MAY 16, 1922, 1 COMP. GEN. 679

MAY 16, 1922, 1 COMP. GEN. 679

TRANSPORTATION OF AUTOMOBILES - EMPLOYEES OF SUPERVISING ARCHITECT'S OFFICE THE APPROPRIATION IN ACT OF FEBRUARY 17, 1922, 42 STAT., 386, PROVIDING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS INCIDENT TO CHANGE OF HEADQUARTERS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT'S OFFICE, IS LIMITED TO THE TRANSPORTATION OF FURNITURE, FURNISHINGS, UTENSILS, BOOKS, PAINTINGS, ETC., USED IN THE HOUSE OR HOME OF THE EMPLOYEE, AND DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THE TRANSPORTATION OF AN EMPLOYEE'S AUTOMOBILE AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE.

COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, MAY 16, 1922:

I HAVE YOUR LETTER OF MAY 4, 1922, REQUESTING DECISION WHETHER AUTOMOBILES MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE SHIPMENT OF 5,000 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF SUPERVISING SUPERINTENDENTS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES UNDER THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT WHEN MADE PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY CONTAINED IN THE ACT OF FEBRUARY 17, 1922, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1923, UNDER "PUBLIC BUILDINGS, REPAIRS, EQUIPMENT, AND GENERAL EXPENSES," SUBHEAD "GENERAL EXPENSES," 42 AT., 386.

THE PROVISION IS:

* * * FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS, INCIDENT TO CHANGE OF HEADQUARTERS OF SUPERVISING SUPERINTENDENTS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND JUNIOR SUPERINTENDENTS OF CONSTRUCTION, AND INSPECTORS, NOT IN EXCESS OF FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS AT ANY ONE TIME, TOGETHER WITH THE NECESSARY EXPENSE INCIDENT TO PACKING AND DRAYING THE SAME, NOT TO EXCEED IN ANY ONE YEAR A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $4,500; * * *.

THE TERM "HOUSEHOLD GOODS" HAS BEEN "DEFINED TO MEAN ARTICLES OF HOUSEHOLD USE OF A PERMANENT NATURE, WHICH ARE NOT CONSUMED IN THEIR ENJOYMENT," AND "HOUSEHOLD" IS DEFINED AS "THE PLACE WHERE ONE HOLDS HOUSE, HIS HOME.' 21 CYC., 1115 AND 1113.

THE TERM IS THEREFORE LIMITED TO FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS, UTENSILS, BOOKS, PAINTINGS, ETC., USED IN THE HOUSE OR HOME OF THE EMPLOYEE, AND WOULD NOT INCLUDE AN AUTOMOBILE. IT MAY ALSO BE OBSERVED THAT RAILROAD TARIFFS DO NOT CLASSIFY AUTOMOBILES AS HOUSEHOLD GOODS; NOR DOES THE TERM WHEN USED IN ITS ORDINARY OR USUAL SENSE IMPORT OTHER THAN HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES.

YOU ARE THEREFORE INFORMED THAT AN AUTOMOBILE MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE 5,000 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS PERMITTED TO BE TRANSPORTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE INCIDENT TO A CHANGE OF HEADQUARTERS OF THE EMPLOYEES NAMED IN THE STATUTE.