B-155329, OCT. 15, 1964

B-155329, OCT. 15, 1964

TO CHIEF OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY:

WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF A LETTER DATED OCTOBER 5, 1964, FROM THE HONORABLE THRUSTON B. MORTON, UNITED STATES SENATE, CONCERNING THE INDEBTEDNESS OF MAJOR RAYMOND G. CLARK, JR., U.S. ARMY, WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF A BILL, S. 2133, 88TH CONGRESS, FOR THE RELIEF OF MAJOR CLARK.

MAJOR CLARK'S INDEBTEDNESS WAS ALSO THE SUBJECT OF A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR OFFICE AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR OFFICE, MR. JESSE W. WICKHAM, ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1964, RELATIVE TO WITHHOLDING COLLECTION ACTION.

S.2133, WHICH PASSED THE SENATE ON AUGUST 10, 1964, WOULD RELIEVE MAJOR CLARK OF HIS LIABILITY TO REPAY TO THE UNITED STATES THE SUM OF $1,285.23 REPRESENTING OVERPAYMENTS OF LONGEVITY PAY WHICH HE RECEIVED DURING THE PERIOD MAY 19, 1950 TO JUNE 30, 1963, WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMY AS A RESULT OF BEING ERRONEOUSLY CREDITED, FOR PAY PURPOSES, WITH SERVICE FOR CERTAIN PERIODS DURING WHICH HE WAS ENROLLED AS A TEMPORARY MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD RESERVE.

SENATOR MORTON IN HIS LETTER OF OCTOBER 5, 1964, TO US, REFERS TO THE FACT THAT S.2133 WHICH HE INTRODUCED, PASSED THE SENATE BUT WAS NOT ACTED ON IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DURING THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS. STATES THAT HE WILL REINTRODUCE THE LEGISLATION IN THE EARLY PART OF THE NEXT SESSION OF CONGRESS AND HE ASKS THAT WE ADVISE YOU TO WITHHOLD COLLECTION ACTION UNTIL THE LEGISLATION CAN BE CONSIDERED NEXT YEAR. WHILE MAJOR CLARK'S INDEBTEDNESS HAS NOT BEEN FORWARDED HERE AS UNCOLLECTIBLE AND, CONSEQUENTLY, IS STILL UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO WITHHOLD COLLECTION ACTION UNTIL CONGRESS HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, UNLESS, OF COURSE, THE PROTECTION OF THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES REQUIRES OTHER ACTION. A COPY OF THIS LETTER IS BEING FORWARDED TO SENATOR MORTON FOR HIS INFORMATION.