B-86001/A), I-17000-2838, AUG. 2, 1955

B-86001/A), I-17000-2838, AUG. 2, 1955

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO LETTER DATED AUGUST 19, 1954, WITH ENCLOSURES, FROM THE CHIEF OF FINANCE, CONCERNING PAYMENTS OF INCREASED RENTAL AND SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES, SAVED TOTAL COMPENSATION, AND AN INCREASED BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR QUARTERS MADE TO CAPTAIN (NOW MAJOR) RENA J. ALEXANDER, N- 727701, ARMY NURSE CORPS, AS AN OFFICER WITH A DEPENDENT MOTHER DURING THE PERIOD MARCH 1, 1946, TO OCTOBER 12, 1950, WHICH PAYMENTS WERE QUESTIONED IN A REPORT OF INVESTIGATION TRANSMITTED TO YOU WITH OUR LETTER OF MARCH 2, 1954. THE CHIEF OF FINANCE REQUESTED RECONSIDERATION OF THE MATTER IN VIEW OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ENCLOSURES WITH HIS LETTER.

OUR INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT DURING THE PERIOD INVOLVED THE OFFICER'S MOTHER AND FATHER OWNED THEIR HOME AND 65 ACRES OF FARM LAND. THE FATHER WAS GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, EARNING $497 IN 1946, $575 IN 1947, $558.45 IN 1948, $1,166.69 IN 1949, AND $1,115.80 IN 1950, FOR PERSONAL SERVICES AND, IN ADDITION, HAD AN ANNUAL AVERAGE NET INCOME OF $900 A YEAR FROM THE OPERATION OF THE FARM AND THE OCCASIONAL SALE OF CATTLE. THEIR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER LIVED WITH THEM UNTIL HER MARRIAGE IN 1949. THE FATHER ESTIMATED THAT THE FAMILY LIVING EXPENSES AVERAGED $128 A MONTH.

THE ENCLOSURES WITH THE LETTER OF AUGUST 19, 1954, INCLUDE A FIFTH INDORSEMENT, DATED AUGUST 2, 1954, FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER, VALLEY FORGE ARMY HOSPITAL, PHOENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ON OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF FINANCE LETTER DATED MARCH 12, 1954, FIVE NOTARIZED CERTIFICATES AND A PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT, AND PHOTOSTATIC COPIES OF TWENTY-EIGHT CHECKS TOTALING $3,241, DRAWN BY THE OFFICER TO THE ORDER OF EITHER HER MOTHER OR FATHER FROM DECEMBER 26, 1946, THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, 1950. THE COMMANDING OFFICER, VALLEY FORGE ARMY HOSPITAL, SAYS THAT THE OFFICER HAS BEEN APPRISED OF THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE STATEMENTS OF HER CERTIFICATES OF DEPENDENCY AND THE FACTS DISCLOSED BY OUR INVESTIGATION AND THAT SHE HAD SUBMITTED THE CERTIFICATES AND PHOTOSTATS TO SUBSTANTIATE HER CONTENTION THAT SHE WAS THE CHIEF SUPPORT OF HER MOTHER. THE CERTIFICATES ARE GENERAL IN NATURE, FIVE OF THEM RELATING TO THE CARE OF THE FATHER AFTER THE PERIOD THE QUESTIONED PAYMENTS WERE MADE TO THE OFFICER. THE OFFICER HAS NOT EXPLAINED THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN HER CERTIFICATES OF DEPENDENCY AND THE FACTS DISCLOSED BY OUR INVESTIGATION. SINCE THE FATHER'S AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME WAS MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THE PARENTS' AVERAGE MONTHLY EXPENSES, NEITHER PARENT WAS IN FACT DEPENDENT ON THE OFFICER FOR CHIEF SUPPORT.

UPON REVIEW OF THE MATTER, NO BASIS IS FOUND FOR CHANGING THE CONCLUSION REACHED IN OUR REPORT THAT THE MOTHER WAS NOT IN FACT DEPENDENT ON THE OFFICER FOR CHIEF SUPPORT DURING THE PERIOD MARCH 1, 1946, TO JULY 31, 1950. ACCORDINGLY, FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WITH A VIEW TO RECOVERY OF THE IMPROPER PAYMENTS MADE TO MAJOR ALEXANDER ON ACCOUNT OF HER MOTHER THROUGH JULY 31, 1950, AND INFORMATION AS TO THE AMOUNT COLLECTED, WILL BE APPRECIATED.

IN VIEW OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE DEPENDENTS ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1950, 64 STAT. 794, NO DETERMINATION IS MADE HERE CONCERNING THE PAYMENTS MADE TO THE OFFICER AFTER JULY 31, 1950. SEE 30 COMP. GEN. 282.