An Act to readjust postal rates
PL 82-233 (S.1046), enacted 10/30/1951

672 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
[65 STAT. 
Public Law 233 
CHAPTER 631 
AN ACT 
October 30,1951 
1
^
- ^^^^ 
To readjust postal rates. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representati/ves of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ 
Postal rates. 
TITLE I 
FIRST-CLASS MAIL 
Postal cards. 
SECTION 1. (a) The rate of postage on each single postal card issued 
and sold under the provisions of section 3916 of the Revised Statutes 
(U. S. C , title 39, sec. 366), and on each portion of double postal cards 
issued and sold under the provisions of the Act of March 3, 1879 
20Stat.362. 
(jJ. S. C , title 39, sec. 358), shall be 2 cents: Provided, That on all 
single and double postal cards sold in quantities of fifty or more there 
shall be an additional charge of 10 per centum. 
The rate of postage 
on each private mailing or post card conforming to the conditions pre-
3
0 Stat. 419. 
scribed by the Act of May 19,1898 (U. S. C , title 39, sec. 281), shall be 
2 cents. 
Rate o
f postage 
(jj) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, the rate of 
postage on mail matter of the first class when mailed for local delivery 
at post offices where free delivery by carrier is not established and when 
the matter is not collected or delivered by rural or star route carriers, 
shall be 2 cents for each ounce or fraction thereof. 
SECOND-CLASS MAIL 
SEC. 2. (a) In the case of publications entered as second-class mat-
ter (including sample copies to the extent of 10 per centum of the 
weight of copies mailed to subscribers during the calendar year) when 
mailed by the publisher thereof from the post office of publication and 
entry or other post office where such entry is authorized, or when mailed 
by news agents (registered as such under regulations prescribed by the 
Postmaster General) to actual subscribers thereto or to other news 
agents for the purpose of sale, the total postage computed at the pound 
rates in effect under existing law and based on the bulk weight of each 
mailing shall be increased (1) by 10 per centum, beginning on April 
1,1952, (2) by an additional 10 per centum, based on the rates now in 
force, beginning on April 1, 1953, and (3) by an additional 10 per 
centum, based on the rates now in force, beginning on April 1, 1954: 
Provided, That publications having over 75 per centum advertising in 
more than one-half of their issues during any twelve months^ period 
shall not be accepted for mailing as second-class matter and their entry 
shall be revoked, except that for the purpose of this proviso only, a 
charge made solely for the publication of transportation schedules, 
fares, and related information shall not be construed as constituting a 
charge for advertising: Provided further, That the rate of postage on 
newspapers or periodicals maintained by and in the interests of reli-
gious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agricultural, labor, veter-
ans' or fraternal organizations or associations, not organized for profit 
and none of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any private 
stockholder or individual, shall be li^ cents per pound or fraction 
Nonappiicabiiity. thereof, and the increases provided by this section shall not apply 
to such rate: And provided further, That existing rates shall continue 
in effect with respect to any religious, educational, or scientific publi-
cation designed specifically for use in school classrooms or in religious 
instruction classes. The publisher of any such newspaper, periodical, 
or publication before being entitled to such rate shall furnish proof 
65 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
673 
of qualification to the Postmaster General at such times and under such 
conditions as the Postmaster General may prescribe. 
(b) The free-in-county mailing privilege and the rates of postage 
on copies of publications of the second class when addressed for 
delivery within the county in which they are published and entered 
as such shall be the same as authorized by existing law: Provided 
fur-
ther^ That copies of a publication mailed at a post office where it is 
entered, for delivery by letter carriers at a different post office within 
the delivery limits of which the headquarters or general business 
office of the publisher is located, shall be chargeable with postage at 
the rate that would be applicable if the copies were mailed at the 
latter office, unless postage chargeable at the pound rates from the 
office of mailing is higher, in which case such higher rates shall apply. 
(c) In no case, except where the free-in-county mailing privilege 
is applicable, shall the postage on each individually addressed cop}' 
be less than one-eighth of 1 cent. 
(d) The rate of postage on copies of publications having second-
class entry mailed by others than the publishers or authorized news 
agents, sample copies mailed by the publishers in excess of the 10 
per centum allowance entitled to be sent at the pound rates, and copies 
mailed by the publishers to persons who may not be included in the 
required legitimate list of subscribers, shall be 2 cents for the first 
two ounces and 1 cent for each additional two ounces or fraction 
thereof, except when the postage at the rates prescribed for fourth-
class matter is lower, in which case the latter rates shall apply, 
computed on each individually addressed copy or package of unad-
dressed copies, and not on the bulk weight of the copies and packages. 
Free-in-county mail-
ing. 
Sample copies, etc. 
THIRD-OLASS MAIL 
SEC. 3. The rate of postage on third-class matter shall be 2 cents for 
the first two ounces or fraction thereof, and 1 cent for each additional 
ounce or fraction thereof up to and including eight ounces in weight, 
except that the rate of postage on books and catalogs, of twenty-four 
pages or more, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants not 
exceeding eight ounces in weight shall be 2 cents for the first two ounces 
or fraction thereof and 1% cents for each additional two ounces or 
fraction thereof: Provided^ That upon payment of a fee of $10 for 
each calendar year or portion thereof and under such regulations as 
the Postmaster General may establish for the collection of the lawful 
revenue and for facilitating the handling of such matter in the mails, 
it shall be lawful to accept for transmission in the mails, separately 
addressed identical pieces of third-class matter in quantities of not 
less than twenty pounds, or of not less than two hundred pieces, sub-
ject to pound rates of postage applicable to the entire bulk mailed at 
one time: Provided further^ That the rate of postage on third-class 
matter mailed in bulk under the foregoing provision shall be 14 cents 
for each pound or fraction thereof with a minimum charge per piece 
of 1 cent, except that in the case of books and catalogs of twenty-four 
pages or more, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants the rate 
shall be 10 cents for each pound or fraction thereof with a minimum 
charge per piece of 1 cent: Provided further^ That the minimum charge 
per piece of 1 cent specified in the foregoing proviso shall be increased 
to 11^ cents on July 1, 1952: Provided further^ That pieces or pack-
ages of such size or form as to prevent ready facing and tying in bundles 
and requiring individual distributing throughout shall be subject 
to a minimum charge of 3 cents each: And provided further, 
That 
the rates prescribed by this section shall not apply with respect to 
matter mailed by religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agri-
Bulk mail. 
Nonapplieability. 
674 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
[65 STAT. 
cultural, labor, veterans', or fraternal organizations or associations, 
not organized for profit and none of the net income of which inures to 
the benefit of any private stockholder or individual, and the existing 
rates shall continue to apply with respect to such matter. 
BOOKS 
SEC. 4. The rates of postage prescribed by subsections (d) and (e) 
of section 204 of the Postal Rate Revision and Federal Employees 
39u!*s.c^"292a. Salary Act of 1948 shall remain in effect until otherwise provided by 
Congress. 
SPECIAL DELIVERY 
SEC. 5. Mail of any class shall be given the most expeditious han-
dling and transportation practicable and immediate delivery at the 
office of address when, in addition to the regular postage, a special-
delivery fee is prepaid thereon by means of special-delivery stamps or 
ordinary postage stamps, or in such other manner as the Postmaster 
General may prescribe, in accordance with the following schedule: 
Matter weighing not more than two pounds, if of the first class, 20 
cents; if of any other class, 35 cents. Matter weighing more than two 
but not more than ten pounds, if of the first class, 35 cents; if of any 
other class, 45 cents. Matter weighing more than ten pounds, if of 
the first class, 50 cents; if of any other class, 60 cents. 
REGISTERED MAIL 
SEC. 6. (a) Mail matter shall be registered on the application of the 
party posting the same. The registry fees, which shall be in addition 
to the regular postage, and the limits of indemnity therefor within 
the maximum indemnity provided by this subsection, shall be as 
follows: 
For articles having no intrinsic value and for which no indemnity 
is payable, 30 cents; 
For registry indemnity not exceeding $5, 40 cents; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $5 but not exceeding $25, 55 cents; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $25 but not exceeding $50, 65 
cents; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $50 but not exceeding $75, 75 
cents; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $75 but not exceeding $100, 85 
cents; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $100 but not exceeding $200, 95 
cents; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $200 but not exceeding $300, 
$1.05; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $300 but not exceeding $400, 
$1.15; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $400 but not exceeding $500, $1.25; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $500 but not exceeding $600, $1.35; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $600 but not exceeding $700, $1.45; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $700 but not exceeding $800, $1.55; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $800 but not exceeding $900, $1.65; 
For registry indemnity exceeding $900 but not exceeding $1,000, 
$1.75: Provided^ That for registered mail having a declared value 
in excess of $25 a registry fee of not less than 55 cents shall be paid. 
(b) For registered mail or insured mail treated as registered mail 
having a declared value in excess of the maximum indemnity covered 
by the registry or insurance fee paid there shall be charged additional 
fees (known as "surcharges") as follows: When the declared value 
65 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
675 
exceeds the maximum indemnity covered by the registry or insurance 
fee paid by not more than $50, 2 cents; by more than $50 but not more 
than $100, 3 cents; by more than $100 but not more than $200, 4 cents; 
by more than $200 but not more than $400, 6 cents; by more than $400 
but not more than $600, 7 cents; by more than $600 but not more than 
$800, 8 cents; by more than $800 but less than $1,000, 10 cents; and 
if the excess of the declared value over the maximum indemnity cov-
ered by the registry or insurance fee paid is $1,000 or more, the addi-
tional fees for each $1,000 or part of $1,000 on articles destined to 
points within the several zones applicable to fourth-class matter shall 
be as follows: 
For local delivery or for delivery within the first zone, 12 cents; 
For delivery within the second zone, 14 cents; 
For delivery within the third zone, 16 cents; 
For delivery within the fourth zone, 17 cents; 
For delivery within the fifth or sixth zones, 18 cents; 
For delivery within the seventh or eighth zones, 19 cents: Provided^ 
That for registered mail or insured mail treated as registered mail 
of such kind or character that it may be carried at less than the maxi-
mum risk of loss in the mails, the Postmaster General may prescribe 
rules for determining upon what part of the declared value in excess 
of the maximum indemnity covered by the registry or insurance fee 
paid the additional fees shall be based. 
RETURN RECEIPTS FOR REGISTERED MAIL 
SEC. 7. Whenever the sender of any registered mail shall so request, 
and upon payment of a fee of 7 cents at the time of mailing or of 
15 cents subsequent to the time of mailing, a receipt shall be obtained 
for such registered mail, showing to whom and when the same was 
v 
delivered, which receipt shall be returned to the sender, and be received 
in the courts as prima facie evidence of such delivery: Provided^ That 
upon payment of the additional sum of 24 cents at the time of mailing 
of any such registered mail, a receipt shall be obtained for such 
registered mail, showing to whom, when, and the address where the 
same was delivered, which receipt shall be returned to the sender, and 
be received in the courts as prima facie evidence of such delivery: 
Provided further^ That no refund shall be made of fees paid for return 
receipts for registered mail where the failure to furnish the sender 
a return receipt or the equivalent is not due to the fault of the postal 
service. 
FEES FOR INSURED MAIL 
SEC. 8. The fees for insurance, which shall be in addition to the reg-
ular postage, and the limits of indemnity therefor within the maximum 
indemnity provided by this section, shall be as follows: 5 cents for 
indemnification not exceeding $5; 10 cents for indemnification exceed-
ing $5 but not exceeding $10; 15 cents for indemnification exceeding 
$10 but not exceeding $25; 20 cents for indemnification exceeding $25 
but not exceeding $50; 30 cents for indemnification exceeding $50 but 
not exceeding $100; 35 cents for indemnification exceeding $100 but 
not exceeding $200. 
RETURNED RECEIPTS 
FOR 
INSURED MALL 
SEC. 9. Whenever the sender of an insured article of mail on which 
other than the minimum fee was paid shall so request, and upon pay-
ment of a fee of 7 cents at the time of mailing or of 15 cents subsequent 
to the time of mailing, a receipt shall be obtained for such insured 
mail, showing to whom and when the same was delivered, which receipt 
676 
PUBLIC LAW 23a—OCT. 30, 1951 
[65 STAT. 
shall be returned to the sender, and be received in the courts as prima 
facie evidence of such delivery: Provided, That upon payment of the 
additional sum of 24 cents at the time of mailing of any insured article 
of mail on which other than the minimum fee was paid, a receipt shall 
be obtained for such insured mail, showing to whom, when, and the 
address where the same was delivered, which receipt shall be returned 
to the sei^der, and be received in the courts as prima facie evidence of 
such delivery: Provided further, That no refund shall be made of fees 
paid for return receipts for insured mail where the failure to furnish 
the sender a return receipt or the equivalent is not due to the fault of 
the postal service. 
FEES FOR COLLECT-ON-DELIVERT MAIL 
SEC. 10. The fees for coUect-on-delivery service for sealed domestic 
mail matter of any class bearing postage at the first-class rate and for 
domestic third- and fourth-class mail matter shall, in addition to the 
regular postage and any other required fees, be as follows: 30 cents for 
collections and indemnity not exceeding $5; 40 cents for collections and 
indemnity exceeding $5 but not exceeding $10; 60 cents for collections 
and indemnity exceeding $10 but not exceeding $25; 70 cents for col-
lections and indemnity exceeding $25 but not exceeding $50; 80 cents 
for collections and indemnity exceeding $50 but not exceeding $100; 
90 cents for collections and indemnity exceeding $100 but not exceed-
ing $150; $1 for collections and indemnity exceeding $150 but not 
exceeding $200. 
REGISTERED COLLECT-ON-DELIVERY MAIL 
SEC. 11. (a) The fee for coUect-on-delivery service for registered 
sealed domestic mail of any class bearing postage at the first-class rate 
shall, in addition to the regular postage and any other required fees, 
be 80 cents for collections and indemnity not exceeding $10; $1.10 for 
collections and indemnity exceeding $10 but not exceeding $50; $1.20 
for collections and indemnity exceeding $50 but not exceeding $100; 
$1.40 for collections and indemnity exceeding $100 but not exceeding 
$200. The maximum amount of charges collectible on any registered 
sealed domestic coUect-on-delivery article shall be $200. 
(b) When indemnity in excess of $200 is desired, the fee for such 
registered sealed domestic coUect-on-delivery mail shall, in addition 
to the regular postage and any other required fees, be $1.50 for indem-
nity exceeding $200 but not exceeding $300; $1.60 for indemnity 
exceeding $300 but not exceeding $400; $1.70 for indemnity exceeding 
$400 but not exceeding $500; $1.80 for indemnity exceeding $500 but 
not exceeding $600; $1.90 for indemnity exceeding $600 but not exceed-
ing $700; $2 for indemnity exceeding $700 but not exceeding $800; 
$2.10 for indemnity exceeding $800 but not exceeding $1,000. 
FEES 
FOR SPECIAL SERVICES 
SEC. 12. (a) The Postmaster General is authorized to prescribe by 
regulation from time to time the fees which shall be charged by the 
postal service— 
(1) for the registry of mail matter; 
(2) for the insurance of mail matter, or other indemnification 
of senders thereof for articles damaged or lost; 
(3) for securing a signed receipt upon the delivery of regis-
tered or insured mail matter and returning such receipt to sender; 
(4) for collect-on-delivery service; 
(5) for special-delivery service; 
65 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1961 
677 
(6) for special-handling service; 
(7) for the issuance of money orders; 
(8) for notice to publishers of undeliverable second-class mail, 
for notice of change of address, and for notice to addressee or 
sender of undeliverable third- or fourth-class matter, or of unde-
liverable second-class matter mailed at the transient rate. 
(b) Kegulations issued by the Postmaster General under subsection 
(a) shall, to the extent prescribed therein, supersede existing laws, reg-
ulations, and orders governing the fees for the services covered thereby. 
J O I N T COMMITTEE ON POSTAL SERVICE 
SEC. 13. (a) (1) There is hereby established a Joint Committee on 
the Postal Service (hereinafter referred to as the "joint committee"), 
to be composed of three members of the Committee on Post Office and 
Civil Service of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the 
Senate, and three members of the Committee on Post Office and Civil 
Service of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(2) The chairman of the joint committee shall be the chairman of 
the Post Office and Civil Service Committee of the Senate, and the 
vice-chairman shall be the chairman of the Committee on Post Office 
and Civil Service of the House of Representatives. Vacancies in the 
membership of the joint committee shall not affect the power of the 
remaining members to execute the functions of the joint committee, 
and shall be filled in the same manner as the original selection. 
A 
majority of the members of the joint committee, or any subcommittee 
thereof, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, 
except that a lesser number, to be fixed by the joint committee, shall 
constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking sworn testimony. 
(b) The joint committee, acting as a whole or by subcommittee, 
shall conduct a thorough study and investigation in respect of the 
following matters: 
(1) Postal rates and charges in relation to the reasonable cost 
of handling the several classes of mail matter and special services, 
with due allowances in each class for the care required, the degree 
of preferment, priority in handling, and economic value of the 
services rendered and the public interest served thereby. 
(2) The extent to which expenditures now charged to the Post 
Office Department for the following items should be excluded in 
considering costs for the several classes of mail matter and special 
services: 
(A) Expenditures for free postal services; 
(B) Expenditures in excess of revenues for international 
postal services; 
(C) Expenditures for subsidies for postal services pur-
suant to law or legislative policy of Congress; 
(D) Expenditures in excess of revenues, pursuant to the 
Act of June 5, 1930 (39 U. S. C. 793), not enumerated in the 
preceding subparagraphs (A), (B),or (C); 
(E) Expenditures for services of any character not other-
wise enumerated herein which may be performed for other 
departments and agencies of the Government; and 
(F) Expenditures which may be justified only on a national 
welfare basis and not primarily as a business function. 
(3) Expenditures for the Post Office Department by other 
Government agencies which should be considered in connection 
with the cost for the handling of the several classes of mail matter 
and special services, such as employees' retirement, use of Govern-
ment buildings, and maintenance services. 
Establishment. 
Study and investi-
gation. 
46 Stat. 523. 
678 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
[65 STAT. 
Powers. 
Stenographic 
ices. 
2 U.S.C.5§ 192-194. 
Personnel, etc. 
60 Stat. 835. 
2 U. 8. C. i 72a. 
Reports to Congress. 
Termination of com-
mittee. 
Appropriation au-
thorized. 
(4) The extent, if any, to which Post Office Department 
expenditures in excess of revenue, for its various services and for 
the handling of various classes of mail, are justified as being in 
the public interest. 
(c) (1) The joint committee, or any duly authorized subcommit-
tee thereof, is authorized (A) to hold such hearings; (B) to sit and 
act at such places and times; (C) to require, by subpena or otherwise, 
the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, 
papers, and documents; (D) to administer such oaths; (E) to take 
such testimony; (F) to procure such printing and binding; and (G) 
to make such expenditures, as it deems advisable. The cost of steno-
graphic services to report such hearings shall not exceed 25 cents per 
hundred words. 
The provisions of sections 102 to 104, inclusive, of 
the Revised Statutes shall apply in the case of any failure of any 
witness to comply with a subpena or to testify when summoned under 
authority of this section. 
(2) The joint committee is authorized to appoint and fix the 
compensation of such personnel as it deems necessary to assist it in 
the performance of its functions. 
Such compensation shall not be 
fixed at a rate in excess of the maximum rate payable under section 
202 (e) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1^46, as amended, 
in the case of employees of standing committees, except that the joint 
committee may employ part-time consultants, experts, and technicians 
at a per diem rate not in excess of $50. The joint committee may also 
contract for the service of accounting and management engineering 
firms to assist it in the performance of its functions. Insofar as prac-
ticable, the joint committee shall employ persons familiar with the 
operation of the postal service, accounting practices, or problems of 
public transportation and distribution with special reference to rate 
making in those fields. The chairman and vice chairman of the joint 
committee are authorized to assign from time to time the members 
of the staff of their respective committees to duties and responsibilities 
in connection with the operation of such joint committee. 
(d) The joint committee shall report from time to time to the 
committees of the Senate and House of Representatives from which 
the membership of the joint committee was appointed, and shall 
submit its final report to the Senate and the House of Representatives 
not later than January 15, 1953, of the results of its study and inves-
tigation together with such recommendations as to necessary legisla-
tion as it may deem advisable. Upon the submission of such final 
report the joint committee shall cease to exist. 
(e) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated not in excess 
of $100,000 to carry out the purposes of this section, to be disbursed 
by the Secretary of the Senate on vouchers signed by the chairman 
and vice chairman of the joint committee. 
REPEAL OF E X I S T I N G PROVISIONS 
SEC. 14. All existing laws or portions thereof, inconsistent or in 
conflict with this title, are hereby amended or repealed. 
APPLICATION TO GUAM 
SEC. 15. This Act shall have the same force and effect within Guam 
as within other possessions of the United States. 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 16. This title shall take effect on the first day of the third 
calendar month following the calendar month in which it is enacted, 
65 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
679 
except the rates herein provided for second-class mail shall take effect 
on the first day of the second quarter beginning after the approval 
of this Act. 
TITLE I I 
SEO. 201. This title may be cited as the "Annual and Sick Leave 
Act of 1951". 
C!OVERAGE AND EXEMPTIONS 
SEO. 202. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this title shall 
apply to all civilian officers and employees of the United States and 
of the government of the District of Columbia, including officers and 
employees of corporations wholly owned or controlled by the United 
States. 
(b) (1) This title shall not apply to— 
(A) teachers and librarians of the public schools of the Dis-
trict of Columbia; 
(B) part-time officers and employees (except hourly employees 
in the field service of the Post Office Department) for whom there 
has not been established a regular tour of duty during each 
administrative workweek; 
(C) temporary employees engaged on construction work at 
hourly rates; 
(D) employees of the Canal Zone Government and the Panama 
Canal Company when employed on the Isthmus of Panama; 
(E) commissioned officers of the Public Health Service; 
(F) commissioned officers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey; 
(G) doctors, dentists, and nurses in the Department of Medi-
cine and Surgery of the Veterans' Administration; 
(H) officers and employees of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives ; and 
(I) officers and employees of any corporation under the super-
vision of the Farm Credit Administration of which corporation 
any member of the board of directors is elected or appointed by 
private interests. 
(2) This title, except section 203 (g), shall not apply to alien 
employees who occupy positions outside the several States and the 
District of Columbia. 
(3) Section 204 of this title shall not apply to officers and members 
of the Metropolitan Police and the Fire Department of the District of 
Columbia. 
ANNUAL LEAVE 
SEC. 203. (a) Officers and employees to whom this title applies shall 
be entitled to annual leave with pay which shall accrue as follows— 
(1) one-half day for each full biweekly pay period in the case 
of officers and employees with less than three years of service, 
(2) three-fourthsday for each full biweekly pay period (except 
that the accrual for the last full biweekly pay period in the year 
shall be one and one-fourth days) in the case of officers and 
employees with three but less than fifteen years of service, and 
(3) one day for each full biweekly pay period in the case of 
officers and employees with fifteen years or more of service. 
In determining years of service for the purposes of this subsection, 
there shall be included all service creditable under the provisions of 
section 5 of the Civil Service Retirement Act of May 29, 1930, as 
amended, for the purposes of an annuity under such Act and the 
determination of the period of service rendered may be made upon 
the basis of an affidavit of the employee. In the case of an officer or 
employee who is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods, the 
Annual and Sick 
Leave Act of 1951. 
Accrual rate. 
46 Stat. 472. 
5 U. S. C. 5 707. 
680 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
[65 STAT. 
Accumulation, limi-
tation. 
Employees outside 
U.S. 
Foreign Service. 
leave provided by this title shall accrue on the same basis as it would 
accrue if such officer or employee were paid on the basis of biweekly 
pay periods. 
(b) Any change in the rate of accrual of annual leave by an officer 
or employee under the provisions of this section shall take effect as of 
the beginning of the pay period following the pay period, or corre-
sponding period in the case of an officer or emplayee who is not paid 
on the basis of biweekly pay periods, in which such officer or employee 
completes the prescribed period of service. 
(c) The annual leave provided for in this section, which is not used 
by an officer or employee, shall accumulate for use in succeeding years 
until it totals not to exceed sixty days at the end of the last complete 
biweekly pay period, or corresponding period in the case of an officer 
or employee who is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods, 
occurring in any year. 
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c), a maximum 
accumulation not to exceed ninety days at the end of the last complete 
biweekly pay period, or corresponding period in the case of an officer 
or employee who is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods, in 
any year is authorized to the following categories of employees of the 
P'ederal Government, other than officers and employees in the Foreign 
Service of the United States under the Department of State, stationed 
outside the several States and the District of Columbia: 
(1) Persons directly recruited or transferred from the United 
States by the Federal Government. 
(2) Persons employed locally but (A) who were originally 
recruited from the United States and have been in substantially 
continuous employment by other Federal agencies. United States 
firms, interests, or organizations, international organizations in 
which the United States Government participates, or foreign gov-
ernments, and whose conditions of employment provide for their 
return transportation to the United States, or (B) who were at the 
time of employment temporarily absent from the United States 
for purposes of travel or formal study and maintained residence in 
the United States during such temporary absence. 
(3) Persons who are not normally residents of the area con-~ 
cerned and who are discharged from the military service of the 
United States to accept employment with an agency of the Federal 
Government. 
(e) Where an officer or employee to whom the provisions of sub-
section (d) are applicable, or who is in the Foreign Service of the 
United States under the Department of State, and whose post of duty 
is outside the several States and the District of Columbia returns to any 
such State or the District of Columbia on leave, the leave granted 
pursuant to this Act shall be exclusive of the time actually and neces-
sarily occupied in going to and from his post of duty and such time as 
may be necessarily occupied in awaiting sailing or flight. The provi-
sions of this subsection shall not apply with respect to more than one 
period of leave in any twenty-four month period. 
(f) Officers and employees in the Foreign Service of the United 
States under the Department of State may be granted leave of absence, 
without regard to any other leave provided by this title, for use in the 
United States, its Territories or possessions, at a rate equivalent to one 
week for each four months of service outside the several States and the 
District of Columbia. 
Such leave may be accumulated for future use 
without regard to the limitation in subsection (c) but no such leave 
which is not used shall be made the basis for any terminal leave or 
lump-sum payment. 
65 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
681 
(g) Alien employees who occupy positions outside the several States 
and the District of Columbia may, in the discretion of the head of the 
department or agency concerned, be granted leave of absence with pay 
not in excess of the amount of annual and sick leave allowable under 
this title in the case of citizen employees. 
(h) The annual leave provided for in this section, including such 
leave as will accrue to any officer or employee during the year, may be 
granted at any time during such year as the heads of the various 
departments and independent establishments may prescribe, 
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), an officer or 
employee shall be entitled to annual leave under this.title only after 
having been employed currently for a continuous period of ninety days 
under one or more appointments without break in service. In any case 
in which an officer or employee completes a period of continuous 
employment of ninety days there shall be credited to him an amount of 
annual leave equal to the amount which, but for this subsection, would 
have accrued to him under subsection (a) during such period. 
Alien employees 
outside U. S. 
Granting of leave. 
Service 
ment. 
require-
SICK LEAVE 
SEC. 204. (a) Officers and employees to whom this title applies shall 
be entitled to sick leave with pay, which shall accrue on the basis of one-
half day for each full biweekly pay period. 
(b) The sick leave provided for in this section, which is not used by 
an officer or employee during the year in which it accrues, shall accumu-
late and be available for use in succeeding years. 
(c) Not to exceed thirty days sick leave may be advanced in cases of 
serious disability or ailments and when required by the exigencies of the 
situation. 
GENERAI. PROVISIONS 
SEC. 206. (a) The days of leave provided for in this title shall mean 
days upon which an employee would otherwise work and receive pay, 
and shall be exclusive of holidays, and all nonworkdays established by 
Federal statute or by Executive or administrative order. 
(b) An employee shall be considered for the purposes of this title 
to have been employed for a full biweekly pay period if he shall have 
been employed during the days within such period, exclusive of holi-
days and all nonworkdays established by Federal statute or by Execu-
tive or administrative order, which fall within his basic administrative 
workweek. 
(c) Part time officers and employees, unless otherwise excepted, shall 
be entitled on a pro rata basis to the benefits provided by sections 203 
and 204 of this title. 
(d) The authorized absence of a rural carrier on Saturdays which 
occur within or at the beginning or end of a period of sick or annual 
leave of five or more days' duration (or four days' duration if a holiday 
falls within or at the beginning or end of the period of sick or annual 
leave) shall be without charge to such leave or loss of compensation. 
Saturdays occurring in a period of annual or sick leave taken in a 
smaller number of days may at the option of the carrier be charged to 
his accrued leave and when so charged he shall be paid for such absence. 
Days of leave. 
Pay-period employ-
ment. 
Part-time 
ees. 
employ-
Rural carriers. 
REGTILATIONS 
SEC. 206. The Civil Service Commission is authorized to prescribe 
such rules and regulations as may be necessary to provide for the 
administration of this title. 
682 
PUBLIC LAW 233—OCT. 30, 1951 
[66 STAT. 
REPEALS 
SEC. 207. (a) The following Acts or parts of Acts are hereby 
repealed: 
(1) The Act entitled "An Act to provide for vacations to Govern-
ment employees, and for other purposes", approved March 14, 1936 
a o t S e i ' ' " ^ ' (49 Stat. 1161). 
(2) The Act entitled "An Act to standardize sick leave and extend it 
30k, Sin^" ^" "^"^" ^ all civilian employees", approved March 14, 1936 (49 Stat. 1162). 
(3) Section 6 of the Act entitled "An Act to reclassify the salaries 
of postmasters, officers, and employees of the Postal Service; to estab-
lish uniform procedure for computing compensation; and for other 
3
9 u. 8. c. {856. 
purposes", approved July 6,1945, as amended (59 Stat. 435). 
(4) The paragraph under the heading "Public Printing and Bind-
ing" in the Act entitled "An Act making appropriations for sundry 
civil expenses of the government for the fiscal year ending June 
thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, and for other purposes", 
2
9 Stat. 453. 
approved June 11,1896 (44 U. S. C. 45), relating to leaves of absence 
of employees of the Government Printing Office. 
3
9 Stat. 557. 
(5) The third proviso in the Act of August 29,1916 (34 U. S. C. 513). 
i u*s.^?§§ n46. 
(6) Sections 931 and 932 of the Foreign Service Act of 1946. 
^^Ante 
291 
^'^^ Section 601 of the Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1952. 
" *' ^' 
• 
(b) Section 2 of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the promo-
tion of substitute employees in the postal service, and for other pur-
3
9 u. 8. c. 5 8
6
2
(
1
. poses", approved April 15, 1947 (61 Stat. 40), is amended by striking 
out the words "and leave". 
SAVING PROVISION 
SEC. 208. (a) In any case in which— 
(1) the amount of accumulated annual leave carried over into 
the calendar year 1952 by an officer or employee under provisions 
of law applicable to such officer or employee on December 31,1951, 
is in excess of the amount allowable under the applicable provisions 
Anu. p. 679. 
^f sectiou 203, or 
(2) the amount of accumulated annual leave to the credit of an 
officer or employee who is subject to the provisions of section 
203 (d) and who becomes subject to the provisions of section 
203 (c) is in excess of the amount allowable under section 203 (c), 
such excess shall remain to the credit of such officer or employee until 
used, but the use during any year of an amount of leave in excess of the 
aggregate amount which shall have accrued during such year shall 
automatically reduce the maximum allowable accumulation at the end 
of the last complete biweekly pay period in any year until the accumu-
lation of such officer or employee no longer exceeds the amount pre-
scribed in the applicable provisions of section 203. 
(b) An officer or employee heretofore subject to a system of leave 
administered on a calendar-day basis shall be deemed to have to his 
credit on the effective date of this title five-sevenths day of leave charge-
able as provided in section 205 (a) for each calendar day's leave to his 
credit on such date. 
(c) No officer or employee shall be considered, by reason of the en-
actment of this title, to have been transferred to an agency under a 
different leave system within the meaning of the Act entitled "An Act 
to provide for the payment to certain Government employees for 
accumulated or accrued annual leave upon their separation from Gov-
5
8 Stat. 845. 
ernment service", approved December 21,1944 (5 U. S. C. 61d). 
AMuaran*d' sick 
(d) Any person who served during the period from December 1, 
leave. 
1950, to January 6, 1952, as an employee in the postal service, other 
65 STAT. 
PUBLIC LAW 234—OCT. 30, 1951 
683 
than a substitute rural carrier, under a temporary or indefinite appoint-
ment for not less than ninety days and who shall not have been sep-
arated from the postal service prior to January 6,1952, shall be deemed 
to have earned annual leave at the rate of fifteen days per year and sick 
leave at the rate of 10 days per year, and for such purposes shall receive 
credit for one-twelfth of a year for each whole calendar month he was 
carried on the roll as a temporary or indefinite employee during such 
period. 
EFFEOriVE DATE 
SEC. 209. This title shall take effect on January 6,1952, except that 
paragraph (7) of section 207 (a) shall take effect as of the date of 
enactment of the Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1952. 
Approved October 30, 1951. 
Ante, p. 268. 
Public Law 234 
CHAPTER 632 
AN ACT 
To amend the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance 
Act, and for other purposes. 
October 30,1951 
[H. R. 3669] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress a^semhled^ That section 1 of the 
Kailroad Retirement Act of 1937, as amended, is amended by sub-
stituting in the last sentence of subsection (f) thereof the phrase "one 
hundred twenty-six" for the phrase "fifty-four" and by adding after 
subsection (p) thereof a new subsection as follows: 
"(q) The terms 'Social Security Act' and 'Social Security Act, as 
amended* shall mean the Social Security Act as amended in 1950." 
SEC. 2. Subsection (a) of section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act of 
1937, as amended, is amended by inserting in the first sentence thereof, 
after "enactment date," the following: "and shall have completed ten 
years of service," ; and by inserting in the first sentence of paragraph 
5 of said subsection a period after the phrase "regular employment" 
and striking out all of that sentence following that phrase. 
SEC, 3. Subsection (c) of section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act 
of 1937, as amended, is amended by substituting for the phrase "sixty 
days", the phrase "six months". 
SEC. 4. Section 4 of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937, as 
amended, is amended by substituting for the phrase "sixty days" in 
subsection (k) thereof the phrase "six months". 
SEC. 5. Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937, as 
amended, is amended by adding after subsection (d) thereof the 
following new subsections: 
" (e) SPOUSE'S ANNUITY.:—The spouse of an individual, if— 
"(i) such individual has been awarded an annuity under sub-
section (a) or a pension under section 6 and has attained the age 
of 65, and 
"(ii) such spouse has attained the a^e of 65 or in the case of a 
wife, has in her care (individually or jointly with her husband) 
a child who, if her husband were then to die, wjould be entitled to 
a child's annuity under subsection (c) of section 5 of this Act, 
shall be entitled to a spouse's annuity equal to one-half of such individ-
ual's annuity or pension, but not more than $40: Provided^ however^ 
That if the annuity of the individual is awarded under paragraph 3 
of subsection (a), the spouse's annuity shall be computed or recom-
puted as though such individual had been awarded the annuity to 
which he Would have been entitled under paragraph 1 of said subsec-
Railroad 
Retire-
ment Acts; Railroad 
Unemployment 
I n -
surance Act, amend-
ments. 
50 Stat. 307. 
45 U. 8. C. § 228a. 
45 U. S. C. f 228b. 
46 U. 8. C. § 228C-1. 
46 U. S. C. S 228b. 
45 U. 8. C. S 228f. 
46 U. S. C. { 228e. 
Pott, p. 686.