A-12118, DECEMBER 28, 1925, 5 COMP. GEN. 449

SUBSISTENCE - FRACTIONAL DAYS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WHO WAS ABSENT ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS FROM HIS STATION ON DAILY AUTOMOBILE TRIPS MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF MIDDAY MEALS ON DAYS WHEN HE LEFT HIS STATION PRIOR TO 8 A.M., NOR FOR THE COST OF EVENING MEALS ON DAYS WHEN HE RETURNED TO HIS STATION AFTER 7.30 P.M., IN THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE TENDING TO SHOW THAT THE LEAVING BEFORE 8 A.M. AND RETURNING AFTER 6 P.M. WERE NECESSARY IN THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT.

DECISION BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL MCCARL, DECEMBER 28, 1925:

ROBERT J. ROBERTSON, INSPECTOR, BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY, REQUESTED NOVEMBER 4, 1925, REVIEW OF SETTLEMENT 067179, DATED DECEMBER 18, 1924, WHEREBY WAS DISALLOWED HIS CLAIM FOR $18.75, REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED BY HIM FOR SUBSISTENCE DURING OCTOBER, 1924.

THE EXPENSES IN QUESTION WERE FOR MIDDAY MEALS AND ON SIX OCCASIONS FOR EVENING MEALS TAKEN WHILE ON OFFICIAL TRIPS AWAY FROM THE INSPECTOR'S OFFICIAL STATION FOR SHORT PERIODS OF LESS THAN ONE DAY EACH.

ON EACH OCCASION WHERE A CHARGE WAS MADE FOR A MIDDAY MEAL THE INSPECTOR LEFT THE OFFICIAL STATION BEFORE 8 A.M. WHERE THE EVENING MEAL WAS TAKEN HE ARRIVED AT THE OFFICIAL STATION AFTER 7.30 P.M.

IT APPEARS, HOWEVER, THAT THE TRIPS IN EACH INSTANCE WERE MADE IN AN AUTOMOBILE, AND NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TENDING TO SHOW THAT THE LEAVING BEFORE 8 A.M., AND RETURNING AFTER 6 P.M. WERE NECESSARY IN THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT. SEE 5 COMP. GEN. 215, 217; ALSO DECISION OF NOVEMBER 24, 1925, A-11404.