B-123613, JUN. 1, 1955

B-123613, JUN. 1, 1955

TO MR. FLOYD E. DOTSON, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 12, 1955, TRANSMITTING A VOUCHER IN FAVOR OF THE CHASE STUDIOS, LTD., 1904 M STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C., IN THE AMOUNT OF $90 FOR 100 PRINTS OF A PHOTOGRAPH OF CLARENCE A. DAVIS, UNDER SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. YOU REQUEST DECISION AS TO THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING THE VOUCHER FOR PAYMENT.

YOUR DOUBT IN THE MATTER ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT IN OUR DECISION OF MAY 19, 1953, B-114344, CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT OF A VOUCHER FOR PHOTOGRAPHS OF AN OFFICIAL OF THE SMALL DEFENSE PLANTS ADMINISTRATION WAS APPROVED, WHEREAS IN OUR DECISION OF MARCH 5, 1952, B-108060 (31 COMP. GEN. 452), CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT OF A VOUCHER FOR PHOTOGRAPHS OF AN OFFICIAL OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESOURCES BOARD WAS DISAPPROVED. IT IS TO BE OBSERVED THAT THE DECISION OF MARCH 5, 1952, WAS BASED ON "THE ABSENCE OF A DEFINITE INDICATION AS TO THE NECESSITY FOR THE EXPENDITURES IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SOME PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE APPROPRIATION WAS MADE," WHEREAS IN THE DECISION OF MAY 19, 1953, IT WAS REGARDED AS ESTABLISHED THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE NECESSARY FOR OFFICIAL USE RELATIVE TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SMALL DEFENSE PLANTS ADMINISTRATION.

THE EXPENDITURE UNDER CONSIDERATION IS EXPLAINED IN YOUR LETTER AS FOLLOWS:

"IN CONNECTION WITH HIS DUTIES, THE UNDER SECRETARY IS CALLED UPON FREQUENTLY TO REPRESENT THE SECRETARY IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY BEFORE ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS WITH WHOM THE DEPARTMENT HAS BUSINESS, OR WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ITS WORK. OFTEN MEETINGS ARE CALLED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO OBTAIN THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC TO ASSIST IN PRESCRIBING REGULATIONS AND ARRIVING AT OTHER DECISIONS. UPON MOST OCCASIONS ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS BEFORE WHOM THE UNDER SECRETARY APPEARS WILL REQUEST HIS PHOTOGRAPH FOR USE IN PREPARING PROGRAMS, ETC., OR, AS HAPPENS OFTEN, THE PRESS IN THE CITY OR TOWN IN WHICH A MEETING IS TO BE HELD WILL REQUEST HIS PHOTOGRAPH. TO CARRY OUT THESE PURPOSES SECRETARY DAVIS SELECTED A PHOTOGRAPH THAT HAD BEEN MADE BY CHASE STUDIOS, LTD., AND PURCHASE OF 100 PRINTS HAS BEEN MADE.'

IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE EXPLANATION, THE COST OF THE PRINTS IN QUESTION APPEARS TO BE A NECESSARY EXPENSE PROPERLY CHARGEABLE TO THE APPROPRIATION FOR SALARIES AND EXPENSES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, 1955, CONTAINED IN THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION ACT, 1955, 68 STAT. 373. ACCORDINGLY THE VOUCHER IS RETURNED HEREWITH AND MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT, IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.