Evening star., 1947-01-14
Need Of Postal Rate
Boost 10 Be Studied
By Committee Today
BY Joseph Young

The Senate Civil Service Com
mittee met today to study the
possibility of increasing postal
rates to erase a threatened rec
ord mail deficit.
Under consideration is resolu-
ton introduced by Chairman LANCER
of the committee which calls for,
full investigation of the postal situa-
ton to determine whether higher
mailing rates are necessary.
The resolution was introduced by
Senator LANCER with view to
ascertaining whether a revision of
such classifications, rates, limits or
zones is necessary or desirable in
order to promote the service to the
public or to insure the receipt of
revenue from such service adequate
to pay the cost thereof"
Follows Truman Warning.
Senator Langer introduced his
resolution shortly after President
Truman, III his budget message to
Congress last week, declared, "Un-
less legislative action is taken to
revise postal rates, the Post Office
deficit threatens to be the largest
in history" The President said mail
volume has expanded enormously
but that current operating costs have
increased even more rapidly, causing
the deficit. With local first-class
postage reverting from cents to 2
cents on July l, Mr.. Truman empha-
sized that quick action was needed
to raise postal rates.
The rate revision asked by Mr
Truman might forestall the drop in
local first-class postage, as we'll as
other wartime postal rate increases
Another possibility being considered
by the Post Once Department is
to have Congress authorize increase
in second-class rates, for newspapers
and magazines, because the Tru.
man administration tends to regard
present rates as subsidies"
Nomination on Agenda.
Besides the postal rate inyesti-
CATION resolution, the Langer COM
tmittee also has on its agenda-al-
though 1t might not get around to
acting on it today-the nomination
of Miss Frances Perkins rs Civil
Service Commissioner, and the study
of its subcommittee on the back
ground of Government Services,
Inc, operators of the 50 strike
bound Federal cafeterias here.
Miss Perkins was nominated by
President Truman shortly after the
last Congress adjourned, and she is
now serving at her post pending
Senate confirmation. Committee
sources said there has been no Of
fetal opposition to. Miss Perkins
appointment so far, but that any
one opposing her would be given a
chance estate his reasons for OBJ
jecting to the appointment.
Would Tighten Loyalty.
Meanwhile, Chairman Rees of the
House Civil Service Committee has
announced he will seek legislation
to fire Government employees where
there is q reasonable doubt with
regard to their loyalty to our form
OF government.
The Kansan said he will back a
bill to put the burden on the in
dividual employe to prove he is not
believer or follower Of suDyersive
groups. The present system makes
it necessary that the Government
prove an employe is disloyal.
Others things planned by Mr..
Rees include a proposal that Con-
yress authorize study Of the CLASH
flcation Act of 1923. under which
Federal wages and job classifications
are fixed, with view toward end
ing salary inequities; a closer work
ing relationship with the Civil Serv-
ce Commission and additional vet
erans' preference in Federal hiring
and firing.