garcia argued october decided december assaulting undercover secret service agent loaded pistol attempt rob government flash money agent using buy counterfeit currency petitioners convicted violating proscribes assault robbery custodian mail matter money property appeals affirmed convictions petitioners contention limited crimes involving postal service held language money property includes belonging entrusted secret service agent flash money thus using pistol effort rob agent petitioners fell squarely within prohibitions statute pp mail matter money property separated one another use disjunctive means word money must given ordinary separate meaning mean postal money money custody postal employees ambiguity language statute even particular language lend application ejusdem generis rule require reading general terms money property following mail matter specific restricted postal context term mail matter specific term probably less specific money pp legislative history shows intent congress limit statute postal crimes pp fact solicitor general prior case presenting identical issue conceded applied postal crimes concession unwarranted relieve responsibility interpret congress intent enacting pp rehnquist delivered opinion burger white blackmun powell joined stevens filed dissenting opinion brennan marshall joined post charles white argued cause pro hac vice petitioners briefs theodore sakowitz jerrold ganzfried argued cause brief solicitor general lee assistant attorney general trott deputy solicitor general frey john de pue justice rehnquist delivered opinion petitioners assaulted undercover secret service agent loaded pistol attempt rob government flash money agent using buy counterfeit currency convicted violating proscribes assault robbery custodian mail matter money property appeals eleventh circuit affirmed petitioners convictions contention limited crimes involving postal service granted certiorari resolve split circuits concerning reach affirm agent david holmes secret service posed someone interested purchasing counterfeit currency met petitioners jose francisco garcia park miami petitioners agreed sell holmes large quantity counterfeit currency asked show genuine currency intended give exchange flashed money entrusted showed sample wares counterfeit bill wrangling terms agreement began jose garcia leapt front holmes brandishing semiautomatic pistol pointed pistol holmes assumed combat stance chambered round pistol demanded money holmes slowly raised hands head three secret service agents watching afar raced scene foot jose garcia dropped pistol surrendered francisco garcia seized money belonging fled agents arrested jose garcia spot pursued later arrested francisco garcia well petitioners convicted jury trial violating assaulting lawful custodian government money agent holmes intent rob steal purloin money section full whoever assaults person lawful charge control custody mail matter money property intent rob steal purloin mail matter money property robs person mail matter money property shall first offense imprisoned ten years effecting attempting effect robbery wounds person custody mail money property puts life jeopardy use dangerous weapon subsequent offense shall imprisoned years section prohibits assault intent rob person lawful charge control custody mail matter money property emphasis supplied petitioners contend notwithstanding reach language congress intended robbery postal money property covered statute enacted language statute contrary petitioners argument language protects custodians mail matter custodians money catchall phrase custodians property recent case lewis othing face statute suggests congressional intent limit coverage persons employed postal service three classes property protected separated conjunction canons construction indicate terms connected disjunctive manner given separate meanings see fcc pacifica foundation reiter sonotone refused ignore statutory meaning presumed similar disjunctive language stating use term indicates intent give nouns separate normal meanings case congress separated mail matter money property one another use disjunctive think means word money must given ordinary separate meaning mean postal money money custody postal employees petitioners contend language statute ambiguous support contention offer seems us rather labyrinthine explanation statutory language petitioners first claim conjunction properly read totally separate three types property listed prohibition word indeed strictly separates three types property statute proscribe assaults custodians money whether money belonging term money modified restricted term follows word property thus congress enacted law say petitioners proscribing assaults custodians money whomever owned congress enacted federal robbery statute without jurisdictional basis reply brief petitioners congress intended absurd result petitioners contend ambiguity statutory language contention however totally ignores word follows money shows money referred like property referred money belonging petitioners develop argument invoking principle ejusdem generis resolve ambiguity analysis creates principle course general words follow enumeration specific terms general words read apply items like specifically enumerated see harrison ppg industries petitioners thus urge mail matter specific term therefore general terms money property follow must read specific restricted postal context conclude money intended mean postal money property intended mean postal property said harrison rule ejusdem generis firmly established instrumentality ascertaining correct meaning words uncertainty quoting powell turn quoting gooch persuaded petitioners analysis statutory language creates ambiguity plain meaning words even think particular language lends application ejusdem generis rule previously noted terms question made separate distinct one another congress use disjunctive addition term mail matter specific term probably less specific money notwithstanding petitioners argument contrary satisfied statutory language deal plain unambiguous meaning turn legislative history additional tool analysis recognition extraordinary showing contrary intentions data justify limitation plain meaning statutory language find terms statute unambiguous judicial inquiry complete except rare exceptional circumstances tva hill quoting crooks harrelson section genesis law protect mail carriers assault robbery mail matter forerunner supp proscribed assault robbery person lawful charge control custody mail matter section placed chapter title code chapter entitled offenses postal service however congress amended appending term mail matter clause money property section amended retained place chapter title transferred chapter entitled robbery burglary contains federal statutes covering crimes act june ch stat section renumbered exception minor particulars text statute remained unchanged since amendment petitioners contend amendment intended expand reach statute beyond postal crimes support rely short colloquies house floor describe snippets surveying legislative history repeatedly stated authoritative source finding legislature intent lies committee reports bill represen considered collective understanding congressmen involved drafting studying proposed legislation zuber allen eschewed reliance passing comments one member weinberger rossi casual statements floor debates consumer product safety gte sylvania supra stated committee reports authoritative comments floor expressed similar preference zuber supra committee reports bill show intent part congress limit amended less normal reach words house report bill amend entitled safeguarding custodians government moneys property purpose pending bill bring within provisions penal code crime robbing attempting rob custodians government moneys senate report amendment entitled providing punishment crime robbing attempting rob custodians government moneys property senate report purpose bill exactly like house report nowhere committee reports state amended statute required postal nexus limited postal crimes petitioners make good deal fact reports contain letter postmaster general requesting enactment bill official letter however says nothing limiting broad language bill postal crimes instead speaks simply custodian government funds government mail supra supra two places postmaster general letter bill designed punish crime robbing attempting rob custodians government moneys ibid thus committee reports show postmaster two committee responsible legislation gave evidence belief statute limited postal crimes petitioners rely heavily statement representative dobbins dissent identifies floor manager made floor house representatives may representative dobbins stated purpose pending bill extend protection present law property custody postal officials et say many custodians postal stations great amount money custody little mail cong rec think probably strongest argument may made limitation coverage although petitioners make set forth opinion appeals second circuit reid amplified dissenting colleagues today argument certainly without persuasive power perhaps controlling substantial ambiguity language congress enacted ambiguity willing narrow plain meaning even criminal statute basis gestalt judgment congress probably intended final argument petitioners assert vindicated solicitor general earlier stipulation hanahan vacated remanded case faced identical issue presented vacated remanded light solicitor general concession applied postal crimes solicitor general concession hanahan unwarranted noted nlrb iron workers governmental agency disqualified changing mind concerning construction statute see also barrett moreover private agreements litigants especially disowned relieve performance judicial function responsibility interpret intent congress enacting irrespective petitioners respondent prior present views proper administration criminal law left merely stipulation parties young agree solicitor general prior concession control case petitioners seek clip despite plain terms short answer congress write statute way russello instead congress selected language penalized assaults robberies anyone custodian money property beyond question using pistol effort rob agent holmes petitioners fell squarely within prohibitions statute judgment appeals therefore affirmed ordered footnotes petitioners also convicted crimes see justice jackson stated resort legislative history justified face act inescapably ambiguous think go beyond committee reports presumably well considered carefully prepared select casual statements floor debates always distinguished candor accuracy basis making minds law congress intended enact substitute congress one important functions schwegmann calvert distillers concurring despite solicitor general view government prosecutors relied outside postal context see customs service employee sherman military money custodian cert denied peek disagree petitioners assertion read fit well federal statutes especially statutes related duplicitous section prohibits consummated robberies person whether lawful custodian possessing type personal property difference latter specifically directed authorized custodians protects assaults accompanying attempted completed robberies thus statutes complement justice stevens justice brennan justice marshall join dissenting literal application statute produce result demonstrably odds intentions drafters actual legislative intent must control disposition see griffin oceanic contractors believe similar rule apply literal application federal criminal statute dramatically broader coverage draftsmen intended fair reading entire history convinces congress never intended apply outside postal context correctly notes ante genesis law protect mail carriers assault robbery mail matter deterrent purpose law justifies imposition especially severe sanctions reason heavy penalties always authorized sometimes mandated assaults upon mail carriers second congress recognizing importance delivery mails enacted earliest predecessor enactment entitled act establish post roads within stated part death penalty person robbed carrier mail penalty robbery carrier mail remained third congress passed act may almost three years later congress made aiding abetting robbery mail carrier offense also subject penalty death repeatedly subsequent years congress enacted special legislation dealing offenses statutes enacted statute congress established mandatory minimum sentence incarceration years attempted robbery mail carrier wounded life put danger done consistently century congress thus ensured law provide special protection person within postal setting making clear crime upon person unusually serious matter federal offense also severity mandated penalty history codification immediate years thereafter unequivocally demonstrates predecessors always intended postal offenses case course involves interpretation amendment title congress adopted question whether congress intended abandon postal nexus characterized legislation throughout long history ii review circumstances leading amendment persuades congress merely intended broaden protection postal workers two bills containing amendatory language enacted following year introduced house representatives referred committee judiciary neither bills reported committee course committee normally process significant change general coverage criminal code highest postal official postmaster general wrote letter representative james mead chairman house committee post office post roads requesting amendment cover assaults custodians government funds house senate committee post office post roads processed requested legislation see sess sess amendment referred house committee post office post roads noncontroversial measure congressman dobbins member committee managed floor house response query stated purpose pending bill extend protection present law property custody postal officials extends protection mail matter custody postal officials relatively minor piece legislation sort processed almost debate floor either house unambiguous comment spokesman committee reported bill particularly illuminating opinion entitled greater weight general statement committee reports little paraphrase statutory language judge friendly succinctly wrote reid amendment statute stood chapter criminal code dealing offenses postal service congressman supposed passing amendment section proposed postmaster general recommended committees dealing postal service creating new crime respect government property generally iii even congress enacted amendment thus structuring statute read much form exists today statute remained chapter dealing crimes postal service general revision judicial code one contends revision changed meaning statute apparently never occurred federal prosecutor statute application outside postal context several decades amended indeed question first considered top executive level department justice hanahan vacated remanded solicitor general bork carefully examined question concluding covered postal crimes solicitor general explanation conclusion merits quotation congress added encompassing phrase money property face statute covers crime petitioner convicted one involving person lawful charge control custody money property agree petitioner however legislative history plainly shows statute intended apply postal crimes bill amending statute designed remedy anomalous situation existed old statute amendments statute imposed severe penalty one robbed mail matter postal office imposed penalty one robbed money valuable property post office change law advocated post office department department submitted report bill house senate committees post office post roads therefore concede section amended designed cover robberies post offices postal employees iv even correct appraisal actual intent congress arguable statutory language sufficiently plain nevertheless given effect however three special concerns lead contrary conclusion first relationship statute parts criminal code general statute proscribing thefts government property carries lesser penalty even violence accompanies theft severe penalty explicable assume congress wanted provide special deterrent crimes identifiable class federal employees moreover special deterrent consistent congressional decision mail carriers wear special uniforms postmaster general prescribed see act july ch stat robbery uniformed postal worker fits squarely rationale assault case however upon undercover agent known connection federal government type robbery appropriately prosecuted second severity mandatory minimum sentences years actual threatened violence involved years case kind rather plainly disproportionate offense covers every conceivable theft government property even attempted robbery hammer government responds noting congress decide penalty harsh quite true response identifies final important concern congress rather executive must define dimensions federal law enforcement program law enforcement remains remain primary responsibility several every increase power federal prosecutor moves us step closer national police force attendant threats individual liberty reason believe special obligation make sure congress intended authorize novel assertion federal criminal jurisdiction cf bell stevens dissenting mcelroy stevens dissenting altobella course doubt congress authority enact law meaning finds today however convinced congress actually intended therefore respectfully dissent act ch stat section provided pertinent part person persons shall rob carrier mail mail person shall rob mail letters sent conveyed post letter packet shall steal mail shall steal take letter packet offender offenders shall conviction thereof suffer death stat see ch stat act mar ch stat act mar ch stat lashes imprisonment exceeding years first conviction death first conviction wounding carrier placing life danger use dangerous weapon death second conviction lashes imprisonment exceeding two years attempted robbery mails act apr ch stat three years imprisonment attempted robbery mails assaulting shooting threatening custodian dangerous weapon act mar ch stat years imprisonment first conviction death first conviction carrier mails wounded life put danger dangerous weapon death second conviction congress passed act revise consolidate amend statutes relating department act june ch stat section revision stated person shall rob carrier agent person intrusted mail mail part thereof shall conviction thereof imprisoned hard labor less five ten years convicted second time like offence effecting robbery first time robber shall wound person custody mail put life jeopardy use dangerous weapons offender shall imprisoned hard labor term natural life stat person shall attempt rob mail assaulting person custody thereof shooting horse threatening dangerous weapons shall effect robbery shall conviction thereof imprisoned hard labor less two ten years stat congress codified penal code combined two sections related robbery mails placed single statute mail robbery section entitled offenses postal service act mar ch stat section provided whoever shall assault person lawful charge control custody mail matter intent rob steal purloin mail matter part thereof shall rob person mail part thereof shall first offense imprisoned ten years effecting attempting effect robbery shall wound person custody mail put life jeopardy use dangerous weapon subsequent offense shall imprisoned years ibid congress attention particularly called consolidation previous two sections establishment single penalty report stated section made two sections revised statutes sections one committing robbery mails attempting attempting makes use dangerous weapon subject imprisonment life language omitted maximum imprisonment may imposed reduced years report special joint committee revision laws see text letter stated receipt acknowledged letter instant requesting report bill providing punishment crime robbing attempting rob custodians government moneys property assaults upon custodians mail matter punishable section federal penal code provides penalty years imprisonment custodian wounded life put jeopardy use dangerous weapon person assaulted custodian government funds mail maximum punishment imposed imprisonment years fine penalty provided attempts commit crimes recent years witnessed substantial increase crimes latter type believed section penal code amended bring within provisions crime robbing attempting rob custodians government moneys legislation effect recommended postmaster general annual report two bills introduced referred house judiciary committee neither bill reported committee recommendation passage legislation renewed cong rec emphasis added discussion led comment proceeded part follows dobbins believe recommittal bill accomplish anything rather thoroughly considered merely receive perfunctory consideration think language objection made previous day bill considered may unusual language statute great many years since objection made day taken matter legal advisor inspection force post office department feel extremely dangerous change language statute new language incorporated act see objection changing manner suggested gentleman michigan wolcott last hearing consent calendar wolcott stated time thought poorly drafted bill hoped committee redraft report insist upon amendment far penalty concerned think bad way leave legislation making mandatory upon judge give particular sentence less committee want way however objection think however purpose safeguarding integrity work language page amended dobbins speaker gentleman ohio objects penalty provision provided bill penalty clause new legislation bill passed statute still contain mandatory penalty purpose pending bill extend protection present law property custody postal officials extends protection mail matter custody postal officials aside makes change law includes property addition mail matter protected let say many custodians postal stations great amount money custody little mail instance substations money orders sold bandit attacks employees seeking money way prosecute bandit present law merely postal card letter prosecuted think makes salutory change law advocated post office department seems objection ibid text statute read whoever shall assault person lawful charge control custody mail matter money property intent rob steal purloin mail matter money property part thereof shall rob person mail matter money property part thereof shall first offense imprisoned ten years effecting attempting effect robbery shall wound person custody mail money property put life jeopardy use dangerous weapon subsequent offense shall imprisoned years act ch stat ante correctly renumbered transferred section title entitled robbery burglary act june ch stat earliest appeal using outside postal setting appears peek arose almost three decades amendment memorandum hanahan pp footnotes omitted section provides whoever robs another kind description personal property belonging shall imprisoned fifteen years government stated oral argument activated case instead former section covers attempted robbery tr oral arg however brief government concedes without statutory relief prohibits assaults government employees officials listed includes officer employee secret service conviction involving deadly dangerous weapon carries fine imprisonment years jose garcia convicted violating appeals affirmed conviction oral argument government stated covers robbery hammer government property see tr oral arg