Skip to main content

B-126056, DECEMBER 13, 1955, 35 COMP. GEN. 361

B-126056 Dec 13, 1955
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

TRAVELING EXPENSES - OTHER EXPENSES - RENTAL OF DINNER JACKET THE RENTAL OF A DINNER JACKET BY A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN OFFICIAL DINNER WHILE IN A TRAVEL STATUS OVERSEAS IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO THE TRANSACTION OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS WITHIN THE MEANING OF PARAGRAPH 79 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS WHICH AUTHORIZES PAYMENT FOR OTHER EXPENSES. THAT ITEM WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY SUSPENDED FROM A PRIOR VOUCHER. RECLAIM THEREFOR IS NOW BEING MADE AND IS ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED. THERE WAS NO INVITATION TO THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH AIRCRAFT CONSTRUCTORS. IT WAS NOT RECEIVED UNTIL AFTER ARRIVING IN ENGLAND. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A LEGITIMATE CLAIM. SINCE IT WAS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO THE BUSINESS OF THE TRIP.

View Decision

B-126056, DECEMBER 13, 1955, 35 COMP. GEN. 361

TRAVELING EXPENSES - OTHER EXPENSES - RENTAL OF DINNER JACKET THE RENTAL OF A DINNER JACKET BY A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN OFFICIAL DINNER WHILE IN A TRAVEL STATUS OVERSEAS IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO THE TRANSACTION OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS WITHIN THE MEANING OF PARAGRAPH 79 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS WHICH AUTHORIZES PAYMENT FOR OTHER EXPENSES.

TO RUTH ANDERSON, CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION, DECEMBER 13, 1955:

YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 10, 1955, REQUESTS OUR DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT THAT PART OF THE VOUCHER THEREWITH TRANSMITTED IN FAVOR OF AN OFFICER OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING DIVISION, CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION, WHICH INCLUDES $7.34 AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL OF A DINNER JACKET AT LONDON, ENGLAND. THAT ITEM WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY SUSPENDED FROM A PRIOR VOUCHER, AND RECLAIM THEREFOR IS NOW BEING MADE AND IS ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED. THE VOUCHER CONTAINS A STATEMENT AS FOLLOWS:

BEFORE DEPARTING THE U.S. THERE WAS NO INVITATION TO THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH AIRCRAFT CONSTRUCTORS. IT WAS NOT RECEIVED UNTIL AFTER ARRIVING IN ENGLAND. I HAD NO OTHER PLANS FOR THE USE OF A DINNER JACKET. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A LEGITIMATE CLAIM, SINCE IT WAS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO THE BUSINESS OF THE TRIP.

THE ESTABLISHED RULE IS THAT PERSONAL FURNISHINGS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO BE PURCHASED UNDER APPROPRIATIONS, IN THE ABSENCE OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS THEREFOR CONTAINED IN SUCH APPROPRIATION OR OTHER ACTS, IF SUCH FURNISHINGS ARE FOR THE PERSONAL CONVENIENCE, COMFORT, OR PROTECTION OF SUCH EMPLOYEES, OR ARE SUCH AS TO BE REASONABLY REQUIRED AS A PART OF THE USUAL AND NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE WORK ON WHICH THEY ARE ENGAGED OR FOR WHICH THEY ARE EMPLOYED. 2 COMP. GEN. 258, AND 652; 3 ID. 433; 23 ID. 831; 32 ID. 229.

WE NOTE THAT THE BASIS FOR THE CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RENTAL OF THE DINNER JACKET IS PARAGRAPH 79 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. THAT PARAGRAPH READS AS FOLLOWS:

OTHER EXPENSES.--- MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITURES, NOT ENUMERATED HEREIN,WHEN NECESSARILY INCURRED BY THE TRAVELER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS, WILL BE ALLOWED WHEN APPROVED.

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE REGULATIONS, JUST QUOTED, THE EXPENDITURE, IN ADDITION TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL THEREOF, MUST BE ONE "NECESSARILY INCURRED BY THE TRAVELER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS.' FURTHERMORE, PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE REFERRED-TO REGULATIONS PROVIDES THAT THE REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES UNDER THE REGULATIONS ARE "CONFINED TO THOSE EXPENSES ESSENTIAL TO THE TRANSACTING OF THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS.'

DOUBTLESS A PERSON OCCUPYING AN OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE RANK HERE INVOLVED MAY BE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL DINNER INVITATIONS FROM TIME TO TIME DURING OFFICIAL TRAVEL AND TO BE PREPARED THEREFOR SO FAR AS CONCERNS PROPER DRESS REQUIRED FOR THE OCCASION. THE INVITATION CARD ATTACHED TO THE VOUCHER INDICATES THE PROPER DRESS AS " DINNER JACKET OR UNIFORM.' THE CLAIMANT'S FAILURE TO TAKE WITH HIM NECESSARY CLOTHING TO MEET REASONABLY ANTICIPATED PERSONAL NECESSITIES IS NOT CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT TO SHIFT THE BURDEN OF THE COST OF PROCURING SUCH CLOTHING FROM PERSONAL TO OFFICIAL BUSINESS. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE RENTAL OF THE DINNER JACKET LEGALLY MAY NOT BE DEEMED TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE "TRANSACTING OF THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS" WITHIN CONTEMPLATION OF THOSE WORDS AS USED IN THE REGULATIONS.

THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT SO FAR AS CONCERNS THE ITEM COVERING THE RENTAL OF THE DINNER JACKET.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs