE COMMUTED RATE FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 60 DAYS TEMPORARY STORAGE FOR EACH PERMANENT TRANSFER OF HEADQUARTERS.'

IN THAT DECISION THE EMPLOYEE STORED HIS EFFECTS FOR TWO MONTHS INCIDENT TO THE INITIAL TRANSFER AND FOR TWO ADDITIONAL MONTHS SUBSEQUENT TO THE RETRANSFER. IN THE INSTANT CASE THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF STORAGE WAS PRIOR TO THE RETRANSFER. THE CHARGES INCURRED FOR REMOVAL OF THE EFFECTS TO THE NEW RESIDENCE, HOWEVER, RESULTED FROM THE RETRANSFER TO WASHINGTON. ACCORDINGLY, AND SINCE THE SUM CLAIMED FOR THE ITEMS IN QUESTION IS LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED FOR 60 DAYS TEMPORARY STORAGE FOR EACH TRANSFER, THE VOUCHERS, IF OTHERWISE PROPER, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT PROVIDED THE EMPLOYEE'S PROPORTIONATE CHARGE FOR ANY EXCESS WEIGHT BE DEDUCTED THEREFROM. SEE 28 COMP. GEN. 180, 183, CONCERNING EXCESS WEIGHT CHARGES.