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i PG. 8- PLAINDEALER-WED. MARCH 19, J969 A Creeping Disease Even though local property tax bills to be received by taxpayers in Illinois this year will hit an all time high, bills to authorize further increases are gradually creeping into the legislative hoppers. Such bills generally authorize local governments to levy tax rates for funds without referendum, take off present referendum provisions, or authorize issuance of general obligation bonds without referendum. We strongly support the referendum principle. The Illinois taxpayer is left at the present time with very little protection from what can often be described as unnecessary tax increases, and removal of referendum requirements on any property tax bill will further aggravate the existing condition. The rebuttal is often given, "Yes, but the people will not vote for proposals at referendum". This is an argument we don't buy. School referenda are still passing at a 68 percent clip, and proposals such as transportation and forestry taxes have been approved by the voters when properly explained. It seems a bit confusing, for a legislative body to consider homestead exemptions (and this is a serious situation for people on fixed incomes, trying to stay in their homes), and then turn right, around and take the exemption away by automatically increasing tax rates. It is time that taxpayers spend 6 cents for a postage stamp and let their legislators know their feelings. A few of the bills presently before the 76th General Assembly to increase or to allow tax rates without referendum: H.B. 407, 408, 409 -- Allow municipalities, library districts iand townships to build library facilities through local building commissions. As drawn, construction of facilities in this manner would allow the local government involved to levy a tax to pay annual rental agreement to the building commission. (See Ch. 85, par. 1048, Illinois Revised Statutes.) Sponsor (after hearing T.F.I, explanation in committee), wants amendments drawn so that the rental agreement will not be a separate tax but paid for out of the general fund limit of each government. H.B. 188 -- Removes referendum from present authority of municipalities to levy a tax at not to exceed 5 cents per $100 of valuation to remove dead or diseased trees and to establish a long-term forestry program. Will a referendum pass for this proposition? It certainly will; 15 municipalities to date have established the tax by referendum. H.B. 525, 526 -- Remove present provisions in Illinois Municipal Code which provide for referendum approval before municipalities may levy special taxes for police and fire protection purposes. Feeling "Noiseated?" Have you had that "noiseated" feeling lately? Do you feel headachy, irritable, frustrated, and just not able to get your work done as well as you would like? Then listen around you. It could just be the fault of that power mower, jackhammer, booming rock music, raucous radio, or screeching plane overhead. We are paying a high price for the rising noise level of our society today. Medical investigators have shown that excessive noise can interfere with your digestion, break up your sleep, tire you out, and add to your nervous strain. According to tYie U.S. Public Health Service, noise may adversely, affect as many as 16 million U.S. workers, But most Americans are unaware that noises at home can be just as harmful. Measuring home noises, Dr. Lee E. Farr of the University of Texas found the kitchen to be the loudest room of all. "The sound is at such a level of intensity," Dr. Farr reported, "that if one were exposed to it for a full working day over an interval of time, acoustic damage would result." Noise, defined as an unwanted sound that irritates, is measured in decibels, units that describe levels of acoustic pressure, power and intensity. About 35 decibels (db) is acceptable for a classroom; 60 for a sports arena; 90 can be tolerated only for short periods; 100 can cause physical discomfort. According to a survey made by the makers of one of the headache cures, a power mower alone h&s 107 db; a kitchen blender, 93. In a "quiet" suburban home, a blender, an auomatic dishwasher (60-70 db), garbage disposal unit (70 db) and refrigerator (30-40 db) -- as well as a radio, air conditioner and washing machine -- may be " sounding off" all at once. While some sounds drown out other, the typical result is an average decibel level of 80, much higher than that of a sports arena and equivalent to that of a big city street corner. No wonder, more housewives are reaching for the aspirin bottle to relieve the headaches. Noise can cause more than headaches. In severe cases there may be damage to your hearing when intense and prolonged sound waves destroy cells in the ear. At the recent National Conference on "Noise as a Health Hazard," U.S. Surgeon General William H. Stewart observed: "Aside from hearing loss, it has been demonstrated that noise can cause physiological changes. These include cardiovascular, glandular and respiratory effect reflective of a generalized stress reaction." Other physicians^ believe there is a direct link between noise and such stress diseases as peptic ulcer, heart disease, colitis and hypertension. To help quiet down our cacophonous world, Congress is pondering bills to control aircraft decibels and various noises in industry. California has led the way in limiting motor vehicle noise, and New Jersey may pass similar legislation. But these are drops in the noise bucket. What can you do about offsetting or preventing the decibel bombardment? Dr. John D. Dougherty of the Harvard School of Public Health, suggests that we think about the noise level of any appliance we might buy for our home, and cut down the time we spend in any noisy environment. One noise researcher also recommends that we wear ear plugs when using a power mower or an outboard. No one has suggested what a noise-worn husband can dp ,to "turn off' a babbling wife. For Your information Dear friends, We appreciate comment on these little letters. Any suggestions or questions you may have will be most welcome. These messages are a part of our information service to our community. We try to avoid any claims of superiority. The letters are intended for your information. Respectfully, Atertenry mois tx - " < I PETER MJISTEN & SON FUNERAL HOME 38^-0063 Public Pulse ILLINOIS ROADS "Dear Editor: "I would like the people in your reading area to know the thoughts and opinions I have expressed in a letter to Secretary of State Paul Powell. "I am writing to you about the problems that exist on the Illinois roads. "Each day you hear on the news and see on television how many people get hurt or killed in automobile accidents. I have asked Mr. Powell why he can't consider that my ideas may have helped save a lot of these people. This is all that I ask, that he read my opinions and maybe discuss them in person. I have been driving since 1912 and have never had an accident. This should mean something. "I believe if he is sincere in his position as Secretary of State, he should be concerned about the people of Illinois and do everything in his power to insure their safety. Hiey elected him and they are looking to him to help them. "I have been trying to get someone to just listen to my ideas for the past five years, and have spent approximately $3,000 in time and having my opinions written. Now I am out of money. I have asked Mr. Powell to answer my letter and tell me whether he is interested or not. I will meet him at any location, either Chicago or Springfield, if he will just name a time and a day. "Sincerely, Thomas Rogalski "48 McKinley Ave. "Fox Lake" "OMATHE STATE.HOUSE LT. GOV. PAUL SIMON WILL A STATE LOTTERY ANSWER OUR PROBLEM? Recently the Rockford Morning-Star editorially condemned ..the idea of a state lottery in Illinois to solve our financial problems. But that newspaper's opinion is hardly universal. Even at a meeting of educational leaders the question was raised, "Isn't a state lottery the answer to our problems of finance'.'" There are two answers to that question. 1. Under the present state constitution, we cannot have a state lottery. 2. In the two states which have a state lottery. New York and New Hampshire, experience shows that a state lottery is anything but satisfactory from the viewpoint of revenue. Virtually every state at one point in history had legalized lotteries. They were taken for granted in Illinois and most states. When Lincoln was a member- of the Illinois General Assembly lotteries frequently were authorized to raise money for various projects. Lotteries were not only a part of the state scene but were carried on in the colonies prior to the United States becoming a nation. The first legalized lottery in what is now the United States was in the colony of Virginia to erect a Lutheran church there. But in Illinois and other states, the lotteries proved to be too tempting a prize for some public officials and others operating the lotteries. The lotteries became so obviously corrupt that when new state constitutions were written, lotteries were prohibited. There soon will be a state constitutional convention in Illinois which could authorize lotteries. But a lottery for the next two years is unconstitutional. Even if it were possible, the experience in New Hampshire and New York should make any reasonable person pause. In neither state has there been a problem with corruption so far, but income has been far below expectations. New Hampshire is now considering dropping the lottery and New York each month has a lower and lower income from the lottery. In both states income is only the proverbial "drop in the bucket" compared to needs. It is a natural temptation to look for some easy answer to our state s financial problems. Unfortunately responsible answers afe not easy. 1 YOUR MONEY IS WORKING Crippled Kids Can Be Helped 1969 Easter Seal Campaign March 1-April 6 Social Security QUESTION BOX BY JIM JANZ FIELD REPRESENTATIVE Today's questions are ones frequently being asked of our representatives by the people of Mc Henry county. The Social Security office at 2500 Grand avenue, Waukegan, reminds McHenry county residents that it has representatives meeting people at two locations in McHenry county on a regular basis. The representatives are at the Woodstock Public library, 414 W. Judd, Woodstock every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon and at the Harvard city hall from 9:30 a.m, to noon on the first and third Tuesday every month. If you have a question you would like answered on Social Security in this column, please forward it to Social Security Administration Question and Answer Column, 2500 Grand avenue, Waukegan, Illinois, 60085. Give your full name, address, and Social Security number. If you do not want your name to appear, please indicate this and we will use only initials. Question: I am 53 years old and rfave a disabled child. By the time I reach retirement age she will be over age 18. Will she be entitled to benefits on my account? Answer: If the child is disabled before he, or she, is 18 years old, he will be entitled to benefits when you retire, no matter how old the child is when you retire. Question: I am currently receiving widow's benefits. If I remarry, will my benefits stop? Answer: If you remarry after you are age 60, your benefit, will go from 82% percent of what your husband would have received at age 65 to 50 percent. Question: I have often heard about a "quarter of coverage". What period does a quarter cover? Answer: There are 4 quarters in a year. The first one goes from Jan. 1 - Mar. 31, the second from Apr. 1 - June 30, the third from July 1 - Sept. 30, and the fourth from Oct. 1 - Dec. 31. If you earn $50 or more in wages in a quarter you receive one quarter of-coverage. Question: I recently went to the doctor for a routine eye examination. Will Medicare pay for this? Answer: No. Medicare will not pay for this service. Question: I do housework one day a week for which I receive $10. My employer pays me in cash and says there is no use paying the social security tax as it will never do me any good as I am already getting widow's social security. Is he right? Answer: Your employer is wrong. The law says he must file social security tax returns on your wages for any calendar quarter in which you are paid $50 or more as his employee. The law also provides for penalties and interest on unpaid taxes. Question: I recently received notice that I have to repay some social security I received in 1965 because I earned too much money in that year. I was also assessed a penalty for having failed to make a report to social security for that year. Why did they take so long to do that? Answer: If you had filed the proper report with the social security office when it was due, which is up to April 15 of the year following the year in which the excess earnings took place, you would not have this problem now. Processing of your type of violation in 1965 was post- M i nirm i Ti i ii t t » a a n » a 5 a"a a'g a o a i t rrn. •J u <Vy < V , "You better have that motor checked -it keeps making sounds like a policeman's whistle." MLLmSM Sunday Open 5 p.m. Sun. 12 Noon Served 1 n the Roman Stvle On the North Shore COCKTAI L S RESERVATIONS o f Lo n g La k e BANQUET mm ^ JU_7;0 74, ^ | ROLLINS RQA P. O. I n g l e s i d e . I l l i n o i s : Are You New In Town? Do You Know Someone New In Town? o 0 o We would like to extend a welcome to 0 every newcomer to our community. Ann Z«ller i CALL i o ROYAL WELCOME 385-0559 3 Fran Olsen 385-5740 j Joan Sfull • 385-5418 ^ m n n i i i i i i i i i i i i i - i m i i n n i m i i i ' poned by the social security office because of the big job of getting the Medicare program under way. Question: I won a $500 prize in a contest. Does that count towards the $1680 earnings allowed to persons receiving social security benefits? Answer: Income of that nature is covered by income taxes, but not social security, nor does it count towards the permitted earnings limit. Question: How can I get a social security number fpr my grandson? He needs one for a small bank account we have started for him. Answer: Have his father or mother complete and sign an application for a social security number for him and send it to the nearest social security office. The applications are available at all post offices and most banks. LOCAL STUDENT JOINS HONORARY BUSINESS GROUP Northern Illinois university's chapter of Delta Pi'Epsilon,national honorary business education fraternity, initiated forty new members from twentyeight Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin comimunities. The initiation ceremony was part of the chapter's meeting at which Dr. F. Kendrick Bangs, University of Colorado business education department chairman, was the. featured speaker. Bangs, who assisted at the initiation, is national Delta Pi Epsilon president. New fraternity members must have a "B" average and eight graduate hours in business or business education. The new group of initiates raises the NIL) chapter total membership to 202. Among them is Mrs. Sharon Grove, 1014 E. Rt. 120, McHenry. DRIVING FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY Secretary of State Every driver is morally and legally responsible for the condition of his car. It is the driver's responsibility to be sure that his or her car is in safe condition. Constant use, combined with the slightest neglect, especially with today's high speeds, takes a devastating toll on a vehicle's performance. Doctors recommend frequent physical checkups for people. The same recommendation is good advice for your car. It is a proven fact that more than 75 per cent, of the older cars are unable to pass a thorough safety inspection. Even new cars frequently need minor adjustments to insure their safe operation. If you're driving, this checkup is just as important to your life as your doctor's recommended physical checkup. Your life depends on it! And the life of others! Every spring and fall, have your brakes, lights, steering mechanism and other safety equipment checked. The small expense is well worth it. and it's cheap insurance for safer driving. For your copy of "Rules of the Road", write to Paul Powell. Secretary of State. Springfield. Illinois 62706. „fESSlONAL •S5--• 8 OPTOMETRIST Dr. John F. Kelly At 1224 N. Green Street, McHenry (Closed Wednesday) Eyes Examined Glasses Fitted Contact Lenses Hrs. Dally 9:80 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday Evenings 8:30 p-m. Evenings by Appointment PHONE 385 0452 Dr. Leonard L. Bottari Eyes Examined-Glasses Fitted Contact Lenses 1303 N. Richmond Road Hours: Mon., Toes., Thors., Frl. 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tues., Thurs., & Fri. Eve 7 p-m. to 9 p.m. Sat. 9:30 to 3:00 p.m. No Hours on Wednesday PHONE 385*4151 If No Answer Phone 385-2262 OFFICE EQUIPMENT McHenry County Office Machines Sales • Service St Rentals Typewriters, Adders, Calculators Mon - Sat. 9:00 • 5:30 Friday till 9:00 p.m. Phone 459-1226 93 Grant St., Crystal Lake, 111. METAL WORK Schroeder Metalcraft tor Home and Garden Wrought Iron Railings Fireplace Screens Antiques 1705 S. Rt. 31 PHONE 385-0950 INSURANCE Earl R. Walt A Fire, Auto, Farm & Life Representing RELIABLE COMPANIES When You Need Insurance of Any Kind PHONE 385-3300 or 385-0953 3429 W Elm St, McHenry, 111. George L. Thompson General Insurance • LIFE • AUTO • HEALTH • FIRE • CASUALTY • BOAT Phone 815 385-1066 3812 W. Elm St., McHenry In McHenry Plolndealer Blgd. Dennis Conway Auto, Life, Fire State Farm Ins. Cos. 3315- W. Elm St. McHenry, Dlinols 385-5285 or 385-7111 LETTER SERVICE Mimeographing • Typing Addressing • Mailing Lists \ McHenry County Letter Service 1212-A N. Green St- PHONE 385-5064 M o n . t h r u F r l . 8 - 5 Closed Saturdays ACCOUNTANTS Paul A. Schwegel 4410 West Route 120 McHenry, Illinois 385-4410