B-164467, JUN. 14, 1968
Highlights
YOU ADVISE THAT THE AMOUNT IN QUESTION WAS SUSPENDED FROM THE CASHIER'S REIMBURSEMENT VOUCHER WHEN SUBMITTED TO YOU FOR CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT. IT APPEARS FROM THE ENCLOSURES WITH YOUR LETTER THAT THE FEDERAL EDITORS ASSOCIATION IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION WHOSE MEMBERSHIP IS COMPOSED OF . THE PUBLICATIONS CONTEST IS OPEN TO BOTH MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXPENSES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC AND GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAU. THE EXPENDITURE IN QUESTION MUST BE CONSIDERED AS BEING ONE OF THE EXPENSES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE APPROPRIATION FROM WHICH IT WAS MADE. IT IS NOT APPARENT TO OUR OFFICE. THE VOUCHER MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT AND WILL BE RETAINED HERE.
B-164467, JUN. 14, 1968
TO MR. J. E. FOWLER, JR.:
YOUR LETTER OF MAY 28, 1968, TRANSMITS A "CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENDITURES ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS" COVERING A CASHIER'S PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $4 TO R. P. WILLING FOR ENTRY OF AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BUREAU OF MINES IN THE FIFTH ANNUAL GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CONTEST OF THE FEDERAL EDITORS ASSOCIATION. YOU ADVISE THAT THE AMOUNT IN QUESTION WAS SUSPENDED FROM THE CASHIER'S REIMBURSEMENT VOUCHER WHEN SUBMITTED TO YOU FOR CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT.
YOU REQUEST A DECISION AS TO WHETHER THE CASHIER MAY BE REIMBURSED OR INSTRUCTED TO RECOVER THE AMOUNT EXPENDED.
IT APPEARS FROM THE ENCLOSURES WITH YOUR LETTER THAT THE FEDERAL EDITORS ASSOCIATION IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION WHOSE MEMBERSHIP IS COMPOSED OF -- AT LEAST IN PART -- EDITORS OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. THE PUBLICATIONS CONTEST IS OPEN TO BOTH MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION, WHICH GIVES AWARDS OR PRIZES TO THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE WINNERS IN THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES IN THE CONTEST, AS WELL AS A "BEST OF SHOW" AWARD. PRESUMABLY THE AWARDS GO TO THE EDITORS OF THE WINNING PUBLICATIONS. THE $4 PAYMENT INVOLVED HERE COVERS A NONMEMBER ENTRY FEE FOR ENTRY OF THE BUREAU OF MINES PUBLICATION IN THE CONTEST.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE BUREAU OF MINES CONTAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATION ACT, 1968, PUB.L. 90-28, 81 STAT. 59, 64, ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXPENSES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC AND GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAU. CONSEQUENTLY IN ORDER TO COME WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE APPROPRIATIONS MADE TO THE BUREAU OF MINES, THE EXPENDITURE IN QUESTION MUST BE CONSIDERED AS BEING ONE OF THE EXPENSES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE APPROPRIATION FROM WHICH IT WAS MADE.
IT IS NOT APPARENT TO OUR OFFICE, HOW THE EXPENSE OF ENTERING A BUREAU OF MINES PUBLICATION IN THE CONTEST DESCRIBED ABOVE MAY BE CONSIDERED A "NECESSARY EXPENSE" UNDER ANY OF THE APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED TO THE BUREAU OF MINES IN THE ABOVE-CITED APPROPRIATION ACT FOR CARRYING OUT ITS FUNCTIONS. ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT AND WILL BE RETAINED HERE; AND THE CASHIER SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO RECOVER THE AMOUNT ($4) EXPENDED.