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Mr.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Mississippi. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to extend my remarks at this point in the RECORD.

The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Mississippi?

There was no objection.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, on the rollcall just completed, I am recorded as voting "present." In view of the fact that I am not recorded as favoring or opposing the measure, I feel that I should take this means to clarify my personal position on the bill just passed.

Clause 1, rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives provides that every Member "shall vote on each question put unless he has a direct or pecuniary interest in the event of such question."

Further, Jefferson's Manual of Parliamentary Practice, paragraph 376, states:

Where the private interests of a Member are concerned in a bill or question, he is to withdraw.

Mr. Speaker, due to the fact that I would be one of the veterans personally affected by the bill just passed, I felt compelled under the Rules of the House to withdraw from voting and to be recorded as voting "Present."

POSTAL FIELD SERVICE EMPLOYEES

Mr. REES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H. R. 9245) to establish a joint committee of Congress to study postal field service reclassification, to increase the rates of basic compensation of postmasters, officers, and employees in the postal field service pending reclassification pursuant to recommendations of such joint committee, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
Be it enacted, etc.-

TITLE I-POSTAL RATES
First-class mail

SEC. 101. (a) The rates of postage on mail matter of the first class (other than postal cards and private mailing or post cards) shall be as follows:

(1) 4 cents for the first ounce or fraction thereof, and 3 cents for each additional ounce or fraction thereof, when mailed for

delivery at any destination other than the office of mailing;

(2) Three cents for each ounce or fraction thereof, when mailed for local delivery at the office of mailing, except as prescribed in paragraph (3) of this subsection; and

(3) Two cents for each ounce or fraction thereof, when mailed for local delivery at post offices where free delivery by carrier is not established and when the matter is not collected or delivered by rural or star route carriers.

(b) In the case of first-class matter mailed without prepayment of any postage or without prepayment of the full amount of postage due, the Postmaster General is authorized to prescribe by regulation the conditions under which such matter shall be delivered to the addressee or returned to the sender. The conditions so prescribed shall be stated in such manner as to permit delivery of such mail to the addressee whenever it is practicable to do so consistent with the collection of the charges prescribed in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

(c) The Postmaster General is authorized to prescribe by regulation from time to time the charges to be collected on delivery in the case of any matter of the first class mailed without prepayment of any postage or without prepayment of the full amount of postage due. In determining such charges, the Postmaster General shall take into consideration the postage actually due, and, to the extent practicable, the additional expense incurred by reason of the failure to pay the minimizing the incidence of such mailings. applicable postage and the desirability of

(d) Regulations issued by the Postmaster General under subsections (b) and (c) shall, to the extent prescribed therein, supersede existing laws, regulations, and orders governing the subject matter covered thereby.

(e) Section 12 (a) of the act of October 30, 1951 (39 U. S. C. sec. 246f (a)), is amended by inserting before the period at the end thereof a semicolon and the following:

"(9) for returning undeliverable letters and parcels of the first class from the deadletter office to the senders."

Second-class mail

SEC. 102. (a) Section 2 (a) of the Act of October 30, 1951 (39 U. S. C., sec. 289a), is amended by striking out the word "and" im

mediately following "April 1, 1953," and by inserting before the colon immediately following "April 1, 1954" a comma and the following: "(4) by an additional 10 percent, based on rates now in force, beginning on April 1, 1955, (5) by an additional 10 percent, based on rates now in force, beginning on April 1, 1956, and (6) by an additional 10 percent, based on rates now in force, beginning on April 1, 1957". The term "rates now in force", as used in the amendments made by this subsection to section 2 (a) of such act of October 30, 1951, means the rates in force immediately prior to April 1, 1952.

(b) The rates increased by subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to a minimum charge of one-fourth of 1 cent computed on each individually addressed copy or package of unaddressed copies.

(c) The rates of postage on copies of publications having second-class entry mailed by others than the publishers or authorized news agents, sample copies mailed by the publishers in excess of the 10 percent allowance entitled to be sent at the pound rates, and copies mailed by the publishers to persons who may not be included in the required legitimate list of subscribers, shall be, in the case of publications weighing 8 ounces or less, the applicable rates now or hereafter prescribed by law on third-class matter, and, in the case of publications weighing in excess of 8 ounces, the applicable rates now or hereafter prescribed or authorized by law on fourth-class matter.

Third-class mail

SEC. 103. (a) The rates of postage on third-class matter shall be 3 cents for the first 2 ounces or fraction thereof, and 12 cents for each additional ounce or fraction thereof up to and including 8 ounces in weight, except that on matter mailed by religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agricultural, labor, veterans', or fraternal organizations or associations, not organized for profit and none of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any private stockholder or individual, the rates shall be as follows:

(1) One and one-half cents for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof on books and catalogs of 24 pages or more, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants not exceeding 8 ounces in weight; and

(2) Two cents for the first 2 ounces or fraction thereof, and one cent for each additional ounce or fraction thereof, on all other third-class matter.

(b) Upon payment of a fee of $50 for each calendar year or of $15 for each quarter of a calendar year and under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe for the collection of postage and for facilitating the handling of such matter in the mails, separately addressed identical pieces of thirdclass matter in quantities of not less than 20 pounds, or of not less than 200 pieces, may be mailed at pound rates of postage applicable to the entire bulk mailed at one time. The rate of postage on third-class matter mailed in bulk under this subsection shall be 16 cents for each pound or fraction thereof with a minimum charge per piece of 12 cents, except that in the case of books and catalogs of 24 pages or more, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants the rate shall be 10 cents for each pound or fraction thereof with a minimum charge per piece of 12 cents. The rate of postage on third-class matter mailed in bulk under this subsection but without individual addresses for delivery under regulations prescribed by the Postmaster General shall be subject to a minimum charge per piece of 2 cents. The rates of postage prescribed by this subsection shall not apply with respect to matter mailed by religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agricultural, labor, veterans' or fraternal organizations or associations, not organized for profit and none of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any private stockholder or individual, and the existing rates of postage shall continue to apply with respect to such matter.

(c) Pieces or packages of third-class mail of such size or form as to prevent ready facing and tying in bundles and requiring individual distributing throughout shall be subject to a minimum charge of 5 cents each. Controlled circulation publications SEC. 104. The rate of postage on the publications defined in section 203 of the act of July 3, 1948 (39 U. S. C., sec. 291b), when mailed by the publisher and regardless of the weight of individual copies, shall be 11 cents for each pound or fraction thereof, computed on the entire bulk mailed at one time, but not less than 12 cents per piece, which rate shall remain in effect until otherwise provided by Congress: Provided, That the rate of postage on copies of such publications when mailed by other than the publishers, or when forwarded to the addressee or returned to the sender, shall be 3 cents for the first two ounces and 12 cents for each additional ounce.

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Determination of class of post office and compensation of postmaster and certain employees

SEC. 106. (a) On and after January 1, 1955, 85 percent of the gross postal receipts of all classes of post offices shall be counted for the purpose of determining the class of the post office or the compensation or allowances of postmasters or other employees whose compensation or allowances are based on the annual receipts of such offices. Nothing contained in this subsection shall operate to decrease the compensation or allowances in effect on the effective date of this subsection for postmasters and other employees in the postal field service on such date whose compensation or allowances are based upon the annual receipts of such offices.

(b) In the case of the post office at Washington, D. C., the Postmaster General may, in his discretion, add to the gross receipts of such office counted for the purposes of subsection (a) of this section not to exceed 75 percent of such gross receipts.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the salaries of postmasters at fourthclass post offices, as fixed by law, shall be deemed and taken to be full compensation for the clerical labor in the issuance of money orders at such offices.

Repeal of existing provisions of law SEC. 107. (a) The following provisions of law are hereby repealed:

(1) Section 202 (a) (4) of the act of February 28, 1925, as amended by section 4 of the act of May 29, 1928 (39 U. S. C., sec. 283);

(3) Section 2 (d) of the act of October 30, 1951 (39 U. S. C., sec. 289a (d)).

(b) All laws or parts of laws inconsistent with this title are hereby repealed or modified to the extent of such inconsistency.

Application to Guam

SEC. 108. This title shall have the same. force and effect within Guam as within other possessions of the United States.

Effective dates

SEC. 109. This title shall take effect on January 1, 1955, except that section 102 (a) and (b) shall take effect on April 1, 1955.

TITLE II-POSTAL EMPLOYEES PAY AND

CLASSIFICATON

SEC. 201. (a) The rates of basic compensation, other than rates referred to in subsection (b) of this section, of postmasters, officers, and employees in the postal field service whose rates of compensation are prescribed by the act entitled "An act to reclassify the salaries of postmasters, officers, and employees of the Postal Service; to establish uniform procedures for computing compensation; and for other purposes", approved July 6, 1945 (Public Law 134, 79th Cong.), as amended, are hereby increased by 5 percent except that no such rate shall be increased by less than $200 per

annum.

(b) (1) That part of the compensation schedule headed "Grades and Salaries of Employees in the Automatic Grades" and contained in section 11A of such act of July 6, 1945 (Public Law 134, 79th Cong.), as

(2) Section 204 of the act of February 28, amended, which provides hourly rates of 1925 (39 U. S. C., sec. 288); compensation, is amended to read as follows:

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(2) The rates of basic compensation of postmasters at post offices of the fourth class are hereby increased by 5 percent.

(c) This section shall not apply to skilledtrades employees of the mail-equipment post offices, and employees who are paid on shops, job cleaners in first- and second-class

a fee or contract basis.

(d) The increases in rates of basic compensation provided by this section shall not apply to longevity salary increases.

SEC. 202. Section 16 (r) of such act of July 6, 1945 (Public Law 134, 79th Cong.), as amended, which relates to travel allowances for employees in the Postal Transportation Service who are assigned to road duty, is amended by striking out "$6 per day" and inserting in lieu thereof "$9 per day.”

SEC. 203. Section 3867 of the Revised Statutes is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 3867. The Postmaster General may prescribe a uniform dress to be worn by city and village delivery letter carriers, specialdelivery messengers, motor-vehicle employees, custodial guards, elevator operators, and watchmen. The Postmaster General shall furnish uniforms to each such em

ployee for whom a uniform dress is so pre

scribed, at a cost not to exceed $100 per annum with respect to each employee, except that, in any case where in his judgment it is in the interest of the postal field service, he may authorize any such employee to purchose uniforms, at such times and at

such costs, not to exceed $100 per annum, as he may prescribe and shall reimburse such employee purchasing uniforms pursuant to such authorization for the cost thereof. Uniforms furnished to, or purchased by, an employee under this section shall become the property of such employee."

SEC. 204. So much of section 1310 (a) of the Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1952 (Public Law 253, 82d Cong.), as precedes the first proviso therein shall not apply to the total number of permanent employees in the field and departmental service of the Post Office Department; except that no employee shall be given a permanent appointment by reason of the enactment of this section of this act who has not qualified therefor under normal civil service procedures.

SEC. 205. Any increase in rate of basic compensation by reason of the enactment of this title shall not be considered as an "equivalent increase" in compensation within the meaning of section 701 of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, in the case of postmasters, officers, and employees in the postal field service who transfer or are transferred to positions within the purview of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended.

SEC. 206. In the exercise of the authority granted by section 81 of title 2 of the Canal Zone Code, as amended, the Governor of the Canal Zone is authorized to grant, as of the effective date of this section, additional compensation to postal employees of the Canal Zone Government, based on the additional

compensation granted by this title to similar employees in the field service of the Post Office Department of the United States.

SEC. 207. This title shall have the same force and effect within Guam as within other possessions of the United States.

SEC. 208. (a) Section 7 of the act entitled "An act to reclassify the salaries of postmasters, officers, and employees of the Postal Service; to establish uniform procedures for computing compensation; and for other purposes", approved July 6, 1945 (Public Law 134, 79th Cong.), as amended, is amended to read as follows:

"Method of payment

"SEC. 7. (a) The compensation of postmasters and per annum rate employees shall be paid in 26 installments. Each such installment shall be the compensation for a pay period of 2 weeks. The compensation of hourly rate substitute employees and other hourly rate employees shall be computed for each pay period of 2 weeks on the basis of the number of hours of work performed by such employees during such pay period.

"(b) To compute an hourly rate for postmasters and per annum rate employees, the per annum rate shall be divided by 2080.

"(c) To compute a daily rate for postmasters and per annum rate employees, the hourly rate shall be multiplied by the number of daily hours of service required.

"(d) Subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to carriers in the rural delivery service. Whenever, for pay computation purposes, it is necessary to convert the basic annual rate of compensation of carriers in the rural delivery service to a basic daily or biweekly rate, the following rules shall govern:

“(1) An annual rate shall be divided by 312 to derive a daily rate.

"(2) A daily rate shall be multiplied by 12 to derive a biweekly rate.

"(e) All rates shall be computed to the nearest cent, counting one-half cent and over as a whole cent.

"(f) When a pay period for any postmaster or employee begins in one fiscal year and ends in another fiscal year, the gross amount of the earnings of such postmaster or employee for such pay period may be regarded as a charge against the appropriation or allotment current at the end of such pay period."

(b) Section 8 of such act of July 6, 1945, as amended, is amended by adding at the end thereof a new subsection (d) to read as follows:

"(d) The salaries of postmasters, assistant postmasters, and supervisors paid under the provisions of this section shall be readjusted at the beginning of the first complete pay period in each fiscal year."

(c) Section 9 (b) of such act of July 6, 1945, as amended, is amended by adding at the end thereof a new sentence to read as follows: "The salaries of superintendents and assistant superintendents of classified stations shall be readjusted at the beginning of the first complete pay period in each fiscal year."

(d) Section 11A of such act of July 6, 1945, as amended, is amended by striking out "and shall be promoted successively at the beginning of the quarter following 1 year's satisfactory service in each grade to the next higher grade until they reach the top automatic grade" and by inserting in lieu thereof "and shall be promoted successively at the beginning of the first complete pay period following 52 weeks of satisfactory service in each grade to the next higher grade until they reach the top automatic grade."

(e) Section 13 of such act of July 6, 1945, as amended, is amended by adding immedi

ately after subsection (a) thereof a new subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The salaries of employees paid under the provisions of this section shall be readjusted at the beginning of the first complete pay period in each fiscal year."

(f) Section 14 of such act of July 6, 1945, as amended, is amended by adding immediately after subsection (a) thereof a new subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The salaries of employees paid under the provisions of this section shall be readjusted at the beginning of the first complete pay period in each fiscal year."

(g) That part of subsection (1) of section 14 of such act of July 6, 1945, as amended, which precedes the first proviso is amended to read as follows:

"(1) Temporary employees in the custodial service paid on an annual basis shall be paid at the rates of pay of grade 1 of the position in which employed and shall, at the beginning of the first complete pay period following 52 weeks of satisfacory service in each pay status, be advanced successively to the rates of pay of the next higher grade of such position; and temporary employees in the custodial service paid on an hourly basis shall be paid at the rates of pay of grade 1 of the position in which employed and shall, at the beginning of the first complete pay period following 52 weeks of satisfactory service in each pay status, be advanced successively to the rates of pay of the next higher grade of such position:".

(h) Section 15 (b) of such act of July 6, 1945, as amended, is amended by striking out "and shall be promoted successively at the beginning of the quarter following 1 year's satisfactory service in each grade until they reach grade 8", and by inserting in lieu thereof "and shall be promoted successively at the beginning of the first complete pay period following 52 weeks of satisfactory service in each grade until they reach grade 8."

(i) That part of section 18 (f) of such act of July 6, 1945, as amended, which precedes the first proviso is amended to read as follows:

"(f) Each temporary employee in the mail equipment shops paid on an annual basis shall be paid at the rate of pay of the lowest grade provided for a regular employee in the same type of position in which such temporary employee is employed, and shall, at the beginning of the first complete pay period following 52 weeks of satisfactory service in each pay status, be advanced successively to the rates of pay of the next higher grade of such position:".

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(j) The first section of the act of April 15, 1947 (Public Law 35, 80th Cong.), amended, is amended by striking out "shall be promoted successively at the beginning of the quarter following 1 year's satisfactory service in each grade" and by inserting in lieu thereof "shall be promoted successively at the beginning of the first complete pay period following 52 weeks of satisfactory service in each grade."

(k) All laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the amendments made by this section are hereby repealed or modified to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of and conform to such amendments.

SEC. 209. (a) The Postmaster General is authorized and directed to make a thorough investigation and study of various methods for the classification of positions and the determination of salaries in the postal field service and all matters relating thereto (including personnel and pay benefits and administration), in order to provide a plan (to be submitted by the Postmaster General to, and to be subject to review by, the Congress, in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 10) for the establishment of a uniform, integrated, and equitable classification and pay system for all postmasters, officers, employees, and positions in the postal field service. Such

classification and pay plan for the postal field service shall provide a method for determining the rates of basic compensation which postmasters, officers, and employees shall receive under which

(1) the principle of equal pay for substantially equal work shall be followed; and

(2) variations in rates of basic compensation paid to different postmasters, officers, and employees shall be in proportion to substantial differences in the difficulty, responsibility, and qualification requirements of the work performed and to the contributions of postmasters, officers, and employees to efficiency and economy in the postal field service. Such plan shall contain compensation schedules which set forth the various grades to which positions in the postal field service are to be allocated and provide the rates of basic compensation, and the ranges of such rates, which are to be applicable to such grades. Such plan also shall contain provisions which

(A) grant to personnel in the postal field service the right to obtain appropriate review by the Civil Service Commission of all classifications of their positions;

(B) prohibit reductions in the rates of basic compensation of personnel on the rolls on the date such plan (or any part thereof) becomes operative, by reason of the institution and operation of such plan (or any part thereof);

(C) prohibit reductions in rates of basic compensation of any personnel, by reason of any classification actions taken at any time under authority of such plan with respect to the positions occupied by such personnel, so long as such personnel remain in the same positions or are assigned to perform and do perform work of the same level of difficulty, responsibility, and qualification requirements as the work which they were performing in such positions; and

(D) preserve for personnel in the postal field service on the rolls on the date such plan (or any part thereof) becomes operative the increases in rates of basic compensation provided by this act.

Such plan also may contain such provisions and proposals consistent with the purposes of this section as the Postmaster General deems advisable in the light of the needs of the Post Office Department, the best interests of personnel in the postal field service, and the public interest.

(b) In the light of and pursuant to the investigation and study made under subsection (a) and in accordance with the purposes of such subsection, the Postmaster General shall transmit to the Congress, on or before March 15, 1955, a classification and pay plan for the postal field service. Such plan shall be prepared with due regard for the legislative forms and procedures of the Congress and shall be accompanied by an appropriate written explanation of the provisions, objects, purposes, and effects thereof. The delivery of such plan and explanation thereof shall be made to both Houses on the same day.

(c) Except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, the provisions of such classification and pay plan for the postal field service shall take effect upon the expiration of the first period of 60 calendar days of continuous session of the Congress, following the date on which such plan is transmitted to the Congress; but only if, between the date of transmittal and the expiration of such period of 60 days there has not been passed by either of the two Houses, by affirmative vote of a majority, a quorum being present, a resolution stating in substance that that House does not favor such plan.

(d) For the purposes of subsection (c) of this section

(1) continuity of session shall be considered as broken only by an adjournment of the Congress sine die; but

(2) in the computation of the 60-day period, there shall be excluded the days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain.

(e) Any provision of the plan may, under provisions contained in the plan, be made operative at a time later than the date on which the plan shall otherwise take effect.

(f) If such classification and pay plan becomes effective, such plan shall be printed in the Statutes at Large in the same volume as the public laws and shall be printed in the Federal Register.

(g) Any increase in rate of basic compensation by reason of the institution and operation of such classification and pay plan for the postal field service shall not be considered as an "equivalent increase" in compensation within the meaning of section 701 of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, in the case of postmasters, officers, and employees in the postal field service who transfer or are transferred to positions within the purview of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended.

SEC. 210. (a) This section is enacted by the Congress:

(1) As an exercise of the rule-making power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it shall be considered as part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in such House in the case of resolutions (as defined in subsection (b) of this section); and such rules shall supersede other rules only to the extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and

(2) With full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change such rules (so far as relating to the procedure in such House) at any time, in the same manner and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of such House.

(b) As used in this section and section 9, the term "resolution" means only a resolution of either of the two Houses of Congress, the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: "That the

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(c) All resolutions with respect to the postal field service classification and pay plan shall be referred, by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, only to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service of the Senate or the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service of the House of Representatives, as the case may be.

(d) If the committee to which has been referred a resolution with respect to such postal field service classification and pay plan has not reported such resolution before the expiration of 10 calendar days after its introduction, it shall then (but not before) be in order to move either to discharge the committee from further consideration of

such resolution, or to discharge the committee from further consideration of any other resolution with respect to such postal field

service classification and pay plan which has been referred to the committee.

(e) Such motion may be made only by a person favoring the resolution, shall be highly privileged (except that it may not be made after the committee has reported a resolution with respect to the plan), and debate thereon shall be limited to not to exceed 1 hour, to be equally divided between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. No amendment to such motion shall be in order, and it shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which such motion is agreed to or disagreed to.

(f) If the motion to discharge is agreed to or disagreed to, such motion may not be renewed, nor may another motion to dis

charge the committee be made with respect to any other resolution with respect to the plan.

(g) When the committee has reported, or has been discharged from further consideration of, a resolution with respect to the plan, it shall at any time thereafter be in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of such resolution. Such motion shall be highly privileged and shall not be debatable. No amendment to such motion shall be in order and it shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which such motion is agreed to or disagreed to.

(h) Debate on the resolution shall be limited to not to exceed 10 hours, which shall be equally divided between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit debate shall not be debatable. No amendment to, or motion to recomit, the resolution shall be in order, and it shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed to or disagreed to.

(i) All motions to postpone, made with respect to the discharge from committee, or the consideration of, a resolution with respect to the plan, and all motions to proceed to the consideration of other business, shall be decided without debate.

(j) All appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to a resolution with respect to the plan shall be decided without debate.

SEC. 211. In the exercise of the authority granted by section 81 of title 2 of the Canal Zone Code, as amended, the Governor of the Canal Zone is authorized to adopt the postal field service classification and pay plan, or any part thereof, made operative pursuant to sections 209 and 210 of this title, as of the date or dates such plan, or any part thereof, becomes operative, for postal employees of the Canal Zone Government. The Postmaster General shall make available to the Governor of the Canal Zone copies of such matter relating to such plan as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including descriptions of positions and rates of compensation provided for therein.

SEC. 212. (a) The first sentence of the first section of the act entitled "An act to provide uniform longevity promotional grades for the postal field service", approved May 3, 1950 (Public Law 500, 81st Cong.), as amended, is amended by striking "out longevity grades A, B, and C and inserting in lieu thereof "longevity grades A, B, C, and D."

(b) Subsection (b) of the first section of such act of May 3, 1950, as amended, is amended to read as follows:

"(b) Each such postmaster or employee who is serving in a regular position on the date this amendatory subsection takes effect or who is appointed to such a position at any time thereafter, shall be assigned to longevity grade A at the beginning of the first complete pay period following the com

pletion of 13 years of service, to longevity grade B at the beginning of the first complete pay period following the completion of

17 years of service, to longevity grade C at the beginning of the first complete pay period following the completion of 21 years of service, and to longevity grade D at the beginning of the first complete pay period following the completion of 25 years of service."

(c) Section 2 of such act of May 3, 1950, as amended, is hereby amended (1) by striking out the word “quarter” and inserting in lieu thereof "first complete pay period", and (2) by inserting before the period at the end thereof a comma and the following: "and

on and after the effective date of this

amendatory provision shall be assigned to longevity grade D at the beginning of the first complete pay period following the completion of 25 years of service."

(d) No employee shall be reduce in compensation by reason of the amendments made by this section.

SEC. 213. This title shall take effect as follows:

(1) Sections 207, 209, 210, and 211 and this section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this act;

(2) Sections 201, 205, and 206 shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period which begins after the date of enactment of this act;

(3) Sections 202, 203, and 204 shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month following the calendar month in which this act is enacted; and

(4) Sections 208 and 212 shall take effect on the first day of the second calendar month following the calendar month in which this act is enacted.

The SPEAKER. Is a second second demanded? Mr. MURRAY. Mr. Speaker, I demand a second.

The SPEAKER. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?

Mr. MURRAY. I am not, Mr. Speaker. The SPEAKER. Is any Member opposed to the bill?

Mr. DAVIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I demand a second.

The SPEAKER. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?

Mr. DAVIS of Georgia. I am, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. REES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that a second be considered as ordered.

The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kansas?

There was no objection.

Mr. REES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 7 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clear up 2 or 3 matters that have been brought to the attention of the Members of the House. One of them is that both bills now before you, as one bill, have been well considered by our committee. Complete hearings were held on the legislation you are considering at this time. Reports have been filed with the House and any and all Members have had a chance to read those reports, if they so desired. Let there be no misunderstanding, and let no one say that you did not have any chance to know about this legislation. I make that statement in reply to certain criticisms that have been

made heretofore.

Our time is limited, of course, but both of these bills and the material in them have been discussed over and over again by Members of the House. So I shall

discuss quite briefly the contents of the proposed legislation.

The bill as amended will provide:

First. A permanent 5-percent increase for all postmasters, officers, and employees in the postal field service with a minimum of $200, except in the case of fourth-class postmasters and hourly rate employees.

Second. A fourth longevity grade for personnel of the postal field service.

Third. A reclassification for all postmasters, officers, and employees in the postal field service by requiring that the Postmaster General submit to Congress by March 15, 1955, a proposal for job evaluation of the positions of postal

field service personnel. This proposal must contain schedules which set forth grades and salaries of postal field service positions, and provisions assuring postal employees (a) of the right to appeal their classification to the Civil Service Commission; (b) that those on the rolls when the plan, or any part thereof, becomes operative will not suffer any loss in salary; and (c) that they will not be downgraded. This plan will take effect unless disapproved within 60 days by a majority of either House of Congress, a quorum being present.

Fourth. An increase in the allowable per diem for employees in the transportation service to $9 per day from the present rate of $6 per day.

Fifth. A uniform allowance of $100 annually for those employees required to wear uniforms.

Sixth. A modification of present law which restricts the number of permanent appointments in the Federal service. This will permit the granting of permanent appointments to a large number of temporary and indefinite employees in the postal field service.

Seventh. A biweekly pay period for personnel of the postal field service.

Total cost of the salary increases is $151,533,000.

unusual

I want to say to the Members of the House that this legislation is also a compromise. It is a compromise with respect to either part 1 or part 2 of this measure. There is nothing unusual about that. Speaking about precedent, we did this same thing once before in this Congress, and all we are doing is following that same precedent. After all, does not this House control its own precedents. The question as I see it is whether this legislation is right or wrong. Let us not find excuses on the basis of precedents to determine our votes. Why not vote on the question as to whether the legislation is right?

Incidently, since the matter of bringing bills to the floor has been mentioned, I call your attention to four other bills being considered under suspension. No one has offered a word of criticism with respect to the consideration of any of those bills considered under the same rule.

Under my motion, this legislation is being considered under suspension of the rules. As the Members know, this leaves a limited amount of time to discuss the provisions of this legislation. However, there has been so much controversy and so much discussion of both bills that I feel reasonably sure that the Members are as familiar with the effect of this legislation as they are of any bills that have been before this Congress.

My motion provides for approval under suspension of the rules of the provisions of H. R. 9836, recommended unanimously by our committee, relating to pay and classification of postal employees, combined with a readjustment of postal rates, as reported by our committee in H. R. 6052. I believe that the

membership is preponderantly in favor of the objectives of this legislation.

The objectives are, first, to provide a salary increase for postal employees commensurate with the cost of living since their last increase, July 1, 1951,

and also to provide a beginning on the reclassification of postal employees' salaries. Such an overhauling of the salary structure of postal field service employees has been urged for many years by various responsible groups who have conducted investigations of this problem. conducted investigations of this problem. At long last it has received the attenAt long last it has received the attention of Congress in legislative form.

We also propose to include an increase in postal rates-one recommended by our committee and justified even without a pay raise. Unless the cost of the salary bill is made up by postal rates, it will increase by $150 million the amount of the postal deficit which must otherwise be made up by taxes. These taxes, of course, are levied upon everyone regardless of the amount they use the postal service. When they are met by raising postal rates, they are at least partly paid by individuals who use the postal service in direct proportion to the use made by the individual or business firm concerned.

The need for reclassification in postal service is admitted by postal employees, as well as by postal employee organizations. It is a necessary step in the personnel program in the Post Office Department. Employee groups have expressed concern that Congress continue control over specific salary rates. In order to satisfy that situation, and in order that those who wish to have another look at a reclassification plan before it becomes effective, this bill provides the reclassification proposal of the Postmaster General will be submitted to the Congress, and such plan cannot go into effect if either the House or the Senate disapproves.

The postal employees salary bill includes many other benefits to postal employees-benefits they have sought for a number of years. It includes fourth longevity grade for personnel of the postal field service. It includes

a

a uniform allowance of up to $100 a year for postal employees required to wear uniforms. It will permit more permanent appointments in the postal field service. It establishes a biweekly pay period. It increases the per diem allowance of employees in the postal field service from the present $6 per day to $9 per day. I believe if the Members of the House will take a searching look at this bill, they will find it has ten them about for many years. benefits in it that employees have writ

I have done my best to let the employees throughout the country know what we are trying to do for them in this bill. I know once this bill is passed and becomes law and they begin to feel the benefits it provides, they will let you have done a very generous act by apknow in no uncertain terms that you proving this legislation. I feel sure bill calls for is presented to the Conwhen the reclassification proposal this gress, there will be general agreement that it is fair, just, and should be put into effect. I know that when employee groups are aware of the many saving clauses and the protection of their priviclauses and the protection of their privileges we have written into this bill, they will realize how well we have acted in their interest.

Under the reclassification program provided by this bill, along with their present salary and the 5-percent increase this bill provides, the employees cannot suffer a salary loss. There can be no downgrading of an individual employee now or in the future. All employees will have the right to appeal their classification to the Civil Service Commission. What more could an employee want? It can be challenged, in my judgment, only by those who do not want to have a fair salary standardthose who do not want to receive equal pay for equal work-those who do not want a properly adjusted scale recognizing higher salaries for increased responsibility.

Now, may I turn to the postal-rate features of this bill?

Right at this point I should like to pay a tribute to Postmaster General Summerfield. Many of the opponents of postal rate increases have pointed to the tremendous savings he has made in operating costs and say that with such a reduction in the postal deficit, rate increases should not be necessary. No greater tribute could be paid, although possibly unwittingly, to a man who has given unstintingly and without regard to personal sacrifice of his time and effort, both in the field of postal employees classifications and postal rates.

Mr. Summerfield has, through his own individual efforts and those of the staff he has selected around him and with the cooperation of our committee, brought about economies, and reduced the postal deficit of the Truman administration of $700 million down to $400 million this last year.

The postal deficit is the responsibility of all of us. We cannot expect one man to solve all of it. The Postmaster General has brought about a sharp reduction in the deficit through introduction of good business methods and economies. Our committee has also helped by insisting that departments pay the cost of handling their mail and by insisting that the airmail subsidy be paid by the department charged with the supervision of the airlines.

But there is a limit to the effect economies can have on the postal deficit. A few people have done their share. The responsibility now for increasing postal rates to absorb the cost of the postal salary increase, as well as a small part of the remaining deficit, rests with the 435 Members of this House. I hope they will assume that responsibility and vote favorably for this bill.

To continue with respect to postal rates:

FIRST-CLASS MAIL

The bill as reported increases from 3 cents to 4 cents the rate on the first ounce of first-class letter mail for delivery outside the office of mailing. Only drop-letter mail makes a profit. No change is made on rate on drop-letter mail. It remains at 3 cents.

AIRMAIL

The rate on domestic airmail is increased from 6 cents to 7 cents an ounce.

SECOND-CLASS MAIL

First. In addition to the 10-percent increase due April 1, 1954, under existing

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