B-144865, FEB. 16, 1961

B-144865, FEB. 16, 1961

TO AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, OFFICE OF CIVIL AND DEFENSE MOBILIZATION:

YOUR LETTER OF JANUARY 17, 1961, REQUESTS OUR DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT THE VOUCHER THEREWITH SUBMITTED, STATED IN FAVOR OF RAFAEL A. FOURNIER-MARTINEZ, FOR $248.29. THAT VOUCHER REPRESENTS EXPENSES OF TRAVEL, INCLUDING PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE, FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 12, 14, 1960, IN CONNECTION WITH TRAVEL PERFORMED PURSUANT TO INVITATION TRAVEL ORDER NO. 743, DATED SEPTEMBER 3, 1960, TO ATTEND A MEETING BUT ATTENDANCE AT WHICH WAS PREVENTED BECAUSE OF DEATH OF HIS FATHER.

BY INVITATIONAL TRAVEL ORDER NO. 743, DATED SEPTEMBER 3, 1960, MR. FOURNIER, OPERATIONS OFFICER (FORMERLY ACTING DIRECTOR OF CIVIL DEFENSE), COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO, WAS INVITED TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE CONCERNING THE APPLICATION OF PUBLIC LAW 85-606 (AN ACT TO FURTHER AMEND THE FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE ACT OF 1950, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES), 72 STAT. 532, HELD AT OFFICE OF CIVIL AND DEFENSE MOBILIZATION REGIONAL OFFICE AT HARVARD, MASSACHUSETTS. THE CONFERENCE WAS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1960, AND TO CONCLUDE ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1960.

THE FACTS REPORTED DISCLOSE THAT MR. FOURNIER LEFT SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1960, AT 2:15 P.M., ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME, BY COMMERCIAL AIRLINE--- A ROUND TRIP FIRST CLASS JET TICKET FROM SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, TO BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, HAVING BEEN PURCHASED. THE VOUCHER IS ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED FOR HIS EARLY DEPARTURE FROM SAN JUAN AND FOR THE USE OF THE JET AIRPLANE. HE ARRIVED AT HARVARD, MASSACHUSETTS, SEPTEMBER 13, 1960, AT 12:30 P.M., EASTERN STANDARD TIME. UPON HIS ARRIVAL AT HARVARD MR. FOURNIER WAS INFORMED OF THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HIS FATHER.

WHEN IT BECAME KNOWN THAT MR. FOURNIER WOULD BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE STATE DIRECTORS' MEETING A MEMBER OF THE REGIONAL STAFF WENT OVER THE AGENDA ITEMS TO BE TAKEN UP AT THE MEETING AND DISCUSSED THEM WITH HIM. WHILE AT THE REGIONAL OFFICE MR. FOURNIER DISCUSSED THE FOLLOW UP ON THE NATURAL DISASTER PROGRAM HELD IN JULY. STEPS THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN SINCE JULY 1960 REGARDING PUBLIC LAW 85-606 WERE REVIEWED. HE ALSO REVIEWED WITH THE REGIONAL STAFF THE CURRENT OPERATIONS GOING ON IN PUERTO RICO AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE DONNA, WHICH STRUCK THERE ON SEPTEMBER 6 AND 7, 1960. HE ATTENDED A CONFERENCE WITH THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS CONCERNING PLANS WHICH WERE BEING FORMULATED FOR THE MEETING OF FEDERAL AGENCIES AND COMMONWEALTH AGENCIES SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN PUERTO RICO DURING THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 29 THROUGH DECEMBER 1, 1960. MR. FOURNIER LEFT HARVARD AT 4:00 P.M., EASTERN STANDARD TIME ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1960, VIA PAN AMERICAN AIR-WAYS TOURIST FLIGHT AND ARRIVED AT SAN JUAN AT 1:00 A.M., ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME, SEPTEMBER 14, 1960. HE RECEIVED A REFUND OF $38.47 FROM THE CARRIER FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE.

ALTHOUGH MR. FOURNIER WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE SCHEDULED CONFERENCE, YOU SAY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR CONTENDS THAT THE BUSINESS PERFORMED BY HIM WAS IN THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT AND IS SUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY REIMBURSING HIM FOR THE EXPENSES INVOLVED.

WHILE THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE TRAVEL WAS NOT COMPLETELY FULFILLED, THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS TRANSACTED HAS BEEN ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED AS JUSTIFYING ALLOWANCE OF THE ROUND-TRIP TRAVEL AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE. THEREFORE, AND IN VIEW OF THE FACTS AS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT, IF OTHERWISE PROPER.