B-127856, AUG. 15, 1956

B-127856, AUG. 15, 1956

TO MR. FELIX E. MENDEL, JR., AUDITOR-CLAIMS, CAROLINA FREIGHT CARRIERS CORPORATION:

FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 7, 1956, FILE REFERENCE CLAIMS OC-2444D AND OC-2299D, PROS. 235104 AND 206329, CONCERNING CORRESPONDENCE WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION DIVISIONS WITH REGARD TO THE AUDIT ACTION TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF YOUR BILLS FOR FREIGHT CHARGES COVERING SHIPMENTS WHICH MOVED IN APRIL AND MAY 1953.

OUR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION REPORTS THAT YOUR CLAIM OC-2244D COVERS A SHIPMENT OF BENCH SETS, WEIGHING 6,768 POUNDS, WHICH WAS TRANSPORTED FROM MINEOLA, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, TO MAC DILL AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, UNDER GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING AF-1365364, DATED MAY 7, 1953. FOR THIS TRANSPORTATION YOU ORIGINALLY CLAIMED FREIGHT CHARGES IN THE AMOUNT OF $369.53. IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT YOUR CLAIM OC 2299D COVERS A SHIPMENT OF THE SAME ARTICLES, WEIGHING 6,768 POUNDS, WHICH WAS TRANSPORTED UNDER GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING AF-1365363, DATED APRIL 24, 1953, BETWEEN THE POINTS OF ORIGIN AND DESTINATION NAMED ABOVE. FOR THIS TRANSPORTATION YOU ORIGINALLY CLAIMED FREIGHT CHARGES IN THE AMOUNT OF $532.65. YOU WERE PAID THE SUMS CLAIMED BY YOU BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WITHOUT PRIOR AUDIT BY OUR OFFICE, AS AUTHORIZED IN SECTION 322 OF THE TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 1940, 54 STAT. 955, 49 U.S.C. 66.

SUBSEQUENT TO THE PAYMENT OF SUCH CHARGES, THE GOVERNMENT DISBURSING OFFICER'S PAYMENT VOUCHERS WERE AUDITED BY OUR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION, AS REQUIRED BY THE "BUDGET AND ACCOUNTING ACT, 1921," 42 STAT. 20. THE VOUCHERS WERE AUDITED ON THE BASIS OF THE RECORD PRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, AND SINCE IT APPEARED FROM THAT RECORD THAT YOU HAD BEEN OVERPAID FOR THE TRANSPORTATION MENTIONED ABOVE, YOU WERE REQUESTED TO REFUND THE AMOUNTS OF $272.23 AND $39.93 IN LIQUIDATION OF YOUR APPARENT INDEBTEDNESS TO THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SHIPMENTS MOVED UNDER BILLS OF LADING AF-1365363 AND AF 1365364, RESPECTIVELY.

IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR REFUND THERE WAS RECEIVED A LETTER DATED JANUARY 9, 1956, PROTESTING THE ACTION TAKEN AND ENCLOSING A "PUBLIC VOUCHER FOR TRANSPORTATION CHARGES" (STANDARD FORM NO. 1113), BEARING "CARRIER'S BILL NO. 00-56FEM," ON WHICH YOU CLAIMED THE AMOUNT OF $422.97 WHICH YOU CONTENDED REPRESENTED AN UNDERCHARGE ON THE SHIPMENT ON GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING AF-1365364, YOUR CLAIM OC-2244D, PRO. NO. 235104. THERE WAS ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER DATED JANUARY 9, 1956, CONTAINING A SIMILAR PROTEST AND ENCLOSING ANOTHER "PUBLIC VOUCHER FOR TRANSPORTATION CHARGES" (STANDARD FORM NO. 1113), BEARING "CARRIER'S BILL NO. G-56FEM," ON WHICH YOU CLAIMED THE AMOUNT OF $259.70 WHICH YOU CONTENDED REPRESENTED AN UNDERCHARGE ON THE SHIPMENT ON GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING AF-1365363, YOUR CLAIM OC-2299D, PRO. NO. 206329.

IN VIEW OF THE VARIANCE BETWEEN THE FACTS REPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY REGARDING THESE SHIPMENTS AND THE REPRESENTATIONS CONTAINED IN YOUR LETTERS OF JANUARY 9, 1956, A FURTHER REPORT WAS REQUESTED FROM THE CHIEF, TRANSPORTATION DIVISION, ASSISTANT FOR TRANSPORTATION AND SERVICES, DIRECTORATE OF SUPPLY AND SERVICES, NEW YORK COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC OFFICE, 111 EAST 16TH STREET, NEW YORK 3, NEW YORK, IN ORDER TO CLARIFY THE MATTER. IN RESPONSE TO SUCH REQUEST OUR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION RECEIVED A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT SUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH THAT YOU WERE ENTITLED TO THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS CLAIMED ON THESE SHIPMENTS IN YOUR LETTERS OF JANUARY 9, 1956.

ACCORDINGLY, OUR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION CANCELLED THE DEBT CHARGES WHICH WERE RAISED ON THESE SHIPMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SETTLEMENTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ALLOWING YOU THE AMOUNTS OF $422.97 AND $259.70 CLAIMED ON GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING AF-1365364 AND AF-1365363, RESPECTIVELY. YOU SHOULD RECEIVE CHECKS IN PAYMENT OF SUCH SETTLEMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IF NOT ALREADY RECEIVED.