B-86731, JUNE 20, 1949, 28 COMP. GEN. 726
Highlights
AN OFFICIAL TRAVELER IS ENTITLED ONLY TO REIMBURSEMENT OF RAIL COACH FARE IF ELAPSED TRAVEL TIME BY RAIL IS LESS THAN THE TIME (MORE THAN 2 HOURS) REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH 13 (A) (2) OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF PARLOR-CAR ACCOMMODATIONS. PAYMENT OF A SERVICE CHARGE COVERING THE USE OF A RESERVED COACH SEAT MAY BE ALLOWED IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR RAIL COACH FARE WHERE THE PARTICULAR TRAIN USED BY THE TRAVELER HAS NO COACH ACCOMMODATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH A SERVICE CHARGE IS IMPOSED. 1949: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 27. THE ELAPSED TRAVEL TIME FOR THE TRIP HERE IN QUESTION STATED BY YOU TO HAVE BEEN ONE HOUR AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTES.
B-86731, JUNE 20, 1949, 28 COMP. GEN. 726
TRAVELING EXPENSES - FARES - COACH - RESERVE SEAT SERVICE CHARGE WHILE, GENERALLY, AN OFFICIAL TRAVELER IS ENTITLED ONLY TO REIMBURSEMENT OF RAIL COACH FARE IF ELAPSED TRAVEL TIME BY RAIL IS LESS THAN THE TIME (MORE THAN 2 HOURS) REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH 13 (A) (2) OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF PARLOR-CAR ACCOMMODATIONS, PAYMENT OF A SERVICE CHARGE COVERING THE USE OF A RESERVED COACH SEAT MAY BE ALLOWED IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR RAIL COACH FARE WHERE THE PARTICULAR TRAIN USED BY THE TRAVELER HAS NO COACH ACCOMMODATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH A SERVICE CHARGE IS IMPOSED.
COMPTROLLER GENERAL WARREN TO RICHARD E. WATERS, NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, JUNE 20, 1949:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 27, 1949, TRANSMITTING A RECLAIM VOUCHER STATED IN FAVOR OF ALLEN A. BRUCKNER, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, FOR 25 CENTS ADMINISTRATIVELY DISALLOWED ON HIS TRAVEL EXPENSE VOUCHER COVERING THE PERIOD APRIL 14 TO 30, 1949, AND REQUESTING DECISION AS TO WHETHER YOU PROPERLY MAY CERTIFY THE VOUCHER FOR PAYMENT.
IT APPEARS FROM THE EVIDENCE FURNISHED THIS OFFICE THAT THE EMPLOYEE TRAVELED FROM CINCINNATI, OHIO, TO INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, BY TRAIN AND THAT HE UTILIZED A GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUEST FOR PAYMENT OF A SERVICE CHARGE COVERING USE OF A RESERVED COACH SEAT. THE ELAPSED TRAVEL TIME FOR THE TRIP HERE IN QUESTION STATED BY YOU TO HAVE BEEN ONE HOUR AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTES.
PARAGRAPH 13 (A) (2) OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS AUTHORIZES USE OF ONE SEAT IN A SLEEPING OR PARLOR CAR "WHEN THE CONTINUOUS RAIL JOURNEY IS MORE THAN TWO HOURS IN DURATION AND WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.' IN THOSE INSTANCES IN WHICH THE TRAVELER IS ENTITLED ONLY TO REIMBURSEMENT OF RAIL COACH FARE. HOWEVER, WHERE THE PARTICULAR TRAIN USED BY THE TRAVELER HAS NO COACH ACCOMMODATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH A SERVICE CHARGE IS IMPOSED, ALLOWANCE OF THE SAID SERVICE CHARGE IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR RAIL COACH FARE IS BELIEVED TO BE PROPER UNDER EXISTING LAW AND REGULATIONS.
ACCORDINGLY, IF THE SUBMITTED VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, IS SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE THAT THE TRAIN HERE INVOLVED HAD ONLY COACH ACCOMMODATIONS FOR WHICH A SERVICE CHARGE WAS MADE, IT MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.