63D CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (REPT.1219, 3d Session.

POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL.

DECEMBER 16, 1914.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. STEENERSON, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, submitted the following

MINORITY VIEWS.

[To accompany H. R. 19906.]

I am opposed to making the proposed new legislation a part of this bill. Although legislation by means of riders on appropriation bills is frequently resorted to and may sometimes be justifiable, it is only so in rare and exceptional cases.

The practice is liable to lead to ill-considered and carelessly drawn measures, which it is the aim of our legislative procedure to avoid.

In no instance, so far as I can learn, has legislation so complicated in form or so vital in its effects upon the interests of millions of people been proposed to be forced through in this manner without the con sideration that its importance deserves.

Some of this legislation, notably that relating to railway mail pay, has already passed the House as a part of the Moon bill (H. R. 17042) and is now pending in the Senate.

Is it the plan to force favorable action in the Senate by a threat to withhold appropriation for the Postal Service unless they yield to the House? If so, I am afraid the plan will fail, and the only result may be to force a deadlock and prevent the passage of the whole bill and thereby force an extra session. Every one who believes that course to be wise will support this method, but I am persuaded it would be very unwise to do so.

The proposition to do away with assistant postmasters is also one full of contention and should not be forced upon the House in this manner. So is the proposition to authorize the Postmaster General to let all rural routes in one county in each State, on contracts to run four years, to the highest bidder.

This is only a wedge to begin the destruction of the whole Rural Delivery System, and should be considered apart from the appropriation for the service.

There are several other matters of nearly equal importance, all of which should be considered in due course of procedure and not under the whip and spur of a rule on an appropriation bill.

I am authorized to state that Mr. Griest and Mr. Kennedy concur in above views.

O

63D CONGRESS, 3d Session.

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

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REPORT No.1221.

LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL APPROPRIATION BILL.

DECEMBER 14, 1914.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Carolina, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 19909.]

In presenting the bill making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, the Committee on Appropriations submit the following in explanation thereof.

The estimates on which the bill is based will be found on pages 9 to 143, inclusive, of the Book of Estimates for the fiscal year 1916, and amount in all to $40,727,518.27, including $3,103,500 for the census of agriculture.

The total appropriations made for the current fiscal year 1915 for the objects provided for in the accompanying bill amount to $37,625,789.70, which sum includes $246,860 carried in deficiency and other appropriation acts for 1915 for various branches of the public service that are taken up in the accompanying bill for 1916, and is exclusive of $251,300 for the Bureau of Corporations transferred to the Federal Trade Commission and estimated for under the sundry civil act for 1916.

The bill reported herewith appropriates $38,740,733.50, and provides for 16,707 salaries, including $2,286,100 and 1,000 temporary salaries for a census of agriculture.

CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE.

nder section 31 of the act of July 2, 1909, providing for the thirteenth and subsequent decennial censuses, it is required that in the year 1915, and once every 10 years thereafter, à census of agriculture and live stock shall be taken; accordingly, based on estimates regularly submitted by the Department of Commerce, there is recommended in the accompanying bill the sum of $2,286,100, including provision for the payment specifically of 1,000 tempo

rary employments. As this expenditure is not an annual one, and will occur only once every 10 years, it constitutes no element for intelligent comparison of appropriations of one year with another, therefore the following comparison of the bill with the estimates submitted for 1916 and the appropriations for 1915 is made without reference to the estimates for this special service or the amount recommended therefor by the committee.

REDUCTIONS UNDER APPROPRIATIONS AND ESTIMATES.

Compared with the appropriations for the current year, 1915, and with the estimates submitted to Congress for the ensuing fiscal year, 1916, the following differences are shown:

The bill appropriates $1,171,156.20 less than was appropriated for the same service for the fiscal year 1915.

It appropriates $1,169,384.77 less than was submitted to Congress in the estimates of the executive departments.

It provides for 188 fewer salaries than were appropriated for this year, and 271 less than are specifically called for in the estimates. No salaries are increased, and but very few additional employments are provided for in any of the departments of the Government.

In some instances, that are noted elsewhere in this report, salaries are reduced and considerable reductions are recommended in several branches of the public service, notably the following:

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

The Postmaster General has effected a very considerable reduction in the expenses of the clerical force of the Post Office Department, notwithstanding the customary growth in the Postal Service. Aside from transfers from one office to another without involving increases in any salaries, the net reduction in the number of persons is 81 and the reduction in the amount for personal services is $75,680. At another point in this report will be found a table showing in detail the various changes.

OFFICE OF AUDITOR FOR POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

A further substantial reduction is made in the appropriations for this office. The aggregate sum for personal services is reduced by $28,850, and a total of 40 specific employments is dropped from the bill. During the four fiscal years 1913-1916 a total reduction has been made in this office of 355 statutory salaries and a net reduction of $134,120 in total compensation paid has been effected. Results due to exceptional efficiency in administration and the introduction of modern business methods and devices.

TREASURER'S OFFICE.

The regular force in the Treasurer's office and the force transferred from the subtreasuries for the current fiscal year are consolidated for the fiscal year 1916, and a net decrease is effected of 26 persons and $22,100, notwithstanding the growth in volume of public business transacted in this important office,

PENSION OFFICE.

In the Pension Office a reduction, due very largely to the decrease in the pension roll from natural causes, is made of 88 persons and $126,700.

DETAILED CHANGES IN SPECIFIC EMPLOYMENTS.

Without reference to transfers from one bureau or office to another or the provision made for the census of agriculture, the specific changes in numbers or grades of officers or employees of the Government and their rates of compensation recommended in the bill are in detail as follows:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Three privates in the police force of the House Office Building, at $1,050 each, are provided for in accordance with the resolution of the House adopted April 18, 1914.

The special employee authorized by resolution of April 25, 1913, at $1,800 is omitted.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

Office of Superintendent of Library Building: The position of Superintendent of the Library Building and Grounds, at $5,000, is omitted. A disbursing clerk and assistant superintendent, at $2,500, is provided in lieu of a chief clerk, at $2,000, and 6 new charwomen, at $240 each, are allowed.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

Chief clerk's office: Three additional charwomen, at $240 each; 2 laborers, at $500 each; and 1 skilled laborer, at $840, are provided for the Auditor's Building (old Bureau of Engraving and Printing). Auditor for Treasury Department: One clerk, at $1,000, is omitted. Auditor for Interior Department: One additional clerk, at $1,800; 1 clerk, at $1,600; and 2 clerks, at $1,000 each, are provided.

Auditor for Post Office Department: Clerks are omitted as follows: 5, at $1,600 each; 9, at $1,400 each; 10, at $1,200 each; 15, at $1,000 each.

Division of Postal Savings: By the rearrangement of this office 1 employee is omitted and the total amount is reduced $5,250.

Treasurer's Office: The following statement shows the transfers, omissions, new places, decreases in compensation, and changes in title recommended in the accompanying bill:

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