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PAGES - PLAINDEALER -FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10,1982 PLAINDEALER"\ ' Editorial * Opinion Roll Call Report (Your Congressmen's Vote) A New Look At Local Taxes Favoring The Sexes The great majority of Americans almost believe there's good in sexual preference and sexual differences. And real differences between the sexes justify some differential treatment. Females are favored in many ways under U.S. laws; males are favored in others. Females can retire at age 62. Males must wait until 65. Females are often given preferential treatment in the courts, in jury duty, in divorce cases, in child custody cases, in the draft, in military combat, in accidents and tragedies, etc. * Males are sometimes favored in pay, in estate and legal matters and in job selection. * Most Americans oppose some of these discriminations, but not all. And most think it's acceptable the law distinguishes between the sexes, polls show. Reform, then, to muster maximum support should center on unequal treatment which obviously has no logical or acceptable justification. The Good Old Days? Nostalgically, we often speak of the good old days. But unless one refers to the recent past, very recent, they were not better days. In fact, if we study history objectively, we have much to be thankful for - living in today's world. Examples: In 1704, ministers in Maryland were given the legal power to order a separation of any marriage if the minister disapproved of the woman! More than a decade earlier, in 1693, French settlers in South Carolina were the victims of discrimination there; in 1713, children in New York were barred by law from sledding. Constables were empowered to seize children's sleds and break them to pieces. In Connecticut in 1721 a law was passed barring people from emerging from their homes on Sun4ay unless they were attending church or in an emergency! In Massachusetts in that time the death penalty for theft was actively enforced- -as was true in other colonies. -- In Hie same year the French government sent 25 prostitutes to Louisiana to help attract settlers there away from Indian mistresses and relieve the shortage of women. There being no orphanage in all the colonies, the first was established in Savannah, Georgia, by Methodists, in 1740. The next year in Philadelphia a child of only four or five died from consuming a great quantity of rum. Drunkeness was a very prevalent vice of colonial settlers. In 1737, reformers smashed a brothel, where sexual favors were openly advertised in print and in the window of that house, in Boston. Four years later, in 1741 again, 11 Negroes were burned at the stake and 18 more hanged (plus four white men) for starting fires in New York City. Etc. The new, good days-today-are better days. Alternatives To Commodity School Lunches Are Tested The U S Department of Agriculture will begin a demonstration project in 97 school districts in 29 states to test alternatives to providing donated agricultural commodities to the national school lunch program, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Mary Jarratt has announced. One alternative will be to provide cash payments instead of com­ modities. USDA will provide school food authorities in 34 school districts with cash equal to the value of the commodities they would be entitled to under t<ji» present, commodity g^MtioruArogran. vTb^valuej-of the commodJues is 11.5'cents per meal. Und^r another part of the test, USDA w|li give 31 participating school districts letters of credit allowing them to purchase specific food items from local sources. Jarratt said 32 other school districts have been selected as control sites and will continue to operate under current regulations of the commodity donation program. The study will examine the cost effectiveness of the two alternatives, their impact on school food procurement patterns, their effects on school lunch quality and lunch program participation, their irhpacts on government price support and surplus removal programs and their administrative feasibility. The school districts chosen as demonstration projects will par--»£**Dixon voted"nay"i ticipate for at least two years. The districts selected to participate in the demonstration project are representative of school districts both large and small, rural and urban, throughout the country. States in­ volved include Illinois. Washington -Here's how area members of Congress were recorded on major roll call votes prior to the current Labor Day recess. HOUSE Organic Farming - The House defeated, by a vote of 189 for and 198 against, a bill (HR 5618) requiring the Department of Agriculture to promote farming methods that reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The bill would have required establishment of six organic farming pilot projects and other measures at an annual cost of $2 million. Rep. James Weaver, D-Ore., sponsor of the bill, said alternative methods of fertilization and pest control will become vital "as oil grows more scarce and nitrogen fertilizers from fossil fuels become more scarce." Opponent Joseph Skeen, R-N.M., called the measure "an ill-advised move to study the principles of organic agriculture that have been studied and studied since the beginning of time." Members voting "yea" favored government promotion of organic farming. Rep. Lynn Martin, R-16, voted "yea". , Reps. Philip Crane, R-12, and Robert McClory, R-13, voted "nay". Environmental Research - By a vote of 244 for and 153 against, the House voted to continue funding for Environmental Protection agency research at the current level of $277.9 million per year. The Reagan administration had proposed a $62 million cut. The vote came on an amendment to an EPA research authorization bill (HR 6323) later passed and sent to conference with the Senate. Rep, James Scheuer, D-N.Y., who supported the higher funding level, said the administration's proposed cut would result in "more pollution and a deterioration in environmental guality and public health." Opponent William Carney, R-N.Y., said EPA is willing to "pare down, tighten up and improve quality and efficiency." Members voting "yea" supported higher funding for EPA research than the administration had requested. Philip Crane, McClory and Ms. Martin voted "nay* Defense Funds - By a vote of 251 for and 148 against, the House passed a> sent to President Reagan a $177.9 billion defense spending measure (S 2248) for fiscal 1983. The administration originally requested an authorization of $183.5 billion. The bill also included $182 million in additional defense funds for fiscal 1982. s. Supporter William Dickinson, R-Ala., said the spending is "an adequate amount to continue the rebuilding of our military strength." Opponent Mike Lowry, D-Wash., said "military spending cuts are an essential part of a responsible fiscal policy which will reduce' record-high deficits and lead to economic recovery." Members voting "nay" thought the defence outlay was too high. Philip Crane and McClory voted "yea". Ms. Martin, voted "nay". SENATE Defense Bill - The Senate passed 77 for and 21 against and sent to the House the final version of the $177.9 billion defense authorization bill (S 2248) for the next fiscal year. (See preceding House vote). - * Supporter Jeremiah Denton, R-Ala., said the bill begins the process of correcting "the defense imbalance that resulted from the fiscal neglect of our security requirements over the past decade." Opponent William Proxmire, D-Wis., said "this bill is of unacceptable size given our economic situation." Senators voting "yea" favored the defense bill. Sens. Alan Dixon, D., and Charles Percy, R., voted "yea". Airline Labor - By a vote of 59 for and 38 against, the Senate killed a measure sought by labor unions and the Air Line Pilots association that would have required airlines to compensate employees who lose their jobs or lose income due to airline mergers or sales. Such protection currently is provided by Civil Aeronautics board regulations, but the agency's authority to oversee mergers expires this year. The defeated provision would have extended income protection for five years. The vote ruled out of order a provision attached to an airline insurance bill (HR 5930) and sent the measure back to a House-Senate conference committee. Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., a supporter of killing the provision, called it "featherbeading for some of the highest paid workers in the nation" Sen. Howard Cannon, D-Nev., an opponent of shelving the measure, said "it is only fair to give employees this transition time before taking away something they have alwa>|s had in the past." Senators voting "nay" favored income protection^or dislocated airline employees. Percy voted "yea". Lottery Big Money Maker People who played the Ill;nois lottery during the last fiscal year (FY '82) plunked down some $333 million and got back approximately $160 million in prize money, Comptroller Roland W. Burris has reported. Burris said that $141 million of that revenue went into the General funds last year, the highest revenue yield since the Lottery law was enacted in July, 1974 The comptroller's regular monthly fiscal report, just released, takes a close-up look at what has happened to the lottery in Illinois and how the Daily game transformed the ailing lottery into a major money-maker. In another section of the regular report, the Illinois Economic Picture com­ pares the nation's economic ben­ chmarks with those in Illinois during the last fiscal year and finds that Illinois clearly suffered greater damage than the nation as a whole. In the regular report on the state's fiscal health, the state started... off the new fiscal year (FY;83) bleakly with July revenues down $5 million or 0.8 per­ cent from the same month last year and state spending|$82 million higher than revenues. PLAINDEALER~> Letter to the Editor Public Pulse (Tht Ploindtflltr invito tho public to u»« this column ot on oxprottion of thoir viowt on subjects of gonorol in- torost in our community. Our only roquott it that tho writort giv* tignoturo. full oddrtit and phono number. Wo osk too. that ono individual not writo on th« tamo * object more than onco a month. Wo rotonro tho right to delete any moteriol which we consider libelous or in objectionable taste.) Free Guide To Color Tours YOUTH IN CONSERVATION "Dear Editor: "Your story on the Youth Con­ servation corps was well received in our family because our son was one of the participating workers. "We want to point out, however, .rfhat the students were paid $2.30 per hour, not $3.90 as estimated. "While the jjjash earned was im­ portant to the young people, it ap­ peared the /experience was just as important. ( "Occasionally, I drove several McHenry area students to and from (The following are Lloyd Burger s own views concerning the three-part series he wrote on taxes, assessments and the multiplier, which was con­ cluded in the Sept. 1 issue of the Plaindealer.) Since this series was written in early June, an action by Governor James Thompson to negate the state multiplier on real estate assessments and some political responses by Democratic members of '.he Legislature have served to convert into strong probability a suspicion voiced in the series that the multiplier is a politically acceptable device for evading levy rate limitations set by law. On Aug. 1, Governor Thompson, using his veto power on a relatively insignificant bill, submitted a proposal to neutralize the state multiplier by decreasing applicable local tax rates proportionally to the increase in the multiplier. This, the governor indicated, would throw the responsibility back to the local assessors to meet the required one- third of market value mandated by state law. If assessors failed to in­ crease assessments in compliance with the law, school districts and other taxing agencies who reached statutory levy limits would have to go to the voters for increased tax rates. Thompson insisted at a press conference where he announced his proposal, "The multiplier itself never raised taxes. It only served as a smokescreen for local officials who wanted to raise taxes to hide behind."» Newsmen covering the press conference predicted that the Thompson plan would be criticized by.., teachers' unions, school boards and representatives of local governments who are said to claim that the multiplier is needed because assessors simply do not value property at the state-mandated level. Lobbyists for these groups helped in killing a similar proposal on the multiplier submitted by Thompson in the spring, it is alleged. Senate President Philiraifeck is quoted as predicting the Tailure of Thompson's plan to pass in the General Assembly unless Knew state tax is offered to replace the/local revenue that would be lost. He maintains the assessment problem is not that simplistic. Without new revenues there would be (fiscal) problems for local governments in Cook county and downstate, he said. Other prominent Democrats have insisted that any abolition of the multiplier must be accompanied by the substitution of another source of money such as a hike in the state income tax. r Stripping all the verbiage from the various pronouncements about Thompson's multiplier proposal, what remains is the claim by the various government units that they are en­ titled to the additional taxes generated by the effect of the multiplier on the tax base. As pointed opt in the series, "many local taxing districts take advantage of the rising multiplier to reap higher revenues without having to ask voters for higher tax rates." In fact some of the tax districts are generating more money With lowered rates. As a reporter, I have observed numerous meetings at which agency budgets were finalized, and ap­ propriations approved and levies set Most school district business managers recommend to their elected boards that they over-levy, (set budgets for more than their actual needs), in order to be sure to receive $ the maximum allowable fate for funds which have statutory limits. Originally they said this was done to take advantage of total assessment increases due to new building in the district. More recently the setting of levies is deferred until the last possible date by many districts so that the business managers can receive the latest estimates on the multiplier and increase tfigtrrieVy request to capture the maximum rate. Levies are submitted by taxing districts in dollar amounts to the county clerk's office, which calculates the rates against the total assessed value and extends those rates to individual tax bills. Elected officials in municipal, township and county government usually express concern in keeping increases in total tax levies in the single digit figures and have been observed to "juggle" or defer budget figures or expenditures to maintain that appearance. School boards ap­ pear to be less sensitive to public reaction and more under the control of the professional administrators and staff. Lastly and most important, in spite of well publicized hearings on budget matters and the state "Truth ^Taxation" act, attendance and public input at such hearings is almost nil. a Dallas, Texas was named after George Mifflin Dallas. Who was he? Vice-president of the United States in 1845. Mozart is said to have composed, written down, rehearsed and per­ formed within five days his Linz Symphony. work at Chain O'Lakes State park. I was impressed with their enthusiasm and dedication and the obvious learning they were experiencing in terms of teamwork, 'doing-the-job- right' and often working under wet, hot and 'buggy' conditions without complaint. "The a. tide was a refreshing look at our young people and what they can do given the opportunity. This was not a make-work, waste-money program. "It is too bad YCC must be discontinued instead of expanded. "Marion Olsen" wHH GAS PUMP Heal Range - bach engine is de­ s igned to operate best with a specif ic spark­ plug. Sparkplugs vary in heat range according to the length of the in­ sulator cone and the dis­ tance the electrode and cone protrude from the end of the plug. Usual ly the plug (hat is recom­ mended as or iginal e- quipmcnt wil l be the ^best lor your engine Baby Gift When you take a gift to a baby shower, it's a nice idea to wrap it in a diaper and fas­ ten it with a couple of pastel diaper pins. A free guide to autumn color tours is available now from the Northern Illinois Tourism council. The brochure - "The Northern Illinois Color Times Guide" - details area fall getaway trips, plus festivals slated for September and October. Highlighted in the guide are suggested autumn excursions along the Illinois, Mississippi, Kankakee, Rock, and Fox River valleys. Also included are seasonal features native to popular travel destinations such as Galena, the Chain O'Lakes, and Lake Michigan's northern shoreline. Tips on antiquing, camping, lodging, and some dining listed. suggestions are also Prime northern Illinois autumn foliage changes routinely begin by mid-September, continuing through October. The state's most spectacular fall blaze of red, crfsset brown, and yellow usually stSrts along northern Illinois' river valleys. For a free copy of "The Northern Illinois Color Time Guide", write Northern Illinois Tourism Council, 414 N. Sheridan road, Waukegan, 111., 60085. from HISTORY'S SCRAPBOOK DATES ADD EVENTS FROM YESTERYEARS September 9, 1945--Gen. Douglas MacArthur assumes Supreme Allied Command over occupied Japan. September 10, 1927--The mad and roaring twenties reach their zenith as a meatpacking firm announces hot dog with a zipper. September 11, 1847--Stephen Foster's "Old Susanna" 1st sung at Andrew's Eagle Ice Cream Saloon, Pitts­ burgh. September 12, 1919--Massachusetts Gov. Calvin* Coolidge cails out entire state militia after 2 days of police strike. Soot Discovered Part ic les of black soot s imilar to those present in pol luted urban atmospheres have been discovered^! Arc- t icair . While a f i l ter might turn black in one day in heavi ly pol luted New York City or in perhaps two or three days in a ci ty with average pol lu­ t ion, i t would turn black in the Arct ic within a week." l -o r Your In format ion Dear Friends, & A military burial it the right of any person serving offically in any branch of the U.S. military services or who has been honorably discharged from military service. Burial may be selected in a National Cemetery and a headstone or marker is available from the Quartermaster General upon request. , i Respectfully, PETER M.JUSTEN pik & SON FliNERAL HOME McHENRY ILLINOIS 365 0063 ARE YOU NEW IN The McHenry Area? Do You Know Someone New? We Would Like To Extend A Royal Welcome To Every Newcomer To Our Area!!! CALL LORRAINE MONAHAN 365-5475 » urn mictm gfcnm»Ki usmtss No A t 'Oh th if mht't ,„>< mittm manut n ROYAL WELCOME Know Your Area-Royal Welcome Does It Best & Sert»ce isio11 profeS! Dife JACK WALSH, MBIT URL I. WALSH, BROKER INSURANCE (BONIS Fir*. Auto. Farm. Lit* Representing RELIABLE COMPANIES SOU W. Elm St.. McHenry DENNIS CONWAY AUTO. LIFE. FME State Farm IRS. CO. , 331* V*. Elm Street McHenry. III. 3*5-7111 JAMES M. MclNTEE, LAWYER AVAILABLE TO PRACTICE IN: Personal Injury/Trial* Business Corporations Wills /Probate Divorco-Roal Estate Workman'* Compensation 3434 W. Elm Street. McHenry. II. For appointment phono: 3*5-2440 Farm Equipment George P. Freand, Inc. C*s* • New Holland 4102 W.Crystol Lake Rd. McHenry Bus. 385-0420 R*s. 385-0227 MCHENRY COUNTY OFFICE MACHINES SALES. SERVICE 8 RENTALS Mon -Sot. 9-5:30 Friday til f :00 *3 Grant St.. Crystal Lake Phone: 459-1224 - DR. LEONARD BOTTARI 1303 Richmond Rd.-AAc Henry Eyes Examined-Contact Lenses Glasses Fitted Mon., Tu*s., Thurs.. Fri. 4-4pm Tues.. Thurs.. Fri. 7-t pm Sat. 9:30-3 pm Phone: 385-4151 or 385-2242 ItPays To Advertise In The Plaindealer tl RE LIT RADIAL TIRES FOR ALL CARS Europa Motors, Inc. 2318 Rt«. 120 •15-385-0700 SERVICE LINE McHENRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 3*5-4300 FAMILY SERVICE ft MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC 3409 W. Waukegan Road McHenry 395-4400 TURNING POINT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRESS LINE McHenry County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Parents Anonymous meetings on Tuesday. Call 115-344-3944 STATE CHAMBER GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS HOTLINE 217 522-5514 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 202-755-8660 Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. week days (Ever had a problem involving the federal government and not known where to coll? And than been given the runaround or referrals by persons who meant well but didn t know how to help? Ten specialists available at this center.) NATIONAL RUN-AWAY SWITCHBOARD Illinois Phone: 800-972-6004 (For confidential conversations on problems dealing with run-away children.) MOVING HOTLINE Phone 800-424-9213 (Complaints about interstate moving by companies, buses or trains. Sponsored by Interstate Commerce commission.) CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Phone 800-638-2666 (For Questions or Complaints on products ranging from toys to ovens.) NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION Phone 800-424-9393 (Answers questions about automobile safety defects or whether a particular model has ever been recalled. Valuable for those interested in buying a used car.) ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES 24-Hours Child Abuse Hotline TOLL FREE: 800-252-2878 CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 800-638-2666 (Operates five national lines. Answers inquires about or reporting on the safety of products from kitchen appliances to children's toys.) NATIONAL SOLAR HEATING AND COOLING INFORMATION CENTER 800-523-2929 P.O. Box 1607. Rockville, Md. 20850 (Dispenses information on solar systems for heating and cooling to anyone from architects to home owners looking for a sun-powered hot-water system.) CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION 312-793-3580 Chicago, III.' BIRTHRIGHT Pregnane? Need Help? Counseling Service. 385-2999. 24 hours Answering Service. YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU FOR McHENRY COUNTY 4719 W. Elm St., McHenry Ph°ni|y4-3240 24 hours Crisis lnterventtoJ^6«id Confidential Coun­ seling for youth and families' ILLINOIS STATE CHAMBER HOTLINE Phone: 217-522-5514 Answer to questions on gover­ nment regulations. MENTAL HEALTH 1-800-892-8900 Crisis Center Line for McHenry Co. 24-Hour Emergency number and professional staff wil answer your call. Sponsoring agency McHenry County Comprehensive Mental Health Service System. i NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATld* Post Office Box 17400 ^Washington, D.C., 20041 Phone (703)471-0404 McHENRY COUNTY CETA OUTREACH CENTER 666 Russel Ct. Woodstock.il. 60098 (815)338-7100 , JOB TRAINING OFFERED McHENRY COUNTY ASSOCATION FOR THE RETARDED Robert G. Lambourn, Executive Director Phone:344-1230 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS J8151455 3311