B-131307, APR. 19, 1957
Highlights
REQUESTING INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO RECOVER A PORTION OF $1. REPRESENTING A BALANCE WHICH WAS DUE YOUR HUSBAND. AS WAS POINTED OUT BY MR. PROMISSORY NOTES WERE EXECUTED PAYABLE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EXTENDED TO YOU AND AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH MR. SOUR WINE WAS STILL INDEBTED TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $2. THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE IS REQUIRED TO SETTLE AND ADJUST ALL ACCOUNTS IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED. IN A SITUATION SUCH AS HERE INVOLVED THE ACCOUNTING OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED IN THE PROPER DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES TO SET OFF THE INDEBTEDNESS AGAINST THE RETIREMENT ANNUITY AND TO ALLOW AND CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT ONLY THE BALANCE DUE.
B-131307, APR. 19, 1957
TO MRS. VICTORIA D-ONGRAM SOUR WINE:
THIS REFERS TO YOUR UNDATED LETTER, POSTMARKED MARCH 1, 1957, REQUESTING INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO RECOVER A PORTION OF $1,495.44, REPRESENTING A BALANCE WHICH WAS DUE YOUR HUSBAND, JAMES A. SOUR WINE, FROM THE UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FUND, AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH ON MARCH 6, 1956.
AS WAS POINTED OUT BY MR. JACK GOLDBERG OF THE UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IN HIS LETTER OF MARCH 22, 1956, TO YOU, THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE HAS A GOVERNMENT CLAIM OF $2,255.00 AGAINST MR. SOUR WINE'S RETIREMENT FUND BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EXTENDED TO YOU BY THE SWISS REPRESENTATIVE IN CHARGE OF AMERICAN INTERESTS DURING THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 12, 1943, TO NOVEMBER 30, 1945. PROMISSORY NOTES WERE EXECUTED PAYABLE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EXTENDED TO YOU AND AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH MR. SOUR WINE WAS STILL INDEBTED TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,255.00.
UNDER 31 U.S.C. 71, THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE IS REQUIRED TO SETTLE AND ADJUST ALL ACCOUNTS IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED. IN CARRYING OUT THIS DUTY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH COLLECTION OF AMOUNTS DUE THE UNITED STATES. IN A SITUATION SUCH AS HERE INVOLVED THE ACCOUNTING OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED IN THE PROPER DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES TO SET OFF THE INDEBTEDNESS AGAINST THE RETIREMENT ANNUITY AND TO ALLOW AND CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT ONLY THE BALANCE DUE, IF ANY.
AS YOU KNOW, THE RETIREMENT FUND OF MR. SOUR WINE AMOUNTED TO$1,495.44 AND AT HIS DEATH HE OWED THE UNITED STATES $2,255.00. HOWEVER DISTASTEFUL THE TASK MAY BE IN CASES SUCH AS THIS, IN THE PROPER DISCHARGE OF ITS DUTY, THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE HAS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO INFORM YOU THAT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT DUE THE UNITED STATES IS MORE THAN THE AMOUNT DUE THE ESTATE OF MR. SOUR WINE THERE IS NO WAY IN WHICH YOU MAY BE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE ANY PORTION OF THE $1,495.44 WHICH IS BEING HELD FOR APPLICATION AGAINST THE AMOUNT DUE.