Case ID: us-ct-cl_41/html/0430-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam :", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GEORGE K. SPENCER v. THE UNITED STATES.
    [No. 24873.
    Decided May 14, 1906.]
    
      On the defendants’ Demurrer. .
    An officer in' the Army is at his own request detailed as professor of military science and tactics at the University of Arkansas. He seeks to recover -for commutation of quarters and for mileage!
    An officer detailed at his own request under the Act Sd ’November, 1893 (28 Stat.'L., p. 7), to act as professor of military science and tactics in a college is not entitled to commutation for quarters or mileage.
    
      The Reporters’ statement of the case:
    
      Mr. Felix Branniffan (with whom was Mr. Assistant Attorney-General Van Orsdel) for the demurrer.
    
      Messrs. Pennebalcer da Jones in opposition.
   Per Curiam :

This is a demurrer to the petition in the above-entitled cause. Claimant’s right of action is founded upon the act of November 3, 1893 (28 Stat. L., 7), in pursuance of which he was, at his own request, detailed as professor of military science and tactics at the University of Arkansas. The claim is for commutation of quarters and mileage while, acting as such.

The court is of the opinion that the question has been decided adversely to claimant’s contention by this court in Lander v. United States (30 C. Cls. R., 311). The Comptroller of the Treasury in two opinions has held against the allowance. (6 Comp. Dec., 506; 7 ibid., 594). Claims of the same character have uniformly been denied by the Paymaster-General of the Army and the War Department, and the statute upon which the same is predicated seems unambiguous.

The demurrer will be sustained and the petition dismissed.