3ee Culture. monthly letter of the bureau of entomology
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

■ ^vJRS£.«'

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Number 188 December, 1929

LIBRARY

STATE PLANT BOARD,

DECIDUOUS-FRUIT INSECTS
A. L. Quaintance, in Charge

Oliver I. Snapp addressed the South Carolina Peach Growers' As-
sociation at its annual meeting in Columbia, S. C., on December 4.

L. C. McAlister, Jr., in charge of blueberry-maggot investiga-
tions at Cherryfield, Me., is temporarily in Washington, summarizing his
field notes, doing library work, etc. He expects to remain in Washington
for several months.

E. J. Newcomer and M. A. Yothers, of the field laboratory at
Yakima, Wash., attended the fourth annual meeting of the members of the
Western Cooperative Oil Spray Project, at Spokane, December 12 and 13.
The membership of this group comes from the Agricultural Experiment
Stations of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California, the
Canadian Department of Agriculture, and the United States Department of
Agriculture. Besides reviewing the work of 1929 and making plans for
1939, the project assembled suggestions for the practical use of oil
sprays in 1930, which will be published through various channels. Mr.
Newcomer is chairman of the group.

Contributions from the Japanese-Beetle Laboratory

On December 2 Dr. F. A. Fenton, in charge of the bureau's field
laboratory at El Paso, Tex., visited the Japanese-Beetle Laboratory.
Doctor Fenton was much interested in the laboratory generally, but spent
considerable time in looking over the equipment used in the laboratories
devoted to parasites of the Japanese beetle and of the oriental peach
moth.

Loren B. Smith, in charge of the Japanese-Beetle Laboratory,
left for Des Moines, Iowa, on December 27 to attend the meetings of
the American Association of Economic Entomologists. On December 30,
before the Section of Plant Quarantine and Inspection, he gave a paper
on the problems in Japanese-beetle research.

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BEE CULTURE

Jas. I. Hambleton, in Charge

Edward S. Prevost, of the Extension Service, Clemson Agricultural
College, Clemson College, S. C., visited the Bee Culture Laboratory on
December 10. Mr. Prevost was particularly interested in learning the
possibilities of obtaining a reliable and complete census of bees and
honey in South Carolina, and is planning to have beekeepers of his State
work in active cooperation with the census enumerators during the coming
spring, when the enumeration will be made.

Kennith Hawkins, one of the war-time extension men of the Division
of Bee Culture Investigations, now sales manager of a firm manufacturing
beekeepers' supplies at Watertown, Wis . , visited the Bee Culture Labora-
tory on December 17. Mr. Hawkins discussed the research work now in
progress at the laboratory, and made a number of valuable suggestions.
He also reported on beekeeping conditions in the Southern States, from
which he had just returned. While in Washington he called on Dr. H. E.
Barnard, President of the American Honey Institute.

Mrs. Marian A. Carter, Chief Clerk of the Division of Bee Culture
Investigations, was retired because of disability on December 14. Much
credit is due her for the valuable assistance she rendered in charge of
the clerical and stenographic work during the many years she has been
connected with the Bee Culture Laboratory. Few Government officials have
a more enviable record. Upon retiring, Mrs. Carter received an official
letter of commendation from the Secretary of Agriculture.

Prof. Lloyd M. Bertholf, of Western Maryland College, Westminster,
Md., visited the laboratory on December 16, to look after some details
concerning a paper he is preparing on his last summer's work, dealing
with responses of honeybees to ultra-violet rays.

Jas. I. Hambleton left Washington on December 27 for an extended
trip. He attended the meetings of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science at Des Moines, Iowa, and from there will visit the
Intermountain Bee Culture Field Laboratory, at Laramie, Wyo., then go
to the beekeeping centers of the Pacific Coast States. He will return
by way of Baton Rouge, La., where he will visit the Southern States Bee
Culture Field Laboratory, and will attend the meetings of the American
Honey Producers' League in Milwaukee, Wis., on February 3 to 6. During
this period the Bee Industries Association and the Association of Apiary
Inspectors of America will also hold meetings in Milwaukee. Mr. Hamble-
ton will then attend the meeting of the Ohio State Beekeepers' Associa-
tion at Columbus, Ohio.

Mr. Hiatt, Agent of the G. B. Lewis Co., of Lynchburg, Va., visited
the Laboratory on December 26.

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Dr. Warren Whitcomb, jr., of the Southern States Bee Culture
Field Laboratory, Baton Rouge, La., attended the meeting of the Alabama
State Beekeepers' Association at Montgomery, Ala., on November 7 and 8.
After the meeting Doctor Whitcomb, accompanied by L. T. Floyd, Provin-
cial Apiarist of Manitoba, and H. C. Short, President of the Alabama
State Beekeepers' Association, visited a large number of the queen breed-
ers and package-bee producers in the heart of the package-bee industry in
Alabama .

J. E. Eckert, of the Intermountain Bee Culture Field Laboratory,
Laramie, Wyo., attended the meeting of the Wyoming Beekeepers' Associa-
tion at Therraopolis, Wyo., on December 12 to 14, and addressed the meet-
ing on "The flight range of the honeybee."

Dr. A. P. Sturtevant, in charge of the Intermountain Bee Culture
Field Laboratory, Laramie, Wyo., attended the meeting of the Idaho State
Beekeepers' Association, and the conference of apiary inspectors, at
Buhl, Idaho, December 16 to 18. Doctor Sturtevant spoke on "The vari-
ous problems associated with apiary inspection."

TRUCK-CROP INSECT INVESTIGATIONS
J. E. Graf, in Charge

N. F. Howard, Columbus, Ohio, upon his return from the Eastern
Shore of Maryland on December 14, visited College Park, Md., to con-
fer with Prof. E. N. Cory, of the University of Maryland, regarding next
season's plans for the control of the Mexican bean beetle in Maryland.

R. E. Campbell, Alhambra, Calif., has been granted a furlough
to undertake special studies at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul,
beginning in January, 1930. He visited Washington, D. C., on Decem-
ber 17, for conference in regard to the pepper weevil and wireworms in
California. En route to St. Paul, Minn., from Washington, he stopped
over at Columbus, Ohio, and attended the entomological meetings at Des
Moines, Iowa.

R. Cecil, Geneva, N. Y., and J. R. Douglass, Estancia, N. M.,
have been called to Columbus, Ohio, for the winter, to review with N.
F. Howard their last season's work on the Mexican bean beetle.

The following employees of this division attended the annual
meeting of the American Association of Economic Entomologists at Des
Moines, Iowa: R. E. Campbell, Alhambra, Calif., Walter Carter, Twin
Falls, Idaho, R. Cecil, Geneva, N. Y., J. R. Douglass, Estancia, N.
M., C. W. Getzendaner, Puyallup, Wash., and W. A. Shands, Grand Junc-
tion, Colo.

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COTTON INSECTS
B. R. Coad, in Charge

In December Mr. Coad spent some days attending a conference at
College Station, Tex., reviewing the cooperative research with offi-
cials of the Texas State Experiment Station, on the cotton bollworm
and similar problems. Plans for a publication on the work of the last
several years were drawn up, and arrangements perfected for the coop-
erative research for the coming season. Mr. Coad next visited the lower
Rio Grande Valley and completed arrangements for enlarging the investi-
gations of the cotton flea hopper in that territory, then visited the
San Antonio offices of the Plant Quarantine and Control Administration
for conferences regarding the pink bollworm. He also made a survey of
conditions in plantations in the central Brazos bottoms, with the idea
of undertaking additional work there next season on the control of the
overlapping infestations of bollworm, flea hopper, leaf worm, boll weevil,
and cotton louse, all of which have for several seasons been exceedingly
injurious to the cotton crop in that district.

D. L. Moody was appointed Field Assistant, with headquarters at
El Paso, Tex., and reported for duty December 2, 1929.

FOREST INSECTS
F. C. Craighead, in Charge

While in New York City on December 27, 28, and 30, Dr. T. E.
Snyder, of this office, consulted with the Western Union Telegraph Com-
pany, the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, and the Pan American Petrol-
eum and Transportation Company, with regard to control of termites,
particularly in the tropics.

Contributions from the Gipsy-Moth Laboratory

Dr. F. A. Fenton, of the Pink-Bollworm Laboratory at El Paso,
Tex. , spent December 5 and 6 at the Gipsy-Moth Laboratory, for con-
sultation on methods employed in biological studies on insect parasites.
Other visitors in December were F. S. Puckett, of Toledo, Ohio, R. E.
McDonald, of San Antonio, Tex., and H. L. McIntyre, of the New York State
Conservation Commission, at Albany.

C. F. W. Muesebeck was in Washington December 7 to 14, studying
types of certain Braconidae at the National Museum.

T. H. Jones and R. L. Wallis attended the meetings of the Amer-
ican Association of Economic Entomologists at Des Moines, Iowa, December
30 to January 2. In the absence of Mr. Collins, who was unable to at-
tend, Mr. Jones acted as secretary of the Association.

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TAXONOMY

Harold Morrison, in Charge

•

Dr. J. M. Robinson, of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, spent
December 1 examining specimens of the genus Diabrotica in the collec-
tion of Coleoptera.

Prof. C. C. Ghosh, entomologist in the agricultural college at
Mandalay, Burma, visited the Division of Insects on December 6.

C. F. W. Muesebeck, of the bureau's gipsy-moth and brown-tail
moth laboratory, at Melrose Highlands, Mass., spent December 7 to 14
in Washington, studying the collection of braconid wasps, particular-
ly certain genotypes, and consulting with the specialists on parasitic
Hymenoptera.

Prof. A. W. Lindsey, of Dennison University, Granville, Ohio,
a well-known student of the Hesperiidae, recently called at the National
Museum to consult with the bureau lepidopterists.

Cornelius B, Philip, who has recently been in Lagos, South Nigeria,
working on the yellow fever investigations for the International Health
Board of the Rockefeller Foundation, stopped in Washington December 18
and 19 to compare some mosquitoes with material in the National collec-
tion. He was on his way to Montana, where he will undertake work on the
Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

S. T. Boardman, of the department of zoology, Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity, Baltimore, spent December 23 in the National Museum, studying
the tick collection and consulting with Dr. Ewing.

George G. Ainslie, of the Bureau's cereal and forage insect lab-
oratory at Wesx mafayette, Ind., came to Washington December 26, and
plans to spend about two months in the taxonomic unit working on the
North American Crambidae.

INSECT PEST SURVEY

J. A. Hyslop, in Charge

J. A. Hyslop attended the annual meeting of the American As-
sociation of Economic Entomologists at Des Moines, Iowa, December 30 to
January 2, and presided over the newly recognized section, the Section of
Extension. He also presented the annual summary of insect conditions in
the United States for 1329, and attended the annual conference on the
Hessian fly.

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CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS
W. H. Larrimer., in Charge

•

Among the members of this division who attended the meetings
of the American Association .for the Advancement of Science, held at
Des Moines, Iowa, December 27, 1929, to January 2, 1930, were C. M.
Packard, L. H. Patch, Geo. I. Reeves, A. F. Satterthwait, F. W. Smith,
and E. V. Walter.

Dr. F. A. Fenton, in charge of investigations of the pink boll-
worm, visited the field laboratory at New Orleans on December 18. Doctor
Fenton was especially interested in methods of introducing foreign para-
sites. Octave Piel, S. J., Universite L'Aurore, Shanghai, China, and
L. G. Jones, of the field laboratory at Monroe, Mich., also visited that
laboratory during the month.

Visitors at the Washington office in December
chard, of the Sacramento, Calif., field laboratory,
of the field laboratory at Salt Lake City, Utah, C.
Pinckney, and Edgar J. Udine, of the field laboratory
and F. A. Fenton, in charge of research investigations
worm.

were R. A. Blan-
Geo. I. Reeves,
C. Hill, John S.
at Carlisle, Pa.,
of the pink boll-

INSECTS AFFECTING MAN AND ANIMALS
F. C. Bishopp, in Charge

D. C. Parman returned to his duties at Uvalde, Tex., early in
December, after spending several weeks at Coachella, Calif. , direct-
ing the work there on the eye gnat.

D, G. Hall, engaged in investigations of the eye gnat, writes
that a careful study of the literature indicates that the generic name
Hippelates has been incorrectly used. "The change is noted by Bezzi,
1928, Diptera of the Fiji Islands, British Museum Natural History, p.
148. Bezzi states 'Doctor Kertesz (Ann. Mus. Nat. Hung., XII, p. 674,
1914), from an examination of the genotype, in the British Museum, states
that Cadrema, Walker, 1860, must be substituted for Hippelates, Loew,
1863. ' "

F. C. Bishcpp attended the entomological meetings, at Des Moines,
Iowa, where he presented a paper by Bishopp, Laake and Wells, on tests
of insecticides for control of cattle grubs.

Dr. W. V. King, in charge of the field laboratory at Mound, La.,
returned there early in December, after spending several days in Wash-
ington.

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LIBRARY

Mabel Colcord, Librarian
NEW BOOKS

Anthony, H. E.

Field book of North American mammals. 625 p., illus. New York,
G. P. Futnara's Sons, 1929.

China, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Labor, Bureau of Inspec-
tion and Testing of Commercial Commodities.

History of China's sericultural industry. 18 p. Shanghai? 1929?
Henderson, I. F. , and Henderson, W. D.

A list of scientific terms, pronunciation, derivation and defi-
nition of terms in biology, botany, zoology, anatomy, cytology,
embryology, physiology. Ed. 2, rev. 352 p. Edinburgh and Lon-
don, Oliver and Boyd, 1929.

Jepson, F. P.

The control of "Calotermes" in living plants. 11 p. Colombo, A.
C. Richards, Acting Government Printer, 1929. (Ceylon Dept. Agr.
Bui. 86.)

Kumm, H. W.

The geographical distribution of the malaria carrying mosquitoes.
A collection of recorded material, in the literature and in per-
sonal communications to the author. 178 p. Baltimore, American
Journal of Hygiene, 1929. (Araer. Jour. Hygiene. Monographic
Series No. 10, Aug. 1929.)

Lackschwetz, P-

Nachtrage zu den Neuropteren und Trichopteren des Ostbaltischen
Gebietes. Tartu-Dorpat, Mattiesen, 1928. 40 p. (Archiv fur Natur-
kunde Estlands (vormals Liv-, Ehst . - und Kurlands) II. ser. : Bio-
logica, vol. XIV, Pt. 4.) Herausgegeben von der Naturforscher-
Gesellschaft bei der Universitat Tartu, Dorpat.

Leuenberger, Fritz.

Les abeilles, anatomie et physiologie. Traduit de l'allemand
par George F. Jaubert . . . 195 p., illus. Paris, Payot, 1923.

(Bibliotheque scientifique . ) (Bibliographic, p. 188-191.)

Lundie, A. E.

The rearing of queen bees. 23 p. Pretoria, Government Printer,
1929. (Union of South Africa Dept. Agr. Bui. 76.)

Makower, Walter, and Geiger, H.

Practical measurements in radio-activity. 151 p., illus. Lon-
don, New York, etc., Longmans, Green, and Co., 1912.

Matnescn, Robert. i

A handbook of the mosquitoes of North America; their structure,
how they live, how they carry disease, how they may be studied,
how they may be controlled, how they may be identified. 268 p.,
incl. 25 pi. Springfield, 111. Baltimore, Md., C. C. Thomas,
1929. (References, p. 208-209.)

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Peryassu, A. G.

Os culicideos do Brazil . . . 407 p., illus., pi., maps, tables.

Rio de Janeiro, Instituto Manguinos, Typographia Leuzinger, 1908.
Skinner, H. M.

The giant moth borer of sugar-cane (Castnia Xicus- Drury.) 8 p.,
illus. col. pi. Trinidad, Government Printer, 1929. (Supplement
to Tropical Agriculture, January 1930.)

Worcestershire County Council — Agricultural Education Sub-Committee.
Ox warble fly. Report on the demonstration and experiments car-
ried out in Worcestershire in 1928 and 1929. 26 p. Worcester De-

partment of Agricultural Education, Shirehall, Worcester, Oct.,
1929.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Fiscal Regulations

We are quoting below from a recent letter issued by the Bureau of
Plant Industry. This subject is of the greatest importance and is worthy
of careful study by the personnel of this Bureau.

"Inquiry is sometimes made whether strict compliance with the fis-
cal regulations is essential to good administration. The answer repeated-
ly made to this question is that compliance with law, and the rules and
regulations established thereunder, is imperative in the proper conduct
of the Government's business. There is no more important responsibility
in our expenditures of public funds than careful observance of the lav/ as
embodied in the Fiscal and Administrative Regulations.

"In cases where employees have violated the fiscal regulations or,
in one way or another, have made false statements relating to fiscal
records where there is evident dishonesty of intent, the action to be
taken with reference to the employee concerned is clear and necessary.
Most cases which involve difficulty, however, are those where the in-
fraction of the fiscal regulations results from carelessness, from ap-
parent ignorance of what the regulations require, through an effort to
accomplish a desirable end by methods in conflict with the regulations, or
from an effort to get out of some complication in the least embarrassing
way.

"We are especially concerned over the thought sometimes voiced
that as long as a man does not personally benefit, misrepresentation in
fiscal records is not particularly serious, and over the possibility that
the making of improper records may be disregarded or condoned by employees
supervising the work of others. It should be kept clearly in mind that,
in undertaking work for the Federal Government, a contract is entered into
by the individual not only to carry out certain specific tasks but to ac-
complish these tasks under the laws and regulations provided by Congress,
and the executive officers of the Government.

"It is recognized that in some respects the fiscal regulations are
not entirely adapted to the carrying on of some activities of the Depart-
ment. Certain requirements at times appear unreasonable and difficult
to operate under." It is also recognized, however, that a great deal of
the trouble results from the lack of planning and anticipation of needs.
"Effort has been made to have undesirable restrictions corrected and such
effort will be continued. But however difficult the fiscal regulations
may seem, they must be strictly respected. No one can agree that a regu-
lation which appears unjust or unreasonable to some persons affected by
it is not to be complied with. That idea once started is fatal to the
morale of any organization. It should be the universal rule that whenever
Bureau officers are in doubt as to what may properly be done in any fiscal
matter, they will give the supervising or auditing officers all the facts
and be guided by their determination.

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"Many changes in our business practices have become necessary dur-
ing recent years due to changes in methods of handling Government finances
by Congress, the Bureau of the Budget, and. the Comptroller General, More
and more it is important that individuals responsible for Government ex-
penditures be fully informed of Government requirements and changes in
laws or procedure as made, and that the rules and regulations resulting
be carefully and completely adhered to. It is appreciated that men in
the field frequently do not recognize the significance of instructions as
given in the form of memoranda or correspondence, and incident to the
pressure of their work overlook new laws or practices which may be estab-
lished. This is not accepted by any of the agencies concerned as an ade-
quate explanation for deviations from the regulations. Too often ignor-
ance of the fiscal regulations is pleaded as an excuse for their viola-
tion. A definite responsibility rests upon the supervisory officers for
instructing their subordinates in the Fiscal and Administrative Regula-
tions and in making clear to them the responsibility for knowing the
regulations. All employees in administrative positions are necessarily
responsible for making clear to their subordinates that they must know
and respect the regulations governing their work.

"The Office of the Comptroller General maintains a field corps of
investigators that move from place to place in the field and investigate
any branches of the service that may be conducting work in that region.
Should these representatives of the Comptroller General's Office call on
any of the field men, they should be given every cooperation toward a
full and complete study of our business practices and the field men should
take advantage of the opportunity to secure advice and assistance with a
view to improving their methods.

"The Chief of Bureau must necessarily hold Heads of Offices re-
sponsible for the legal and effective expenditures of funds allotted to
them for work under their supervision. To insure efficient administration
it is necessary that they so delegate responsibility that approvals of
expenditures be made only by those in a position to know that the ex-
penditure is in fact made as represented and necessary and desirable in
the successful accomplishment of the work as well as in conformity with
law.

"Above all, it should be emphasized that the utmost frankness be
maintained regarding any special difficulties or weaknesses in the work,
and that all such matters be promptly and completely reported so that
proper methods may be adopted and any misunderstandings and mistakes
corrected at the earliest possible moment."

Responsibility of the Government in Case of Injury to Person or Property
Caused by Vehicle Driven by Government Employee

(See Official Record, Vol. 3, No. 52, December 26, 1929, Page 5.)

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The following abstracts of recent decisions of the Comptroller
General of the United States, are of general interest:

Vol. 9, A-29145 , page 203: Traveling; Expenses - Steamship Accommodations
"On trans-Atlantic vessels on which the highest class of accommodations
are designated as "cabin class," all cabin-class rates are "first-
class rates" within the meaning of the Standardized Government Travel
Regulations, and the traveler is ordinarily limited to the minimum
cabin-class rates upon such vessels.

Vol. 8, A-26873, page 588: Contracts - Alleged Mistake in Bid.

"Under the standard form of invitation for bids and the standard
form of bid bond, prospective bidders are notified that bids may
not be v/ithdrawn after they are opened because of negligence in
submission of bids, and where bids are submitted on such forms and
the bidder does not allege mistake until after the bids are opened,
such bidder may not be permitted to withdraw its bid. Where such
bid is the lowest bid meeting the specifications the same should
be accepted and if the bidder refuses to deliver the material,
purchase should be made from the next lowest bidder after notice,
and the papers transmitted to the General Accounting Office for
collection of the difference in price from the low bidder and its
surety.

A-26745, page 615: Public Property Damaged in Transit - Re-

coveries from Carriers.

"Recoveries from common carriers either in actual cash or by de-
ductions from the carrier’s bills for damage to or loss of public
property while in transit are for depositing and covering into the
Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. 21 Comp. Dec. 632 distinguished.

A-27316, page 623: Contracts - Delays - Extensions of Time.

"There is no authority under the Standard Government Construction
Contract for administrative officers to grant extensions of time
because of delays in completion of the work. Any adjustment of
time for performance required on account of extra work or changed
conditions is not for settlement as an extension of time.

A-27490, page 636: Purchases - Passenger-Carrying Vehicles.

"The term "passenger-carrying vehicle" as used in section 5 of the
act of July 16, 1914, 38 Stat. 508, includes all vehicles designed
and constructed primarily for carrying passengers regardless of the
use to which they may be put and where, from the description and
photographs, it appears they are designed and constructed for use
primarily as passenger-carrying vehicles. The fact that the vehicles
are so constructed that they may be used for transportation of re-
pair material, tools, testing equipment, etc., by attaching a slip-
on body does not authorize considering them as other than passenger-
carrying vehicles, the slip-on body being an accessory and not an
integral part of the vehicle.

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"From the description and photographs of the vehicles, models
625-A and 627-A (Roadster with either open slip-on body or closed
slip-on body) it is clear that they are designed and constructed
for use primarily as passenger-carrying vehicles within the meaning
of that term as used in the act of July 16, 1914, supra. The fact
that the vehicles are so constructed that they may be used for the
transportation of repair material, tools, testing equipment, etc.,
by attaching a slip-on body does not authorize considering them
as other than passenger-carrying vehicles, the slip-on body being
an accessory and not an integral part of the vehicle.

"Answering your question specifically you are advised that the
proposed purchase of the models 625-A and 627-A, as outlined in
your letter, would be in direct contravention of the provisions of
the act of July 16, 1914, supra.

"With reference to the de luxe delivery car, it appears from the
description and photograph that while it is designed to resemble
a passenger-carrying vehicle and to carry at least one passenger
in addition to the driver, it is not designed and constructed
for use primarily as a passenger-carrying vehicle within the term
as used in the said act of July 16, 1914, supra. See Comp. Sec.
33; 26 id. 904; 27 id. 1016; 3 Comp. Gen. 900. Therefore, if it
can be shown that such a vehicle is necessary to meet the re-
quirements for which its purchase is proposed - that is, that no
cheaper vehicle will meet the actual needs of the service - its
purchase would be authorized.

A-26841 , page 647 ; Contracts - Damages - Contracting 0 fficer's
Authority^

"No officer of the Government is authorized to enter into a con-
tract whereby the United States is made to assume all liability
in an indefinite amount for all damage or injury to persons or
property that may result during the progress of the work, and such
provision made in a contract is null and void, the contracting offi-
cer having exceeded his authority in entering into such agreement.

Vol. 9, A-28003, page 23: Debarment of Bidders

"There is no authority under sec. 3709, Revised Statutes, for the
permanent debarment of bidders for furnishing supplies to the War
Department, but where past performances have been unsatisfactory
through attempt to defraud the Government, instructions may be is-
sued to reject all bids of such contractor until such time as the
contractor is able to submit satisfactory assurances of the dis-
continuance of such practices.

A-27950, page 24: Bidders - Proposals - Modification.

"Under section 3709, Revised Statutes, there is no authority to
permit a bidder to modify its proposal which failed to comply with
the specifications after the bids have been opened when other bids
received do comply with the specifications and are reasonable in
price .

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A-28031, page 65: Contracts - Delays - Actual Damages.

"Where the advertisement for bids had informed prospective bidders
that time of delivery would be considered an important factor in
making the award and a higher bidder was awarded the contract be-
cause it proposed to make delivery within a shorter period of time
than the low bidder, and the contractor was delayed in delivery,
there will be deducted from the contract price a proportionate
amount of the difference between the low bid and the accepted bid
based on the ratio between the number of days delay in making de-
livery to the difference in time stated in the accepted figure and
the low figure.

A-2S794, page 147: Transportation - Household Effects of Civil-

ian Employees Changi ng Stati on .

"Under the Act of Feb. 20, 1S29, 45 Stat. 1245, 1246, a physician
of the U. S. Veterans' Bureau, who stored his household effects in a
neighboring city while absent from his permanent station on tempo-
rary duty, may have such effects shipped at Government expense from
such place of storage to his new permanent station to which he may
subsequently be ordered, provided that the expenses incident to
such shipment do not exceed what it would have cost to have made
the shipment direct from the old permanent station to the new
permanent station.

A.-28853, page 151: Transportation - Mileage Books.

"In cases where continuous travel between places but a short dis-
tance apart is involved and a substantial saving or convenience to
the Government will result, the purchase of mileage books not in
excess of the current needs is authorized under par. 34 of the
Standardized Government Travel Regulations, such purchase not being
in contravention of sec. 3648 of the Revised Statutes.

A-28946, page 154: Contracts - leases - Payments to Executors

or Admi nistrators .

"Hereafter, vouchers executed in the name of an executor or ad-
ministrator of an estate calling for payment under a contract or
lease with the United States will be supported by a statement there-
on to the effect that the executor or administrator continues to so
act with the approval of the court in the administration of the
estate .

A-28998, page 160: Contracts - Rescission - Mistake in Bid.

"Where it is clearly established that a contractor made a mistake
in the submission of its bid, to which the attention of the con-
tracting officer was invited before the signing of the contract or
the beginning of performance thereunder, the contract may be re-
scinded and the bidder released from any obligation thereunder.

A.-2S947, page 161: Contracts — Discounts.

"Where the contract provided that payments were to be made by tne

LIBRARY

STATE PLANT BOARD

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Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Navy Department, Washington, D. C.,
upon properly certified bills, after inspection and acceptance of
the material, the responsibility of seeing that the invoices were
received promptly by the bureau or office of the Government speci-
fied in the contract was that of the contractor, and its contention
that the deduction of discount for prompt payment should not have
been made in view of the respective dates the invoices were received
at the office of the inspector of naval material in New York, N. Y.,
is not tenable.

A-29021, page 167: Subsistence - Meals Taken After Arrival at

Post_of Duty.

"Par. 62 of the Standardized Government Travel Pvegulations authori-
zing reimbursement for meals taken by employees while en route to
or from an official station when the departure is before or the ar-
rival after certain specified hours can not be construed to author-
ize reimbursement for meals not taken en route to or from an em-
ployees' official station, but taken at his official station.

A-29269, page 16S: Compensation - Travel Expenses - Temporary

Employees As Witnesses Before Federal G rand Juries.

"A temporary employee of the Civil Service Commission subpoenaed to
appear to testify on behalf of the Government is entitled to his
regular compensation for the time necessarily absent from his regu-
lar work.

"A temporary employee of the Civil Service Commission subpoenaed
to appear to testify on behalf of the Government is not entitled to
witness fees or mileage, but is entitled to his necessary expenses,
under the Standardized Government Travel Regulations, in going, re-
turning, and while necessarily at the place where the jury is in
session. "

A-28586, page 111: Compensation - Deceased Employees.

"Payment may be made to the one legally entitled thereto of the
compensation due a deceased employee of the United States up to and
including the date of death, but payment may not be made to include
any date later than that on which the employee was last known to be
alive .

Vol. 8, A-24566, page 170: Traveling; Expenses - Division of - Gasoline

Tax.

"Where an employee of the United States is traveling on official
business in his private automobile and is accompanied by a person
other than an employee of the United States, the employee may be
reimbursed for one-half of the expenditures for gasoline exclusive
of the State tax. No reimbursement of the State tax may be made
to such employee.

A-24730 , page 183 : Transportation Requests.

"Where the owners or operators of ferries at isolated points object
or refuse to accept Government transportation requests, the traveler

15 -

may make payment in cash and claim reimbursement therefor on his
regular travel voucher with an explanatory note of the reason for
failure to use transportation requests.

A-24720, page 193: Traveling Expenses - Use of American Vessels.
"Section 601 of the merchant marine act of May 22, 1928, 45 Stat.
697, requires officers and employees of the United States when
traveling on official business overseas to use vessels registered
under the laws of the United States when available both in going to
and returning from the foreign country unless there be furnished
proof, satisfactory to the Comptroller General of the United States,
of the necessity for the use of a vessel of some other nationality.

A-24639, page 199: Traveling Expenses - Sleeping-Car Accommoda-
tions - Stopovers for Personal Convenience.

"Where civilian employees traveling under orders with sleeping-car
privileges make stop-overs en route without official authority, to
spend nights in hotels rather than on trains, such expenses when less
than authorized sleeping car accommodations will be paid, but the
employee will be charged with annual leave or leave without pay for
the time lost by reason of the stop-overs.

A-25283, page 299: Advertising - Bids - Acceptance on Basis of
Element not Mentioned in Advertisement.

"A bid should not be accepted because the bidder proposes to do the
work in less time than the lowest bidder when the advertisement for
proposals has not notified all concerned that the time element would
be considered in the acceptance of bids.

A-24969, page 354: Contracts - Purchases of Indefinite Quantities.
"‘While it may be proper in inviting bids and making contracts for
the furnishing of supplies to provide for a reasonable variance from
the quantities stated, this should be done by specifying not exceed-
ing a maximum percentage for such variance - such as 10 per cent or
20 per cent, depending upon the articles or supplies to be pur-
chased - so that a bidder may know the maximum quantity he may be
called upon to furnish, and the maximum amount of the obligation
against the appropriation may be determined at the time the con-
tract is made. Where it is found that a quantity in excess of the
maximum percentage variance is required such excess should be pur-
chased independently of the original contract and after proper
advertising.

A-25599, page 391: Traveling Expenses - Pullman Receipts.

"Par. 95 (r) of the Standardized Government Travel Regulations re-
quires that receipts be furnished in support of travel vouchers
claiming reimbursement for sleeping-car, parlor-car, and stateroom
fares when paid in cash, and an affidavit that such receipts have
been lost can not be accepted as authorizing reimbursement of such
expenses. 3 Comp. Gen. 775 no longer applicable. 6 Comp. Gen.
115 distinguished.

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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

3 1262 09236 6110

A-25361, page 454: Coupon Books for the Procurement of Qasolire

and Oil .

"The purchase on behalf of the Government of coupon books to be
used in the procurement of gasoline and oil incident to the opera-
tion of an automobile under Government control is not authorized, as
such purchase involves the payment for supplies in advance of de-
livery in contravention of section 3648, Revised Statutes.
"Reimbursement may not be made of the value of a coupon book for the
procurement of gasoline and oil alleged to have been used by an em-
ployee traveling under orders, in the absence of satisfactory evi-
dence as to the time, place, quantity, or price of the gasoline and
oil that were furnished in exchange for the coupons detached from
the book, and that the gasoline and oil were used on the official
travel .

A-26319, page 484: Transportation - tand-Grant Deductions - Ex-
press Shipments.

"Under the reorganization plan of express service pursuant to which
Railway Express Agency, Inc., was organized to perform express serv-
ice as an agency of participating railroads beginning March 1, 1929,
charges for express services by such agency are subject to land-
grant deductions the same as if the service by such agency were per-
formed by the participating railroads subject to land-grant laws.

A-26259, rage 534: Traveling Expenses - Employee Directed to
Take Physical Examination with View to Fetirerent.

"Where an employee of the Government travels for the purpose of
taking a physical examination with a view to possible retirement,
without the direction of the Commissioner of Pensions though under
the direction of the administrative head of the office in which em-
ployed, such employee is not entitled to reimbursement of expenses
so incurred.

A-26960, page 565: Traveling Expenses - Excess Baggage - Govern-
r ent Property.

"When an employee traveling on official business is required by the
nature of such business to carry with him instruments and other
Government property in excess of what one porter could ordinarily
handle and of such nature that it can not be intrusted to transfer
companies he may be allowed reimbursement for additional fees to the
several porters necessary to handle such equipment at stations and
hotels, at not exceeding the rates specified in par. 99 (c) of the
Standardized Government Travel Regulations.

A-25513, page 570: Traveling Expenses - Medical Treatment - Em-
ployees Injured Coin oid ent with Terminati on of Travel Status.

"An employee who is injured coincident with the termination of his
official duty in a travel status may be reimbursed from the adminis-
trative appropriation available for traveling expenses for the ex-
pense incurred in returning to his headquarters, even though the
trip is delayed due to the injury, in an amount not to exceed the
amount that should have been incurred if the employee had returned
uninjured immediately after the completion of his official duties by
the shortest usually traveled route. 6 Comp. Gen. 278 distinguished."