B-128959, OCT. 2, 1956

B-128959, OCT. 2, 1956

TO MR. ALEXANDER F. KIEFER:

THERE HAS BEEN FURTHER CONSIDERED YOUR CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $69.19, WHICH YOU INCURRED FOR DRAYAGE AND PACKING IN PLACING YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND EFFECTS IN STORAGE, UPON YOUR APPOINTMENT AND ASSIGNMENT TO GERMANY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

BY ORDERS DATED APRIL 5, 1951, ISSUED INCIDENT TO YOUR APPOINTMENT, YOU WERE AUTHORIZED TO TRANSPORT YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND EFFECTS FROM ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, TO FRANKFORT, GERMANY. ON APRIL 24, 1951, YOU PLACED YOUR GOODS IN STORAGE AT WASHINGTON, D.C., WITH THE SECURITY STORAGE COMPANY. FOR THE DRAYAGE AND PACKING OF YOUR GOODS FOR STORAGE YOU INCURRED THE EXPENSES OF $69.19 INVOLVED IN YOUR CLAIM. THE STORAGE OF YOUR EFFECTS AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED. HOWEVER, YOU EXPRESS THE VIEW THAT AS THE EXPENSES FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS SOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCURRED HAD YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS BEEN TRANSPORTED TO GERMANY UNDER YOUR TRAVEL ORDERS, YOUR CLAIM SHOULD BE FAVORABLY CONSIDERED.

WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THAT ASPECT OF YOUR CASE AND BELIEVE THAT YOUR ENTITLEMENT TO THE AMOUNT CLAIMED MUST DEPEND UPON WHETHER IT WAS INCURRED IN CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSE OF YOUR TRAVEL ORDER OR WAS MERELY AN INCIDENT TO THE STORAGE OF YOUR GOODS WHICH, IN THE ABSENCE OF OFFICIAL AUTHORITY, WOULD CREATE NO OBLIGATION UPON THE GOVERNMENT TO REIMBURSE YOU.

THE FACTS IN YOUR CASE LEAD TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS YOUR INTENT AND PURPOSE TO STORE THE GOODS RATHER THAN TRANSPORT THEM TO GERMANY, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THAT CONCLUSION OUR SETTLEMENT ..END :