The above table is a compilation of reports received to date in the survey being conducted by the National Rural Letter Carriers Association to determine the average cost per mile for maintenance and operation of equipment. Although all reports expected from individual carriers assisting in the survey have not been received the above table is considered representative. A new table will be prepared when all reports have been received.

The following summary indicates the average division of each operation and maintenance dollar spent by carriers participating in this survey. Interest charges on investment are not included in this summary nor in the table above.

Inescapable expense borne by rural carriers in various States as represented by gas tax and registration fees for motor vehicles. Other items of expense enter the picture in some of the States that materially increase the cost of operation. However, these are not taken into account in this table

NOTE. Above is based on 36-mile trip for 291 days and averaging 3 gallons per trip. In rare instances will the average be lower in consumption but in many instances it will be higher due to road and climatic conditions.

Summaries compiled from 12,932 questionnaires received in Board of Control's fact-finding survey-Averages of and totals of 45 States reporting

1 All percentages and averages regarding property are figured against property owners number.

Table showing comparison between present basic pay-scale and pay-scale under

H.R. 8919

[Prepared by National Rural Letter Carriers Association-Membership 36,576]

Table showing comparison between present basic pay-scale and pay-scale under H.R. 8919—Continued

[Prepared by National Rural Letter Carriers Association-Membership 36,576]

The CHAIRMAN. Who is to be your next witness?

Mr. ARMSTRONG. May I introduce the president of the ladies' auxiliary? I did not speak of the ladies' auxiliary of our organization, composed of the wives and daughters and families of our members, with probably 17,000 members. I want to say that I heartily commend that organization and express my appreciation of the fact that they have been very helpful. I feel that this economy movement has fallen more heavily upon the housewife than upon anyone

else. I think they really deserve more consideration than we do, and I hope you will give her a few minutes' time.

The CHAIRMAN. We shall be very glad to hear from her.

STATEMENT OF MRS. L. E. JOB, TEXHOMA, OKLA., PRESIDENT LADIES' AUXILIARY TO NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS ASSOCIATION

Mrs. JOB. As national president of the ladies' auxiliary to the Rural Letter Carriers Association, with a membership of 16,000, I am here to present you a true picture of conditions in the average carrier's home. I came to impress upon you, if possible, the present needs of the families of rural carriers and to tell you of a few of the dangers and difficulties through which the rural carrier must pass while delivering his daily mail.

Deductions in the salaries of rural carriers are having a telling effect upon the appearance of the carrier's home and family. This is a time of year when a general renovation of the home is usually made. While the carriers' wives are mending garments almost past repair, and sweeping and dusting and washing and ironing, they are wondering how they are going to buy new curtains for the bedroom windows or a new floor covering for the living room to replace the present one, shabby and threadbare; when son John should have a new suit of clothes for graduation and daughter Mary must have a new dress for the same occasion.

A woman's home is her world, and when her friends and relatives visit it, it is her great desire to have this home present a neat, comfortable appearance. She wishes to place before her guest wellcooked food attractively served. When her children are presented to her guests she desires them to be neat and comfortably clad.

Although you have been informed repeatedly that the rural carriers are overpaid, I believe I can truthfully say there are few families among these faithful Government workers in which dental work and medical assistance are not needed; in which a greater amount of clothing is not desired for comfort, and where selfdenial and self-sacrifice are not the rule. Strict economy has always been practiced by the rural carrier and his wife to enable them to provide for the education of their children.

Only the other day, I heard a carrier's wife say that plans were already being made to send their son and daughter to college next year, and how earnestly they were hoping that salary deductions would be removed, at least in part; for if they were not, this son and daughter were going to be denied the thing for which they had been planning and dreaming for many months.

I am going to give you an illustration of economy by relating an incident that came under my observation more than a year ago. In company with two carriers' wives, I visited a china store. One of the ladies remarked, "I broke a dish yesterday, and must buy another to take its place, as I have only enough for my table." However, I noticed that she did not purchase the dish.

Are you surprised, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, that a rural carrier's wife had to deny herself a dish, just one dish, that was badly needed in her home? You will understand, perhaps, when I tell you that this carrier's wife was a mother and