B-129785, DECEMBER 31, 1956, 36 COMP. GEN. 476

B-129785, DECEMBER 31, 1956, 36 COMP. GEN. 476

TRAVEL EXPENSES - TAXICAB FARES - OFFICE AS TERMINAL AN EMPLOYEE WHO USED A TAXICAB FROM RESIDENCE TO OFFICE BECAUSE SHE WAS REQUIRED TO TAKE A SUITCASE IN PREPARATION FOR A FIVE-DAY TRAVEL STATUS TO BEGIN FROM THE OFFICE INCIDENT TO A CIVIL DEFENSE EXERCISE MAY HAVE THE OFFICE CONSIDERED AS A TERMINAL SO AS TO BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TAXI FARE.

TO VERA D. HUNTSMAN, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, DECEMBER 31, 1956:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 13, 1956, REQUESTING A DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT THE RECLAIM VOUCHER THEREWITH TRANSMITTED IN FAVOR OF LILLIAN Z. ABROMOWITZ, FOR $1.85, REPRESENTING THE COST OF TAXICAB FARE FROM HER HOME TO HER OFFICE ON JULY 20, 1956. ADMINISTRATIVE EXCEPTION WAS TAKEN TO HER CLAIM FOR SUCH FARE FOR THE REASON THAT "THE COST OF REPORTING TO THE OFFICE EACH DAY IS A PERSONAL EXPENSE.'

IT APPEARS THAT ON JULY 20, 1956, A TAXICAB WAS USED BY THE EMPLOYEE TO TRAVEL FROM HER RESIDENCE TO HER OFFICE FOR THE REASON THAT SHE CARRIED A SUITCASE IN PREPARATION FOR A FIVE-DAY TRAVEL STATUS INCIDENT TO OPERATION ALERT, A CIVIL DEFENSE EXERCISE HELD JULY 20-26, 1956. AFTER PERFORMING HER USUAL OFFICE DUTIES FOR 1-1/2 HOURS, AT 10 A.M. SHE LEFT THE OFFICE AND DEPARTED FOR THE RELOCATION CENTER IN THE PRIVATELY-OWNED AUTOMOBILE OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE.

PARAGRAPH 8A (NOW SECTION 3.1B) OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS PROVIDES, IN PART, AS FOLLOWS:

A. THE USUAL TAXICAB FARES FROM STATION, WHARF, OR OTHER TERMINAL TO EITHER PLACE OF ABODE OR PLACE OF BUSINESS AND FROM EITHER PLACE OF ABODE OR PLACE OF BUSINESS TO STATION, WHARF, OR OTHER TERMINAL WILL BE ALLOWED. * * * (ITALICS ADDED.)

WE HELD IN 26 COMP. GEN. 598, 601, THAT THE PHRASE "STATION, WHARF, OR OTHER TERMINAL" AS USED IN PARAGRAPH 8A OF THE ABOVE QUOTED REGULATION WAS EMPLOYED IN A DESCRIPTIVE RATHER THAN A RESTRICTIVE SENSE. IT WOULD FOLLOW THEN WHERE, UNDER SIMULATED EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, THE POINT OF DEPARTURE FOR EMPLOYEES WAS THEIR OFFICE, SUCH OFFICE MAY BE CONSIDERED AS BEING A "TERMINAL" WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE TERM "OR OTHER TERMINAL" USED IN PARAGRAPH 8A OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. MOREOVER, THE FACT THAT OFFICIAL DUTY WAS PERFORMED AT THE HEADQUARTERS OFFICE PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE DID NOT CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE EXPENSE. SEE B-100414, FEBRUARY 8, 1951.

ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.