If the committee approves the purposes of H. R. 1592, in our opinion it would be better to accomplish that purpose through language similar to that of H. R. 3884, as found on page 2, lines i to 5 and 10 to 15. The principal differences between H. R. 1592 and the cited provisions of H. R. 3884 are as follows:

1. H. R. 3884 is in the form of amendment to section 210 of the Communications Act of 1934, while H. R. 1592 would amend section 201 (b) of that act. The former is preferable.

2. H. R. 3884, at page 2, lines 10 to 15, makes the proposed free service subject to rules, regulations, and limitations which the Commission finds desirable in the public interest, while H. R. 1592 does not give the Commission the power to regulate the proposed service. If any additional free service is to be authorized, the Commission is strongly of the opinion that it should be subject to regulation.

3. H. R. 3884, at page 2, lines 3 to 5, makes the furnishing of ship position reports subject to the secrecy provisions of section 605 of the Communications Act, while H. R. 1592 contains no similar provision. In that connection, we invite your attention particularly to the words, "reports of positions of ships." A common carrier subject to the act may obtain information as to the position of ships by various means. This information may be obtained through the medium of PTR or TR radio reports, from messages addressed to CQ (intended to be read or used by anyone who can receive them). It may be obtained from addressed messages and intercepted traffic in which there may be included the position of ships. The pending bill would permit the carrier to furnish the information obtained through these or other means, including addressed messages or intercepted traffic. Your attention is called to the fact that the furnishing of information obtained from addressed messages or intercepted traffic would be inconsistent with the secrecy provisions of the Communications Act (sec. 605), and perhaps also the International Telecommunications Convention, Madrid, 1932, and the General Radio Regulations annexed thereto.

Respectfully,

ANNING S. PRALL, Chairman.

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 2a of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, changes in section 201 (b) of the Communications Act of 1934 made by the bill are shown as follows (the existing section 201 (b) is shown in roman and the matter added thereto by the bill is shown in italics):

(b) All charges, practices, classifications, and regulations for and in connection with such communication service, shall be just and reasonable, and any such charge, practice, classification, or regulation that is unjust or unreasonable is hereby declared to be unlawful: Provided, That communications by wire or radio subject to this Act may be classified into day, night, repeated, unrepeated, letter, commercial, press, Government, and such other classes as the Commission may decide to be just and reasonable, and different charges may be made for the different classes of communications: Provided further, That nothing in this Act or in any other provision of law shall be construed to prevent a common carrier subject to this Act from entering into or operating under any contract with any common carrier not subject to this Act, for the exchange of their services, if the Commission is of the opinion that such contract is not contrary to the public interest: Provided further, That nothing in this Act or in any other provision of law shall prevent a common carrier subject to this Act from furnishing reports of positions of ships at sea to newspapers of general circulation, either at a nominal charge or without charge, provided the name of such common carrier is displayed along with such ship position reports. The Commission may prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary in the public interest to carry out the provisions of this

Act.

О

TIME CREDITS TO INJURED SUBSTITUTE POSTAL EMPLOYEES

JULY 19, 1937.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

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

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 3149]

The Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, having had under consideration the bill (H. R. 3149) for the relief of the postal employees, report the same back to the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass.

This bill provides that substitutes in the Postal Service who are injured while on duty shall be given time credits for the period they are disabled and unable to work. The committee believes it is only fair that such period of disability should be counted in computing a substitute's service in order to determine the grade to which he should be advanced upon being promoted to the regular force.. (The report of the Postmaster General reads as follows:)

OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL,
Washington, D. C., May 22, 1987.

Hon. JAMES M. MEAD,
Chairman, Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. MEAD: The receipt is acknowledged of your letter of March 13, requesting a report upon H. R. 3149, a bill for the relief of the postal employees. It has been ascertained from the Bureau of the Budget that this proposed legislation would not be in accord with the program of the President.

Very truly yours,

ALASKAN AIR MAIL SERVICE

JULY 19, 1937.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

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

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 6167]

The Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, having had under consideration the bill (H. R. 6167) to provide a surcharge on certain air mail carried in Alaska, report the same back to the House with the following amendment and, so amended, recommend that the bill do pass.

Page 1, in lines 4 and 5, strike out "(39 U. S. C., 488, 1934 edition)" and insert in lieu thereof the following: "(U. S. C., 1934 ed., Supp. II, title 39, sec. 488)".

The legislation is recommended by the Post Office Department. It amends existing law in two respects: (1) By extending the law to the carriage of mails to and from the Territory of Alaska, whereas the existing law applies only to the carriage of mails within the Territory of Alaska; and (2) it provides for a surcharge on Alaskan mail transported by air.

The enactment of this bill will permit the Post Office Department to establish several new air-mail routes now in contemplation, at a minimum cost to the Government; it will expedite the transportation of Alaskan mail; and it will assist in developing the Territory. Our committee has been informed by the postal officials that the surcharge is not objectionable to the mailers and that the establishment of the service is being urged.

The Post Office Department's letter is quoted below:

OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL,
Washington, D. C., March 13, 1937.

Hon. WILLIAM B. BANKHEAD,
Speaker, House of Representatives,

Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. BANKHEAD: Referring to Public, No. 317, approved August 24, 1935, it is found that certain amendments are desirable to make the law efficacious. One amendment is for the purpose of making the law apply to the carriage of mails to and from the Territory of Alaska, whereas the existing law applies only to the carriage of mails within the Territory of Alaska.