2d Session No. 1694 MAIL TRANSPORTATION BY MOTOR VEHICLE IN LIEU OF TRAIN SERVICE MAY 28, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. KELLY, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 12412] The Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, having had under consideration the bill (H. R. 12412) authorizing the Postmaster General to permit railroad and electric-car companies to provide mail transportation by motor vehicle in lieu of service by train, reports the same back to the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass. This measure is made necessary on account of changes in transportation facilities. Many mail trains are being taken off regular schedule by the railroad companies and it becomes necessary to provide for other means of transporting the mails. Under the present law, the railroads carry the mail at rates established by the Interstate Commerce Commission. The law is as follows: All railway common carriers are hereby required to transport such mail matter as may be offered for transportation by the United States in the manner, under the conditions, and with the service prescribed by the Postmaster General and shall be entitled to receive fair and reasonable compensation for such transportation and for the service connected therewith. The Interstate Commerce Commission is hereby empowered and directed as soon as practicable to fix and determine from time to time the fair and reasonable rates and compensation for the transportation of such mail matter by railway common carriers and the service connected therewith, prescribing the method or methods by weight, or space, or both, or otherwise, for ascertaining such rate or compensation, and to publish the same, and orders so made and published shall continue in force until changed by the commission after due notice and hearing. Under the provisions of this measure the Postmaster General is authorized to permit railroad and electric-car companies to carry the mail by motor vehicle over highways in lieu of their train service, and the compensation allowed shall not be in excess of the rate paid for train service as fixed by the Interstate Commerce Commission. It HR-71-2-VOL 4-22 is essential that such action be taken if adequate postal service at reasonable cost is to be assured patrons in many communities. The approval of the Post Office Department is contained in the following letter: Hon. ARCHIE D. SANDERS, POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., April 24, 1980. Chairman Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. SANDERS: Your favorable consideration is requested in the matter of securing legislation under which this department may permit railroad and electric-car companies to provide mail transportation by motor vehicle in lieu of service by train, the compensation for such service to be at a rate not in excess of the rate that would be allowed for similar service by railroad or electric car. The following draft of a bill is suggested: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Postmaster General is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to permit railroad and electric-car companies to provide mail transportation by motor vehicle over highways in lieu of service by train, the compensation for such service to be at a rate not in excess of the rate that would be allowed for similar service by railroad or electric car; payment therefor to be made from the appropriate appropriation for railroad transportation and mail messenger service or electric and cable car service." On account of unprofitable train operation, due to the increased use of bus lines and automobiles, certain railroad companies are withdrawing local train service and substituting therefor motor bus service over the highways on practically the same schedule as was maintained by train. Usually the bus line is operated as a subsidiary of the railroad company under a separate corporate title, but in some cases the railroads operate their own lines. The withdrawal of local trains has interfered materially with the prompt dispatch of the mails, particularly to local points along the line, and it has been necessary in most cases to provide a substitute service in lieu of that formerly provided by the local trains. The railroads, in most instances, are willing to provide mail service in their busses and accept pay therefor at the same rate that would be allowed for similar service by railroad, and such service is now in operation on some of the lines. Payment in these cases is authorized direct to the railroad company of record and if the service is performed in a bus operated by a subsidiary line, the railroad company makes the necessary arrangements with the subsidiary company. The matter was submitted to the Comptroller General for a ruling as to whether there is any legal objection to authorizing payment on regularly authorized railroad routes to railroad companies of record for service performed by motor vehicle over highways in lieu of service by train. He advised in effect that when mails for local points are transported not by train but by bus and the service is performed by a subsidiary of the railroad or by an independent bus company, there is considerable doubt whether, as to such mail, the route retains its character as a "railroad route" within the meaning of the appropriation for railroad transportation and mail messenger service. In conclusion he stated further that his office will not for the present question otherwise proper payments to railroad companies for transporting mail when a part of the service is performed by means of busses, but if the practice is to continue beyond the fiscal year ending June 30, 1931, there should be specific statutory authority therefor by change in the wording of the appropriations or otherwise. Under the legislation requested it is proposed to continue the use of the bus facilities provided by the railroad companies in lieu of train service for the transportation of the mails. It should be understood that these facilities will only be utilized in cases where the service is more satisfactory and cheaper at railroad rates than could be obtained otherwise by star route under formal contract. SPECIAL DELIVERY AND SPECIAL HANDLING OF CERTAIN MAIL MATTER MAY 28, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. KELLY, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 10676] The Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, having had under consideration the bill (H. R. 10676) to restrict the expeditious handling, transportation, and delivery of certain mail matter where local or contractual conditions are inadequate, reports the same back to the House with the following amendment: Strike out everything after the enacting clause and insert the following in lieu thereof: That the Postmaster General is authorized to provide and issue specialdelivery and special-handling stamps of such denominations as he may consider necessary. SEC. 2. To procure the most expeditious handling and transportation practicable, and the immediate delivery of mail matter at the office of address specialdelivery stamps shall be affixed thereto, in addition to the regular postage, in accordance with the following schedule: Matter weighing not more than two pounds, if of the first class, 10 cents, if of any other class, 15 cents; matter weighing more than two but not more than ten pounds, if of the first class, 20 cents, if of any other class, 25 cents; matter weighing more than ten pounds, if of the first class, 25 cents, if of any other class, 35 cents: Provided, That, under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe, ordinary postage stamps of equivalent value may be accepted in lieu of the special-delivery stamps herein specified. SEC. 3. For making special delivery there may be paid to the messenger or other person making such delivery 9 cents for matter of the first class weighing not in excess of two pounds, 10 cents for matter of other than the first class weighing not in excess of two pounds, 15 cents for mail matter of any class weighing more than two pounds but not in excess of ten pounds, and 20 cents for mail matter of any class weighing in excess of ten pounds. SEC. 4. To procure the most expeditious handling and transportation practicable of mail matter of the fourth class, special-handling stamps shall be affixed thereto, in addition to the regular postage, in accordance with the following schedule: Matter weighing not more than two pounds, 10 cents; matter weighing more than two but not more than ten pounds, 15 cents; matter weighing more than ten pounds, 20 cents: Provided, That, under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe, ordinary postage stamps of equivalent value may be accepted in lieu of the special-handling stamps herein specified. SEC. 5. Section 212, Title II, of the act of February 28, 1925, reclassifying the salaries of postmasters and employees of the Postal Service, readjusting their salaries and compensation on an equitable basis, increasing postal rates to provide for such readjustment, and for other purposes, and so much of section 207 of Title II of said act as relates to the expeditious handling, transportation, and delivery of mail matter of the fourth class, as amended, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed. Amend the title so as to read: A bill to provide for the special delivery and the special handling of mail matter. As so amended, the committee recommends that the bill do pass. Section 212, Title II, of the act of February 28, 1925 (43 Stat. 1069; U. S. C., title 39, secs. 166, 170), and so much of section 207 of Title II of said act as relates to the expenditious handling, transportation, and delivery of mail matter of the fourth class (43 Stat. 1067; U. S. C., title 39, sec. 294), as amended by the act of May 29, 1928 (45 Stat. 943, 944; U. S. C., title 39, Supp. III, secs. 166, 294), read as follows: SEC. 212. (a) To procure the immediate delivery of mail matter of the first class weighing not more than two pounds, stamps of the value of 10 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage); matter weighing more than two pounds and not more than ten pounds, stamps to the value of 20 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage); and matter weighing more than ten pounds, stamps to the value of 25 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage). (b) Mail matter of other than the first class bearing, in addition to the regular postage, a special-delivery stamp of the proper denomination or the equivalent thereof in ordinary stamps, with the words "Special delivery" written or printed on the envelope or wrapper when ordinary stamps are used, shall receive the same expeditious handling and transportation as is accorded to mail matter of the first class and shall be accorded immediate delivery at the office of address, under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe. (c) To procure immediate delivery of mail matter of other than the first class weighing not more than two pounds, stamps to the value of 15 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage); weighing more than two pounds but not more than ten pounds, stamps to the value of 25 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage), and for matter weighing more than ten pounds, stamps to the value of 35 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage). (d) For making special delivery there may be paid to the messenger or other person making such delivery 9 cents for matter of the first class weighing not in excess of two pounds, 10 cents for matter of other than the first class weighing not in excess of two pounds, 15 cents for mail matter of any class weighing more than two pounds but not in excess of ten pounds, and 20 cents for mail matter of any class weighing in excess of ten pounds. (e) For the purpose of this act the Postmaster General is authorized to provide and issue special-delivery stamps of the denominations 10, 15, 20, 25, and 35 cents. So much of section 207 of Title II of the act of February 28, 1925 (43 Stat. 1067, U. S. C., title 39, sec. 294), as refers to the expeditious handling, transportation, and delivery of mail matter of the fourth class is hereby amended to read as follows: Whenever, in addition to the postage as hereinbefore provided, there shall be affixed to any parcel of mail matter of the fourth class a special-handling stamp of the proper denomination, or the equivalent thereof in ordinary postage stamps with the words "Special handling" written or printed upon the wrapper, such parcel shall receive the same expeditious handling, transportation, and delivery accorded to mail matter of the first class: Provided, That to procure special handling treatment of mail matter of the fourth class weighing not more than two pounds stamps to the value of 10 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage), weighing more than two pounds but not more than ten pounds stamps to the value of 15 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage), and on such matter weighing more than ten pounds stamps to the value of 20 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage). This measure is necessary to eliminate inconsistencies in the present laws which are occasioned by the impracticability in certain cases of granting every facility given first-class mail matter to other classes of mail matter. In the act of February 28, 1925, it was provided that where postage stamps to the value of 25 cents were affixed to parcel-post packages, they should be given the same handling and treatment accorded first-class mail. This was amended by the act of May 29, 1928, which combined special-handling features with special delivery and provided that on the payment of one specified fee both special handling during transit and immediate delivery at the point of destination should be given. The act of May 29, 1928, further provided for a special-handling service alone which was to insure the same expeditious transportation as is given first-class mail matter without, however, the immediate delivery at the office of destination. Experience has proved that in some cases it is impossible to grant parcel post the same treatment during transit as is given first-class mail. At stations where there is no train stop pouches of first-class mail matter can be thrown from the train. This, however, is out of the question when parcel-post packages are to be left at such a station. Therefore, this measure would enable the Post Office Department to give the most expeditious handling and transportation possible during transit and would cover the cases above mentioned or others of similar kind. There has been considerable confusion as to the actual service to be rendered the patrons upon the payment of specialhandling and special-delivery fees, and it is believed this measure will clarify the situation. It will bring the actual present performance in line with the letter of the law. The approval of the Post Office Department is indicated by the following letter: Hon. A. D. SANDERS, POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Chairman Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, MY DEAR MR. SANDERS: I am transmitting herewith a proposed amendment to the act of May 29, 1928, as appearing in paragraph 4, section 444, Postal Laws and Regulations of 1924, in so far as it relates to expeditious transportation of parcel-post matter bearing special-handling and special-delivery stamps, with the recommendation that such amendment be passed. Paragraph (b) of the act referred to reads: "Mail matter of other than the first class, bearing in addition to the regular postage, a special-delivery stamp of the proper denomination or the equivalent thereof in ordinary stamps, with the words 'special delivery' written or printed on the envelope or wrapper when ordinary stamps are used, shall receive the same expeditious handling and transportation as is accorded to mail matter of the first class and shall be accorded immediate delivery at the office of address, under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe." The last paragraph of the act reads: "Whenever, in addition to the postage as hereinbefore provided, there shall be affixed to any parcel of mail matter of the fourth class a special-handling stamp of the proper denomination, or the equivalent thereof in ordinary postage stamps with the words 'Special handling' written or printed upon the wrapper, such parcel shall receive the same expeditious handling, transportation, and deli ery accorded to mail matter of the first class: Provided, That to procure |