Bill No.

H. R. 5836

Summary of provisions

The increase in the pound rates and the
minimum charge do not apply to publi-
cations of nonprofit religious, educational,
scientific, philanthropic,
philanthropic, agricultural,

labor, veterans', or fraternal organiza-
tions or associations.
The transient rate (for publications having
2d-class entry mailed by other than pub-
lishers or as sample copies in excess of 10
percent allowance) is increased from the
present rate of 2 cents for the 1st 2 ounces
and 1 cent for each additional 2 ounces
to 2 cents for the 1st 2 ounces and 11⁄2
cents for each additional 2 ounces.

Books

The rate on books is increased from 8 cents
on the 1st pound and 4 cents on each ad-
ditional pound to 10 cents on the 1st
pound and 5 cents on each additional
The category of items entitled to the
book rate is substantially increased by
the proposal.

The present rate of 4 cents on the 1st pound
and 1 cent on each additional pound for
books sent by nonprofit public libraries,
organizations, or associations is extended
to all colleges, universities, and schools,
the category of items entitled to this rate
is broadened, and the present restriction
of these rates to the third zone is elimin-
ated.

3D-CLASS MAIL

These provisions are as follows:

(1) The individual piece rate on 3dclass mail (except books and catalogs) is increased from 2 cents for the 1st 2 ounces or fraction and 1 cent for each additional ounce or fraction to 3 cents for the 1st 2 ounces or fraction and 11⁄2 cents for each additional ounce or fraction. For books and catalogs, the individual piece rate of 2 cents for the 1st 2 ounces is increased to 3 cents and the rate of 12 cents on each 2 ounces or fraction thereof in excess of the 1st 2 ounces is replaced by a rate of 1 cent on each ounce in excess of the 1st 2 ounces.

(2) The rate on 3d-class matter mailed in bulk, except books and catalogs, is increased from 14 cents per pound and 11⁄2 cents minimum per piece to 16 cents per pound and 2 cents minimum per piece. Bulk mailings of books and catalogs are increased from the present rate of 10 cents per pound with a minimum rate of 11⁄2 cents per piece to 12 cents per pound with a minimum rate of 2 cents per piece. The 2-cent minimum in both categories will be increased to 21⁄2 cents on July 1, 1959.

Status

Summary of provisions

(3) The fee for a permit to send 3dclass mail under the bulk mailing rate is increased from $10 a year to $20 a

year.

(4) Odd-sized pieces of 3d-class mail will be subject to a minimum charge of 5 cents, representing an increase of 2 cents per piece.

(5) There will be no increases on
mailings of nonprofit religious, educa-
tional, scientific, philanthropic, agri-
cultural, labor, veterans', or fraternal
organizations or associations.

It is estimated these increases will bring in
increased revenue in the amount of
$128,000,000 per year.

This bill, as amended by the committee,
provides a pay increase for employees in
the field service of the Post Office Depart-
ment of $546 per annum except rural
carriers and 4th-class postmasters. Rural
carriers and 4th-class postmasters would
receive an increase in their annual com-
pensation of 12 percent, but not to ex-
ceed $546 per annum. The bill, as
amended, provides that such pay in-
creases will become effective at the be-
ginning of the 1st pay period which begins
after Sept. 1, 1957.
This legislation will increase the annual
compensation of approximately 967,853
employees in the executive, legislative,
and judicial branches of the Government.
Specifically, the increases will apply to
(1) employees subject to the Classification
Act of 1949, as amended; (2) officers and
employees in or under the judicial branch
of the Government (including court re-
porters for Federal district courts, and
secretaries and law clerks of Federal cir-
cuit and district judges); and (3) officers
and employees in or under the legislative
branch of the Government.

Salaries of these employees will be increased
by 11 percent, effective on the 1st day of
the 1st pay period which begins on or
after Sept. 1, 1957, except that (1) no
salary will be increased by more than
$1,000 a year, (2) no salary will be in-
creased to an amount in excess of $16,000
a year the existing maximum salary rate
provided by the Classification Act of 1949,
as amended (which was recently raised
from $14,800 to $16,000 a year), and
(3) no present salary of $16,000 or more
will receive any increase. The average
salary increase for classified employees
will be $518.51 per annum.

Status

Passed Senate
Aug. 27, 1957

Passed Senate
Aug. 27, 1957

This legislation will contribute to efficiency Public Law 85-207
in the operation of the Bureau of the
Census of the Department of Commerce
by simplifying and clarifying language of
the present census law, correcting certain
inconsistencies and omissions therein, and
providing for the conduct of the various
census activities on a more uniform,
modern, and practicable basis than is
possible under present law.

The purpose of this proposed legislation is
to relieve the Civil Service Commission
of the requirement for asking the Con-
gress each year for authority to expend
moneys from the Federal employees' life
insurance fund for the purpose of defray-
ing administrative costs incurred in
assuming and maintaining the life-insur-
ance policies of employee beneficial asso-
ciations taken over by the Commission
in accordance with the provisions of sec.
10 of the Federal Employees' Group Life
Insurance Act of 1954 as amended. This
will enable the Commission to assume the
life-insurance policies of the some 90,000
members of 9 benefit associations who
have been grossly and unjustifiably dis-
criminated against through the actions of
this Congress in refusing to recognize
legal and moral commitments made by
both the 83d and 84th Congresses.
This action will in no way relieve the Com-
mission of the responsibility for request-
ing congressional authority for the ex-
penditure of money from the Federal
employees' life insurance fund necessary
to the administration of other provisions
of the act.

The purpose of this bill, as amended, is to
reaffirm the intent of Congress when
Public Law 733, 81st Cong., was enacted.
The bill, as amended by the committee,
protects the national security of the
United States by providing that the head
of any department or agency of the U. S.
Government may suspend the employ-
ment of any civilian officer or employee
when such action is deemed necessary in
the interest of the national security.
Following such suspension and notifica-
tion thereof, within 30 days any such
officer or employee shall have an oppor-
tunity to reply and show why he should
be restored to duty. Following such in-
vestigation and review as deemed neces-

Rept. 1174; Union
Calendar 457

Rept 1201; Union
Calendar 474

Summary of provisions

sary, the department or agency head may
terminate the employment of such sus-
pended employee whenever he determines
that such termination is necessary or
advisable in the interest of national
security.

Sec. 1 of the bill, as amended, provides that
any suspended employee with a perma-
nent or indefinite appointment, before his
termination, shall be entitled to the
following: (1) A written statement of
the charges against him, (2) a reasonable
opportunity to answer such charges, (3)
a hearing, at the employee's request, by
a duly constituted agency authority, (4)
a review of the case by the agency head,
and (5) a written statement of the de-
cision of the agency head.

As used in this legislation, "national secu-
rity" means all governmental activities of
the U. S. Government involving the
national safety and security, including
but not limited to activities concerned
with the protection of the United States
from internal subversion or foreign ag-
gression. Sec. 3 of the bill, as amended,
further provides that all employees of
any department or agency of the Govern-
ment are deemed to be employed in an
activity of the Government involving
national security.

The bill provides that any person who is
reinstated or restored to duty following
a wrongful suspension or removal shall
be allowed compensation for the period
of time such person was not on the pay-
roll in an amount not to exceed the
difference between the pay such person
would have earned had he remained in
in his position and the interim net earn-
ings of such person.
Sec. 4 of the bill, as amended, provides for
an appeal to the Civil Service Commis-
sion by any employee adversely affected
under the legislation or under any Execu-
tive order issued pursuant thereto.
Commission in considering such appeal
shall review the validity and truth of the
charges made and the procedures followed
by the department or agency. Following
a review of the appeal, the Commission
shall prepare a written opinion and de-
cision. The decision of the Commission
shall be final and the agency head shall
comply with such written opinion and
decision.

The

Status

Bill No.

H. Con. Res. 175

H. R. 7930

H. R. 5558 (8. 919)

H. R. 4640

Summary of provisions

H. Con. Res. 175 is essentially a declaration
of fundamental principles of conduct that
should be observed by all persons in the
public service. It spells out in clear and
straight-forward language long-recognized
concepts of the high obligations and re-
sponsibilities, as well as the rights and
privileges, attendant upon service for our
Government. It reaffirms the traditional
standard-that those holding public
office are not owners of authority but
agents of public purpose concerning
which there can be no disagreement and
to which all Federal employees unques-
tionably should adhere. It is not a man-
date. It creates no new crime or penalty.
Nor does it impose any positive legal re-
quirement for specific acts or omissions.
The purpose of H. R. 7930, as reported by
this committee, is to correct 2 separate,
but related, conditions which have re-
sulted in inequities in the compensation
of certain postal field service employees
under the Postal Field Service Compen-
sation Act of 1955.

One of these inequities relates to the occur-
rence of anniversary dates for automatic
advancement by step increases of postal
field service employees.

The other of these inequities relates to the
crediting of certain prior service in the
General Accounting Office for purposes
of longevity step increases.

It is the purpose of this legislation to correct
an inequity in the treatment received by
certain employees in the postal field serv-
ice on days when the President, through
Executive order, memorandum, or other
administrative action declares an admin-
istrative holiday. It would grant to rural
carriers, transportation and motor vehi-
cle employees, other than substitutes,
compensatory time off with pay within
1 year after the holiday on which such
employees performed duty.

H. R. 4640 will authorize a refund of volun-
tary contributions to any person who has
made such voluntary contributions into
the civil service retirement fund, pro-
Ivided he elects to take the refund before
he receives annuity payments.
At the present time participants in the civil
service retirement program may volun-
tarily place into the retirement fund
amounts up to 10 percent of their basic
salaries. These voluntary contributions
are used to purchase additional annuities
to supplement their regular annuities.
However, they may not withdraw the
voluntary contributions while they are
still employed.

Status

Passed House
Aug. 28, 1957

Passed House
Aug. 5, 1957

Public Law 85-189

Passed House
Aug. 19, 1957