A-13067, JUN. 21, 1956

A-13067, JUN. 21, 1956

TO GENERAL TELEPHONE COMPANY OF THE NORTHWEST:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO LETTER OF APRIL 7, 1956, FROM YOUR CONTROLLER, RELATIVE TO THE NUMBER OF COPIES OF INVOICES FURNISHED VARIOUS AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE RENDERED, IN WHICH IT IS STATED THAT MANY OF THE AGENCIES "ARE RELUCTANT OR REFUSE TO REDUCE THEIR REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES.'

AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ABOVE, IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE UNITED STATES NAVY RECRUITING OFFICE, 110 UNION STREET, SEATTLE 1, WASHINGTON, ADVISES THAT FOUR COPIES ARE REQUIRED BY THE PAYING OFFICES TO PROCESS THE PAYMENTS, AND SINCE THE VARIOUS FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SEEM RELUCTANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COPIES OF INVOICES FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE RENDERED IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE SUGGESTION CONTAINED IN CIRCULAR LETTER FROM THIS OFFICE TO HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES DATED FEBRUARY 3, 1956, IT IS ASKED IF THIS OFFICE CAN FURNISH ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW THE COOPERATION OF THE AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS MATTER CAN BE SECURED.

IN REPLY TO THE ABOVE YOU ARE ADVISED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS OFFICE INFORMALLY CONTACTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY HERE IN WASHINGTON RELATIVE TO YOUR LETTER, AND IN VIEW OF THE ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, THE REQUEST THAT YOU FURNISH AN ORIGINAL AND THREE COPIES OF YOUR INVOICE TO THE RECRUITING OFFICE IN SEATTLE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE UNREASONABLE.

IN THIS CONNECTION IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THIS OFFICE REQUIRES ONLY THE ORIGINAL OF SUCH INVOICE IN ITS AUDIT FUNCTIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS OF THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THIS MATTER MAY VARY WITH THE AGENCY CONCERNED.