A-87472, OCTOBER 14, 1937, 17 COMP. GEN. 335

A-87472, OCTOBER 14, 1937, 17 COMP. GEN. 335

TRAVEL ALLOWANCE - CITIZENS' MILITARY TRAINING CAMPS - SHORTEST USUALLY TRAVELED ROUTE TRAVEL ALLOWANCE BEING PAYABLE UNDER SECTION 47D OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT AS AMENDED, 45 STAT. 251, ON THE BASIS OF "THE MOST USUAL AND DIRECT ROUTE," A CIVILIAN AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND A CITIZENS' MILITARY TRAINING CAMP FOR INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE SAID SECTION IS ENTITLED ONLY TO TRAVEL ALLOWANCE COMPUTED ON THAT BASIS AND NOT ON THE BASIS OF A ROUTE CONSIDERABLY LONGER INVOLVING MORE STOPOVERS AND DELAYS AND THE EXPENDITURE OF ADDITIONAL PUBLIC FUNDS, NOTWITHSTANDING THE LONGER ROUTE IS THE ROUTE ESTABLISHED BY WAR DEPARTMENT MILEAGE TABLE BETWEEN THE POINTS INVOLVED.

ACTING COMPTROLLER GENERAL ELLIOTT TO WILLIAM T. MONTAGUE OCTOBER 14, 1937:

THERE IS FOR CONSIDERATION LETTER OF MAY 25, 1937, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A REVIEW OF SETTLEMENT NO. 0442841 (CLAIM NO. 0566473) DATED APRIL 23, 1937, BY WHICH YOU WERE ALLOWED THE SUM OF $1, REPRESENTING ADDITIONAL TRAVEL ALLOWANCE INCIDENT TO YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THE CITIZENS' MILITARY TRAINING CAMP AT FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZ., FROM JULY 5 TO AUGUST 3, 1935, INCLUSIVE.

SECTION 47D OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT, AS AMENDED BY THE ACT OF MARCH 9, 1928, 45 STAT. 251, PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:

THE SECRETARY OF WAR IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO MAINTAIN, UPON MILITARY RESERVATIONS OR ELSEWHERE, SCHOOLS OR CAMPS FOR THE MILITARY INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING, WITH A VIEW TO THEIR APPOINTMENT AS RESERVE OFFICERS OR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS, OF SUCH * * * CIVILIANS AS MAY BE SELECTED UPON THEIR OWN APPLICATION; * * * TO FURNISH AT THE EXPENSE OF THE UNITED STATES * * * SUBSISTENCE, TRANSPORTATION BY THE MOST USUAL AND DIRECT ROUTE WITHIN SUCH LIMITS AS TO TERRITORY AS THE SECRETARY OF WAR MAY PRESCRIBE, OR IN LIEU OF FURNISHING SUCH TRANSPORTATION AND SUBSISTENCE TO PAY THEM TRAVEL ALLOWANCES AT THE RATE OF 5 CENTS PER MILE, OR, AT THE OPTION OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSPORTATION IN KIND MAY BE FURNISHED, AND IN ADDITION THERETO CANDIDATES MAY BE PAID A SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE AT THE RATE OF 1 CENT A MILE WITHIN SUCH LIMITS AS TO TERRITORY AS THE SECRETARY OF WAR MAY PRESCRIBE, FOR THE DISTANCE BY THE SHORTEST USUALLY TRAVELED ROUTE FROM THE PLACES FROM WHICH THEY ARE AUTHORIZED TO PROCEED TO THE CAMP, AND FOR THE RETURN TRAVEL THERETO AND TO MAKE THE PAYMENT OF TRAVEL ALLOWANCES FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY IN ADVANCE OF THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE SAME * * *.

PARAGRAPH 5, SPECIAL ORDERS, NO. 65, HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH CORPS AREA, FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEX., JUNE 16, 1935, PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:

THE FOLLOWING NAMED CIVILIANS WILL PROCEED BY THE SHORTEST USUALLY TRAVELED ROUTE FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE RESIDENCES AS INDICATED AFTER THEIR SEVERAL NAMES TO FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZONA, SO AS TO ARRIVE JULY 5, 1935, AND WILL REPORT IN PERSON UPON ARRIVAL TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE CITIZENS' MILITARY TRAINING CAMP TO BE HELD AT FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZONA, FOR TEMPORARY DUTY AS CIVILIANS UNDERGOING MILITARY TRAINING FOR THIRTY DAYS IN THE COURSES INDICATED AFTER THEIR RESPECTIVE AMES:

ARIZONA

NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: COURSE:

MONTAGUE, WILLIAM T. P.O. BOX 65. INSPIRATION BASIC.

IN LIEU OF TRANSPORTATION AND SUBSISTENCE EN ROUTE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WILL PAY TO EACH CIVILIAN MENTIONED IN THIS ORDER TRAVEL ALLOWANCE AT THE RATE OF FIVE CENTS (5 CENTS) PER MILE FOR THE DISTANCE BY THE SHORTEST USUALLY TRAVELED ROUTE FROM THE PLACE INDICATED AFTER HIS NAME TO FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZONA * * *.

THE JOURNEYS DIRECTED ARE NECESSARY FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

BY PARAGRAPH 1, SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 7, HEADQUARTERS CITIZENS' MILITARY TRAINING CAMP, FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZ., JULY 31, 1935, YOU WERE ORDERED ON COMPLETION OF THE PRESCRIBED COURSE OF INSTRUCTION AUGUST 3, 1935, TO PROCEED FROM FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZ., TO YOUR PLACE OF RESIDENCE, INSPIRATION, ARIZ., AND TO BE PAID TRAVEL ALLOWANCE AT THE RATE OF 5 CENTS PER MILE FOR THE DISTANCE BY THE SHORTEST USUALLY TRAVELED ROUTE BETWEEN THOSE PLACES.

VOUCHER 58, JULY 1935 ACCOUNTS OF MAJ. W. L. MORRISON, TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, ON FILE IN THIS OFFICE SHOWS THAT YOU WERE PAID TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR THE DISTANCE FROM INSPIRATION, TO FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZ., 244 MILES, AT 5 CENTS PER MILE, AMOUNTING TO $12.20, AND THAT THE ROLL IS SIGNED BY YOU. VOUCHER NO. 10, AUGUST 1935 ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME ARMY PAYMASTER, SHOWS THAT YOU WERE PAID THE SAME TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FROM FORT HUACHUCA TO INSPIRATION, ARIZ., $12.20, AND THAT THE ROLL IS SIGNED BY YOU. TOTAL TRAVEL ALLOWANCE PAID ON THESE VOUCHERS, $24.40. YOU WERE ALLOWED BY CERTIFICATE NO. 0442841, DATED APRIL 23, 1937, THE SUM OF $1 AS ADDITIONAL TRAVEL ALLOWANCE DUE YOU FOR THE TRAVEL PERFORMED UNDER YOUR ORDERS FROM INSPIRATION TO FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZ., AND RETURN.

IT IS CONTENDED THAT YOU WERE PAID ON THE BASIS OF 244 MILES, WHEREAS YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID ON THE BASIS OF 339 MILES, IN VIEW OF A LETTER RECEIVED FROM THE CHIEF OF FINANCE OF THE ARMY GIVING THE LATTER AS THE CORRECT DISTANCE, AND THEREFORE IT IS ALLEGED THERE IS DUE YOU THE SUM OF $9.50, INSTEAD OF $1 ALLOWED IN THE SETTLEMENT.

IT APPEARS FROM THE RECORDS ON FILE IN THIS OFFICE THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MIAMI AND FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZ., WAS ESTABLISHED BY SUPPLEMENTAL OFFICIAL MILEAGE TABLE EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 1932, AS 242 MILES, PLUS 2 MILES FROM INSPIRATION TO MIAMI, A TOTAL OF 244 MILES, AND THAT THE DISTANCE WAS CHANGED BY WAR DEPARTMENT FINANCE DEPARTMENT FORM NO. 46, DATED AUGUST 20, 1934, TO 337 MILES, PLUS 2 MILES, A TOTAL OF 339 MILES. THE CHANGE WAS APPARENTLY ACCOMPLISHED BY A REROUTING OVER THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. ACCORDING TO THE LATTER DISTANCE MENTIONED, THE ROUTING APPARENTLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AS FOLLOWS IN GOING TO THE CAMP:

CHART

MILES

INSPIRATION TO MIAMI -------- 2 PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.

MIAMI TO GLOBE -------------- 7 LEAVING MIAMI BY BUS 1:31 A.M.

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1935; ARRIVE

AT GLOBE 1:47 A.M. SAME DAY.

GLOBE TO BOWIE -------------- 124 LEAVE GLOBE BY RAIL (SOUTHERN

PACIFIC) 9:10 A.M. THURSDAY;

ARRIVE AT BOWIE 1:20 P.M. SAME

DAY.

BOWIE TO TUCSON ------------- 115 LEAVE BOWIE BY RAIL (SOUTHERN

PACIFIC) 2:02 P.M. THURSDAY;

ARRIVE AT TUCSON 5:25 P.M.

SAME DAY.

TUCSON TO LEWIS SPRINGS ----- 75 LEAVE TUCSON BY RAIL (SOUTHERN

PACIFIC) 4:50 A.M. FRIDAY,

JULY 5, 1935; ARRIVE AT LEWIS

SPRINGS 6:58 A.M. SAME DAY.

LEWIS SPRINGS TO FORT

HUACHUCA ------------------ 13 LEAVE LEWIS SPRINGS BY RAIL

(SOUTHERN PACIFIC) 3:20 P.M.,

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1935; ARRIVE

AT FORT HUACHUCA 3:55 P.M.

SAME DAY.

TOTAL ------------------- 336

AND RETURNING HOME AT END OF CAMP:

CHART

MILES

FORT HUACHUCA TO LEWIS

SPRINGS ------------------- 13 LEAVE FORT HUACHUCA BY RAIL

(SOUTHERN PACIFIC) 2:50

P.M. TUESDAY, AUG. 6, 1935;

ARRIVE AT LEWIS SPRINGS 3:25

P.M. SAME DAY.

LEWIS SPRINGS TO TUCSON ----- 75 LEAVE LEWIS SPRINGS BY RAIL

(SOUTHERN PACIFIC) 6:20 A.M.,

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 7, 1935;

ARRIVE AT TUCSON 8:10 A.M.

SAME DAY.

TUCSON TO BOWIE ------------- 115 LEAVE TUCSON BY RAIL (SOUTHERN

PACIFIC) 10:45 A.M.

WEDNESDAY; ARRIVE AT BOWIE

2:32 P.M., SAME DAY.

BOWIE TO GLOBE -------------- 124 LEAVE BOWIE BY RAIL (SOUTHERN

PACIFIC) 2:45 P.M. WEDNESDAY;

ARRIVE AT GLOBE 6:55 P.M.,

SAME DAY.

GLOBE TO MIAMI -------------- 7 LEAVE GLOBE BY BUS, 1:55 A.M.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1935, ARRIVE

AT MIAMI 2:15 A.M., SAME DAY.

MIAMI TO INSPIRATION -------- 2 PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.

TOTAL ------------------- 336

IT APPEARS, HOWEVER, THAT TRAVEL COULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED IN GOING TO CAMP AS FOLLOWS:

CHART

MILES

INSPIRATION TO MIAMI -------- 2 PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.

MIAMI TO FLORENCE JUNCTION -- 36 LEAVE MIAMI BY BUS AT 1:45 P.M.

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1935;

ARRIVE AT FLORENCE JUNCTION

AT 3:20 P.M., SAME DAY.

FLORENCE JUNCTION TO

COOLIDGE ------------------27 LEAVE FLORENCE JUNCTION BY BUS

AT 3:35 P.M., THURSDAY;

ARRIVE AT COOLIDGE 4:15 P.M.,

SAME DAY.

COOLIDGE TO HEREFORD -------- 151 LEAVE COOLIDGE BY RAIL (SOUTHERN

PACIFIC) AT 2:51 A.M. FRIDAY,

JULY 5, 1935; ARRIVE AT

HEREFORD 7:16 A.M., SAME DAY.

HEREFORD TO FORT HUACHUCA --- 13 LEAVE HEREFORD BY BUS AT 7:20

A.M. FRIDAY; ARRIVE AT

FORT HUACHUCA 8:35 A.M. FRIDAY,

JULY 5, 1935.

TOTAL ------------------- 229

AND RETURNING HOME:

CHART

MILES

FORT HUACHUCA TO HEREFORD --- 13 LEAVE FORT HUACHUCA BY BUS AT

4:10 A.M., SATURDAY, AUGUST 3,

1935; ARRIVE AT HEREFORD

4:45 A.M. SAME DAY.

HEREFORD TO COOLIDGE -------- 151 LEAVE HEREFORD BY RAIL (SOUTHERN

PACIFIC) AT 6:05 A.M.

SATURDAY; ARRIVE AT COOLIDGE

10 A.M., SAME DAY.

COOLIDGE TO FLORENCE

JUNCTION ------------------ 27 LEAVE COOLIDGE BY BUS AT 2:40

P.M. SATURDAY; ARRIVE AT

FLORENCE JUNCTION 3:20 P.M.,

SAME DAY.

FLORENCE JUNCTION TO MIAMI --- 36 LEAVE FLORENCE JUNCTION BY BUS AT

3:35 P.M. SATURDAY; ARRIVE AT

MIAMI AT 5:25 P.M., SATURDAY,

AUGUST 3, 1935.

MIAMI TO INSPIRATION -------- 2 PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.

TOTAL ------------------- 229

THE STATUTE AUTHORIZES PAYMENT OF TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR THE DISTANCE BY THE SHORTEST USUALLY TRAVELED ROUTE BETWEEN THE POINTS OF TRAVEL. CONSIDERING THE STOP-OVERS AND DELAYS, THE 336-MILE ROUTE WAS NOT THE SHORTEST USUALLY TRAVELED ROUTE. THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE STATUTE, YOU WERE ENTITLED TO TRAVEL ALLOWANCE AT THE RATE OF 5 CENTS PER MILE FOR THE DISTANCE OF 229 MILES, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE, APPEARS TO BE THE SHORTEST USUALLY TRAVELED ROUTE BETWEEN THE POINTS OF TRAVEL UNDER YOUR ORDERS, WHICH AMOUNTS TO $11.45. YOU WERE PAID $12.20 EACH WAY, A TOTAL OVERPAYMENT OF $1.50. THE SETTLEMENT OF APRIL 23, 1937, IS REVISED, AND NOTHING IS CERTIFIED TO BE DUE YOU FROM THE UNITED STATES ON YOUR CLAIM. CHECK NO. 312165, ISSUED BY E. C. MORTON, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, IN YOU FAVOR MAY 4, 1937, IN THE SUM OF $1 WILL BE CANCELED AND COVERED INTO THE APPROPRIATION AGAINST WHICH DRAWN.