B-123341, JUN. 9, 1955
Highlights
TRANSMITTING THE UNCERTIFIED VOUCHER TO US TO BE SETTLED AS A DOUBTFUL CLAIM IS SIGNED BY FRED J. IT CONTAINS THE PARAGRAPH: "ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL IS GIVEN TO THE ALLOWANCE OF THE CLAIM FOR STORAGE IF OTHERWISE FOUND TO BE PROPER.'. FOWLER IS NOT AN AUTHORIZING OFFICER. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN EMBASSY. REYNOLDS' LETTER FAILS TO STATE SPECIFICALLY THAT PAYMENT OF YOUR STORAGE EXPENSES IS APPROVED. IT IS NOW SHOWN THAT HE IS AN AUTHORIZING OFFICER.
B-123341, JUN. 9, 1955
TO MR. ALBIN D. MOLOHON:
WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 23, 1955, IN WHICH YOU REQUEST RECONSIDERATION OF OUR SETTLEMENT NO. 2257964, FEBRUARY 1, 1955, WHICH DISALLOWED THAT PORTION OF YOUR CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COST OF PERMANENT STORAGE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS. YOU URGE THAT YOUR CLAIM FOR SUCH STORAGE COSTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF FOREIGN OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION ALL MISSION CIRCULAR USFOTO A-60, DATED APRIL 24, 1954.
PARAGRAPH IV OF THE CIRCULAR, WHICH SETS FORTH THE PROCEDURE FOR STORAGE AND PAYMENT OF SUCH COSTS, PROVIDES IN PART AS FOLLOWS:
"C. THE VOUCHER SHALL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL INFORMATION AS APPLICABLE:
"2. WRITTEN APPROVAL BY AN AUTHORIZING OFFICER FOR STORAGE EXPENSES INCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION. SUCH APPROVAL MAY BE SIGNED ON THE REIMBURSEMENT VOUCHER OR ON A COMMUNICATION ATTACHED TO THE VOUCHER.'
"AN OFFICER DELEGATED AUTHORITY UNDER USFOTO CIRCULARS E-A-38 NA2, LA-3; USRO PARIS TOECO -479; USOM TO DJAKARTA USFOTO A-50; AND USOM TO RANGOON USFOTO A-41.'
THE VOUCHER SUBMITTED DOES NOT BEAR A SIGNED APPROVAL.
THE LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, TRANSMITTING THE UNCERTIFIED VOUCHER TO US TO BE SETTLED AS A DOUBTFUL CLAIM IS SIGNED BY FRED J. FOWLER, CHIEF OF ACCOUNTS. IT CONTAINS THE PARAGRAPH:
"ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL IS GIVEN TO THE ALLOWANCE OF THE CLAIM FOR STORAGE IF OTHERWISE FOUND TO BE PROPER.'
MR. FOWLER IS NOT AN AUTHORIZING OFFICER, HOWEVER, WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE QUOTED PROVISIONS OF THE CIRCULAR. ACCORDINGLY, WE CANNOT ACCEPT HIS APPROVAL.
WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, TEL AVIV, AN UNSIGNED OPERATIONS MEMORANDUM DATED FEBRUARY 15, 1955, BEARING THE TYPED NAMED OF J. M. REYNOLDS. MR. REYNOLDS REQUESTS US TO RECONSIDER YOUR CLAIM ON THE BASIS OF CIRCULAR AIRGRAM 60 AND EXPRESSES THE OPINION THAT YOU SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT MR. REYNOLDS' LETTER FAILS TO STATE SPECIFICALLY THAT PAYMENT OF YOUR STORAGE EXPENSES IS APPROVED, IT IS NOW SHOWN THAT HE IS AN AUTHORIZING OFFICER.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THE REQUIRED SIGNED APPROVAL, WE CANNOT ALLOW YOUR CLAIM.