B-131560, JUN. 11, 1957

B-131560, JUN. 11, 1957

TO MISS DORIS TELLEFSON:

YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 1, 1957, REQUESTS THAT THE AMOUNT OF SALARY DUE YOUR LATE FATHER, ADOLPH C. TELLEFSON AS POSTMASTER AT ROCKDALE, WISCONSIN, ON THE DATE OF HIS DEATH BE FORWARDED TO YOU RATHER THAN BE DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN YOU AND HIS OTHER CHILDREN.

THE RECORDS OF THIS OFFICE DISCLOSE THAT PURSUANT TO CERTIFICATE OF SETTLEMENT NO. 2282577 DATED MARCH 22, 1957, CHECKS WERE DRAWN ON THE TREASURER OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $10.80 TO EACH CHILD OF THE DECEASED, NAMELY, HARRIET S. VORPAGEL, NORMA E. AHRENSMEYER, DONALD H. TELLEFSON, AND CLIFFORD O. TELLEFSON, AND A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $10.79 WAS ISSUED TO YOU. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SUCH CHECKS $53.99 REPRESENTS THE NET AMOUNT OF THE COMPENSATION REPORTED DUE YOUR FATHER.

THE PAYMENTS WERE ACCOMPLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF AUGUST 3, 1950, 64 STAT. 395, WHICH DIRECTS THAT WHERE NO BENEFICIARY DESIGNATED TO RECEIVE A DECEASED EMPLOYEE'S COMPENSATION OR A SPOUSE SURVIVE HIM, AS IN YOUR FATHER'S CASE, THE COMPENSATION DUE "SHALL BE PAID" TO HIS SURVIVING CHILDREN IN EQUAL PARTS. THE ACT FURTHER PROVIDES THAT PAYMENTS MADE THEREUNDER SHALL BE A BAR TO RECOVERY BY ANY OTHER PERSON OF AMOUNTS SO PAID.

THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT ARE MANDATORY UPON OUR OFFICE AND INSOFAR AS THE OTHER CHILDREN OF THE DECEDENT AUTHORIZED THE SHARES DUE THEM TO BE PAID TO YOU, THEY APPEAR TO CONSTITUTE ASSIGNMENTS OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3477 REVISED STATES, 31 U.S.C. 203, WHICH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THAT SECTION OF LAW ARE NULL AND VOID.

SINCE SETTLEMENT HAS BEEN MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE ABOVE QUOTED ACT, NO FURTHER ACTION IN THE MATTER CAN BE TAKEN BY THIS OFFICE.

YOU MAY BE ADVISED, HOWEVER, THAT YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS MAY ENDORSE THE CHECKS REPRESENTING THEIR SHARES OVER TO YOU SHOULD THEY SO DESIRE.