B-150400, MAR. 15, 1963
Highlights
GOODMAN'S VOUCHER COULD NOT PROPERLY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SHOWN HE WAS REQUIRED TO CARRY GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTY IN PERFORMING THE TRAVEL IN QUESTION AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT HE INCURRED CHARGES IN ADDITION TO THOSE WHICH HE WOULD HAVE INCURRED FOR PORTERAGE OF HIS PERSONAL BAGGAGE BY REASON OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS REQUIRED TO CARRY GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. WERE AMENDED ON AUGUST 2. TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL EXCESS BAGGAGE IN VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTY HE WAS TO TAKE WITH HIM. HE ALSO STATES IN THAT MEMORANDUM THAT PORTERS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY IF HE HAD ONLY TAKEN HIS PERSONAL BAGGAGE. IN VIEW OF THOSE STATEMENTS IT NOW APPEARS THAT THE PORTERS' FEES INVOLVED ARE PROPERLY PAYABLE BY THE GOVERNMENT UNDER 27 COMP.
B-150400, MAR. 15, 1963
TO MR. J. E. RITCHIE, JR., MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE:
BY LETTER OF FEBRUARY 25, 1963, YOUR REFERENCE L6-2:423, YOU SUBMITTED FOR OUR RECONSIDERATION THE RECLAIM VOUCHER OF MR. MARTIN I. GOODMAN, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF PORTERS' FEES HE INCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION TO RUSSIA; USA-USSR SHIPPING EXCHANGE.
WE ADVISED YOU IN OUR DECISION OF DECEMBER 19, 1962, B-150400, THAT, ON THE BASIS OF THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED, MR. GOODMAN'S VOUCHER COULD NOT PROPERLY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SHOWN HE WAS REQUIRED TO CARRY GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTY IN PERFORMING THE TRAVEL IN QUESTION AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT HE INCURRED CHARGES IN ADDITION TO THOSE WHICH HE WOULD HAVE INCURRED FOR PORTERAGE OF HIS PERSONAL BAGGAGE BY REASON OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS REQUIRED TO CARRY GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.
YOU ENCLOSE A MEMORANDUM FROM MR. GOODMAN TO THE CHIEF, DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, DATED FEBRUARY 19, 1963, IN WHICH HE EXPLAINS THAT HIS ORIGINAL TRAVEL ORDERS OF JULY 27, 1962, WERE AMENDED ON AUGUST 2, 1962, TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL EXCESS BAGGAGE IN VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTY HE WAS TO TAKE WITH HIM. HE ALSO STATES IN THAT MEMORANDUM THAT PORTERS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY IF HE HAD ONLY TAKEN HIS PERSONAL BAGGAGE, BUT THAT WITH THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT OF THE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY HE COULD NOT HANDLE THE BAGGAGE HIMSELF.
IN VIEW OF THOSE STATEMENTS IT NOW APPEARS THAT THE PORTERS' FEES INVOLVED ARE PROPERLY PAYABLE BY THE GOVERNMENT UNDER 27 COMP. GEN. 52 AND SECTION 5.6 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS.
THEREFORE, THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.