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POSTAL RATE REVISION

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1960

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE,

Washington, D.C. The committee met at 10:15 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 215, House Office Building, Hon. Tom Murray (chairman of the committee) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order.

Mr. REES. Mr. Chairman, I want to say we have a distinguished visitor this morning, Mr. Owen Roberts, a member of the British Parliament, who is visting here briefly.

The CHAIRMAN. We are honored to have you, sir.

This morning the committee is beginning hearings on a number of proposals to increase postal rates. The administration has made proposals which would increase the revenues to the Post Office Department by $554 million in the fiscal year 1961. As chairman of this committee, I introduced the legislation (H.R. 11140) at the request of the Post Office Department. Mr. Broyhill has introduced an identical bill (H.R. 11360).

(H.R. 11140 is as follows:)

[H.R. 11140, 86th Cong., 2d sess.]

A BILL To readjust postal rates, and for other purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the "Postal Rate Increase Act of 1960".

FIRST-CLASS MAIL

SEC. 2. (a) That part of the first section of the Joint Resolution of June 30, 1947, as amended (61 Stat. 213, 72 Stat. 138, 39 U.S.C. 280), which precedes the proviso, is amended by striking out "4 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "5 cents".

(b) Section 1 of the Act of October 30, 1951 (65 Stat. 672; 39 U.S.C. 280), as amended, is further amended

(1) by striking out "3 cents" wherever appearing in subsection (a) and inserting in lieu thereof "4 cents"; and

(2) by striking out "3 cents" in subsection (b) and inserting in lieu thereof "4 cents".

DOMESTIC AIR MAIL

SEC. 3. Section 201 of the Postal Rate Revision and Federal Employees Salary Act of 1948 (62 Stat. 1261; 39 U.S.C. 463a), as amended, is further amended

(1) by striking out "7 cents" in the first sentence and inserting in lieu thereof "8 cents"; and

(2) by striking out "5 cents" in the second sentence and inserting in lieu thereof "6 cents".

AIR PARCEL POST

SEC. 4. Section 1 of the Act of June 29, 1948 (62 Stat. 1097; 39 U.S.C. 475) is amended

(1) by striking out the words "for the period of two years" appearing in paragraph (11) and

(2) by adding the following sentence to paragraph (11):

"In no event shall the rate of postage on air mail of the first class weighing in excess of eight ounces be less than the rate prescribed in section 2(a) of this Act."

SECOND-CLASS MAIL

SEC. 5. (a) The postage rate for publications entered as second-class mail when mailed for delivery at the office of original entry is one-half cent per copy mailed when delivery is made through post office boxes, general delivery or by rural or star route carriers

(b) The postage rate for publications entered as second-class mail when mailed for delivery at the office of mailing by city or village letter carrier or when mailed at the office where it is entered for delivery by city or village letter carriers at a different office within the delivery limits of which the beadquarters or general business office of the publisher is located is 1 cent for each copy weighing two ounces or less or 2 cents for each copy weighing more than two ounces or the zone-pound rates provided in subsection (c) of this section, whichever is higher

(c) The postage rates on publications entered as second-class mail not entitled to be mailed at the rates in subsections (a) and (b) of this section (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 publishers thereof from the post office of publication and entry or other post office where entry is authorized, or when mailed by news agents registered as such under regulations prescribed by the Postmaster General to actual subscribers or to other news agents for the purpose of sale are one-half cent for each individually addressed copy or package of unaddressed copies and in addition the pound rates set forth in the following table:

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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 on and after the effective date of this section, the rate of postage on newspapers or periodicals maintained by and in the interests of religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agricultural, labor, veterans, or fraternal organizations not organized for profit and none of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any private stockholder or individual, and religious, educational, or scientific publications designed specifically for use in school classrooms or in religious instruction classes shall be the rates required to be paid on publications generally except that the rates prescribed in this subsection shall be reduced by 50 per centum. The publisher of any such newspaper, periodical or publication before being entitled to such rate shall furnish proof of qualification to the Postmaster General at such times and under such conditions as the Postmaster General may prescribe.

(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 2 ounces and 1 cent for each additional ounce or fraction thereof, except

when the postage at the rate prescribed for fourth class matter is lower, in which case the latter rates shall apply, computed on each individually addressed copy or package of unaddressed copies, and not on the bulk rate of the copies and packages.

(e) For the purpose of this section, the portion of a publication devoted to advertisements shall include all advertisements inserted in and attached permanently to the publication.

(f) The Postmaster General may require publishers to separate or make up to zones in such a manner as he may direct, all mail matter of the second class when offered for mailing.

(g) With the first mailing of each issue of each publication entered as second class mail, the publisher shall file with the postmaster a copy of such issue together with a statement containing such information as the Postmaster General may prescribe for determining the postage chargeable thereon.

CONTROLLED CIRCULATION PUBLICATIONS

SEC. 6. Section 203 of the Postal Rate Revision and Federal Employees Salary Act of 1948 (62 Stat. 1262; 39 U.S.C. 291b), as amended, is further amended(1) by striking out "12 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "14 cents"; and (2) by striking out "1 cent" and inserting in lieu thereof "3 cents".

THIRD-CLASS MAIL

SEC. 7. Section 3 of the Act of October 30, 1951 (65 Stat. 673; 39 U.S.C. 290a-1), as amended, is further amended

(1) by striking out "3 cents" from that part of the section which precedes the first proviso and inserting in lieu thereof "4 cents"; and

(2) by striking out "11⁄2 cents" from that part of the section which precedes the proviso and inserting in lieu thereof "2 cents"; and

(3) by striking out "twenty pounds" from the first proviso of said section and inserting in lieu thereof "forty pounds"; and

(4) by striking out "16 cents" from the second proviso of said section and inserting in lieu thereof "18 cents"; and

(5) by striking out from the second proviso of said section, whenever they appear therein the words "21⁄2 cents when mailed on or after such date" and inserting in lieuthereof “21⁄2 cents when mailed on or after July 1, 1960, and prior to January 1, 1961, and 3 cents when mailed on or after January 1' 1961".

(6) by striking out "10 cents" from the second proviso of said section and inserting in lieu thereof "14 cents".

(7) by striking out "31⁄2 cents" from the third proviso of said section and inserting in lieu thereof "41⁄2 cents".

FOURTH-CLASS MAIL

SEC. 8. (a) Section 204(d) of the Postal Revision and Federal Employees Salary Act of 1948 (39 U.S.C. 292a(d)), as amended, is further amended

(1) by striking out "9 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "10 cents"; and (2) by striking out "5 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "6 cents". (b) Section 204(e) of the Postal Rate Revision and Federal Employees Salary Act of 1948 (39 U.S.C. 292a(e)), as amended, is further amended

(1) by striking out "4 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "5 cents"; and (2) by striking out "1 cent" and inserting in lieu thereof “3 cents".

REPEALS

SEC. 9. The following provisions of law are hereby repealed:

(1) Section 5 of the Act of June 23, 1874 (18 Štat. 232; 39 U.S.C. 283); and (2) Sections 1101, 1102, 1103, and 1106 of the Act of October 3, 1917 (40 Stat. 327; 39 U.S.C. 283, 287); and

(3) Sections 202 and 203 of the Act of February 28, 1925, as amended (43 Stat. 1066, 1967; 39 U.S.C. 283, 287); and

(4) Subsections (a), (b), (e), and (e) of section 204 of the Act of May 27, 1958 (39 U.S.C. 283); and

(5) Section 25 of the Act of March 3, 1879, as amended (20 Stat. 361; 39 U.S.C. 286); and

(6) Section 2 of the Act of October 39, 1951 (65 Stat. 672; 39 U.S.C. 289a). SEC. 10. (a) The provisions of this section and sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (1), (2) (5), and (7), 8, and 9 of this Act shall become effective on July 1, 1960.

(b) The provisions of section 7 (3), (4), and (6) of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 1961.

AIR PARCEL POST

SEC. 4. Section 1 of the Act of June 29, 1948 (62 Stat. 1097; 39 U.S.C. 475) is amended

(1) by striking out the words "for the period of two years" appearing in paragraph (11) and

(2) by adding the following sentence to paragraph (11):

"In no event shall the rate of postage on air mail of the first class weighing in excess of eight ounces be less than the rate prescribed in section 2(a) of this Act."

SECOND-CLASS MAIL

SEC. 5. (a) The postage rate for publications entered as second-class mail when mailed for delivery at the office of original entry is one-half cent per copy mailed when delivery is made through post office boxes, general delivery or by rural or star route carriers

(b) The postage rate for publications entered as second-class mail when mailed for delivery at the office of mailing by city or village letter carrier or when mailed at the office where it is entered for delivery by city or village letter carriers at a different office within the delivery limits of which the headquarters or general business office of the publisher is located is 1 cent for each copy weighing two ounces or less or 2 cents for each copy weighing more than two ounces or the zone-pound rates provided in subsection (c) of this section, whichever is higher

(c) The postage rates on publications entered as second-class mail not entitled to be mailed at the rates in subsections (a) and (b) of this section (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 publishers thereof from the post office of publication and entry or other post office where entry is authorized, or when mailed by news agents registered as such under regulations prescribed by the Postmaster General to actual subscribers or to other news agents for the purpose of sale are one-half cent for each individually addressed copy or package of unaddressed copies and in addition the pound rates set forth in the following table:

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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 on and after the effective date of this section, the rate of postage on newspapers or periodicals maintained by and in the interests of religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agricultural, labor, veterans, or fraternal organizations not organized for profit and none of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any private stockholder or individual, and religious, educational, or scientific publications designed specifically for use in school classrooms or in religious instruction classes shall be the rates required to be paid on publications generally except that the rates prescribed in this subsection shall be reduced by 50 per centum. The publisher of any such newspaper, periodical or publication before being entitled to such rate shall furnish proof of qualification to the Postmaster General at such times and under such conditions as the Postmaster General may prescribe.

(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 2 ounces and 1 cent for each additional ounce or fraction thereof, except

when the postage at the rate prescribed for fourth class matter is lower, in which case the latter rates shall apply, computed on each individually addressed copy or package of unaddressed copies, and not on the bulk rate of the copies and packages.

(e) For the purpose of this section, the portion of a publication devoted to advertisements shall include all advertisements inserted in and attached permanently to the publication.

(f) The Postmaster General may require publishers to separate or make up to zones in such a manner as he may direct, all mail matter of the second class when offered for mailing.

(g) With the first mailing of each issue of each publication entered as second class mail, the publisher shall file with the postmaster a copy of such issue together with a statement containing such information as the Postmaster General may prescribe for determining the postage chargeable thereon.

CONTROLLED CIRCULATION PUBLICATIONS

SEC. 6. Section 203 of the Postal Rate Revision and Federal Employees Salary Act of 1948 (62 Stat. 1262; 39 U.S.C. 291b), as amended, is further amended(1) by striking out "12 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "14 cents"; and (2) by striking out "1 cent" and inserting in lieu thereof "3 cents".

THIRD-CLASS MAIL

SEC. 7. Section 3 of the Act of October 30, 1951 (65 Stat. 673; 39 U.S.C. 290a-1), as amended, is further amended

(1) by striking out "3 cents" from that part of the section which precedes the first proviso and inserting in lieu thereof "4 cents"; and

(2) by striking out "12 cents" from that part of the section which precedes the proviso and inserting in lieu thereof "2 cents"; and

(3) by striking out "twenty pounds" from the first proviso of said section and inserting in lieu thereof "forty pounds"; and

(4) by striking out "16 cents" from the second proviso of said section and inserting in lieu thereof "18 cents"; and

(5) by striking out from the second proviso of said section, whenever they appear therein the words "21⁄2 cents when mailed on or after such date" and inserting in lieuthereof "21⁄2 cents when mailed on or after July 1, 1960, and prior to January 1, 1961, and 3 cents when mailed on or after January 1' 1961".

(6) by striking out "10 cents" from the second proviso of said section and inserting in lieu thereof "14 cents".

(7) by striking out "31⁄2 cents" from the third proviso of said section and inserting in lieu thereof "41⁄2 cents".

FOURTH-CLASS MAIL

SEC. 8. (a) Section 204(d) of the Postal Revision and Federal Employees Salary Act of 1948 (39 U.S.C. 292a(d)), as amended, is further amended

(1) by striking out "9 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "10 cents"; and (2) by striking out "5 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "6 cents". (b) Section 204(e) of the Postal Rate Revision and Federal Employees Salary Act of 1948 (39 U.S.C. 292a(e)), as amended, is further amended

(1) by striking out "4 cents" and inserting in lieu thereof "5 cents"; and (2) by striking out "1 cent" and inserting in lieu thereof "3 cents".

REPEALS

SEC. 9. The following provisions of law are hereby repealed:

(1) Section 5 of the Act of June 23, 1874 (18 Stat. 232; 39 U.S.C. 283); and (2) Sections 1101, 1102, 1103, and 1106 of the Act of October 3, 1917 (40 Stat. 327; 39 U.S.C. 283, 287); and

(3) Sections 202 and 203 of the Act of February 28, 1925, as amended (43 Stat. 1066, 1067; 39 U.S.C. 283, 287); and

(4) Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (e) of section 204 of the Act of May 27, 1958 (39 U.S.C. 283); and

(5) Section 25 of the Act of March 3, 1879, as amended (20 Stat. 361; 39 U.S.C. 286); and

(6) Section 2 of the Act of October 30, 1951 (65 Stat. 672; 39 U.S.C. 289a). SEC. 10. (a) The provisions of this section and sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (1), (2) (5), and (7), 8, and 9 of this Act shall become effective on July 1, 1960.

(b) The provisions of section 7 (3), (4), and (6) of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 1961.

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