Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-21
The Federal Spotlight
6. 0. Leaders Cali
Postal Pay Bill III
House Action Today

the postal pay raise bill, but
moved to combine it with the
postal rate increase measure on
an ''aIl or nothing" basis.
The fate Of the CLASSIFIED en-
| ployes' pay raise bill depends on
the outcome Of the postal pay
legislation.
The combined postal pay and
rate increase legislation IS being
brought up under q suspension
Of the rules. which means that
ii must receive q tWo-thirds ma
jority to be approved.
Pay Raise Favored.
There's no doubt that the over
whelming majority of the House
members favor the 5 per cent
postal pay raise measure ap-
proved BY the House Civil Service
Committee. IN fact many mem
beers favor q Z per cent raise.
However, the administration,s
postal rate Increase bin, which
would boost first class mail from
three to four cents as wei IS
raise air mail and second and
third class rates. is extremely
unpopular with a large number Of
Representatives.
AS a result, many legislators
are predicting that the COM
bined postal pay-rate measure
will not get the necessary two
thirds majority and will be de-
feated.
In this case, several alterna-
tives would be open to pay raise
sponsors. First. they could press
for q rule on the bill from the
House Rules Committee. A move
to discharge the measure from
committee is only about seven
shy Of the 218 signatures re-
quired and defeat OF the COM
bined pay-rate bill would almost
certainly result In the remain
ing signatures being obtained.
A rule lis preferred since this
would mean almost immediate
action. Action on q successful
discharge petition could not be
taken until August 8, and there's
doubt that Congress win still be
IN session at that time.
The administration Is anxious
Tor q postal rate increase to ac-
company q postal pay raise. The
proposed rate bin would bring in
an additional $255 million q
year in postal revenues, more
than offsetting the estimated
$50 million cost Of the 5 per
cent postal pay raise measure,
with q 5000 minimum.
Thus far the House Rules
Committee not only has baked
at giving the 5 per cent pay raise
bill q rule. 1t also has refused to
give q rule to the rate increase
measure.
That's why the House leader
ship Is seeking to combine both
bills. I ~ 9tss'. = =sslsa
Won't Admit Defeat
Sponsors Of the pay legislation
say that defeat Of the combined
measure which they are pre-
dicting-will not mean the death
sof postal and classified pay legis-
lation this year. They predict
that the House will still approve
postal pay measure and follow
1t up by passing q 5 per cent
classified pay bill, with q $3.50
minimum.
However, with Congress press
ing for adjournment, the time
element involved has everyone
nervous. The next few days
should tell the story.
The postal rate increase bill
would increase first class mail
from 3 cents to 4 cents on the
first ounce Of q first class letter
for out-of-town delivery; and
the rate on domestic airmail
would be increased from 6 to Z
cents an ounce. Also 1t would
increase second class rates ape
plying to magazines and other
publications and would boost
third-cla mail rates.
Pay Hearings Advance.
Meanwhile. the Senate Civil
Service Committee is speeding
right along with its Federal pay
raise hearings. Chairman Carl
son plans to wind up the hear
ings tomorrow and. judging from
yesterdays opening session, he
will achieve this objective.
Fourteen witnesses were heard
yesterday, all of them officials
OF the various postal employe
unions,
Nearly all of the witnesses
urged a z per cent postal salary
raise. but indicated that they
would accept the 5 per cent
postal pay raise bill, with the
5000 minimum, approved BY the
House Civil Service Committee.
Classified employe leaders win
testify today. While some OF the
union leaders are also expected
to urge q z per cent raise for
classified workers. they, too, are
expected to settle for the 5 per
cent, $3.50 minimum. measure
approved by the House Civil
Service COMMITTEES