B-154224, JUL. 10, 1964

B-154224, JUL. 10, 1964

TO MISS LEONA M. HOLLAND, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION:

WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 15, 1964, BY WHICH YOU REQUESTED OUR DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT THE VOUCHER OF MR. OSWALD B. ANDERSON, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION, TO REIMBURSE HIM AT THE COMMUTED RATE FOR THE COST OF TRANSPORTING HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM MADISON, WISCONSIN, TO WASHINGTON, D.C., INCIDENT TO HIS EMPLOYMENT BY THE FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION.

IN AUGUST 1963 MR. ANDERSON, THEN AN EMPLOYEE OF THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, RETURNED FROM A TOUR OF DUTY AT TAIPEI, REPUBLIC OF CHINA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING HOME LEAVE AND TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER LOCALITY. WHILE ON LEAVE MR. ANDERSON RESIGNED HIS POSITION WITH THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACCEPTED AN APPOINTMENT TO A POSITION WITH THE FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION. THAT APPOINTMENT WAS EFFECTED DECEMBER 10, 1963, AND WAS WITHOUT A BREAK IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE. SHORTLY AFTER BEING APPOINTED BY THE FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION MR. ANDERSON HAD 4,350 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS SHIPPED FROM MADISON TO WASHINGTON. SUCH SHIPMENT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED IN ADVANCE BY THE FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION. HE NOW CLAIMS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE EXPENSE OF THAT TRANSPORTATION AT THE COMMUTED RATE OF $9.90 PER CWT., FOR 4,350 POUNDS.

SINCE MR. ANDERSON WAS APPOINTED TO HIS POSITION IN THE FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION WITHOUT A BREAK IN SERVICE AFTER HAVING SERVED WITH THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THE TRANSPORTATION OF HIS HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS APPEAR TO FALL CLEARLY WITHIN THE PROVISION OF 5 U.S.C. 73B-1. COMP. GEN. 204. HOWEVER, SINCE THE TRANSFER ON WHICH REIMBURSEMENT OF MR. ANDERSON'S EXPENSES MUST BE PREDICATED WAS FROM AN OVERSEAS POST TO A POST IN THE UNITED STATES SUCH REIMBURSEMENT MUST BE MADE ON AN ACTUAL EXPENSE BASIS RATHER THAN ON THE BASIS OF A COMMUTED RATE, THE LATTER BEING APPLICABLE ONLY WHEN EMPLOYEES TRANSFER WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. COMP. GEN. 203. THAT ACT (5 U.S.C. 73B-1) ALSO PROVIDES THAT SUCH EXPENSES MAY BE PAID WHEN AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED BY SUCH SUBORDINATE OFFICIAL OR OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED AS THE HEAD THEREOF MAY DESIGNATE FOR THE PURPOSE. SINCE THE VOUCHER COVERING THE REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE HEAD OF YOUR AGENCY THE FACT THAT SUCH TRANSPORTATION WAS NOT AUTHORIZED IN ADVANCE IS IMMATERIAL.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT MR. ANDERSON SHIPPED CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS FROM TAIPEI TO WASHINGTON, D.C., THE EXPENSE THEREOF APPARENTLY HAVING BEEN PAID BY THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. FOR THE REASONS STATED MR. ANDERSON MAY BE REIMBURSED THE ACTUAL EXPENSE HE INCURRED IN TRANSPORTING HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM MADISON TO WASHINGTON, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE TOTAL COST TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TRANSPORTING HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS DOES NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT HAD THE GOODS BEEN TRANSPORTED DIRECTLY FROM TAIPEI TO WASHINGTON AND PROVIDED THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS TRANSPORTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE DID NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED WEIGHT (7000 LBS. NET).

THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE.