B-142405, FEB. 17, 1961

B-142405, FEB. 17, 1961

TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES R. RABER:

IN YOUR LETTER OF JANUARY 9, 1961, YOU REQUEST RECONSIDERATION OF THAT PART OF OUR DECISION TO YOU DATED AUGUST 26, 1960, B-142405, 40 COMP. GEN. 140, IN WHICH WE SUSTAINED THE DISALLOWANCE OF YOUR CLAIM FOR REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES COVERED BY PART I OF CHAPTER 4 OF THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. THE REGULATIONS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDE THAT REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED ON BEHALF OF DEPENDENTS IS UNAUTHORIZED. YOUR CLAIM WAS DISALLOWED FOR THE REASON THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXPENSES INCURRED ON YOUR BEHALF SINCE ALL BAGGAGE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY WAS GROUPED TOGETHER AND HANDLING CHARGES PAID ACCORDINGLY.

IN YOUR PRESENT LETTER YOU SAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO CLAIM TWO FIFTHS ( 2/5 ( OR FORTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COSTS OF BAGGAGE MOVEMENT AND HANDLING AND OF TRANSPORT OF SELF AND OF BAGGAGE.

UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF PART II OF CHAPTER 4 OF THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS A MEMBER PROPERLY MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES INCURRED FOR FEES, TIPS, BAGGAGE HANDLING CHARGES AND SIMILAR EXPENSES ONLY WHEN IT IS SHOWN THAT THE COSTS WERE INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY AND THE ITEMS IN QUESTION ARE SUPPORTED BY THE RECEIPTS REQUIRED BY THE REGULATIONS.

SINCE THE REGULATIONS PROVIDE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF ITEMIZED EXPENSES ON AN ACTUAL COST BASIS AS DISTINGUISHED FROM AN ESTIMATED COST BASIS AND SINCE THERE APPEARS TO BE NO BASIS FOR MAKING AN EXACT APPORTIONMENT OF THE EXPENSES INVOLVED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL COSTS OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED IN YOUR BEHALF, NO AMOUNT MAY BE PAID ON YOUR CLAIM FOR THESE EXPENSES.