B-143429, AUG. 15, 1960
Highlights
IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIALLY AUTHORIZED TRAVEL INCIDENT TO HIS ASSIGNMENT AS AN ESCORT INTERPRETER FOR A GROUP OF FOREIGN VISITORS WHO WERE IN THE UNITED STATES AS PARTICIPANTS IN A PROGRAM ARRANGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. YOUR LETTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED TO THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES INSTEAD OF TO THE CLAIMS DIVISION. 22 COMP. ARAGON TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO PROPERLY COMPUTE THE PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. BE ELIMINATED YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE VERIFIED FROM OTHER DATA AVAILABLE THAT MR. ARAGON SERVED AS INTERPRETER FOR THE PERIOD INDICATED IN HIS VOUCHER AND HE IS THEREFORE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR "TRAVEL PER DIEM" TO THE EXTENT OF $561.
B-143429, AUG. 15, 1960
TO MR. PAUL K. PASCHKE, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL LABOR AFFAIRS:
YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 29, 1960, AND ENCLOSURES, ADDRESSED TO OUR CLAIMS DIVISION, REQUESTS A DECISION CONCERNING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF ELIMINATING AN ITEM OF $561, FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE SUSPENSION MADE IN THE AUDIT OF TRAVEL VOUCHER FILED BY MR. LEOPOLDO R. ARAGON, FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES IN THE AMOUNT OF $636.30 INCURRED DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY 22 TO MARCH 15, 1958, IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIALLY AUTHORIZED TRAVEL INCIDENT TO HIS ASSIGNMENT AS AN ESCORT INTERPRETER FOR A GROUP OF FOREIGN VISITORS WHO WERE IN THE UNITED STATES AS PARTICIPANTS IN A PROGRAM ARRANGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
SINCE YOU REQUEST A DECISION IN YOUR CAPACITY AS AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, YOUR LETTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED TO THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES INSTEAD OF TO THE CLAIMS DIVISION. 22 COMP. GEN. 725.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUDIT SUSPENSION IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $581.30 INCLUDED THE ITEM OF PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $561 BECAUSE THE VOUCHER DID NOT INDICATE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION POINTS OF TRAVEL SO AS TO PERMIT THE COMPUTATION OF PER DIEM ALLOWABLE. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT MR. ARAGON TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO PROPERLY COMPUTE THE PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL, IT BEING REPORTED THAT HE HAS RETURNED TO HIS HOME IN PANAMA. HOWEVER, IN SUPPORT OF YOUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE ITEM OF $561, BE ELIMINATED YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE VERIFIED FROM OTHER DATA AVAILABLE THAT MR. ARAGON SERVED AS INTERPRETER FOR THE PERIOD INDICATED IN HIS VOUCHER AND HE IS THEREFORE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR "TRAVEL PER DIEM" TO THE EXTENT OF $561.
SINCE YOU ARE ABLE TO REASONABLY COMPUTE THE PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE FROM OTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE WE SEE NO OBJECTION TO REDUCING THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUSPENSION BY THE AMOUNT OF $561 AS RECOMMENDED. WE ASSUME THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE ALLOWANCE OF THE $561 ITEM FOR APPLICATION TO MR. ARAGON'S TRAVEL ADVANCE, THUS REDUCING THE SAME TO $20.30.