GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND PROTECTION. 19 



Transfer of Household Effects. 



forest officers transferred from one official station to another for permanent 

 duty may, under the written authority of the Forester, be allowed freight and 

 drayage charges for the transfer of their household effects and of other per- 

 sonal property used by such officers when transferred, not exceeding in all 3,500 

 l>ounds. Horses will be transported at Government expense only when used 

 in official -work. Shipments by freight must be on Government bills of lading 

 (see Methods of Shipment, p. 83). and each account must be accompanied by 

 letter of instructions, and the certificate of the officer best qualified to make it 

 that the property so shipped consists of the household goods of the officer trans- 

 ferred and is exclusively his property. (Act Mar. 4, 1911, Public No. 478, and 

 Departmental Order No. 145.) 



The Forest Badge. 



The Forest officer is supplied with a badge, which serves as an evidence of 

 his authority as an officer of the Forest Service. Every precaution must be 

 taken against the loss of badges or their possession by persons not authorized 

 to wear them. Broken or worn-out badges should be returned to the property 

 clerk for repair or replacement. 



When Not on Duty. 



Reimbursement will not be made to employees for expenses incurred while 

 on sick or annual leave, while on furlough, or leave of absence without pay. 

 Telegrams regarding salary or leave of absence are considered private business, 

 and the expense of neither the message sent nor the reply will be borne by the 

 Government. 



Summary of Comparative Cost of Living Expenses. 



In order to obtain data for a just and equitable policy of reimbursing Forest 

 officers for field expenses and also as a guide in making promotions and fixing 

 rates of compensation, the comparative living costs of Forest officers should 

 be ascertained. This should give the cost of food supplies, wearing apparel, 

 hoard, lodging, and house rent, at headquarters and also in the field. An annual 

 summary of this record should be included in the personnel report. 



QUARTERS. 



Properly located and equipped quarters are essential to the efficient transac- 

 tion of business, the safeguarding of Government property, and the convenience 

 of the public. Their selection should, however, be made with strict regard to 

 economy. 



District Offices. 



The headquarters of the National Forest districts are located at places which 

 offer the greatest advantages for the administration of the business of the 

 Forest Service. Leases of district offices will be prepared in quadruplicate by 

 the district assistant to the solicitor, on information furnished by the District 

 Forester. After the District Forester has secured the execution of three copies 

 by the lessor, the district assistant to the solicitor will pass upon the execution 

 and if the copies are properly executed he will initial and return them to the 

 District Forester, who will initial and send them to the Forester. After they 

 have been executed by the Secretary they will be returned to the District 

 Forester, who will send one executed copy to the lessor and two executed 

 copies with the file copy to the district fiscal agent. 



Supervisors' Offices. 



The office of the Forest Supervisor of each National Forest will be located at 

 the place which offers the greatest advantage for the transaction of business 

 with Forest users, and the best facilities of transportation and communication 

 with the Forest. In the event of the establishment of a new Forest, or in case 

 the headquarters of a Forest are not well located, the District Forester will 

 investigate the comparative advantages as headquarters of all the towns in the 

 vicinity of the Forest, and will then submit definite recommendations to the 

 Forester. The Forest Supervisor is responsible for the selection of suitable 

 quarters for his office force and property. Whenever quarters become unsuit- 

 able the supervisor will submit recommendations' to the District Forester, after 

 investigation, for securing new quarters. Leases for supervisor's offices may 

 be prepared by the supervisor under instructions from the District Forester. 



