B-113464 January 29, 1953

B-113464 January 29, 1953

Mrs. Margaret W. Hanger, Authorized Certifying Officer c/o Budget and Finance Division Office of Price Stabilization Washington 25, D.C.

Dear Mrs. Hanger:

Reference is made to you letter of January 5, 1953, file 0400/2930, which was forwarded to this Office by letter dated January 15, 1953, from the Director, Budget and Finance Division, 2933/JUS, requesting a decision as to whether you are authorized to certify for payment a voucher in the amount of $7 in favor of Beth Mason, Photographer, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, covering the purchase in October 1952 of the negative and three prints of a display in Tomlinson's Department Store at North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

While the letter of January 5 does not specifically so state, your doubt as to the propriety of the payment of this voucher apperently stems from the general rule that the cost of photographs of Government employees for press releases to newspapers and magazines is a personal expense which is not chargeable to public funds. 31 Comp. Gen. 452.

It appears from the letter and attachments to the voucher that the negative and prints in which no picture of an employee of the Office of Price Stabilization appears, were procured by Region 4in connection with the Housewive's Clinic held by the Director of the Office of Price Stabilization at Tomlinson's Department Store on October 23, 1952. It is further stated the pictures were intended for use by the National Office in supplying other regions expecting to stage similar displays with material showing local cooperation with efforts of the Office of Price Stabilization and for the record. The regional director certified on requisition No. 2800-36 dated October 28, 1952, that the photograph was "not for publicity purposes, but necessary to the forwarding of the program and Director Woods' objectives." The regional information officer stated in memorandum dated December 5, 1952, that the expense was "essential to the proper conduct of the OPS sponsored public meeting and to the forwarding of the OPS program," and that available equipment of the Office of Price Stabilization was inadequate to obtain the necessary photographic record of the project.

The appropriation for Salaries and Expenses, Economic Stabilization Agency contained in the Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1953, approved July 15, 1952, 66 Stat. 657, is available for the necessary expenses of that agency during the fiscal year 1953. The primary duty of the Economic Stabilization Agency as set forth in Executive Order 10161 dated September 9, 1950, 15 F.R. 6106, is to preserve and maintain the stabilization of the country's economy and to that and its Administrator is directed therin to "(2) Inform the public, agriculture, industry and labor concerning the need for stabilization and encourage and promote voluntary action to this end." It appears from the administrative statements that the procurement of the negative and prints in question was determined to be necessary in carrying out the duty there imposed upon the Administrator has such negative and prints reasonably might assist the administrative officers of the other regions of the Office of Price Stabilization in furthering voluntary section of the public toward economic stabilization. Accordingly, it would appear that these costs properly are chargeable to the above appropriation.

The voucher, together with the accompanying papers, is returned herewith and you are advised that certification thereof for payment is proper.

Very Truly yours,

Frank H. Yates Acting Comptroller General of the United States

Enclosures