An Act to revise postal rates on certain fourth-class mail, and for other purposes
PL 89-593 (H.R.14904), enacted 09/20/1966

80 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89.593-SEPT. 20, 1966 
815 
Public Law 89-593 
AN ACT 
September 20, 1966 
To revise postal rates on certain fourth-class mail, and for other purposes. 
[H. R. 14904] 
Be it enacted hy tlie Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That (a) chapter 
67 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
thereof the following new sections: 
"§4556. Postage rates on parcel post 
"(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section and subject 
to section 4558 of this title, the rates of postage on fourth-class 
parcel post are based on the zones described in section 4553 of this 
title in accordance w^ith the following table: 
[Cents per parcel] 
Pounds 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 
50. 
51 
52. 
53 
54 
56 
66 
67 
58 
59 
60 
61 
62 
63 
64 
65 
66 
67 
68 
69 
70 
Local 
delivery 
40 
40 
46 
46 
46 
50 
50 
55 
65 
55 
60 
60 
65 
65 
65 
70 
70 
75 
75 
75 
80 
80 
85 
85 
86 
90 
90 
95 
95 
95 
100 
100 
100 
105 
106 
110 
110 
110 
115 
115 
116 
120 
120 
125 
125 
125 
130 
130 
130 
135 
135 
140 
140 
140 
146 
145 
150 
150 
150 
166 
155 
155 
160 
160 
166 
166 
165 
170 
170 
1st 
and 2d 
50 
55 
60 
65 
70 
80 
86 
90 
96 
100 
106 
110 
115 
120 
125 
130 
135 
140 
140 
145 
150 
156 
160 
160 
165 
170 
176 
180 
180 
185 
190 
195 
195 
200 
206 
210 
216 
216 
220 
225 
230 
230 
235 
240 
245 
250 
260 
255 
260 
266 
265 
270 
270 
275 
280 
280 
285 
290 
290 
295 
300 
300 
305 
305 
310 
315 
316 
320 
326 
3d 
50 
60 
65 
70 
80 
85 
90 
95 
105 
110 
115 
120 
130 
135 
140 
145 
150 
160 
165 
170 
175 
180 
185 
190 
196 
196 
200 
206 
210 
215 
220 
225 
230 
235 
240 
246 
250 
256 
260 
265 
270 
275 
275 
280 
285 
290 
295 
300 
306 
310 
315 
320 
325 
330 
335 
340 
345 
360 
350 
356 
360 
365 
370 
375 
380 
386 
390 
395 
400 
4th 
55 
66 
76 
80 
90 
100 
106 
116 
120 
130 
136 
146 
150 
160 
165 
176 
180 
190 
195 
205 
210 
215 
220 
230 
235 
240 
260 
255 
260 
265 
275 
280 
286 
290 
300 
305 
310 
320 
325 
330 
335 
345 
350 
366 
366 
370 
376 
380 
390 
395 
400 
406 
410 
420 
425 
430 
435 
440 
450 
465 
460 
466 
470 
480 
485 
490 
495 
500 
510 
Zones 
5th 
60 
75 
85 
96 
106 
115 
130 
140 
160 
160 
170 
180 
190 
200 
210 
220 
230 
240 
250 
260 
266 
275 
285 
290 
300 
310 
320 
325 
335 
345 
350 
360 
370 
375 
386 
395 
405 
410 
420 
430 
436 
445 
455 
460 
470 
480 
490 
495 
605 
515 
520 
630 
535 
546 
565 
660 
570 
675 
585 
595 
600 
610 
615 
625 
635 
640 
660 
665 
665 
f
.
t
h 
70 
85 
100 
110 
125 
140 
150 
166 
175 
190 
200 
210 
225 
235 
245 
260 
270 
285 
295 
305 
316 
330 
340 
350 
360 
370 
385 
395 
405 
415 
425 
440 
450 
460 
470 
480 
495 
605 
516 
526 
536 
550 
580 
570 
580 
590 
605 
615 
625 
635 
645 
660 
670 
680 
690 
700 
716 
726 
735 
746 
766 
770 
780 
790 
800 
810 
826 
836 
846 
7th 
75 
95 
110 
130 
146 
160 
175 
190 
210 
225 
240 
265 
270 
285 
300 
315 
330 
346 
360 
375 
390 
405 
415 
430 
446 
460 
475 
485 
600 
616 
530 
545 
556 
570 
586 
600 
615 
625 
640 
656 
670 
685 
695 
710 
725 
740 
755 
765 
780 
795 
805 
820 
836 
845 
860 
870 
885 
900 
910 
925 
935 
950 
965 
976 
990 
1,000 
1,015 
1,030 
1,040 
8th 
80 
1
0
6 
126 
145 
165 
185 
200 
220 
240 
260 
275 
295 
310 
330 
345 
365 
380 
400 
415 
435 
460 
465 
485 
500 
520 
535 
660 
570 
585 
605 
620 
636 
655 
670 
690 
705 
720 
740 
765 
770 
790 
806 
820 
835 
860 
870 
886 
903 
915 
930 
950 
965 
980 
995 
1,010 
1,030 
1,045 
1,060 
1,075 
1,090 
1,110 
1,125 
1,140 
1,155 
1,170 
1,190 
1,205 
1,220 
1,235 
Postal rates on 
certain fourth-
class mail. 
74 Stat. 673. 
Post, p. 816. 
816 
PUBLIC LAW 89-593-SEPT. 20, 1966 
[80 
STAT. 
"(b) Subject to section 4558 of this title, parcels weighing less than 
ten pounds and. measuring more than eighty-four inches but not 
more than one hundred inches in length and girth combined are subject 
to a minimum postage rate equal to the postage rate for a ten-pound 
parcel for the zone to which the parcel is addressed. 
"(c) Subject to section 4558 of this title, the postage rate on ^old 
mailed within Alaska or from Alaska to other States and possessions 
of the United States, including the Canal Zone and the Trust Territory 
of the Pacific Islands, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is 
2 cents for each ounce or fraction thereof regardless of zones. 
"§4557. Postage rates on catalogs 
"(a) Subject to section 4558 of this title, the rates of postage on 
fourth-class catalogs, having twenty-four or more pages at least 
twenty-two of which are printed and weighing sixteen ounces or more 
but not exceeding ten pounds, are based on the zones described in 
section 4553 of this title in accordance with the following table: 
'CATALOGS 
"Weight (pounds) 
1.6 
2 
2.5 
-
3 
3.5 
4 
4.5 
5 
--
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
Zones 
Local 
Cents 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
32 
34 
36 
38 
39 
1 and 2 
Cents 
29 
30 
32 
33 
35 
36 
38 
39 
42 
46 
48 
51 
64 
3 
Cents 
30 
32 
33 
35 
37 
39 
41 
42 
46 
50 
53 
57 
60 
4 
Cents 
31 
33 
36 
38 
40 
42 
45 
46 
51 
66 
60 
65 
69 
5 
Cents 
33 
36 
39 
42 
44 
47 
50 
53 
59 
64 
70 
76 
81 
6 
Cents 
35 
39 
42 
46 
49 
63 
56 
60 
67 
74 
81 
88 
95 
7 
Cents 
38 
42 
46 
51 
55 
69 
64 
68 
77 
85 
94 
104 
112 
8 
Cents 
41 
46 
51 
57 
62 
67 
72 
77 
88 
98 
109 
119 
129 
"(b) Subject to section 4558 of this title, the rates of postage on 
catalogs conforming to subsection (a) of this section, when mailed 
in quantities of not less than three hundred individually addressed 
pieces at one time and when prepared and mailed in accordance with 
conditions established by the Postmaster General, consist of a piece 
rate in addition to a bulk rate per pound, based on the zones described 
in section 4553 of this title, in accordance with the following table: 
"Zone 
1 and 2- 
- 
-- 
-- 
-
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
-
8 
Piece rate 
Cents 
17 
21 
21 
21 
21 
21 
21 
22 
Bullc pound 
rate 
Cents 
1.9 
3.0 
3.6 
4.6 
5.7 
7 1 
8.7 
10 4 
"§4558. Reformation of conditions of mailability 
"(a) Whenever the Postmaster General finds that, as a continuing 
situation,— 
"(1) the acceptance, as fourth-class mail, of mail matter 
otherwise legally acceptable in the mails is being prevented, or 
"(2) the revenue from the fourth-class mail service is less 
than the cost of such service or that the revenue from such serv-
ice is greater than the cost thereof, or 
80 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-593-SEPT. 20, 1966 
817 
"(3) any other condition exists with respect to the fourth-class 
mail service which is impairing the efficient and economical 
operation of such service, 
by reason of— 
"(A) the rates of postage on fourth-class mail (other than 
the rates prescribed by sections 4422, 4554, and 4651 to 4654, 
inclusive, of this title), or 
"(B) the classification of articles mailable as fourth-class 
mail, or 
"(C) the postal zone structure or the method used in estab-
lishing such structure, or 
"(D) any other condition of mailability as fourth-class mail 
(other than size and weight limits), 
he shall file with the Interstate Commerce Commission a request to— 
"(i) increase or decrease, as he deems advisable, any rate or 
rates of postage on fourth-class mail (other than the rates pre-
scribed by sections 4422, 4554, and 4651 to 4654, inclusive, of this 
title), or 
"(ii) reform any condition or conditions of mailability within 
the purview of subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of this subsec-
tion, or 
"(iii) take both such actions. 
"(b) The request of the Postmaster General under subsection (a) 
of this section for an increase or decrease in any rate or rates of post-
age or for reformation of any other condition or conditions of mail-
ability, or both, shall be deemed approved on the thirtieth day follow-
ing the date on which the Postmaster General files such request with 
the Interstate Commerce Commission, and shall become effective in 
accordance with the terms of the request, unless, prior to the expira-
tion of such thirtieth day— 
"(1) such request is rejected by the Commission, or 
"(2) the Commission orders an investigation of such request. 
If final determination by the Commission, on the basis of such investi-
gation, is not made prior to the expiration of the one hundred and 
eightieth day after the date of the filmg of such request with the Com-
mission, such request shall be deemed approved at the close of such 
one hundred and eightieth day and shall become effective in accord-
ance with its terms. 
"§4559. Certification on fourth-class mail revenue-cost rela-
tionship 
"The Postmaster General shall not withdraw from the general fund 
of the Treasury any funds appropriated to the Department for any 
fiscal year, until he has certified in writing to the Secretary of the 
Treasury that— 
"(1) he has reason to believe that the revenues from the rates 
of postage on fourth-class mail (other than fourth-class mail for 
which the rates are prescribed by sections 4422, 4554, and 4651 
to 4654, inclusive, of this title) will not be greater than the costs 
thereof by more than 4 per centum and will not be less than the 
costs thereof by more than 4 per centum; or 
"(2) he has filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission a 
request for the establishment or reformation of rates or other 
conditions of mailability, or both, in accordance with section 4558 
of this title, with the objective that the revenues of such fourth-
class mail will not be greater than the costs thereof by more than 
4 per centum, or will not be less than the costs thereof by more 
than 4 per centum; or 
818 
PUBLIC LAW 89-593-SEPT. 20, 1966 
[80 STAT. 
"(3) the volume data published in the most recent Cost Ascer-
tainment Report does not reflect increases in the volume of fourth-
class mail from changes in law, including changes which have not 
become effective, which in the opinion of the Postmaster General 
would have resulted in revenues of fourth-class mail (other than 
that for which rates are prescribed by sections 4422,4554 and 4651 
to 4654 inclusive, of this title) not greater than the costs thereof 
by more than 4 per centum, or not less than the costs thereof by 
more than 4 per centum, had such changes in law been in effect 
for the period covered by such Cost Ascertainment Report. 
Certificates required by this subsection shall be based on the volume 
data published in the most recent Cost Ascertainment Report of the 
Department,". 
(b) The table of contents of such chapter 67 is amended by adding 
at the end thereof the following: 
"4556. Postage rates on parcel post. 
"4557. Postage rates on catalogs. 
"4558. Reformation of conditions of mailability. 
"4559. Certification on fourth-class mail revenue-cost relationship.". 
7rsut.^67r' 
SEC. 2. (a) Section 4553 of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following new subsections: 
"(c) The Postmaster General shall use units of area containing 
postal sectional center facilities as the basis of a postal zone as described 
in subsection (b) of this section. 
The zone shall be measured from the 
center of the unit of arek containing the dispatching sectional center 
facility. A post office of mailing and a post office of delivery shall 
have the same zone relationship as their respective sectional center 
facilities, but this sentence shall not cause two post offices to be 
regarded as within the same local zone. 
"(d) In addition to the eight zones described in subsections (b) 
and (c) of this section, there is a local zone as defined by the Post-
master General from time to time. 
"(e) The foregoing provisions of this section are subject to section 
Ante. p. 816. 
4553 of t h i s t i t l e . " . 
(b) Section 4303(d) (1) of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
by striking out "established for fourth class mail" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "described in section 4553, or prescribed pursuant to sec-
tion 4558, of this title". 
(c) Section 4359(e) (3) of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
by striking out "established for fourth class mail" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "described in section 4553, or prescribed pursuant to sec-
tion 4558, of this title". 
(d) Section 4554(a) (1) of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
"(1) complete books consisting wholly of reading matter or schol-
arly bibliography or reading matter with incidental blank spaces for 
notations and containing no advertising matter other than incidental 
announcements of books except additions, supplements, fillers, or 
similar matter which are mailed thereafter and which are intended to 
replace or add to material in the complete book originally mailed;". 
74 Stat. 674. 
g^^ 3 gggtion 4552 of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
"(a) Except as provided in subsection (c), the minimum weight 
of fourth class mail is sixteen ounces, and the maximum weight is 
forty pounds in the first and second zones and in any other zones— 
"(1) twenty-five pounds on matter mailed on or after July 1, 
1967, but before July 1,1968; 
,,, 
„ 
, _ 
7 4 Stat. 66 5. 
76 Stat. 445. 
80 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-593-SEPT. 20, 1966 
819 
" (2) thirty pounds on matter mailed on or after July 1, 1968, 
but before July 1, 1969; and 
"(3) forty pounds on matter mailed on or after July 1, 1969. 
"(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the maximum size of 
fourth class mail is— 
"(1) seventy-two inches in girth and length combined on mat-
ter mailed before July 1, 1970; 
"(2) seventy-eight inches in girth and length combined on 
matter mailed on or after July 1, 1970, but before July 1, 1971; 
and 
"(3) eighty-four inches in girth and length combined on 
matter mailed on or after July 1,1971. 
"(c) The maximum size on fourth class mail is one hundred inches 
in girth and length combined, and the maximum weight is seventy 
pounds for parcels— 
"(1) mailed at, or addressed for delivery at, a second-, third-, 
or fourth-class post office or on a rural or star route; 
"(2) containing baby fowl, live plants, trees, shrubs, or agri-
cultural commodities but not the manufactured products of those 
commodities; 
"(3) consisting of books, films, and other materials mailed 
under section 4554 of this title; 
"(4) addressed to or mailed at any Armed Forces post office 
outside the fifty States; 
"(5) addressed to or mailed in the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the States of Alaska and Hawaii, or a possession of the 
United States including the Canal Zone and the Trust Territory 
of the Pacific Islands; and 
"(6) consisting of reproducers of sound reproduction records 
for the blind or parts thereof, and of braille writers and other ap-
pliances for the blind or parts thereof, mailed under section 4654 
of this title.". 
SEC. 4. (a) The paragraph under the heading "GENERAL PROVISIONS" 
Repeau. 
under the appropriations for the Post Office Department contained 
in chapter IV of the Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1951 (64 Stat. 
1050), as amended by section 213 of the Postal Rate Increase Act, 
1958 (72 Stat. 143; 31 U.S.C. 695), is repealed effective as of July 1, 
1966. 
(b) Section 207(b) of the Act of February 28,1925 (43 Stat. 1067), 
as amended bv section 7 of the Act of May 29, 1928 (45 Stat. 942), is ^^^i use 695 
repealed as of the effective date of the first section of this Act. 
Ante, p. 818. 
note. 
SEC. 5. (a) There is hereby established a commission to be known 
Advisory com 
mission onPai-
as the Advisory Commission on Parcel Distribution Services (herein- Tefoi'str'ibutio'^ 
after referred to as the "Commission"). 
services, 
(b) The Commission shall be composed of five members appointed 
by the President. 
Three members of the Commission shall constitute 
a quorum. 
The President shall designate one of the members to serve 
as Chairman of the Commission and one of the members to serve as 
Vice Chairman of the Commission. 
(c) It shall be the duty of the Commission to make a full and dil"i^biuo"^^ 
complete study of small parcel distribution services, including parcel services, study. 
post, with a view to making recommendations with respect to— 
(1) the adequacy of existing services in terms of the needs of 
the consumer and the shipper; 
(2) the feasibility of integrating private and public small par-
cel distribution services through cooperative ventures; 
(3) methods 
of 
improving, 
coordinating, 
strengthening, 
expanding, and making more efficient the private distribution 
system; 
820 
PUBLIC LAW 89-593-SEPT. 20, 1966 
[80 STAT. 
Report to Presi-
dent and Con-
gre s s. 
Ante, p. 288. 
5 u s e 55a. 
Information from 
Federal agencies. 
Compensation. 
(4) simplification of the rate structure applicable to the parcel 
post system; 
(5) standardization of containers for parcel post shipments; 
(6) improvement of service under the parcel post system in 
terms of reliability, delivery, and handling of parcels; 
(7) the ability of the Post Office Department to handle parcels 
in excess of seventy-eight inches length and girth combined in an 
efficient, economical, and businesslike manner; 
(8) the effect that the size increases effective on July 1, 1971, 
will have on the financial stability and continued operation of 
common carriers primarily engaged in express service, and on 
such carriers' ability to maintain existing employee rights, priv-
ileges, levels, and conditions of employment; 
(9) the advisability in terms of the public interest and the needs 
of the consumer and the shipper generally to permit parcels in 
excess of seventy-eight inches in length and girth combined to be 
carried by parcel post; 
(10) the necessity for and type of protection to be afforded 
common carriers primarily engaged in express service and their 
employees if the Commission finds that it is in the public interest 
to permit the carriage by parcel post of parcels in excess of 
seventy-eight inches length and girth combined; 
(11) such other matters relating to small parcel distribution as 
the Commission may deem appropriate. 
(d) On on before January 1, 1968, the Commission shall submit 
to the President and the Congress an interim report concerning its 
activities during the preceding year, including such recommendations 
as it may deem appropriate. On or before January 1, 1969, the Com-
mission shall submit to the President and the Congress its final report 
and recommendations. 
Such report shall include specific recom-
mendations on the matters contained in paragraphs (8), (9), and 
(10) of subsection (c) of this section. If such Commission finds that 
the increases in parcel post size and weight limits established by this 
Act will seriously endanger the ability of common carriers primarily 
engaged in the express service to continue operations and are not in 
the public interest. Congress shall during the 91st Congress consider 
(lie advisability" of further legislation to eliminate the increase in 
size limitations on parcel post to take effect on July 1, 1971, established 
by this Act. 
(e) The Commission shall have the power to appoint and fix the 
compensation of an executive director and such other personnel as 
it deems advisable, in accordance with the provisions of the civil 
service laws and the Classification Act of 1949, as amended. 
The 
Commission may also procure, without regard to the civil service laws 
and the Classification iVct of 1949, as amended, temporary and inter-
mittent services to the same extent as is authorized for the departments 
by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (60 Stat. 810), but at rates 
not to exceed $100 per diem for individuals. 
(f) The Commission is authorized to secure directly from any execu-
tive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent 
establishment, or instrumentality of the Federal Government infor-
mation for the purposes of this section; and each such department, 
bureau, agency, board, commission, office, establishment, or instru-
mentality is authorized and directed to furnish such information 
directly to the Commission upon request made by the Chairman of 
the Commission. 
(g) Members of the Commission shall each receive $100 per diem 
when engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Com-
mission, including traveltime, and may receive travel expenses, includ-
80 
STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-595- SEPT. 20, 1966 
821 
ing per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5 of the 
Administrative Expenses Act of 1946 (5 U.S.C. 73b-2) for persons 7 5'°t^lr*33^;'^!^o. 
in the Government service employed intermittently. 
(h) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Commis- 
Appropriation. 
sion such sums, not to exceed $100,000 for any year, as may be neces-
sary to carry out the provisions of this section. 
(i) The Commission shall cease to exist thirty days after the sub-
mission of the final report provided for in subsection (d). 
SEC. 6. This section and section 5 shall become effective on the date 
of enactment of this Act. The provisions of the first section and sec-
tion 2 of this Act shall become effective on January 15, 1967. The 
provisions of section 3 of this Act shall become effective on July 1, 
1967. 
Approved September 20, 1966. 
Effective dates. 
Public Law 89-594 
AN ACT 
September 20, 1966 
Relating to credit life insurance and credit health and accident insurance with 
[H. R. IO823] 
respect to student loans. 
D.c. 
Student loans, 
crease. 
64 Stat. 331. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That section 10(2) 
(d) of chapter V of the Life Insurance Act (D.C. Code, sec. 35-710 inVur^ance in-
(2)(d)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(d) The amount of insurance on the life of any debtor shall at no 
time exceed the amount owed by him which is repayable in install-
ments to the creditor or $10,000, whichever is less. 
Notwithstanding 
the immediately preceding provision, the amount of insurance with 
respect to a loan commitment incurred to defray educational costs of a 
student may be in an amount not exceeding the fixed amount committed 
to be loaned under the loan commitment less the amount of any 
repayments made on the loan." 
SEC. 2. Section 4 of the Act for the Regulation of Credit Life Insur-
ance and Credit Accident and Health Insurance (D.C. Code, sec. 35-
1604) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
subsection: 
"(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the amount of any 
credit life insurance or credit accident and health insurance with 
respect to indebtedness incurred to defray educational costs of a 
student may include the part of a commitment that has not been 
advanced by the creditor." 
Approved September 20, 1966. 
76 Stat. 581. 
Public Law 89-595 
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N 
September 20, 1966 
To delete the interest rate limitation on debentures issued by Federal inter- 
[s. j . Res. 178] 
mediate credit banks. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the second sentence 
of section 203(b) of the Federal Farm Loan Act, as amended (12 
U.S.C. 1042), relating to debentures issued by Federal intermediate 
credit banks, is amended by deleting ", not exceeding 6 per centum per 
annum" therefrom. 
Approved September 20, 1966. 
Banks; deben-
tures. 
Interest rate. 
50 Stat. 715.