B-113397, FEBRUARY 6, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 360

B-113397, FEBRUARY 6, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 360

APPROPRIATIONS - ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AGENCY - AVAILABILITY FOR RECORDING SERVICES FOR USE IN PUBLICIZING PROGRAM THE COST OF RECORDING SERVICES, INCLUDING DUPLICATE RECORDINGS, OF AN "OPEN FORUM" SPONSORED BY THE OFFICE OF PRICE STABILIZATION, ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AGENCY, MAY BE REGARDED AS AN ESSENTIAL COST OF PUBLICIZING THE PROGRAM AUTHORIZED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 10161, WHICH DIRECTED THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AGENCY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC CONCERNING THE NEED FOR STABILIZING THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY, AND THE COST OF SUCH SERVICES MAY BE CHARGED TO THE APPROPRIATION FOR SALARIES AND EXPENSES, ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AGENCY.

ACTING COMPTROLLER GENERAL FISHER TO MARGARET W. HANGER, OFFICE OF PRICE STABILIZATION, FEBRUARY 6, 1953:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JANUARY 5, 1953, AND ENCLOSURES (YOUR REFERENCE 10400/2930), FORWARDED BY LETTER DATED JANUARY 9, 1953, FROM THE DIRECTOR, BUDGET AND FINANCE DIVISION (HIS REFERENCE 2933/JLM), REQUESTING TO BE ADVISED WHETHER THE VOUCHER ENCLOSED THEREWITH PROPERLY MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT. THE VOUCHER IS STATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $50 CLAIMED AS PAYMENT FOR THE COST OF RECORDING SERVICES FURNISHED BY WRNL, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, IN CONNECTION WITH A FORUM DISCUSSION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PRICE STABILIZATION, OTHER OFFICIALS, AND THE AUDIENCE.

IT IS EXPLAINED BY THE REGIONAL INFORMATION OFFICER IN A MEMORANDUM DATED DECEMBER 5, 1952, THAT FOLLOWING A DETERMINATION BY THE DIRECTOR, TIGHE E. WOODS, THAT SUCH FORUMS WOULD ADVANCE THE PROGRAM OF THE OFFICE OF PRICE STABILIZATION, PLANS WERE MADE TO STAGE A SERIES OF "OPEN FORUM" PUBLIC MEETINGS IN ABOUT TEN CITIES FROM COAST TO COAST. COMPLETE RECORDS OF ALL SUCH MEETINGS WERE FURNISHED THE CENTRAL OFFICE FROM WHICH DUPLICATES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO REGIONAL OFFICES EXPECTING TO STAGE SIMILAR MEETINGS AT A LATER DATE.

THE APPROPRIATION FOR SALARIES AND EXPENSES, ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AGENCY CONTAINED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACT, 1953, APPROVED JULY 15, 1952, 66 STAT. 657, IS AVAILABLE FOR THE NECESSARY EXPENSES OF THAT AGENCY DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1953. THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THE ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AGENCY AS SET FORTH IN EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 10161 DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 1950, 15 F.R. 6106, IS TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THE STABILIZATION OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY AND TO THAT END ITS ADMINISTRATOR IS DIRECTED THEREIN TO "/2) INFORM THE PUBLIC, AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY AND LABOR CONCERNING THE NEED FOR STABILIZATION AND ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE VOLUNTARY ACTION TO THIS END.'

SINCE IT APPEARS THAT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE RECORDINGS HERE IN QUESTION WAS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION MATERIAL TO THE PERSONNEL PARTICIPATING IN SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS AND IT HAS BEEN ADMINISTRATIVELY DETERMINED THAT " THE EXPENSE INCURRED IN EACH CASE WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE PROPER CONDUCT OF THE OPS SPONSORED PUBLIC MEETING AND TO THE FORWARDING OF THE OPS PROGRAM," YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, PROPERLY MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.