PAGE 8-PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1971 EDITORIflLS An Encouraging Sign Sales of new American-built automobiles almost doubled in the final third of September, compared to sales for a like period in 1970. total September sales were sharply up For the month the four U.S. manufacturers reported 755.233 cars delivered to dealers. The total for September a year ago was 488,211 Some dealers have recently reported to manufacturers that the current new-car sales boom is the greatest they have ever ex perienced Curiously, imported car sales are also up in many in stances Some of the September import spurt may have been produced by buyers"seeking to get foreign cars before the new ten per cent import tax increased their price. Whatever the reasons, the new-car boom is good news for the business world, for many affected industries such as steel, and for Americans who see in the boom a sign that the economy is perking up Another Sacred Cow The sacred cow of sacred cows in Congress has long been labor legislation. Ever since the hot fight of two dec ades ago, which produced the Taft-Hartley law, Congress has dodged every request and need for legislation outlaw ing strikes which damage the national welfare, threaten national security or cause the innocent majority serious in jury or loss. Two years ago President Nixon requested such legisla tion in the field of transportation. A few weeks ago he warn ed again that new labor legislation is needed. Commenting on the dock strike, he said: "This indicates the urgency for consideration of that legislation, because the country cannot continue to afford stoppages in these key areas." But, of course, organized labor is the most powerful lob by on Capital Hill and with its active national political organization and many millions of dollars, it can and does elect and defeat Senators and Congressmen in many states. Senators and Congressmen know this well. They remember a number of purges successfully carried out by organized labor involving those who voted for the Tall-Hartley law. They see the potent political power of organized labor demonstrated in Washington almost every day. It is such that Supreme Court nominees can be rejected primarily with organized labor's votes in the Senate. To enact a new labor law, therefore, will probably be impossible before 1973. It's late for action in 1971; 1972 is an election year. If'President Nixon, however, returns to the White House and if Republicans gain seats in the Senate and House in 1972's elections, there's a chance for a new law in 1973. Even under these circumstances passage of a new law will require more intestinal fortitude than members of Congress have exhibited in recent years. The national interest, however, is crying out for legislation barring disastrous and costly strikes in the key industries, strikes which adversely affect the national welfare, the fight against inflation, and often national security. Commercial Problem Various citizens groups have recently proposed to the Federal Communications Commission that commercials be barred from children's programs. The National Association of Broadcasters has now gone on record as opposed to the idea. The N.A.B. has one basic argument which can't be easi ly answered. While all would agree that children's programs without accompanying commercials are desirable, it's hard ly realistic to expect networks and stations to provide many hours of such fare at their own expense, barred from sell ing advertising to finance the programs. Perhaps the best solution to the problem, a serious one affecting the welfare, social and civic attitudes of the nation's youth, is to limit commercials to half-hour periods, one or two periods during the morning. This system is used in other countries and prevents constant, crude interrup tions in programming. Such a system should eventually be required not only for children's viewing but for adult viewing as well. One could then watch the ads, or leave the set for half an hour when they began. The sales appeal of commercials might well be enhanced by the change, since those who watched the ads would feel as if they were shopping and there would be no negative reaction from viewers who now resent the many crude commercial intrusions in programs. A Dangerous Pet? Pet turtles have long pleased children. Many stores thus sell them at low prices to delighted youngsters and parents. But the American Public Health Association was recently warned by Dr. Steven Umm that many cases of sickness blamed on food poisoning are the result of contamination from pet turtles. The little turtles, it seems, are infected at breeding farms and though they may live in tank water and homes for some time af terward they often still carry the bacteria known as salmonellosis. Unless that pet turtle is certified as free of salmonellosis, then, the critter is not a good buy, no matter what bright color he's painted, or what cute uords adorn his, or her, back msm HEADED FOR Iv.v.VAWA School Transportation (D is t r ic t 15 ) The following are questions and answers pertaining to school bus transportation released to the board of District 15 at last week's meeting. Part I is being printed in this issue, and the remainder on Friday. Answers are based on information resulting from a transportation study by the board. Q. Who is provided free bus transportation in McHenry School District 15? A Any student living IV2 miles? Q. Does the district provide bus transportation for those who live under 1% miles? A. Yes, at the individual's expense and this breaks down to under 9 cents per trip for one bus rider in a family and becomes even less expensive for additional children in the family riding buses because the cost for each additional student is less. Q. Does the state pay the district anything for transporting students that live under IV2 miles? A No, the state pays the local district only for those students transported P/2 miles or more. Q. Will the state pay local school districts for transporting a student residing within l'/fe miles if the parent feels walking is hazardous? A No, the local school district must pay the entire cost. This has been carefully investigated by the administration and school district attorney. Q. What do the local taxpayers of District 15 pay for tran sportation? A. The present tax levy is 15 cents. This means 15 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on real property. If a person owned a home actually worth $20,000 but assessed at $10,000, the cost to the tax«*r payer for the 15 cents transportation levy would be $15. Q. What is the maximum tax that District 15 may levy? A. 15 cents per $100 of assessed value without a referendum. We are currently taxing at the maximum. Q. What is the maximum the district is permitted by law to levy if approved by a future referendum? A. 20 cents per $100 of assessed value or a 5 cent increase over the present levy. Q. What is mandated to local school districts by the state in regard to the transporting of children and distance? A. The state law requires that transportation shall be provided free of charge for those students residing 1 l/z or more miles from the school of attendance. Boards of education may provide tran sportation for pupils living less than ll£ miles and may make a charge for such transportation in an amount not to exceed the cost thereof. Q. What is the cost to District 15 to transport students residing within the IVi miles? A. The approximate cost is $41 per student or $82 for two students, $123 for three, $164 for four, and $205 for five students, etc. Q What is the fee charged by the district for students residing within the 1**2 miles? A. The fee charged by the district is $30 for one student, $40 for two students, and $50 for three or more in the same family. No family is charged more than $50 regardless of the number of children in the family riding the bus. Cost to parents within 14 miles Actual Bus Cost Cost to School Dist. within 1V2 miles One Child $30 $ 41 $ 11 Two Children 40 82 42 Three Children 50 123 73 Four Children 50 164 114 Five Children 50 205 155 and over 50 + + It is important to note that the cost charged parents of children who live within 14 miles and who choose to have them ride the bus still does not nearly cover the actual cost to transport them. School funds must provide the greatest share of transportation costs beyond one child as you will note by comparing Column I with Column III. The Wage-Price Freeze Questions and Answers Internal f Revenue (Service SOCIAL SECURITY By John K. Watkins, FIELD REPRESENTATIVE Today's questions are ones frequently being ask ed of our representatives by the people of McHenry county. The Social Secur ity office at 2500 Grand avenue, Waukegan, re minds McHenry county residents that it has repre sentatives meeting people at two locations in McHen ry county on a regular ba sis. The representatives are at the Woodstock Pub lic Library, 414 VV. Judd, Woodstock every Wednes day from 9 a.m. to noon and at the Harvard city hall from 9:30 a.m. to noon on the first and third Tues day every month. If you have a question you would like answered onSocial Se curity in this column, then please forward it to Social Security Administration Question and Answer Col umn, 2500 Grand avenue, Waukegan, Illinois, 60085. Give your full name, ad dress, and Social Security number. If you do not want your name to appear, please indicate this and we will use only intitials. Question: My husband, who served 20 years in the U.S. Army, was recently killed in Vietnam. My 9-year-old son and I now get monthly payments from the Veterans Ad ministration. Could we also be eligible for monthly Social Security benefits? F.B. - Woodstock Answer: Yes. Since service in the United States Armed Forces is covered under Social Security, you should call or visit any Social Security office immediately to apply for survivors insurance benefits. Question: I just started working and paying into social security. Can you tell me how long a person must work under Social Security to be eligible for benefits at retirement age? R.W. - Woodstock Answer: Anyone starting his or her working career now will be fully insured for retirement benefits after 40 quarters (10 years) of work under Social Security. But don't forget that younger workers are also protected by Social Security disability and survivors in surance before they have worked that long. This column of questions and answers on the Wage and Price Freeze is provided by the local office of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and is published as a public service. The column answers questions most frequently asked about the Wage and Price Freeze announced August 15 by President Nixon. Q - My local supermarket has just discontinued its policy of giving out trading stamps. Can they do this during the freeze? A - Yes. Retail outlets may discontinue trading stamps if they pass on the value of the stampS~ to their customers in the form of lower prices on their merchandise. This can be done in either of two ways\ Merchants can lower the prices of everything they sell by the value of the stamps or, when you pay for your purchases at the cash register, they can deduct the market value of the stamps at redemption from the prices of those items for which trading stamps would have been given. If retailers adopt the latter method of passing on the lower prices, they must post in a prominent place in each retail outlet at least one sign (minimum of 30" x 40"), plus a readily visible sign at each cash register, advising customers of the discon tinuance of the trading stamps and the reduction in total value of the merchandise they are buying. Q. Can a landlord require a person to rent or purchase furniture, where it was not his established practice before the freeze? A - No. Any practice which constitutes a means to obtain a higher rent than is permitted under the freeze is prohibited. Q - The football team in my town is giving tickets for future games to those season ticket- holders due a refund because of prices charged above the wage- price ceiling. Is this form of compensation permitted? A - Yes. Teams may offer patrons tickets to future games or other forms of compensation in lieu of a cash refund. However, at the same time, it Know sTMg still must offer the option of a cash refund when the other forms of compensation are unsatisfactory to the patron. Q - I will be retiring very shortly after 25 years of service and will be eligible for in creased pension benefits. Can I still receive these benefits? A - Employees retiring during the freeze will not be prejudiced by the ceiling. For purposes of computation of their pension benefits, these employees will be treated as though the freeze had not oc curred. In your case, you may receive any increment upon retirement even if the com pletion of 25 years employment occurs after Aug. 15. However, any additional increment must not exceed increments given prior to the freeze, for the same amount of service, unless an increase in benefits was announced before August 15. Q - Is military pay subject to the freeze? ' A - Yes military pay is subject to the terms and con ditions of the President's freeze on wage increases. However, exceptions have been granted for pay for personnel in the combat zone or missing in action, prisoners of war and hospitalized war casualties. In addition, benefits for military personnel placed in a retired status during the freeze period will be computed and paid as if the freeze were not in effect. Military personnel who qualify for proficiency pay increases and similar military learning pay programs are treated in the same manner as civilians. This means that increases will be authorized if the person has increased his proficiency or has been promoted to a new position. THIS WORLD OF OURS Sanitary landfills will nof solve all waste disposal problems. Too many plasties in landfill may affect runoff and create polluted surfaee waters. ONA1- PBOFES* TOBy What is fog? Is it really a cloud on the surface of the earth? Yes. fog is nothing more than a cloud. All clouds are formed when some kind of cooling process lowers the moisture and becomes visi ble particles--thus a cloud. This process can occur in several different ways and under different circum stances. In the fall, the fog is often seen in most parts of the country (the west coast experiences much fog in winter). Fogs are usually caused when the earth (heated during the summer) loses its heat into the cooler night air. As the warmer air from the earth's surface rises and is cooled, fog forms. Cold ground, in spring, for example, can make its own fog when warm moist air blows over it--by cooling the air to the cloud stage. Fog, then, is nothing more than a land-locked cloud. OPTOMETRIST Dr. John F.Kelly At 1224 N. Green St "eet McHenry (Closed Wednesday) Eyes examined .. Clasps fitted Contact Lense> Mrs: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday Evenings - 8:'>0 p.m. Evenings by appointment PHONE 385-0452 Dr. Leonard Bottari Eyes Examined - Contact Lens Glasses Fitted 1303 N. Richmond Road Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs.and Fri. 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tues., Thurs., & Fri Eve. 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sat.: 9:30 to 3:00 p.m. No Hours on Wednesday PHONE 385-4151 If No Answer...Phone 385-2262 COMPACT CARS U Z H - O ' £ P ~ N o D C vlUUi fWH rwrfi] The greatest number of barrets jumped by one skater is 17. The total length was 28 feet 8 inches. For Your Information ' N o * i r . t h e l i t t l e m l a n d b l u r j o b i s n ' t J a r a m a i l b o x Hearts may break from suffering, uncertainty, sorrow, Sin. . . . God's Word Heals Broken Hearts Hear it every day when you DIAL-A-DEV0TI0N 385-8/29 Dear Friends, If a close friend passes away, and if you feel inclined to phone or visit the family to express your sympathy, it is proper to do so. However, your conversation should be brief and you should not insist upon speaking with immediate members of the family, who may be overcome with grief. Respectfully, PETER Ai JISTEN & SON FUNERAL HOME McHenry, Illinois 385-0063 Are You New In McHenry Area ? Do You Know Someone New? WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A ROYAL W E L C O M E T O E V E R Y N E W C O M E R T O O U R A R E A ! ! ! . r % * t i K I t I I K K I 'I I I t I •I -I • K •I t <K I I I K K K ( t I K I I K I K K t ' ( K N O W Y O U R N E W A R E A - R O Y A L , W E L C O M E D O E S I T B E S T * OFFICE EQUIPMENT McHenry County Office Machines Sales-Service & Rentals Typewriters - Adders Calcu !ators Mon.-Sat. 9:00-5:30 Friday 'til 9 p.m. PHONE 459-1226 Grant St., Cyrstal Lake, 111. CALL JOAN STULL 385-5418 o « F R A N O L S E N 3 8 5 - 5 7 4 0 LETTER SERVICE Mimeographing - Typing Addressing - Mailing Lists McHenry Letter Service 3509 W, Pearl St. Mc Henry PHONE 385-5064 Monday through Saturday. INSURANCE Earl R. Walsh & Jack Walsh Fire, Auto, Farm & Life Representing RELIABLE COMPANIES When You Nsed Insurance ot Any Kind PHONE 385-3300 •3429 VV. Flm St., McHenry, 111. George L. Thompson General Insurance " LIFF "ALTO •HEALTH "I THE *CASUALTY -BOAT Phone 815-385-1066 3812 W. Elm St., McHenry In McHenry Plaindealer Bldg. Dennis Conway AUTO, LIFE, FIRE STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY 3315 VV. Elm St. McHenry, Illinois Phone 385-5285 or 385-7111 want ads TO WORK FOR YOU FOR FAST RESULTS PHONE 385-0170 >