B-131357, JUN. 3, 1957

B-131357, JUN. 3, 1957

TO MR. L. R. KENT, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:

YOUR LETTER OF MARCH 22, 1957, REQUESTS A DECISION UPON THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING FOR PAYMENT A RECLAIM VOUCHER SUBMITTED BY MR. THOMAS D. SNIDER, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, FOR ONE-QUARTER OF A DAY'S PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE (4:40 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M., DECEMBER 16, 1956) ADMINISTRATIVELY DISALLOWED INCIDENT TO OFFICIAL TRAVEL.

ON DECEMBER 16, 1956, MR. SNIDER TRAVELED BY COMMERCIAL AIR FROM FORT WORTH, TEXAS, HIS OFFICIAL STATION, TO CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, FOR TEMPORARY DUTY. AT DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH HE TOOK THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE TO AMON CARTER FIELD, A DISTANCE OF 19 MILES. THE LIMOUSINE DEPARTED FROM ITS DOWNTOWN TERMINAL AT 4:40 P.M., AND THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM CARTER FIELD AT 6:15 P.M. AS THE AIRFIELD IS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF FORT WORTH, THE TRAVELER'S OFFICIAL STATION, PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY DISALLOWED FOR THE PERIOD PRIOR TO THE PLANE'S DEPARTURE.

WHILE CARTER FIELD BY ANNEXATION, INCLUDING A NARROW STRIP OF LAND EXTENDING THERETO, HAS BECOME A PART OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, THE USUAL ROUTE OF TRAVEL FROM DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH TO THE AIRFIELD IS OVER AN AREA BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS. SECTION 6.9C OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS PROVIDES, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PAYMENT OF PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE, THAT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE FROM A PLACE WILL BE CONSIDERED AS THE HOUR AT WHICH THE TRAIN, BOAT, OR OTHER CONVEYANCE USED BY THE TRAVELER ACTUALLY LEAVES ITS REGULAR TERMINAL. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES HEREIN THE DOWNTOWN LIMOUSINE TERMINAL MAY BE CONSIDERED AS THE "REGULAR TERMINAL" OF THE AIRPLANE SERVICE WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF SECTION 6.9C OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AND, THEREFORE, IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRICTION, MR. SNIDER'S CLAIM FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE QUARTER OF A DAY'S PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE PROPER.