B-111310 September 4, 1952

B-111310 September 4, 1952

MR. C. S. Tenley Authorized Certifying Officer Extension Service Department of Agriculture

Dear Mr. Tenley:

Reference is made to your letter of August 7, 1952, submitting a voucher in favor of A. W. Zolomok, a non-government employee, covering travel performed on June 17, 1952, and requesting advice whether said voucher may be certified for payment.

It is stated that Mr. Zolomok was officially requested to attend a conference in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 17, 1952, for the purpose of consulting in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 17, 1952, for the purpose of consulting with and advising Government officials on problems with respect to the outlook for fibers, fabrics and clothing; that he advised two official representing the Extension Service that on said date he would be in Cincinnati, Ohio, on personal business, but could leave Cincinnati the morning of June 17 and arrive in Madison, Wisconsin, in time for the conference; that authority was properly issued to Mr. Zolomok by L/A No. 127-(E), dated June 2, 1952, authorizing travel from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Madison, Wisconsin, and return, and a per diem at the rate of $10 per day; that Government transportation requests were forwarded to him at his residence in New York City; and that he did not use said transportation requests since he was able to secure a circuitous route ticket from New York City to Madison via Cincinnati and return from Madison to Chicago, Illinois, thence to New York City. It is further stated that Mr. Zolomok attended the conference as arranged but that he did not return to Cincinnati, Ohio, as was contemplated by the travel authority and transportation requests. The voucher calls for reimbursement under the above cited authority for the cost of transportation from Cincinnati to Chicago, and for the cost of transportation from Chicago to Madison and return, all by plane, plus taxi fares from the hotel in Cincinnati to the airport, from the airport in Madison to the meeting and return, as well as per diem at the rate stipulated in the travel authority, amounting to $47.37.

Section 73b-2 Title 5 U.S.C., provides, in partiment part, as follows:

"a. * * * and persons serving without compensation or at $1 per annum may be allowed, while away from their homes or regular places of business, transportation in accordance with said regulations and motion 73a of this title, and not to exceed $10 per diem in lieu of subsistence on route and at place of such service or employment unless a higher rate is specifically provided in an appropriation or other Act."

Since transportation and per diem is authorized by the above statute to persons serving without compensation--non-government employees; since the amount claimed as reimbursement presumably represents the amount expended for the travel in quesion; and since the failure to return to Concinnati was to the advantage of the Government, the voucher, which is returned herewith, may be certified for payment, if otherwise correct. See 27 Comp. Gen. 183; 23 id. 374.

Sincerely yours,

Lindsey C. Warren

Comptroller General of the United States

Enclosures