B-143672, OCT. 17, 1960

B-143672, OCT. 17, 1960

TO MR. JOHN P. COOKSON, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:

ON OCTOBER 6, 1960, YOU FURNISHED CERTAIN INFORMATION NEEDED FOR OUR CONSIDERATION OF TWO VOUCHERS--- THE HENRY E. YOST VOUCHER AND THE MAC A. CAMPBELL VOUCHER--- WHICH YOU ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED HERE ON AUGUST 1, 1960, WITH THE REQUEST THAT WE ADVISE YOU WHETHER THOSE VOUCHERS, ALONG WITH SEVERAL SIMILAR VOUCHERS ALSO SUBMITTED HERE AT THAT TIME, PROPERLY COULD BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

IN OUR DECISION OF AUGUST 25, 1960, B-143672, 40 COMP. GEN. 128, WE HAVE ADVISED YOU THAT---

"THE INFORMATION ON THE VOUCHERS COVERING THE CLAIM OF MR. MAC A. CAMPBELL AND MR. HENRY E. YOST AND THE ACCOMPANYING EXPLANATIONS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES PERTAINING TO THE TRAVEL INVOLVED DO NOT PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE BASIS FOR A DETERMINATION CONCERNING THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFICATION OF SUCH VOUCHERS. IF YOU WILL ADVISE US WHETHER THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE UTILIZED IN MR. CAMPBELL'S CASE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COORDINATED TRANSPORT UTILIZED IN MR. YOST'S CASE, OPERATED ON TIME SCHEDULES BETWEEN THE POINTS IN QUESTION AND WHETHER EACH OF THE TRAVELERS BOARDED THE RESPECTIVE CONVEYANCE UTILIZED BY HIM AT A TERMINAL SO THAT THE SCHEDULE DEPARTURE TIME APPROPRIATELY COULD BE DETERMINED IN EACH CASE, WE THEN SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO ADVISE YOU CONCERNING THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING THE VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT.'

CONCERNING THE HENRY E. YOST VOUCHER YOU SAY IN YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 6, THAT "WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COORDINATED TRANSPORT BUS OPERATES ON TIME SCHEDULES AND ENCLOSE THE CURRENT TIMETABLE. THE TIMETABLE IN EFFECT WHEN THE TRAVEL WAS PERFORMED IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE SCHEDULED BOARDING POINT FOR MOORESTOWN IS BORTON LANDING ROAD AT MAIN STREET. THE SCHEDULED BOARDING POINT FOR PHILADELPHIA IS BROAD AND CHERRY STREETS. THERE IS NO BUS DEPOT, HOWEVER, AT EITHER POINT. MR. YOST BOARDED THE BUS AT THESE SCHEDULED POINTS.'

CONCERNING THE MAC A. CAMPBELL VOUCHER YOU SAY IN YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 6, THAT "WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE USED BY MR. CAMPBELL OPERATES ON A SCHEDULE FROM TWO POINTS AT STATE COLLEGE (ST. COLUMBUS HOTEL AND THE NITTANY LION INN) AND THE BLACK MOSHANNON AIRPORT. MR. CAMPBELL BOARDED THE LIMOUSINE AT THE NITTANY LION INN. TIMETABLES FOR THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE SERVICE ARE ENCLOSED. RETURN LIMOUSINE SERVICE FROM THE AIRPORT FOR ALL FLIGHTS TO EACH OF THE POINTS IN STATE COLLEGE IS ALSO AVAILABLE BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN TIMETABLES FOR THE RETURN TRIPS. WE BELIEVE SUCH TABLES HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED SINCE LIMOUSINES AWAIT EACH FLIGHT AND A PRINTED SCHEDULE IS NOT NEEDED.'

UPON THE BASIS OF THE EXPLANATION MADE IN YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 6, IT REASONABLY APPEARS THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COORDINATED TRANSPORT (BUS) SERVICE USED BY MR. YOST AND THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE SERVICE USED BY MR. CAMPBELL OPERATED ON PUBLISHED TIME SCHEDULES AND THAT BOTH MR. YOST AND MR. CAMPBELL BOARDED THE RESPECTIVE CONVEYANCE USED BY EACH IN TRAVELING TO THE AIRPORT AT A TERMINAL (BOARDING POINT) SPECIFIED IN THE APPLICABLE TIME SCHEDULE. IN LINE WITH THE HOLDING OF OUR DECISION OF AUGUST 25, 1960, PER DIEM WOULD COMMENCE WITH THE SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME OF EACH CONVEYANCE USED AND WOULD TERMINATE UPON THE ARRIVAL OF EACH SUCH CONVEYANCE AT ITS TERMINAL (BOARDING POINT). THEREFORE, THE VOUCHERS, WHICH ARE RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR ..END :