Word: basketfuls
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...June 20] will leave many Europeans puzzled. In view of the market prices you publish, which strike us as being generally much lower than those quoted in Western Europe for similar articles, the predicament of the cited middle-income families is difficult to understand. Our market basket is certainly much more expensive than the U.S. housewife's, but in Europe no $25,000-income family would think it had to do without its annual vacation or renewing its dining-room chairs, and an $8,600-income family would certainly not be looked upon as impoverished...
...such foods as chicken and coffee was lower last March than during 1958. Almost every other kind of food, however, was up-or way up. The prices, estimated by The Labor Department from data collected in 56 metropolitan areas, represent typical items in a housewife's market basket. Prices are, of course, much higher in many places...
...Basket Case. Among the most fervent foes of reform are the postal workers' unions, which are among the most powerful lobbyists in Washington. Five hundred thousand strong, the postal workers represent a massive voting bloc. They do not relish the idea of Congress relinquishing control of the Post Office because they would lose their political leverage when looking for pay raises. Congress has, in fact, raised the postal workers' salaries until they compare favorably with wages in industry. In many close House districts, re-election may depend on how much of the postal workers' voting bloc...
There does not seem much left to sacrifice. As it is now constituted, the Post Office is the Government's basket case. There is a 23% average turnover in personnel every year; 85% of all employees are in the five lowest pay grades. Operations are guided by a vast hodgepodge of rules and regulations that fill a 9½lb. volume. The accumulated need for facilities and equipment exceeds $5 billion; yet the proposed construction of any major postal facility usually takes eight to ten years to win congressional approval...
Wilcox and Schnorr are quite excited about the plans. They said that one advantage to spreading things out is that if one weekend bombed, there's always another. "As you know, it's foolish to put all your eggs in one basket," Wilcox explained. Also, the present arrangements simply involve a great deal more entertainment...