The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

» PAGE 16-PIAINDEALER-FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1972 Comments from the Governor J (The governor discusses vital legislation affecting horse rac­ ing in the following special column.) By Gov. Richard B. Ogilvie Springfield, III.-- If it's possible to legislate against shady dealings, we have taken a huge step forward in Illinois in regulating and con­ trolling racetrack activity. Spurred by the ominous dis­ closures of the dealings that went on in the 1960s, our legislators have given the Illinois Racing Board the toughest rules of any state in the union. They put into law some of the administrative decisions of Chair­ man Alex MacArthur, who has been an implacable foe of the kind of shenanigans that used to plague Illinois racing. In addition, the state ;ias taken over the police function at Illinois tracks. Again, this legislation backs our present Racing Board to the hilt in its efforts to ferret out fixed races, bribed jockeys or owners, .ind some of the dismal conditions in the barns and exercise areas of tracks in Illinois. There may be loopholes in the tough laws I approved, but you'd have to be twisted like a corkscrew to find them, in my opinion. Rep. David Regner of Mt. Pros­ pect observed recently that racing seems to attract "undesirable ele­ ments and provides many oppor­ tunities to defraud." That isn't to say that there are not honorable men and women in considerable numbers interested in horse racing. But it seems to me our job as public officials is to work relentlessly to stop these "op­ portunities to defraud," both for the protection of the pub­ lic and the honorable people in racing. It -should be noted that the im­ petus for the legislation I sought was a thoroughly aroused citizenry thoroughly disgusted at the events of the past. Here's what the legislation wiH do: Disclosure: Any person who stands in any way to gain from a racing date must be disclosed to the Racing* Board, and this infor­ mation becomes a public record. There will be no hiding behind trusts or attorneys or dummies under this law--some of the de­ vices used in the past to conceal the real beneficiaries of corruption in racing. The law applies also to anyone who has an interest 5 per cent or greater in any profit-making activ­ ity connected with racing, such as concessions or even the firm that sells the hay for the horses. Political contributions: None of the firms or persons covered by the first section of the law may con­ tribute to any person in public office or any candidate for office. Ownership transfers: All changes in racetrack ownership amounting to 25 per cent or more--or involv­ ing the controlling interest, no matter how small--must be ap­ proved by the Racing Board. Thus the board for the first time is in the driver's seat, and in a position to enforce the standards it deems to be in the public in­ terest. Penalties: For each offense, a fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than $20,000. and the possi­ bility of a jail sentence of as much as one year. Penalties against the board itself: This is one of the most stringent features of this hard-hitting legis­ lation. If the board fails to disclose violations, members of the board are subjected to the same penalties as the violators. I have the utmost confidence in Chairman MacArthur, but he will not be serving 20 years from now. And unless the chairman at that time can change the laws, he will be under the gun to come clean with the public. State policing: We have elimi­ nated the semi-private police force, the Bureau of Race Track Police, who couldn't be armed and had no real legal power to make arrests. Instead, the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement takes on the job, and can bring its full resources to this difficult task. MacArthur tells me he expects the changeover to yield vastly im­ proved results. For example, he points out, the constant efforts to dope horses involve the highest possible degree of sophistication. "They're already using the drugs of tomorrow on races today-- drugs that don't even have a name. With the labs and full resources of the state at our disposal, we're bet­ ter matched in this fight with the crooks," MacArthur reports. He adds: "Just this week we have a positive finding of a new heart drug administered to a horse, thanks to excellent police work." Conditions in the barns, under MacArthur, are going to meet his standards--or else. He recalls: "A discharged stablehand, drunk and smoking in the barn, recently caused more than two dozen help­ less horses to burn to death. "With armed, professional state law enforcement personnel on the job, we are going to clean up the back stretch period!" I would add only this: Major credit for passage of the legislation I wanted should go to Rep. Regner, Sen. William Harris of Pontiac, and Rep. Arthur Telcser of Chi­ cago. ;• • -, • They acted truly in the. interest of the public. Springfield, III.--You don't often see Chief Justice Warren Burger. Johnny Cash and Richard Ogilvie on the same team. In varying ways, however, we are teammates in the cause of prison reform. We are also attempting to find the middle way between the idea of locking up criminals "and throw­ ing away the key," and the equally unworkable idea that society is to blame for crime, not the criminals. Cash, in his visit recently with the President and in his presenta­ tion to a Senate committee, stressed the corrupting influence of most prisons, particularly on young first- termers. The chief justice is eloquent on the subject of the medieval cruel­ ties and neglect which are far too prevalent in our nation's "correc­ tional" institutions. Illinois has reason to be proud of the action which be­ came final with my approval of the uniform code of cor­ rections recently. The code, which strives to pro­ tect the public and prisoners from abuses which could only lead to more crime, represents years of thoughtful work by informed per- lt recognizes the most import­ ant fact to keep in mind about prisons: Most of the prisoners are going to be released, sooner or later. Our primary goal of protecting society means, then, that we must do more than feed and clothe the prisoners in our custody. Unless we can control prison conditions, separate the young of­ fenders from the old, work to re­ habilitate the prisoners, and open a place for them upon their re­ lease. we will surely fail to protect society. The ways of the past madt the gates of our prisons revolving doors. Inevitably, they opened to release prisoners, and just as in­ evitably, more than half the re­ leased prisoners committed new crimes and returned to prison. Illinois is the first state in the nation, to the best of my knowledge, to update its cor­ rections procedures in a com­ prehensive code. By itself, it would have little impact if prisons in Illinois were still bein^.run on the models of the hist century. the fact that they aren't--that we've moved well into the 20lh, Century--has attracted interest and attention throughout t h e United States. In fact, a leading national maga­ zine has an in-depth article in preparation, and I am looking for­ ward eagerly to the findings of its research team. In approving the new code of corrections, I made a point well worth repeating here: The aim of an effective correc­ tions system is not to extract society's pound of flesh for wrongs done it. The aim is to return to society men and women prepared to become a part of society, not enemies of it. And while discipline and firm­ ness must necessarily keep order in our prisons, we have a very heavy obligation to law-abiding citizens to try to retrain our prisoners both in spirit and in their skills to become producers, not pred­ ators. Illinois, fortunately, has not had the severe /problems of prisons elsewhere^ By combining anS. enlightened attitude with firmness,Viim hope, ful we can maintain that recor« Punishment of prisoners is^ neither our goal nor our way "reforming" offenders. The goal is to reduce crime by changing human attitudes-. Noth­ ing less will bring this nation the law afid order we all desire. BUMPER STICKERS V Moer woMeti OtsuKB A&OUT parking- /s rue Moisi CZASH. 3 LAfF OF THE IVffK CARPETS , " 'M , i i i . < i • • v m ^ < f \ n T S r ' " ' • > I opportunity to carpet your home for fall Choose from thousands of carpet samples . . hundreds of full 9' x 12' hanging samples in our giant carpet showroom. And - expert instaUation is available by Tidy's mill-trained installers *Karastan*Lees*Bigelow*Mohawk Ber\'eii * Alexander Smith*Armstrong* Masland* *Trend*Barwick*Coronet*Aldon* World *l\ans & Black *Milliken *Magec*Columbus *lirth*Monticello*M<march*Cabin Craft* * Venture*J<>r\!es*Ozitc* 1 'iking*(iullistan *Charter HAS MISSED THE CARPET INDUSTRY Here's proof . . . carpet prices have not been affected by inflation as indicated by the chart reprinted below from Floor Covering Weekly, June 19, 1972 INFLATION Source OH of Labor. Buroou at Labor SUL, TWtplnrt Mid Prico Induoo" and "WoaMy Labor ft*+mT U S Buraou of Labor StaU WIIOIMH Prtoaa and Moo Maim Cod* *1231 (1*1-1*4). U S. DopL <X Commerce. Bureau at Cdhaua. Cunent Industrial Report, "Ruga. Carpet* and Carpatino " Sertaa MO ZZQ Got Anything Lying Around The House You'd Like To Get Rid Of? SELL IT! The Quick, Inexpensive Way With A Plaindealer Classified Ad. PHONE 385-0170 THE McHENRY PLAINDEALER 3812 W. Elm McHenry H E R E A R E 1 2 G O O D R E A S O N S T O S H O P A T T I D Y *A carpet show room displa\ imail t 9 f t . x I 2 f t . carpet samples* •A sample check out service* •I .OOO's ot rol ls and samples t<> choose from * A cash'n carry department" Immediate Delivery *1 xpert l lejninn' •Guaranteed instal lat ion b> our own instal lers* *S & H (Ire. 'n Stamps* Tidy's new multi-color shag. . with the finest color line available (over 24 in stock). Bright, subtle color combinations with up to 9 different tones in one fabric. A tremendous plush shag value --j-t Receive a free felt pad (while pad supply lasts) with the purchase of )c $12-00 ON \ any new 9'x 12'rug. Choose your 9' x 12' rug from over 500 colors and patterns in Tidy's giant warehouse stock. FREE OFFER Remnant and Used (trade-in) ru£ depa'tmeni * Carpet from al l of America s famous mil ls Plenty of I ree Parking I rained and dedicated carpet sales consultant A famous mill shag known for its handsome appearance and long-wear- w F sToo ° AA ing durability. Browse through a rainbow of vibrant colors in Tidy's S A ^vn stock. . .an outstanding value in a very popular shag carpet. 50 Indoor/Outdoor and Kitchen Carpet. Superb durability, exciting pat­ terns and decorator colors make this cash 'n carry carpet one of Tidy's most outstanding carpet buys for heavy traffic areas, inside and out! '5 $099 ^sq.y 95 M99 sq-yd Tiny CARPETS I III I & RUGS 200 WASHINGTON (815)338-1000 WOODSTOCK,ILL. STORE HOURS: Monday, Thursday, Friday 'til 9 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 'til 5 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 5 V you save any money TODAY ? Let us Help You 5% and 5M% on Passbook Savings 534% and 6% on Certificate Accounts MARENGO federal savings a5cj loan association f45.000.000 Mutual Association serving Northern Illinois since 1925 Where No Saver Has Ever Lost A Penny 200 East Grant Highway 1 <