B-114027, APRIL 15, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 451

B-114027, APRIL 15, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 451

TRANSPORTATION - HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS - SHIPMENT BY EMPLOYEE'S TRAILER TOWED BY HIRED MOVER PERSONALLY OWNED HOUSE-TRAILERS ARE NOT REGARDED AS PROPERTY WHICH IS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF ,HOUSEHOLD GOODS" OR "PERSONAL EFFECTS" AS USED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 9805, AS AMENDED, SO THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO, ON A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION, TRANSPORTED HIS HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS IN HIS PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSE TRAILER WHICH WAS HAULED BY A HIRED TRAILER MOVER WHOSE CHARGES FOR SUCH SERVICE FAILED TO INDICATE WHAT AMOUNT, IF ANY, THE COST OF TRANSPORTING THE TRAILER WAS INCREASED BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTS TRANSPORTED THEREIN, IS NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS.

COMPTROLLER GENERAL WARREN TO WILLIAM L. NORFOLK, NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, APRIL 15, 953:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED MARCH 2, 1953, REQUESTING A DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT THE VOUCHER THEREWITH TRANSMITTED IN FAVOR OF LOREN P. JONES, ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED FOR $98.80, WHICH REPRESENTS EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSFER OF DUTY STATION, AS EVIDENCED BY THE RECEIPTED BILL OF TWEEDY TRAILER SALES FOR "TRANSPORTING HOUSEHOLD" FROM LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, TO NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

IT APPEARS THAT MR. JONES AND HIS WIFE TRAVELED BY AUTOMOBILE FROM LITTLE ROCK TO NEW ORLEANS UNDER TRANSFER ORDER NO. 53-718, DATED JANUARY 19, 1953, WHICH CHANGED HIS OFFICIAL STATION AND PROVIDED IN PART "THIS AUTHORIZATION INCLUDES THE COST OF TRANSPORTING YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLICABLE THERETO.' THE LIST OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS INDICATES A WEIGHT OF 1,500 POUNDS (APPARENTLY ESTIMATED). THE EFFECTS ACTUALLY WERE TRANSPORTED IN MR. JONES' PERSONALLY OWNED HOUSE-TRAILER WHICH WAS HAULED BY THE TRAILER SALES FIRM, AND AN ACCEPTABLE WEIGHT CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN FURNISHED.

PERSONALLY OWNED HOUSE-TRAILERS OF EMPLOYEES ARE NOT REGARDED AS PROPERTY WHICH IS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF "HOUSEHOLD GOODS" OR "PERSONAL EFFECTS" AS USED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 9805, AS AMENDED. ALSO, IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT WHERE THE RECORD DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT AMOUNT, IF ANY, THE COST OF TRANSPORTING THE TRAILER WAS INCREASED BECAUSE OF EFFECTS TRANSPORTED THEREIN, THE COSTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SUCH TRAILERS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS HAVING BEEN INCURRED AS INCIDENT TO THE SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS OR PERSONAL EFFECTS FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS AUTHORIZED. B-112449, FEBRUARY 18, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 367, AND DECISIONS CITED THEREIN.

ACCORDINGLY, AND SINCE IT IS NOT EVIDENT FROM THE PRESENT RECORD THAT ANY OF THE EXPENSE INCURRED WAS FOR SHIPMENT OF MR. JONES' HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND EFFECTS, NO AMOUNT MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR PAYMENT ON THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH.