Milford chronicle., 1957-08-30
AN UNFAIR BURDEN

I on may not have heard Oh a proposed
federal law known as H. r. S1O8. But, If
it passes, it will be of direct financial bene-
fit to you.
This bill was introduced by Representa-
tive Hiestand on June 13, and referred to
the Committee on Post Office and Civil Ser
vice. Its principal provision is set forth In
these words: "The Postmaster General is
authorized and directed to ascertain annu-
ally the cost of providing service for fourth
class matter subject to the zone rates es-
tablished for parcel post Such cost, whe-
thet covered by appropriations to the Post
Office Department or to other governmental
departments Or agencies, shall include all
expenses and costs, direct and indirect of
whatever character, aScertalnable n d
chargeabIe under sound commercial ac-
counting practices to the performance of
the service. The expenses and costs so as
certained shall include, but not be limited
to, the reasonable value of space provided
in aforementioned buildings, and the use
of other properties and facilities, including
depreciation, maintenance, and custOdial
costs, contributions by the Government to
support the Civil Service Retirement and
Disability Fund, and payments on account
of injuries to employees and others" The
Interstate Commerce Commission would re-
view the Postmaster Generals findings, and
prescribe parcel post rates sufficient to meet
All Mr.. Hiestand is proposing in this
is that the people who use parcel post and
receive the benefits of it pay for what they
get-inStead of depending on everyone else
to pay a part of the cost through tax sub
sides. AS the Hoover Commission and other
bodies have pointed out, parcel post has been
subsidized during most of its life, and the
deficit is big one. Here's a way to lift an
unnecessary and unfair burden from the
I,oc IF oil
5000
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL HAS TEETH
Those who are arguing that the recent
civil rights bill, as passed by the Senate, con-
tains few significant powers have very Of
ten overStated their case. The bill is a rev.
olutionary development in that it is the first
civil rights bill passed in the Senate in more
than fifty years. The bill is also not as i'm
portant as some believe.
For example, the bill does seven things:
First, it sets up a Civil Rights Commission,
which will investigate and expose violations
of civil rights and suggest legislation.
Second, the bill will create new assist
ant attorney-general, who will head the new
Civil Rights Division in the Department
of Justice, and take charge of enforcing civil
rights.
Third, suits can be filed by this new di-
vision (by the Federal Government, in other
words) in behalf of persons who were denied
the right to vote.
Fourth, an injunction could be issued by
a Federal judge, forbidding any interfer-
ence with voting rights.
Fifth, the Federal judge could imprison
a violator, without any jury trial.
Sixth, the judge could order jury trial
if he found someone guilty of disobeying the
injunction and guilty of criminal contempt.
Finally and highly important in some
areas, all barriers against Negroes serving
on Federal juries would be removed.
In other words, the Civil Rights bill as
passed by the Senate is not exactly an empty
one.