Evening star., 1955-05-19
Postal Pay Increase Vetoed;
Democrats Assai| Action
Text Of Pay Bill Veto
The tert OF President EisenhoDers ueto message
to the Senate ON the pay bill follops:

return herewith without my approval, S. ITO
the rates Of basic Of officers and
take this action for three First the bill creates
new nj or neaues which n, would @ AFFECT many
administrative problems such the establishment of thou
ss
operations affect person. every enterprise every COM
burden upon the than is necessary to establish
salary rates throughout the department which will compare
favoraby with rates for similar work elsewhere in Govern
At the outset of this administration, the Postmaster
General began comprehensive study of the entire postal
The principal purpose discover effective ways and
by which the American people could be assured
speedy certain and efficient handling Of their
mail Obviously this purpose can be achieved only II hrst
postal employees dedicated and satisfied in career service
because of compensation good working conditions ade-
quate benefits in vacations sick leave and
security and second the departments sruc
ture Incorporating the best management practices is SO
designed that merit and responsibility are recognized ana
rewarded.
President Reviews Recommendations
In accordance with the findings of the comprehensive
study January H. 1885, by special message to the Con-
employees which would be composed of two Clements
era increase in postal pay and recass1catlon OF pota
these purposes recommended per cent pay raise and
adjustments in classification to bring ABOUT proper wage
relationships among the various jobs in postal service Tne
cost of Redistribution proposals would have brought
the total increase to 6 per cent with an aggregate annua
cost of $129 million.
, Those recommendations if adopted would have placed
the salaries of postal employees in proper relationship to the
pay recommended substantially greater than
the increase in the cost of living since the last adjustment
Subsequently the House Post Office and Civil Service
Committee by substantial bipartisan majority reported
bi-H.R 4644-which, although approximately $50 million
year costly than my recommendations, embodied
the essential elements OF reclaSscation system In the
matter Of Redistribution that BILL reported by the COM
mtee could have been and still be- with certain cor
rectons the basis for legislation which would establish fair
relationships between the salaries OF various positions In
the postal service the sound principle of equal pay for
equal work and for more difficult and responsible
work
of legislation there be reasonable difference of
opinion to what constitutes appropriate increase But
there be compromise with the principle of fairness
and pay legislation must be fair to all to whom 1t
plies 1t must be workable adminsratively and not be
excessive in cost.
Cites Failures Seen in Bill
The bill before fails to meet these criteria. spe
Cd 1t discriminates against large groups of postal
employees rural letter carriers special delivery
sengers and supervisors and postmasters These
total tens of thousands
(2) Aside from creating and serious adminstra-
tive problems the total cost of the b approximately $3.50
million year. substantially greater than is necessary
to adjust postal salaries to fair level either from the
standpoint of for comparable work from the stand
point of increase in the cost of living.
regret the necessity of the action which taking
It earnest hope and recommendation that the Con-
gress will quickly consider and enact postal legislation
that will be in the public interest and 1ar to all OF the
half million employees who man the postal service To
meet this test such legislation should provide reasonable
increase in pay for all pos al field service employees 1t
should provide for reclasscaion of postal positions to
bring about proper relationships to eliminate
neques It should not discriminate against
in favor of others. and it should be adminstratvely
workable.
TALLY increase the postal deficit wish again to emphasize
the imperative for postal rates that will make the
postal se-supporting and be based service
the We longer afford to continue
costly deficit operation paid for by millions OF taxpayers
in amounts Of all proportion the postal services that
they as individuals receive.