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SECTION S - PAGE 6 - PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY It. 1»77 33rd Legislative District • jora LegisiuTivv uisrncr EDITORIALS The Peopie Speak Out Illinois 100 Years Ago Need Individualism The average American, perplexed by the great issues confronting this country', finds it difficult to develop sound opinions in the face of rabid partisanship exhibited by politicians, newspaper writers, radio and television commentators and other so-called leaders of public opinion. There's a tendency to accept, without question, any statement or assertion that fits in with what the individual wants to believe. It's a good idea for us, once in a while, to carefully consider the stubborn independence of the hardy citizen who has the nerve to look the majority in the face and say, despite the popular flurry, "I don't agree." _ • More of such individualism, and thinking, is needed. Holiday Sales The economic news for December is finally all in. It turns out, after conflicting reports, retail sales were very good. They increased by more than 3 per cent, after adjustments to take into account Christmas buying. Housing starts have been very impressive and new-car sales are up from last year. ^ Business investment is still slower th^n had been hoped; this is why President Ford insisted until his last day in office business also be given tax relief and attractive write-off rates for investments in new machinery. Unemployment was slightly down in December. Thus the economic trend is not a bad one as President Carter embarks on his first years in office. i, Kicking The Habit The news among coffee drinkers at the moment is that prices are again sharply rising. Crops have been bad but the market is also manipulated. Brazil, for example, almost dbubled its profits last year alone-- from coffee exports. The crop situation and market manipulation are pushing prices up so fast boycotts are developing in some U.S. communities. The idea is to abstain from coffee for a month. Other ideas have come forward. One is that the entire country follow the New Orleans' example and mix chickory and coffee about half and half. This could cut coffee consumption enormously. The best solution--but not easy for many--would be to kick caffeine addiction altogether. They tell us caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and is habit-forming and often bad for the nerves and heart. Building Permits The following building permits were issued by the city of McHenry during the month of January: Richard M. Lindquist, 5212 W. Home street, siding. Robino Ladd, 4911 W. Dartmoor, single family dwelling. Robino Ladd, 5006 W. Pyixlale drive, single family dwelling. McHenry hospital, 3516 W. Waukegan road. shed. John McNish, 3806 Clover, siding. Bill R. Chrisman, 5009 Home avenue, single family dwelling. Robino Ladd, 5003 W. Dartmoor, single family dwelling. Charles Dietz, 4709 Chesterfield, siding. Ron Spielman, 4606 W. Rt. 120, sign. James Patzke, 4800 W. Willow lane, single family dwelling. B/4NKMG ISEKHWBODY5 BUSINESS « 1976 Tax Reform Act-It Could Affect You By Willis W. Alexander Executive Vice President American Bankers Association With so much consumer legislation being passed, it's increasingly difficult for the average American to keep up- to-date with current rights and responsibilities One law you should check into quickly, though, is the Tax Reform Act of 1976. From senior citizens to single working parents, almost every­ one is affected in one way or another. For example, ali­ mony is now deducted from gross income, rather than be­ ing an itemized deduction.The retirement income credit for the elderly has been broad­ ened. Major child care ex­ penses for working couples or single parents have now be­ come a tax credit. Business - related moving cost deductions have been lib­ eralized. On the other hand, home office deductions have of elimination. D^prscis* tion and maintenance deduc­ tions for vacation homes rented out during part of the year are also more stringent. The booklet mailed to tax­ payers along with their tax re­ turn forms contains all of the ins and outs of the new law and would be well worth studying before you start your computations for 1976. Then, when you do begin, give a second thought to your bank­ ing relationship, and especially the following items: • Interest earned on de­ posits must be counted as in­ come. • You may deduct the in­ terest paid on a personal bank loan from your gross income if you itemize your deductions and file long form 1040. • Interest paid on over­ draft or "line-of-credit" checking accounts and credit card finance charges are also deductible. • Don't forget the interest on your home mortgage -- it's usually your biggest interest deduction. • If you withdrew funds from a certificate of deposit before it reached maturity you lost interest in the form of a penalty for early with­ drawal. That amount is de­ ductible from gross income. • Bank customers who opened an "individual retire­ ment account" (IRA) during 1976 must file a separate form *5329 to claim the deduction for the amount contributed. • And of course, if you need additional copies of the ' V fAfmr they are available in many bank lobbies. A few final tips. Start saving and collecting your de­ duction and interest income records for 1977 now. If they are in one place next Febru­ ary, your job will be half done. To help keep track of charita­ ble contributions and other deductible expenditures, some banks now offer "tax-saver" check registers with spaces for deduction notations. And, finally, keep all cancelled checks for a minimum of three years. In case of a dispute, you may need them to verify any deductions you claimed. For Your Information Dear friends. In developing healthy attitudes toward death, attention should be directed to the death education of children and youth, for that has been relatively ignored. Ideally, death education should develop from childhood thru maturity - a sensible ac­ ceptance of death as a fact of life. Respectfully, PETER MJUSTEN & SON FUNERAL HOME McHenry, Illinois 385-0063 IP State Senator Jack Schaffer explains the results of his last public opinion poll to Senate Interns Robert Hehmeyer, David Bergschnelder and Susan Schwab. The poll was conducted in the latter part of last year and is the sixth major poll Senator Schaffer has done since his election in 1972. The interns are studying State Government in a program conducted by Sangamon State university. They will work for the Senate for approximately a year and receive college credit at a Master's level program. Any college students interested in this type of program should contact Senator Schaffer. More than 93 per cent of the people in the 33rd Legislative district oppose patronage in the employment of state employees according to a recent public opinion poll taken by State Senator Jack Schaffer, R-Cary. Data for the poll, the sixth conducted by Schaffer since he was elected to the Senate in 1972, was gathered during the last quarter of 1976. On other subjects covered in the poll, respondents heavily favored mandatory sentences for persons convicted of committing a crime with the use of a gun, as well as rein­ statement of the death penalty in Illinois. They over­ whelmingly opposed the legalization of marijuana, forced busing and legislation to prohibit abortions. Once again, district residents were closely divided on the question of adopting the Equal Rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution, with a slight majority favoring ratification as they have in the past. According to Senator Schaffer, 93.3 per cent of those responding to the poll said they oppose the hiring and firing of state employees on the basis of patronage. Only 4.7 per cent favored patronage, and 2 per cent were undecided. By a ratio of 86 per cent to 7 per cent, respondents said they favor legislation requiring a minimum sentence for any crime where a gun is used. Only 3.8 per cent of the people were undecided on the question. Also in the area of criminal justice, 50 per cent said they favor laws to restrict the manufacture, sale and ownership of handguns, while 44.3 per cent were opposed to such laws, and 5.6 per cent were undecided. Also, 83.3 per cent favored reinstatement of the death penalty while only 11.3 per cent objected to such a move. On other questions involving possible changes in Illinois' criminal laws, poll respondents voiced equally strong opinions. On the question of whether to legalize the private use of marijuana, 72.8 per cent said they opposed such legislation, while only 19.7 per cent favored it, and 7.4 per cent were un­ aided. However, 61.2 per cent said they Wuulu „ legislation to legalize and tax off-track betting in Illinois, and 71.4 per cent said they object to proposed laws making it illegal to perform abortions in the state. Thirty per cent opposed off-track betting, and 22.8 per cent favored a ban on abor­ tions. In the field of ethics legislation, 77.4 per cent said they support laws requiring all candidates and office holders earning more than $15,000 a year to make a public disclosure of their income, assets and debts, while 16.5 per cent opposed such legislation Also, 65.9 per cent opposed public financing of political campaigns for statewide of­ fices while 23.8 per cent sup ported it. Another question regarding elections showed 70.2 per cent favor holding all elections on three or four days a year, while 17.3 per cent opposed such a plan. Another decisive response was given when 77.3 per cent said they support legislation to require binding arbitration to settle labor disputes with public employees and prohibit strikes. Only 15.4 per cent opposed the proposal and 7.2 per cent were undecided. The question jof collective bargaining for public em­ ployees was much closer, however, with 40.7 per cent supporting such rights, and 49.2 per cent opposing them. The only closer response came on die question of the Equal Rights Amendment where 45 per cent supported ratification of ERA and 42.4 per cent opposed it. Asked if they would support an increase in the state income tax if the increase was clearly earmarked for local education, 61.2 per cent indicated they would oppose it while 31 per cent favored the tax hike. Schaffer said respondents also strongly opposed spending state funds to cover the costs of busing school children to achieve racial balance with 89.9 per cent opposed to such spending and only 7.2 per cent in favor. On the question of the 55 mile per ho\ir speed limit, 60.9 per cent said they favor permanent retention of the lower speed, while 34.5 per cent would prefer the limit remain only tem­ porarily. Those polled were against lowering environmental ±: i* -zz.zz- cr.crgy crisis with 53.7 per cent op­ posing such legislation, and 34.9 per cent favoring it. Schaffer said he was pleased with overall response to the poll Are You New In McHenry Area? Do You Know Someone New? WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A ROYAL WELCOME TO EVERY NEWCOMER TO OUR AREA!!!!!!! CALL JOAN STULL 385-5418 McHenry m KNOW YOUR AREA--ROYAL WELCOME DOES IT BEST i booooooo+oooooooooooooopooooooooooooooooooi i and added it contained no major surprises in voter at­ titudes. He did note, however, that in those cases where respondents indicated a preference for one political party or the other, individuals identifying themselves as Republicans tended to be more conservative on fiscal and criminal matters, while those listing themselves as Democrats were inclined to be more liberal on questions regarding social legislation and more labor oriented on matters regarding public employment. This, he stated, is consistent with major national opinion surveys. (Special from the Illinois State Historical Society, Old State Capitol, Springfield, 1L 52706) George Washington's bir­ thday was observed by most Illinois cities on Feb. 22 a hundred years ago with parades, speeches, and dances, and closed or limited business activity. During the same month, however. Abraham Lincoln's birthday was practically un­ noticed, according to a check of hundred-year-old - newspaper files from half a dozen cities in the Illinois State Historical library in Springfield. In 1877 St. Valentine's day and Ash Wednesday fell on the same day* The Springfield Illinois State register combined its comments on the two events in one story, while the Peoria Daily Transcript published the full "lenten regulations for the Catholic dioceses of Chicago." Both papers and others listed n u m e r o u s p r e - l e n t e n m a s q u e r a d e b a l l s , promenades, concerts, and fairs. Washington's birthday was observed with military parades and speeches in Chicago, Galesburg, Peoria, Quincy, and Springfield. Most of the parades were followed by a ball, concert, or promenade in the evening. A feature of the Chicago Journal of 1877 was a column of nearly a hundred one-liners under the heading "Around Town." On Feb. 22, sixteen of these comments were related to Washington-some samples: "Washington would have been 145 had he lived until today"; "George Washington was a good man enough for the slow times in which he lived, but his regard for the truth would have unfitted him for this enlightened age"; "Geor 5's hatchet is on exhibition in every well-regulated museum in the country, while 100,000 canes, more or less, have been made from the cherry tree"; and "It is generally believed, but though it is not recorded in history, that, after cutting the The Cherry Tree^ssl I LET S GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT LOW-COST ' AUTO INSURANCE. GIVE ME A CALL FOR THE • FAQT#0Nwrr LOW-COST HEALTH INSURANCE. I D LIKE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON LOW-COST HOME­ OWNERS INSURANCE. •HSEBsEaQSlil m r> ^ y AMERICAN FAMILY I N S U R A N C E AUTO HOME HEALTH UFE AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INSURANCC COMPANY • MADISON, WIS. S3701 Call me for Details CHUCK LEWAND0WSKI 1108 Violet St. McHeniy Phone 385-2304 cherry-tree, George sold the hatchet to a neighbor and went to a circus with the money. ' Another circus note in the same column read: "The small boys have commenced saving nickels for the circus. This is a sure sign that spring is coming." These two sentences appeared word for word the next day in a Springfield Register column headed "Mere Mention." The only acknowledgment of Lincoln's birthday found in any of the papers was a brief item from Galesburg in the Chicago Journal. It reported that the date was "appropriately celebrated" at the First church where President Newton Bateman of Knox college "delivered an historical ad­ dress, which was very eloquent." Those small boys who were saving their nickels may have been right about approaching circus weather-a brief story from LaSalle on Feb. 26 reported that canal boats "left this port and passed down through the cut and along the river to Peru-the earliest movement of boats in these waters for many years." The Peoria Transcript said on Feb. 13, "the first arrival of the season by river was the Water Lily, which came up last Saturday from the neigh­ borhood of Spring Lake" and the Chicago Journal noted on Feb. 22 that "a St. Paul (Minn.) dispatch says the Mississippi was cleared of ice yesterday. The November, 1876, national election contest between Rutherford B. Hayes <R) and Samuel J. Tilden (D) had not been settled by the end of February and the Chicago Journal reported that a bill had been drafted to provide for an interim President and another election the - following November. The disputes were settled, however, just in time for Hayes to be inaugurated on March 4. * & The state's most important social event of the month was probably the reception held by Gov. and Mrs. Shelby M. Cullom at the executive mansion in Springfield on Feb. 20. The Register story, headed "The Delicious Dance." began: "The soft and luscious rays of yesterday's glorious sunshine had scarcely faded through its purple mask of eve into the shadowy robe of night before the bright lights shone out in the governor's residence." This was followed by two columns of fact and fantasy and nearly another column, in smaller type, describing and listing the "some 300 ladies and gen­ tlemen present." Logical An athletic fellow is one who hires a small boy to mow his lawn so he can play golf and get a little exercise. -Tiger, U.S.S. Barry. W EARL R. WALSH & JACK WALSH INS. Fir«. Auto, Farm, Lite Representing RELIABLE COMPANIES 4410 W. Rt*. 120, McHenry MS-1300 DENNIS CONWAY AUTO-LIFE-FIRE State Farm Ins. Co. 331* W. Elm St. McHenry, til. 30S-7111 DR. LEONARD B0TTARI 303 N. Richmond R4., McHenry Eye* examined • Contact L*ns«* Olatse* fitted Mon., Tu**., Thvrs., Fri„ 4-4 p.m. Tues., Thvrs., Frl., M p.m. Sat.,»: 30 to 3:00 Ph. 305-4151 or 30S-2142 McHENRY COUNTY OFFICE MACHINES SALES-SERVICE A RENTALS Mon-Sat f-5:30 Friday tilf:00 *3 Grant St., Crystal Lake Ptl. 45* 1224 McHenry Telephone Answering & Letter Service • Answering Service • Car, Telephone & Paging Service • Complete Mimeographing & Printing Service • Typing & Photocopying Ph. 385-0258 393?vr,Rr^20,^Hen!T Farm Equipment George P. Freund, Inc. Case - New Holland 4102 W. Crystal Lake Rd. 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