B-46169 August 18, 1945

B-46169 August 18, 1945

W.W. Shafferman, Authorized Certifying Officer, Office of War Information.

Dear Mr. Shafferman:

I have your letter of July 28, 1945, as follows:

"In a letter dated December 7, 1944, I presented for your advance decision Bureau Voucher No. 5-899 in favor of Chester S. Williams for $58.15. This voucher is attached. In your decision, B-46169, dated December 21, 1944, you disapproved certification of the voucher for a reason other than that which prompted the submission and withheld decision on the question then raised. The full facts and circumstances are contained in your decision quoting the letter of submission."

"In the appropriation language for the Office of War Information for 1946 the following provision was approved; "Not to exceed $125,000 for entertainment in the United States and abroad of officials and others in the fields of education, radio, press, and cinema of other countries and prior appropriations of the Office of War Information for this purpose shall be construed as having been available for expenditure in the United States." (Underscoring supplied.) While it seems that the above quoted language would permit certification of the voucher, your advance decision is requested in view of your earlier action."

In the decision of December 21, 1944, B-46169, to you, it was held that the provision in the appropriation for the Office of War Information for 1945 for "Entertainment of Officials of Other Countries" was not available for expenditure in the United States and, in view thereof, it was determined unnecessary to pass upon the question whether the entertainment of British war workers would otherwise have been authorized as the entertainment of officials of other countries.

The language underscored in that part of the appropriation for the Office of War Information, 1946, act of July 17, 1945, Public Law 156, quoted in your submission, would seem to cover the cost of entertainment of the class of persons involved in the expenditure in question.

The involved voucher is in favor of Chester S. Williams, and covers not only amounts expended by him directly but, also, amounts disbursed by him to the British war workers to cover expenses incurred by them. It is a general rule that no officer or employee of the United States is authorized to make himself a voluntary creditor of the United States by paying obligations of the Government from his own funds. 7 Comp. Gen. 104. However, as the expenditures in question now, in effect, have been authorized or approved by the Congress in the 1946 appropriation quoted in your letter, this office will not be required to object to the reimbursement to Mr. Williams of the amounts so paid by him.

The voucher is returned herewith and in the absence of other objections same now may be certified for payment.

Respectfully,

Comptroller General of the United States

Enclosure