B-146159, JUL. 17, 1961
Highlights
FROM THE FACTS PRESENTED ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL VOUCHER IT MAY BE ASSUMED THAT INCIDENT TO REPORTING TO HER OVERSEAS POST OF DUTY MISS APPLE WAS AUTHORIZED TO USE HER PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE FOR TRAVEL FROM DETROIT. THE FOOTLOCKER IS STATED TO HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED IN HER PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE. THE SITUATION HERE IS ANALOGOUS TO THAT CONSIDERED IN 33 COMP. IT REASONABLY APPEARS THAT THERE PROPERLY MAY BE INCLUDED SUCH ITEMS OF EXPENSE AS MAY BE AUTHORIZED IF THE TRAVEL ACTUALLY WAS PERFORMED BY AIR. A COPY OF THE DECISION IS ENCLOSED. THE RECORD TRANSMITTED DOES NOT SHOW AFFIRMATIVELY THAT THE COST OF EXCESS BAGGAGE OR TRANSPORTATION OF THE FOOTLOCKER BY RAILWAY EXPRESS WAS AUTHORIZED IN MISS APPLE'S TRAVEL ORDER.
B-146159, JUL. 17, 1961
TO MR. EVANS N. WENTZ, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ADMINISTRATION, USOM/LIBYA:
ON JUNE 6, 1961, YOU SUBMITTED FOR OUR ADVANCE DECISION THE PROPRIETY OF YOUR CERTIFYING FOR PAYMENT A SUPPLEMENTAL TRAVEL EXPENSE VOUCHER FOR $9.86 FILED BY MISS DOROTHY APPLE AND TRANSMITTED WITH YOUR LETTER.
MISS APPLE'S CLAIM REPRESENTS THE CONSTRUCTIVE COST FOR TRANSPORTING A FOOTLOCKER (ESTIMATED WEIGHT, 100 POUNDS) BY RAILWAY EXPRESS FROM DETROIT, MICHIGAN, TO NEW YORK CITY (IDLEWILD), INCIDENT TO ENPLANING TO AN OVERSEAS POST OF DUTY.
FROM THE FACTS PRESENTED ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL VOUCHER IT MAY BE ASSUMED THAT INCIDENT TO REPORTING TO HER OVERSEAS POST OF DUTY MISS APPLE WAS AUTHORIZED TO USE HER PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE FOR TRAVEL FROM DETROIT, MICHIGAN, TO NEW YORK CITY, WITH REIMBURSEMENT AT THE RATE OF TEN CENTS A MILE, NOT TO EXCEED COST BY COMMON CARRIER. IT MAY ALSO BE ASSUMED THAT SHE HAS BEEN REIMBURSED ON THAT BASIS FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN THOSE POINTS, AND THAT THE MILEAGE FOR DIRECT TRAVEL EXCEEDED THE SUM PAID BY $16.80. THE FOOTLOCKER IS STATED TO HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED IN HER PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE.
THE SITUATION HERE IS ANALOGOUS TO THAT CONSIDERED IN 33 COMP. GEN. 614 (B-118904). IN THAT DECISION WE HELD THAT IN ARRIVING AT THE CONSTRUCTIVE COST OF AIR TRAVEL FOR COMPARATIVE COST PURPOSES, IT REASONABLY APPEARS THAT THERE PROPERLY MAY BE INCLUDED SUCH ITEMS OF EXPENSE AS MAY BE AUTHORIZED IF THE TRAVEL ACTUALLY WAS PERFORMED BY AIR. A COPY OF THE DECISION IS ENCLOSED.
THE RECORD TRANSMITTED DOES NOT SHOW AFFIRMATIVELY THAT THE COST OF EXCESS BAGGAGE OR TRANSPORTATION OF THE FOOTLOCKER BY RAILWAY EXPRESS WAS AUTHORIZED IN MISS APPLE'S TRAVEL ORDER. THAT FACTOR, TOGETHER WITH THE OMISSION IN THE SUBMISSION OF A SHOWING OF THE ACTUAL WEIGHT OF THE FOOTLOCKER, PREVENTS US FROM RENDERING A DEFINITE DECISION FOR YOUR GUIDANCE. NOTWITHSTANDING, IF IN FACT THE COST OF EXCESS BAGGAGE OR TRANSPORTATION BY RAILWAY EXPRESS IS AUTHORIZED IN MISS APPLE'S TRAVEL ORDER, AND IF THE ACTUAL WEIGHT OF THE FOOTLOCKER IS ESTABLISHED, PAYMENT OF CONSTRUCTIVE TRANSPORTATION COSTS NOT TO EXCEED $16.80, AND FOR BAGGAGE NOT IN EXCESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE BAGGAGE AUTHORIZED TO BE TRANSPORTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE PROPER.
THE VOUCHER, WHICH ON THE PRESENT RECORD MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE RELATED PAPERS, IS ENCLOSED.