B-14854, FEBRUARY 12, 1941, 20 COMP. GEN. 447

B-14854, FEBRUARY 12, 1941, 20 COMP. GEN. 447

PHOTOGRAPHIC BADGES FOR EMPLOYEES, ETC. - APPROPRIATION AVAILABILITY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION'S SALARY AND EXPENSE APPROPRIATION (1941) IS AVAILABLE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OTHER BADGES FOR EMPLOYEES, VISITORS, AND VISITING OFFICIALS, IN VIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION THAT THE BADGES ARE NECESSARY TO AFFORD ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR GOVERNMENT RECORDS.

COMPTROLLER GENERAL WARREN TO THE PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, FEBRUARY 12, 1941:

I HAVE YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 6, 1941, AS FOLLOWS:

AS A GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENT IN CONNECTION WITH OFFICIAL BUSINESS THIS COMMISSION DESIRES TO INAUGURATE IN ITS SEVERAL BUILDINGS A PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION CONTROL SERVICE COVERING EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS, AS A MEANS OF PROTECTING PUBLIC PROPERTY AND OFFICIAL FILES AND RECORDS.

THE PLAN CONTEMPLATES THE WEARING OF PHOTOGRAPHIC BADGES BY ALL EMPLOYEES WHILE ON DUTY, BUT PENDING THE MAKING OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC BADGE, A BADGE MARKED " TEMPORARY" IS ISSUED FOR TEMPORARY USE, AND CALLERS ARE GIVEN A " VISITORS" BADGE AND VISITING OFFICIALS AND OTHERS HAVING OFFICIAL CONTRACTS ARE FURNISHED A BADGE MARKED " OFFICIAL," THUS FORMING A CHECK ON ALL PERSONS ENTERING OR LEAVING THE BUILDING, AND ALL BEING ISSUED AS GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.

THIS IDENTIFICATION CONTROL SERVICE IS SET FORTH IN DETAIL IN THE ATTACHED BID AND SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WERE PREPARED TO COVER THE PROCUREMENT OF THE DESIRED SERVICE, AND WHICH IS SIMILAR IN EFFECT TO THAT IN OPERATION IN ONE OR MORE OF THE OTHER DEFENSE AGENCIES.

IN THE INDEPENDENT OFFICES APPROPRIATION ACT, 1941, APPROVED APRIL 18, 1940, THERE APPEARS UNDER THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE "* * * FOR FURNITURE AND OTHER EQUIPMENT AND REPAIRS THERETO; RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT; SUPPLIES; ADVERTISING; TELEGRAPH, TELEPHONE, AND LAUNDRY SERVICE; FREIGHT AND EXPRESS CHARGES; STREETCAR FARES NOT TO EXCEED $300; STATIONERY; PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE OF LAW BOOKS, BOOKS OF REFERENCE, DIRECTORIES, SUBSCRIPTIONS TO NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS, NOT TO EXCEED $10,000; CHARTS; PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF MOTOR TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES, AND BICYCLES; GARAGE RENT; POSTAGE STAMPS TO PREPAY POSTAGE ON MATTER ADDRESSED TO POSTAL UNION COUNTRIES; SPECIAL- DELIVERY STAMPS; AND OTHER LIKE MISCELLANEOUS NECESSARY EXPENSES NOT HEREINBEFORE PROVIDED FOR * * *.'

IN TAKING THE STEPS INDICATED HEREIN THE COMMISSION IS RELYING SOMEWHAT ON THE FOLLOWING QUOTED EXCERPT FROM YOUR DECISION IN (2 C.G. 429), WHEREIN IT IS STATED IN PART THAT "THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN QUESTION WERE NOT FOR THE PERSONAL USE OF THE EMPLOYEES BUT WERE A GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENT FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH OFFICIAL BUSINESS, * * *.'

THE COMMISSION FEELS THAT THE NEED FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED SERVICE IS NECESSARY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ITS PUBLIC PROPERTY AND OFFICIAL FILES AND RECORDS, AND YOU ARE REQUESTED TO ADVISE THE COMMISSION WHETHER EXPENDITURES FOR SUCH SERVICE WOULD BE A PROPER CHARGE AGAINST THE COMMISSION'S CURRENT APPROPRIATION AS QUOTED HEREIN, AND IT WILL BE APPRECIATED IF YOUR REPLY COULD BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 17, 1941, THE DATE SET FOR THE OPENING OF THE BIDS.

IN VIEW OF THE REPRESENTATIONS MADE IN YOUR LETTER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION THAT THE BADGES REFERRED TO ARE NECESSARY TO AFFORD ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR GOVERNMENT RECORDS, I HAVE TO ADVISE THAT THE COST THEREOF MAY BE CONSIDERED A NECESSARY EXPENSE WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE APPROPRIATION FOR SALARIES AND EXPENSES, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, AS MADE BY THE ACT OF APRIL 18, 1940, 54 STAT. 116. ACCORDINGLY, THE QUESTION PRESENTED IS ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.