B-71992, JANUARY 15, 1948, 27 COMP. GEN. 379

B-71992, JANUARY 15, 1948, 27 COMP. GEN. 379

APPROPRIATIONS - POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT - AVAILABILITY FOR PAYMENT OF MOVING EXPENSES OF THIRD-CLASS POST OFFICES THE APPROPRIATION ITEM " UNUSUAL CONDITIONS AT POST OFFICES" IN THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION ACT, 1948, MAY BE REGARDED AS AVAILABLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF REASONABLE EXPENSES OF MOVING THE EQUIPMENT OF A THIRD- CLASS POST OFFICE FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES CONNECTED THEREWITH, IF IT BE ADMINISTRATIVELY DETERMINED THAT SUCH MOVING IS NECESSARY, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER SUCH EQUIPMENT IS OWNED BY THE UNITED STATES, THE POSTMASTER, OR OTHERS.

ACTING COMPTROLLER GENERAL YATES TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, JANUARY 15, 1948:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 11, 1947, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO "WHETHER THE EXPENSE OF MOVING THE EQUIPMENT IN A THIRD CLASS POST OFFICE FROM ONE SITE TO ANOTHER AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES CONNECTED THEREWITH MAY BE PAID OUT OF THE APPROPRIATION " UNUSUAL CONDITIONS AT POST OFFICES' WHEN SUCH MOVING IS MADE THROUGH NECESSITY.' THE SPECIFIC INSTANCE REFERRED TO IN YOUR LETTER RELATES TO THE CLAIM OF THE POSTMASTER AT RIO HONDO, TEXAS, AMOUNTING TO $84.11 FOR EXPENSES INCURRED IN MOVING THE POST OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND HAVING A SIGN PAINTED ON THE NEW QUARTERS, THE MOVE HAVING BEEN MADE NECESSARY BY THE DEMAND OF THE OWNERS OF THE OLD QUARTERS FOR POSSESSION THEREOF.

THE SAID APPROPRIATION, 61 STAT. 230, IS AS FOLLOWS: " UNUSUAL CONDITIONS: FOR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS AT POST OFFICES, $25,000.'

IN THE COURSE OF THE HEARINGS ON THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION BILL FOR 1948 BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT STATED (PAGE 91):

ON PAGE 394, OF THE JUSTIFICATION, THERE ARE SOME ITEMS SET OUT WHICH SHOW THE NECESSITY FOR GRANTING ALLOWANCES FOR CERTAIN OFFICES BECAUSE OF UNUSUAL CONDITIONS, SUCH AS THE HARVEST SEASON, BUSINESS BOOMS, CHRISTMAS MAILS, PENALTY MAILS, CONDITIONS IN ALASKA, MILITARY MAIL, COST ASCERTAINMENT, AND MISCELLANEOUS.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE RENTAL ALLOWANCE GIVEN TO POSTMASTERS AT THIRD- CLASS POST OFFICES IS NOT INTENDED TO COVER MOVING EXPENSES. PRESUMABLY, ALSO, SUCH EXPENSES ARE INCURRED ONLY INFREQUENTLY AT ANY POST OFFICE. THERE BEING NO APPROPRIATION SPECIFICALLY AVAILABLE FOR PAYMENT OF MOVING EXPENSES, THE APPROPRIATION FOR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS AT POST OFFICES PROPERLY MAY BE REGARDED AS AVAILABLE THEREFOR, THE MOVING OF POST OFFICE EQUIPMENT TO NEW QUARTERS APPARENTLY OFTEN INVOLVING, IN FACT, AN UNUSUAL CONDITION WHICH IS NOT READILY FORESEEABLE OR AVOIDABLE BY A POSTMASTER.

IN SPECIFIC ANSWER TO THE QUESTION PRESENTED, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THE APPROPRIATION " UNUSUAL CONDITIONS AT POST OFFICES" IS AVAILABLE FOR PAYMENT OF THE EXPENSE OF MOVING THE EQUIPMENT OF A THIRD-CLASS POST OFFICE FROM ONE SITE TO ANOTHER AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES CONNECTED THEREWITH, IF IT BE ADMINISTRATIVELY DETERMINED THAT SUCH MOVING IS NECESSARY AND IF THE AMOUNT OF SUCH EXPENSE IS REASONABLE, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE SAID EQUIPMENT IS OWNED BY THE UNITED STATES, THE POSTMASTER OR OTHERS.