B-147414, NOV. 21, 1963

B-147414, NOV. 21, 1963

TO MRS. NORMA W. LARSON:

YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 7, 1963, REQUESTS FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF YOUR CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES OF TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE INCIDENT TO YOUR RETURN FROM OVERSEAS AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY.

YOU WERE ADVISED IN OUR LETTER OF JUNE 6, 1963, B-147414, THAT IN ORDER TO GIVE FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION TO YOUR CLAIM, CERTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY YOU. IN YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 7, YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE CLARIFIED CERTAIN FACTORS WHICH HAVE HERETOFORE APPEARED VAGUE IN THE RECORD.

IN VIEW OF YOUR HUSBAND'S UNEMPLOYED STATUS AT THE TIME OF HIS RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE INDICATION THAT HE PRECEDED YOU IN TRAVELLING ON TO CALIFORNIA WE MAY REASONABLY ASSUME THAT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS, YOU HELD THE STATUS OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION OF SUCH EFFECTS WOULD BE ALLOWABLE AS FAR AS YOUR RESIDENCE IN CALIFORNIA BY THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE FROM YOUR OVERSEAS STATION AT NOT TO EXCEED THE FAMILY ALLOWANCE OF 7,000 POUNDS NET (INCLUDING THE EFFECTS BELONGING TO YOUR HUSBAND AND WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY SHIPPED BY THE GOVERNMENT FROM FRANCE TO ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, AND/OR WASHINGTON, D.C.).

ALSO, IN YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 7, YOU SAY THAT NO FURTHER SHIPMENT OF YOUR HUSBAND'S EFFECTS HAS BEEN MADE FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., TO CALIFORNIA, AND THAT HIS HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS ARE PRESENTLY STORED AT YOUR SISTER-IN- LAW'S HOME.

THERE IS SOME INDICATION IN THE FILE THAT THE NET WEIGHTS OF THE TWO SHIPMENTS FROM FRANCE TO THE UNITED STATES AMOUNTED TO 2,458 POUNDS NET FOR THE SHIPMENT TO ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, IN THE CASE OF YOUR HUSBAND, AND 2,780 POUNDS NET FOR THE SHIPMENT TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, VIA NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, IN YOUR CASE. THEREFORE, IT APPEARS THAT IF THE GOODS NOW IN STORAGE IN WASHINGTON WERE SHIPPED TO CALIFORNIA AND YOU FURNISH RECEIPTS SHOWING THE AMOUNT PAID FOR SUCH SHIPMENT AS WELL AS THE WEIGHT THEREOF, YOU WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE DIFFERENCE, IF ANY, BETWEEN THE COST OF SHIPPING 7,000 POUNDS NET OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS IN ONE LOT FROM FRANCE TO CALIFORNIA VIA NEW ORLEANS, AND THE TOTAL OF THE AMOUNTS ALREADY EXPENDED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE SEPARATE SHIPMENTS TO CALIFORNIA AND ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE VOUCHERS SHOWING THE AMOUNTS ALREADY EXPENDED, BUT IF YOU MOVE THE EFFECTS FROM WASHINGTON AND FURNISH US EVIDENCE OF SAME WE WILL ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY TO MAKE ANOTHER SEARCH TO LOCATE SUCH VOUCHERS.

AS TO YOUR CLAIM FOR STORAGE, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS PERMIT REIMBURSEMENT ONLY OF ACTUAL EXPENSES INCURRED FOR SUCH STORAGE. SINCE YOU HAVE NOT FURNISHED RECEIPTS SHOWING THAT ANY SUCH EXPENSES HAVE BEEN INCURRED THERE IS NO BASIS FOR ALLOWING ANY AMOUNT FOR THAT PURPOSE.