The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-23
PRESS TICKETS
TO BE PAID FOR
Official Establishes a Claim
for Railway Fare.
JOURNEY ACROSS THE CONTINENT
MIR. Hyde, Of Agricultural Depart
ment, Used Magazine Transpor-
tat-on, for Which Allowance
Is Made by Treasury.

Robert J. TracewelI, Comptroller Of the
Treasury. in a decision rendered yester-
day. held that an editor Of magazine
who. in that capacity. has received from
a railroad company a pass over It's lines
for advertising and who in his Official
capacity as an official Of the United
States Government, uses this pass On Of
fetal trips is entitled to reimbursement
from tae Government for the amount so
paid
The decision grew out Of the revision
of the account of Frank l. E Evans.
Discussing Clerk of the Agricultural De-
partment. during which this question
arose: What allowance, if any. should
be made as reimbursement for expenses
of transportation procured from the rail-
road companies without a payment in
money?
The voucher Of John Hyde, of the Diyi-
sion OF Statistics. was presented for pay
ment. being for reimbursement Of ex-
pe1ses incurred while travelling IN the dis
charge Of official duty, from October q,
10 November II. 1900. under authorization
from the Acting Secretary Of Agriculture.
en- route from Washington, D. G, to Seat
tie. Wash. and intermediate points, and
return. amounting 10 $291.60.
Account Certified Correct.
Mr. HYDE IN : sworn statement declared
that the account was correct and that the
expenses charged were actually incurred
by him in the discharge OF his official
-.-5~z sd pa
actually paid ty him in full as claimed
The voucher was paid by Mr. Evans, the
dgIsbursiug clerk CT the Agricultural De-
partment. ard the Auditor for the State
and other departments allowed it n the
settlement Of his account
subsequently some question arose as 10
the manner in which a portion of the
transportation for which Mr. Hyde claim
ed reimbursement was obtained, which,
however. was fully explained BIZ Mr..
Hyde He stated that no part Of the
TRANSFORMATION was used by him as free
pass OF otherwise for his personal benefit,
and that fer the whole of the tr2nsDoTta-
ton he has render ed a full equivalent in
lawful money IN part TO the railroad com
panies over whose lines the travel was
performed and II part to the National
Geographic Society, for advertising space
given in the National Geographical Maya
zine
Laid Before the Comptroller.
When these facts had been developed
Mr.. Evans requested Mr. TTacaweITs de-
cisIon as 10 the legality Of Mr.. Hyde's
charges for railroad fare when the travel
was performed on press tickets or on
free transportation" furnished by rail-
road companies Mr.. Traceweu stated
that he was without jurisdiction TO render
this decision for the reason that the
payment had been made. Mr. TracewelI,
however. determined 10 revise the account
on his own motion. which he did In
passing on the question Mr.. TraceTel
said
1t is now well settled. if there was ever
any doubt about il, that an Official using
transportation that has been furnished
10 him as . gratuiuy by a transportation
company cannot require the United States
to reimburse him for the commercial
value Of such transportation IN an ac-
count for reimbursement for travelling ex-
penses OF otherwise
Meaning or the statute.
Where TRANSFORMATION is issued to an
company as ratuity, nothing is actual
" paid for it, ard the officer OF employee
does not actually incur any expense
therefor which under the statute is a nee
essary prerequisite to the right to Teim-
bursement for the value of it. Whether
OF not the transportation is a gratuity
is usually a question Of fact to be deter
mined from the circumstances under
which it IS issued
Concluding his argument, Mr.. TraceweU
said 1T appears from the evidence in
this case that Mr. Hyde has paid and &C
counted to the National Geographic
Magazine for the full commercial value
of the tickets issued by the railroad com
panies On account OF advertising in said
magazine. 1t appears. therefore, that Mr.
Hyde vas q passenger for hire on all the
roads ever which he Travelled on his jour
ney. He Is therefore. entitled to reir-
bursement or the amount actually paid
for said transportation Mr.. Hyde states
under cath that he paid the National
Geographic Magazine on whose account
the transportation was issued the full
value of said transportation as charged
in his account l am. therefore, of the
opinion that he IS entitled to reimburse
nent for the amount so paid. and the
action Of the Auditor is therefore ap-
proved and 1 find and certify no differ
ence.
All Circumstances Wanted.
"I desire to add, however, that IN all
cases where a claim for reimbursement
If made fer any other transportation than
that purchased in the ordinary way from
the trans ortatiou companies q full state
ment Of all the circumstances under which
II was procured and the manner N which
1t was paid for and the amount paid
should accompany the voucher therefor
IN no case can reimbursement he
made for any sum n excess of the amount
that has been actually paid IN cash or its
equivalent, or for d sum in excess of the
commercial To ses over the shortest usu-
ally Travelled route
Rg ss 3