B-116700, MARCH 1, 1954, 33 COMP. GEN. 377

B-116700, MARCH 1, 1954, 33 COMP. GEN. 377

TRAVELING EXPENSES - MILITARY, NAVAL, ETC., PERSONNEL - TAXICABS ARMY OFFICER WHO WAS STATIONED IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WHO RESIDED OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF HIS OFFICIAL STATION, IS NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF TAXICAB FARES INCIDENT TO TRAVEL ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS, UNDER ORDERS, FROM RESIDENCE TO RAILROAD TERMINAL, BUT MAY BE REIMBURSED THE MAXIMUM TAXICAB FARE FROM ANY POINT WITHIN OFFICIAL STATION OR POST OF DUTY TO THE RAILROAD TERMINAL UTILIZED.

ASSISTANT COMPTROLLER GENERAL WEITZEL TO LIEUTENANT ANTHONY S. BRAMANTE, MARCH 1, 1954:

THERE HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE NAVAL AVIATION SUPPLY DEPOT, PHILADELPHIA, YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM VOUCHER FOR $11.40, COVERING TAXICAB FARES TO AND FROM YOUR RESIDENCE AT SICKLERVILLE, NEW JERSEY, AND THE 30TH STREET RAILROAD STATION, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, INCIDENT TO THE PERFORMANCE OF TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DUTY UNDER NAVAL AVIATION SUPPLY OFFICE ORDERS DATED JUNE 24 ( AUGUST 6), 1952. WHILE YOU STATE THE AMOUNT IN QUESTION REPRESENTS TAXICAB FARES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH TRAVEL UNDER AVIATION SUPPLY OFFICE ORDERS OF JUNE 24, 1952, THE AMOUNT CLAIMED ACTUALLY REPRESENTS THE AMOUNT EXPENDED FOR SUCH FARES IN CONNECTION WITH TRAVEL UNDER AVIATION SUPPLY OFFICE ORDERS OF AUGUST 6, 1952. ACCORDINGLY, THE SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM VOUCHER WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF THAT PORTION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF APRIL 21, 1953, DISALLOWING YOUR CLAIM FOR TAXICAB FARES INCIDENT TO THE TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DUTY PERFORMED UNDER THE ORDERS OF AUGUST 6, 1952.

THE DISALLOWANCE OF YOUR CLAIM WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE TRAVEL ORDERS OF AUGUST 6 AUTHORIZED TRAVEL ONLY FROM PHILADELPHIA TO WASHINGTON AND RETURN AND NOT FROM SICKLERVILLE TO WASHINGTON AND RETURN. IT IS YOUR CONTENTION THAT SUCH FARES ARE REIMBURSABLE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF PARAGRAPH 4400-2 OF THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, IN PART AS FOLLOWS:

2. TAXI FARES.--- REIMBURSEMENT IS AUTHORIZED FOR TAXICAB FARES BETWEEN PLACES OF ABODE OR BUSINESS AND STATIONS, WHARVES, AIRPORTS, OTHER COMMON CARRIER TERMINALS OR LOCAL TERMINUS OF THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION USED, *

IN DECISION OF APRIL 20, 1945, 24 COMP. GEN. 763, IT WAS STATED THAT OFFICIAL TRAVEL OF NAVAL PERSONNEL COMMENCES AND ENDS AT THE TRAVELER'S STATION OR POST OF DUTY, AND IF A MEMBER ELECTS TO RESIDE BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE AREA COMPRISING HIS OFFICIAL STATION HE MUST BEAR THE EXCESS TRANSPORTATION COSTS OCCASIONED BY SUCH ELECTION. CONSEQUENTLY, EXPENSES INCURRED AS TAXICAB FARES IN EXCESS OF THOSE NECESSARY IN CONNECTION WITH TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE OFFICIAL STATION OF SUCH PERSONNEL WERE HELD TO BE A PERSONAL OBLIGATION NOT CHARGEABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT.

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SICKLERVILLE, NEW JERSEY, IS NOT WITHIN THE LIMITS OF YOUR STATION OR POST OF DUTY, AND APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLE STATED IN THE CITED DECISION PRECLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TAXICAB FARES CLAIMED. HOWEVER, IN LINE WITH SUCH DECISION AND THE DECISION CITED THEREIN--- 20 COMP. GEN. 315--- IT WOULD APPEAR THAT YOU WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE MAXIMUM TAXICAB FARE FROM ANY POINT WITHIN YOUR STATION OR POST OF DUTY TO THE RAILROAD TERMINAL UTILIZED.

ACCORDINGLY, IN DUE COURSE, A SUPPLEMENTAL SETTLEMENT WILL BE ISSUED FOR THE AMOUNT DETERMINED TO BE DUE YOU UPON THE FOREGOING BASIS.