B-30609, JANUARY 23, 1943, 22 COMP. GEN. 690

B-30609, JANUARY 23, 1943, 22 COMP. GEN. 690

MARINE CORPS OFFICERS - "SEA TRAVEL" REIMBURSEMENT BASIS A MARINE CORPS OFFICER WHO PERFORMS TRAVEL UNDER ORDERS ON A GOVERNMENT OWNED VESSEL IN THE PHILIPPINE AND HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGOS, THE HOME WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES, OR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA, IS BARRED FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON AN ACTUAL EXPENSE BASIS BY THE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF JUNE 12, 1906, WHICH ALSO SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES THAT REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL IN THESE WATERS SHALL BE ON THE SAME BASIS AS "FOR LAND TRAVEL WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE UNITED STATES," THAT IS, ON A MILEAGE BASIS FOR TRAVEL UNDER COMPETENT ORDERS WITHOUT TROOPS, AND NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL WITH TROOPS.

ASSISTANT COMPTROLLER GENERAL ELLIOTT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, JANUARY 23, 1943:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 24, 1942 (FILE JAG:K: WJG:GB SO 1121 134), REQUESTING DECISION ON A MATTER PRESENTED IN A LETTER OF NOVEMBER 19, 1942, FROM THE PAYMASTER, HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS, AS FOLLOWS:

1. BY NOTICE OF EXCEPTION DATED JULY 13, 1942, THE AUDIT DIVISION OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE HAS SUSPENDED CREDIT IN THE SUM OF $25.50 PAID TO CAPTAIN EDWARD L. HUTCHINSON, U.S. MARINE CORPS, ON VOUCHER NO. 2426 IN THE ACCOUNT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL B. W. ATKINSON, ASSISTANT PAYMASTER, U.S. MARINE CORPS, FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 1941. THE NOTICE OF EXCEPTION IS QUOTED IN PART AS FOLLOWS:

"REIMBURSED COST OF MESS BILL FOR TRAVEL ABOARD U.S.S. SPICA, PROCEEDING FROM DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA, TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. OFFICER WAS TRAVELING IN CHARGE OF A DETACHMENT OF 60 MEN BY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION APPARENTLY HIRED FOR THAT PURPOSE. ACTUAL EXPENSES ARE NOT REIMBURSABLE TO AN OFFICER TRAVELING IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY WITH A DETACHMENT OF MORE THAN 10 ENLISTED MEN. A-18377 MAY 26, 1927.'

2. BY ORDERS OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER, ADVANCE DETACHMENT, MARINE DEFENSE FORCE, FLEET MARINE FORCE, DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA, DATED FEBRUARY 4, 1941, CAPTAIN EDWARD L. HUTCHINSON, U.S. MARINE CORPS, IN CHARGE OF A DETACHMENT CONSISTING OF TWO OFFICERS AND 61 ENLISTED MEN OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS, WAS DIRECTED TO REPORT TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER, U.S.S. SPICA, ON FEBRUARY 9, 41,"FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE PUGET SOUND NAVY YARD, BREMERTON, WASH.' ENDORSEMENTS ON THESE ORDERS SHOW THAT CAPTAIN HUTCHINSON REPORTED TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER, U.S.S. SPICA, AT 1245, FEBRUARY 9, 1941,"FOR TRANSPORTATION TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.' THE U.S.S. SPICA ARRIVED AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, AT 1855, FEBRUARY 25, 1941, WHERE CAPTAIN HUTCHINSON,TOGETHER WITH THE DETACHMENT UNDER HIS COMMAND, DISEMBARKED AND PROCEEDED TO HIS PERMANENT STATION, THE MARINE CORPS BASE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, WHERE HE REPORTED ON FEBRUARY 28, 1941. RECONSIDERATION OF THE SUSPENSION OF MESS BILL IN THE CASE OF CAPTAIN HUTCHINSON AND OTHERS WAS REQUESTED IN LETTER OF THIS OFFICE DATED AUGUST 13, 1942, ADDRESSED TO THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, AUDIT DIVISION, AND BY NOTICE OF EXCEPTION DATED OCTOBER 31, 1942, THE NOTICE OF EXCEPTION QUOTED IN PARAGRAPH ONE HEREOF WAS ADHERED TO, STATING IN PART THAT "UNDER HIS ORDERS, THE OFFICER PERFORMED TRAVEL WITH A DETACHMENT CONSISTING OF HIMSELF, 2 OTHER OFFICERS AND 61 ENLISTED MEN. AN OFFICER TRAVELING WITH TROOPS IS NOT IN A TRAVEL STATUS AND NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY EXPENSES OF SUBSISTENCE. B 3956, JULY 5, 1939.'

3. THE ACT OF JUNE 12, 1906, 34 STAT. 240, AT PAGE 247, PROVIDES:

"* * * THAT FOR ALL SEA TRAVEL ACTUAL EXPENSES ONLY SHALL BE PAID TO OFFICERS, * * * WHEN TRAVELING ON DUTY UNDER COMPETENT ORDERS, WITH OR WITHOUT TROOPS, * * *.'

THE FOREGOING PROVISION APPEARS NEVER TO HAVE BEEN REPEALED AND APPEARS AS SECTION 748, TITLE 10, OF THE 1940 EDITION OF THE U.S.C. THIS PROVISION LIKEWISE APPEARS IN ARTICLE 35-4820 L.K. (1), ARMY REGULATIONS. CONSEQUENTLY, OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS HAVE CONTINUED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR MESS BILLS OVER A PERIOD OF MANY YEARS WHEN TRAVELING ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS, WHETHER SUCH TRAVEL WAS WITH OR WITHOUT TROOPS. THESE PAYMENTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN PREDICATED UPON THE ASSUMPTION THAT BY VIRTUE OF SECTION 1612, REVISED STATUTES, WHICH PROVIDES THAT OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE SAME PAY AND ALLOWANCES AS ARE OR MAY BE PROVIDED BY OR IN PURSUANCE OF LAW FOR OFFICERS OF LIKE GRADES OF THE INFANTRY OF THE ARMY, SUCH PAYMENTS WERE AUTHORIZED BY LAW. PAYMENTS OF MESS BILLS TO OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS TRAVELING UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE NOT HERETOFORE BEEN QUESTIONED IN THE AUDIT OF DISBURSING OFFICERS' ACCOUNTS BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE.

4. IN THE ACT MAKING APPROPRIATION FOR THE NAVY DEPARTMENT AND THE NAVAL SERVICE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1926, APPROVED FEBRUARY 11, 1925, 43 STAT. 861, UNDER " BUREAU OF NAVIGATION" AT PAGE 864, AND UNDER " MARINE CORPS" AT PAGE 879, APPEARS THE PROVISION "THAT OFFICERS PERFORMING TRAVEL BY GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS FOR WHICH NO TRANSPORTATION FARE IS CHARGED, SHALL ONLY BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED.'

5. THE ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE MILITARY AND NONMILITARY ACTIVITIES OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1926, APPROVED FEBRUARY 12, 1925, 43 STAT. 892, CONTAINS A PROVISION UNDER " MILEAGE OF THE ARMY" AT PAGE 897, THAT "* * * OFFICERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT NAMED IN THIS PARAGRAPH PERFORMING TRAVEL ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS FOR WHICH NO TRANSPORTATION FARE IS CHARGED SHALL BE ENTITLED ONLY TO REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED.' IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT IN THE HEARINGS BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE WAR DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION BILL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1926, GENERAL WALKER STATED THAT "THE EFFECT OF THAT IS, AS YOU SEE, TO PREVENT THE DEPARTMENT PAYING EITHER A PER DIEM ALLOWANCE OR MILEAGE FOR TRAVELING ON A GOVERNMENT OWNED TRANSPORT. IT PLACES ALL SUCH TRAVEL ON AN ACTUAL EXPENSE BASIS.' HERE THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT, IN EXPLANATION OF THIS LANGUAGE, STATED CLEARLY THAT IT PLACES ALL SUCH TRAVEL ON AN ACTUAL EXPENSES BASIS; ADHERING TO THE ACT OF JUNE 12, 1906, PROVIDING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL SEA TRAVEL WHETHER SUCH TRAVEL WAS WITH OR WITHOUT TROOPS. NOTE THAT THE ACT OF FEBRUARY 11, 1925, 43 STAT. 861, CONTAINED A COMPANION PROVISION OF LAW BOTH FOR THE NAVY AND THE MARINE CORPS. THIS PROVISION WAS REINSERTED IN THE ACT OF APRIL 15, 1926, 44 STAT. 259, AND NOW APPEARS IN THE LATEST EDITION OF THE U.S.C. UNDER TITLE 10, SECTION 748A.

6. PARAGRAPH 7 OF SECTION 12 OF THE ACT OF JUNE 16, 1942, PUBLIC LAW 607, 77TH CONGRESS, PROVIDES THAT:

"PERSONNEL OF ANY OF THE SERVICES MENTIONED IN THE TITLE OF THIS ACT PERFORMING TRAVEL ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS FOR WHICH NO TRANSPORTATION FARE IS CHARGED SHALL BE ENTITLED ONLY TO REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED.'

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO REQUIREMENT IN THE FOREGOING PROVISION OF LAW THAT AN OFFICER MUST TRAVEL WITHOUT TROOPS IN ORDER TO BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR MESS BILL. THE ONLY BAR TO THE PAYMENT OF SUCH TRAVEL EXPENSE WOULD APPEAR TO BE THAT THE OFFICER BE ASSIGNED TO DUTY ON BOARD A GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSEL AS DISTINGUISHED FROM BEING ORDERED ABOARD A VESSEL FOR "TRANSPORTATION" TO A PREDETERMINED DESTINATION. EVEN IN THE FORMER CIRCUMSTANCES IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT "WHETHER AN OFFICER IS IN A DUTY OR TRAVEL STATUS DEPENDS UPON THE FACTS.' 3 COMP. GEN. 92.

7. THE FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENT SURROUNDING PAYMENTS MADE BY DISBURSING OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNMENT IS THAT SUCH PAYMENTS CONFORM TO LAW AND REGULATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE CONTINUED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND PUBLISHED INTERPRETATIONS OF OPINIONS OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES IN CASES WHERE THERE IS DOUBT AS TO THE PROPER PROCEDURE UNDER THE LAW. THE PAYMENT OF MESS BILLS TO OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS TRAVELING ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE OVER A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF YEARS AND THE ONLY REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN THAT THE OFFICER BE ORDERED ABOARD A GOVERNMENT OWNED VESSEL FOR "TRANSPORTATION" TO A PORT NAMED IN HIS ORDERS AS DISTINGUISHED FROM BEING ORDERED TO "DUTY" ON BOARD SUCH VESSELS. SEE IN THIS CONNECTION DECISION A-41595, DATED APRIL 9, 1932, AND DECISIONS CITED THEREIN. PAYMENTS HAVE NOT HERETOFORE BEEN SUSPENDED, NOR DOES THIS OFFICE KNOW OF ANY DECISION OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL DENYING THE PAYMENT OF MESS BILL UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES. BY DECISION DATED OCTOBER 7, 1926, A-15908, THE PAYMENT OF MESS BILL TO GENERAL NEVILLE AND HIS AIDES WAS DISALLOWED BY REASON OF THE FACT THAT THESE OFFICERS WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT ABOARD A VESSEL OF THE NAVY FOR DUTY ON THE STAFF OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF AS OBSERVERS. ALL OTHER OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS PARTICIPATING IN THE 1925 MANEUVERS AND BEING TRANSPORTED BY GOVERNMENT OWNED VESSELS WITH THEIR ORGANIZATIONS FROM SAN DIEGO TO THE HAWAIIAN AREA WERE ALLOWED AND PAID THEIR MESS BILLS FOR TRAVEL FROM THE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE HAWAIIAN AREA AND RETURN. THESE MESS BILLS WERE PAID BY THE SAME DISBURSING OFFICER IN WHOSE ACCOUNT THE PAYMENT OF MESS BILLS IN THE CASE OF GENERAL NEVILLE WAS DISALLOWED. IT IS ASSUMED, THEREFORE, THAT PAYMENT OF MESS BILLS TO OFFICERS TRAVELING WITH TROOPS WAS KNOWN TO THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL AT THE TIME OF HIS DECISION OF OCTOBER 7, 1926, A-15908, YET NO QUESTION WAS RAISED AS TO THE VALIDITY OF THOSE PAYMENTS. NEITHER HAS IT BEEN THE PRACTICE OF THE AUDIT DIVISION OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE HERETOFORE TO DISTURB LIKE PAYMENTS.

8. THE SUSPENSION OF MESS BILL IN THE CASE OF CAPTAIN HUTCHINSON AND OTHERS IS BASED UPON A DECISION OF THE ASSISTANT COMPTROLLER GENERAL DATED JULY 5, 1939, B-3956, WHEREIN IT WAS HELD THAT AN OFFICER ON DUTY WITH THE ECOLE SUPERIEUR DE GUERRE, PARIS, FRANCE, WAS NOT ENTITLED TO A PER DIEM ALLOWANCE OF $6 WHILE PERFORMING DUTY WHICH ENTAILED TRAVEL WITH FRENCH TROOPS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH DUTY. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE DECISION UPON WHICH THE SUSPENSION IS BASED WAS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PAYMENT OF PER DIEM ALLOWANCE IN LIEU OF ACTUAL EXPENSES OUTSIDE THE CONTINENTAL LIMITS OF THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH ONE OF SECTION 12 OF THE ACT OF JUNE 10, 1922, AS REENACTED BY PARAGRAPH ONE, SECTION 12, OF THE ACT OF JUNE 16, 1942, PUBLIC LAW 607, 77TH CONGRESS, WHICH PROVIDES THAT ACTUAL EXPENSES ONLY SHALL BE PAID FOR TRAVEL UNDER ORDERS OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF THE UNITED STATES IN NORTH AMERICA. THE DECISION APPEARS IN NO WAY GERMANE TO THE PAYMENT OF MESS BILLS FOR TRAVEL ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS.

9. IN VIEW OF THE FACTS SET FORTH HEREIN, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL BE REQUESTED TO REVIEW THE ACTION OF THE AUDIT DIVISION WITH A VIEW TO PASSING TO CREDIT PAYMENT OF MESS BILL IN THE CASE OF CAPTAIN EDWARD L. HUTCHINSON, U.S. MARINE CORPS, AS NOTED IN THE NOTICE OF EXCEPTION SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH ONE HEREOF, AND OTHER LIKE CASES WHICH HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED IN THE ACCOUNTS OF DISBURSING OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS WHERE MESS BILLS HAVE BEEN PAID TO OFFICERS ORDERED TO REPORT ON BOARD A GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSEL FOR "TRANSPORTATION," WHETHER WITH OR WITHOUT TROOPS, UNLESS AND UNTIL THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL HAS DECIDED THAT SUCH OFFICERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF MESS BILL.

THE ITEMS FOR WHICH CREDIT IS REQUESTED CONSIST OF $25.50 FOR THE MESS BILL OF CAPTAIN EDWARD L. HUTCHINSON, U.S. MARINE CORPS, INCURRED WHILE PROCEEDING ABOARD THE U.S.S. SPICA, FROM DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA, TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, IN COMMAND OF A DETACHMENT OF TWO OFFICERS AND 61 ENLISTED MEN OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS, TOGETHER WITH OTHER MESS BILLS IN SIMILAR CASES FOR WHICH CREDIT HAS BEEN WITHHELD IN THE ACCOUNTS OF DISBURSING OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS IN THE CASE OF OFFICERS ORDERED TO REPORT ON BOARD GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS FOR TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER WITH OR WITHOUT TROOPS.

THE ACT OF JUNE 12, 1906, 34 STAT. 246, A PART OF WHICH WAS QUOTED IN THE PAYMASTER'S LETTER, SUPRA, AND WHICH IS RELIED UPON AS AUTHORITY FOR PAYMENT OF ACTUAL EXPENSES--- MESS BILLS--- TO ALL OFFICERS TRAVELING ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS, WHETHER WITH OR WITHOUT TROOPS, IS MORE FULLY QUOTED, AS FOLLOWS:

FOR MILEAGE TO OFFICERS * * * WHEN TRAVELING UNDER COMPETENT ORDERS WITHOUT TROOPS * * * AND PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT FOR ALL SEA TRAVEL ACTUAL EXPENSES ONLY SHALL BE PAID TO OFFICERS * * * WHEN TRAVELING ON DUTY UNDER COMPETENT ORDERS, WITH OR WITHOUT TROOPS * * * BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAVEL UNDER ORDERS, OR FOR OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN ON DISCHARGE, TRAVEL IN THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO, THE HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGO, THE HOME WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA SHALL NOT BE REGARDED AS SEA TRAVEL AND SHALL BE PAID FOR AT THE RATES ESTABLISHED BY LAW FOR LAND TRAVEL WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

ALSO, REFERENCE IS MADE IN THE PAYMASTER'S LETTER TO THE ACT OF FEBRUARY 11, 1925, 43 STAT. 861, 879, AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES TO OFFICERS PERFORMING TRAVEL ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STATUTE WAS TO CHANGE THE RULE IN THE MOORE CASE, 58 C.1CLS. 475, ALLOWING MILEAGE COMPUTED VIA THE OFFICIAL ROUTE FOR TRAVEL PERFORMED BY GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, WHERE THE TERMINI OF THE JOURNEY WERE IN THE UNITED STATES. IT WAS NOT THE INTENT TO AUTHORIZE ACTUAL EXPENSES IN THE CASE OF ALL OFFICERS MOVING ON GOVERNMENT-OWNED VESSELS. UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 12, 1906, OFFICERS WERE ENTITLED TO BE PAID MILEAGE FOR TRAVEL TO AND FROM ALASKA. THE ACT OF JUNE 10, 1922, 42 STAT. 631, MODIFIED THE ACT OF MAY 11, 1908, 35 STAT. 114, AMENDING THE 1906 ACT; AND THE 1922 ACT WAS AMENDED BY THE ACT OF JUNE 1, 1926, 44 STAT. 680, TO READ "ACTUAL EXPENSES ONLY SHALL BE PAID FOR TRAVEL UNDER ORDERS IN ALASKA AND OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF THE UNITED STATES IN NORTH AMERICA.' THE EFFECT OF THIS AMENDMENT WAS HELD NOT TO DISTURB THE PROVISION FOR THE PAYMENT OF MILEAGE BETWEEN A PORT IN ALASKA AND A PORT IN THE UNITED STATES. 6 COMP. GEN. 675. THE 1906 ACT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES THAT TRAVEL IN THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO, THE HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGO, THE HOME WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ALASKA SHALL NOT BE REGARDED AS SEA TRAVEL. REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUCH TRAVEL IS FOR PAYMENT ON THE SAME BASIS AS TRAVEL WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT IS, MILEAGE FOR TRAVEL UNDER COMPETENT ORDERS WITHOUT TROOPS, AND NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL WITH TROOPS. B 12784, OCTOBER 22, 1940.

CAPTAIN EDWARD L. HUTCHINSON, U.S. MARINE CORPS, WAS PAID $25.50 ON VOUCHER 2426 OF THE MARCH, 1941, ACCOUNTS OF MAJOR B. W. ATKINSON, APM, FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MESS BILL FOR TRAVEL UNDER ORDERS ON BOARD THE U.S.S. SPICA FROM DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA, TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 9 TO 26, 1941, IN COMMAND OF A DETACHMENT CONSISTING OF TWO OFFICERS AND 61 ENLISTED MEN. AS HE WAS TRAVELING WITH TROOPS BETWEEN ALASKA AND THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WAS NOT SEA TRAVEL, HE IS NOT ENTITLED TO THE AMOUNT PAID. THE DISALLOWANCE OF CREDIT FOR SUCH PAYMENT IS SUSTAINED.

SECOND LIEUTENANT HARVEY B. ATKINS, U.S. MARINE CORPS, WAS PAID $25.50 ON VOUCHER 2427 OF THE MARCH, 1941, ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME DISBURSING OFFICER, FOR TRAVEL IN THE DETACHMENT UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN HUTCHINSON AND UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. THE DISALLOWANCE OF CREDIT FOR THIS PAYMENT IS SUSTAINED.

FIRST LIEUTENANT ROBERT E. EKLUND, U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE, WAS PAID $3 ON VOUCHER 506 OF THE MARCH, 1941, ACCOUNTS OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL A. C. COTTRELL, APM, FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MESS BILL FOR TRAVEL ABOARD THE U.S.S. WILLIAM P. BIDDLE, EN ROUTE FROM MARE ISLAND, CALIFORNIA, TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, WITH A DETACHMENT OF 129 ENLISTED MEN. AS HE WAS TRAVELING WITH TROOPS IN THE HOME WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE TERMINI OF THE JOURNEY BEING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, HE WAS NOT PERFORMING SEA TRAVEL. THE DISALLOWANCE OF CREDIT FOR THIS PAYMENT IS SUSTAINED.

SECOND LIEUTENANT JAMES F. GEARY, U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE, WAS PAID $3 FOR TRAVELING IN THE SAME DETACHMENT AS LIEUTENANT EKLUND, ON VOUCHER 508 OF THE SAME ACCOUNT, UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. THE DISALLOWANCE OF CREDIT FOR THIS PAYMENT IS SUSTAINED.

FIRST LIEUTENANT R. H. RUDD, U.S. MARINE CORPS, WAS PAID $16 ON VOUCHER 103 OF THE APRIL, 1941, ACCOUNTS OF W. J. SHERRY, C.P.C., S.D.A., AS FEES WHILE ON BOARD THE S.S. MARIPOSA, FROM DECEMBER 11 TO 21, 1940, EN ROUTE FROM WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA, TO TUTUILA, SAMOA, WITH A DETACHMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 20 ENLISTED MEN. AS THE TRAVEL WAS SEA TRAVEL ON A COMMERCIAL VESSEL, CREDIT FOR THE AMOUNT WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE NEXT SETTLEMENT OF THE DISBURSING OFFICER'S ACCOUNTS, IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.

FIRST LIEUTENANT B. D. GODBOLD, U.S. MARINE CORPS, WAS PAID $4.50 ON VOUCHER APM, FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MESS BILL, WHILE ON BOARD THE U.S.S. KAULA, APRIL 14 TO 17, 1941, EN ROUTE FROM NAVY YARD, PEARL HARBOR, T.H., TO PALMYRA ISLAND, IN CHARGE OF A DETACHMENT CONSISTING OF ANOTHER OFFICER AND APPROXIMATELY 50 ENLISTED MEN. AS THIS TRAVEL WAS WITH TROOPS IN THE HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGO IT WAS NOT SEA TRAVEL FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS AUTHORIZED. THE DISALLOWANCE OF CREDIT FOR THIS PAYMENT IS SUSTAINED.