A-5756, NOVEMBER 20, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 465
Highlights
IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 3648. THE CLAIM WAS DISALLOWED FOR THE REASON THAT IT WAS BELIEVED TO INVOLVE AN ADVANCE PAYMENT FOR SERVICES TO BE RENDERED AND AS SUCH WAS PROHIBITED BY THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 3648. WHERE THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE IS NOT PAYING FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE AND WHERE THE TELEPHONE OF THE ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON IN CHARGE OF THE STATIONS IS UTILIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR EXTRA LISTINGS. THAT THE CLAIM IN QUESTION IS FOR THE EXPENSE OF SUCH AN EXTRA LISTING. IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT WHEN THE ACT OF REGISTRATION WAS COMPLETED THE WHOLE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE PRELIMINARY TO PAYMENT. THE SERVICE CONTRACTED FOR IN THE INSTANT CASE WAS AN AUTHORIZED LISTING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE UNITED STATES.
A-5756, NOVEMBER 20, 1924, 4 COMP. GEN. 465
PAYMENTS, ADVANCE - TELEPHONE LISTINGS THE PAYMENT OF A FEE FOR THE EXTRA LISTING OF A GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE IN THE LOCAL TELEPHONE DIRECTORY, EFFECTIVE FOR ONE YEAR IN ADVANCE, IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 3648, REVISED STATUTES, AS A PAYMENT FOR SERVICES IN ADVANCE OF THEIR RENDITION.
DECISION BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL, NOVEMBER 20, 1924:
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY APPLIED OCTOBER 15, 1924, FOR A REVIEW OF SETTLEMENT NO. 047220, DATED AUGUST 12, 1924, DISALLOWING THE CLAIM OF THE MICHIGAN BELL TELEPHONE CO. FOR $3 FOR THE LISTING OF A LOCAL TELEPHONE IN THE NAME OF THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE IN THE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY, GRAND HAVEN, MICH., FOR THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1, 1924, TO JUNE 30, 1925. THE CLAIM WAS DISALLOWED FOR THE REASON THAT IT WAS BELIEVED TO INVOLVE AN ADVANCE PAYMENT FOR SERVICES TO BE RENDERED AND AS SUCH WAS PROHIBITED BY THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 3648, REVISED STATUTES.
IT APPEARS THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY APPROVED THE REQUEST, AMONG OTHERS, OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, OF JUNE 11, 1924, TO INCUR EXPENDITURES FOR EXTRA LISTINGS IN LOCAL TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES AT ITS VARIOUS STATIONS REQUIRING THE SAME DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1925, WHERE THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE IS NOT PAYING FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE AND WHERE THE TELEPHONE OF THE ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON IN CHARGE OF THE STATIONS IS UTILIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR EXTRA LISTINGS, AND THAT THE CLAIM IN QUESTION IS FOR THE EXPENSE OF SUCH AN EXTRA LISTING.
IN DECISION OF FEBRUARY 27, 1922, 1 COMP. GEN. 455, INVOLVING THE QUESTION OF PAYMENT OF FEE FOR REGISTERING AN ABBREVIATED CABLE ADDRESS OF A GOVERNMENT BUREAU, EFFECTIVE FOR ONE YEAR IN ADVANCE, IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT WHEN THE ACT OF REGISTRATION WAS COMPLETED THE WHOLE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE PRELIMINARY TO PAYMENT. THE SERVICE CONTRACTED FOR IN THE INSTANT CASE WAS AN AUTHORIZED LISTING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE UNITED STATES, IN THE LOCAL TELEPHONE DIRECTORY FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1, 1924. ACCORDING TO THE CERTIFICATION BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER ON THE VOUCHER THE ACT OF LISTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED, SO THAT NOTHING REMAINS TO BE DONE IN THE MATTER PRELIMINARY TO PAYMENT. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE CHARGE IS OTHER THAN OR IN EXCESS OF WHAT IS CHARGED OTHERS FOR SIMILAR SERVICE.