PAGE H • PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 4.1*1 yrirn r FLA1NDEALER --N Editorial Opinion Diesel Times In the United States last year. 270,000 diesel cart were sold. Only two years before, the number sold by all makers totaled only 97,000. Thus the motorists' turn to diesels is unmistakable. But the news isn't all good. Diesels, while they set better mileage (but cost more to buy), are noisy, sooty ana sluggish in comparison with gasoline engines. They are, also, sometimes hard to start in cold weather. Thus far, environmental authorities haven't cracked down on diesel engine pollution-even though diesel engines often emit large quantities of oxides of nitrogen and particulates-or soot. One can often see heavy black smoke gushing from the vertical stack of trucks. (Usually, engine tuning will eliminate much of this excess pollution.) Several months ago, the largest U.S. producer of diesel cars, faced up to whatjhas become a widely-recognized problem among its diesel engines. It undertook to repair cars " • in consumer hands and made improvements in diesel being built for its cars. And executives see a bright hiture for diesels. Foreign makers of diesel cars agree. And the cars do save fuel, ana run on a cheaper fuel-a big plus in today's fuel crunch. Should a breakthrough in fuel supply or fuel substitutes for gas engines be found, however, or should the EPA clamp down hard with emission restrictions, the current trend might well be reversed, The Tar Factor For some years now, millions of happy cigarette addicts have been comforting themselves with the conviction that, by smoking fags with a low tar content, they're avoiding many of the dangers inherent in cigarette sucking. But now comes the Surgeon General-wno always manages to chase away rationalised pink clouds-to say mat low tar tigs may be worse than the regular types for some health hazards, though slightly preferable as far as lung cancer is concerned. And so, it comes down-for many--to a question of what disease they prefer to risk: heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema, bronchitis, or stillbirth and birth defects (for pregnant mothers). Also, it's a question of inconvenience, cleanliness and clothes wear for puffers. As others realize the damage of kiialatkm of tobacco smoke, they become less tolerant of the addiction. As the dangers are more fully a who must clean up after smokers become what And ted, those hantod with for tobacco Despite all products this, manufacturers today go after the young, seeking out, in ads, young gullible girls-with the pitch that puffing is somehow ludBed to their freedom! PLAINDEALER Letter to the Editor Public Pulse (The Hie wrrfr--a ftvo lifssture. t%m tfcii ceitfimi mm mm mnprmttimm mi tkeir i ear taimiisa<t|i. Oar only rag* a a* is tHot mm rm mmm aace • mmm%k. Me •rla PAY FOR NO WORK "Dear Editor: "In regard to the Musin' and Meanderin' column of Friday, Jan. 23,1 get angry to see that our 'respected' Congressmen are allowed to get paid for the days they don't show up for work. If I don't show up, I don't get paid and if I don't show up too often I get fired. "There must be something the common person can do to reverse this. Besides, isn't that cheating? "Also, another thing, how can they keep voting themselves pay raises all the time. I'm tired of hearing 'stretch your pennies'. My pennies are so stretched now it's terrible. I would love to see them survive on my wages. "Sincerely, "Laurie Hertel "2014 W.Rt. 120" NO MOTH JOKES "Dear Editor: "Once again 'Brenda Starr' has struck with her usual flippancy. And, once again, clarification is needed. "1--Sevin-4-oil, the poison which was proposed for use to kill Gypsy moths in McHenry, is a proven viral enhancer as well as a cholinesterase inhibitor. These facts are documented in a number of places, in cluding the environmental impact statement developed by the United States Department of Agriculture. - "2--Exposure to a viral enhancer increases a per son's susceptibility to viral infections, and often in creases their severity. "3--Reyes Syndrome is not a specific disease, but instead the symptoms of a viral infection on the ram page within a child's body. It is often fatal. "4--A possible link bet ween Reyes Syndrome and aspirin is the new item which has caught the eye of our star reporter. If there is such a link, it does not remove the bond between Reyes Syn drome and Sevin-4-oil. Cigarettes can cause cancer, but many people who have never smoked contract cancer. Therefore, cancer has more than one cause. The same is true of Reyes. "5--Spraying the area with Sevin-4-oil would not have eradicated the Gypsy moth here in McHenry. According to the 1961 E.L.S. draft, Sevin is effective in the year of the spraying. Then you get to spray again next year. "6--As -ior your next headache, you are free to choose whatever you care to take for it. I, however, intend to prevent future headaches by conscientiously avoiding the Plaindealer. "Pat Shanholtzer" For Your Information a_> -- >a-vw vnviw t CeWgln COflOITIQIIa OTWRi illw pfwewll®w MM COCOwf Is lofotly iMCMHry. Tho funorol director edM will summon tho coronor If ho dooms fhot his sorvkos oro roqulrod. In tho ovonf dooth was ocddon- tal or from otlior than natural cawsos, tho coronor mast ha summonod and tho hody should not ho movod Rospodfully. PETER M.JUSTEN & SON FUNERAL HOME Insurance Complaint Ratios For the first time, the Illinois Department of In surance is releasing com plaint ratios for life, ac cident a id health insurance companies operating in Illinois. Since 1977, the department has published similar complaimt ratios for automobile insurers and since 1978 for companies writing homeowners in surance. The listings released by the department are for in dividual life insurance, individual accident and health, and group accident and health. The complaint ratios are expressed as the total number of complaints for each 10,000 individual policies or certificates in force. Only companies with 10 or more complaints in 1979 were included. In compiling the complaint figures, the Insurance department utilized the definition of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners which identifies a complaint as written correspondence primarily expressing a grievance against an in surance company. Although the department investigates all complaints it receives, the complaint figures do not reflect what portion may have been valid, since that is often a sub jective judgment. What is important, according to Philip R. O'Connor, Illinois Insurance director, is that consumers have complained about a company's per formance. From Washington (by Lynn Martin, 16th Congressional district) Congress is still not settled into a schedule. The Senate is meeting regularly, but there are problems in the House. I think it helps to un derstand what causes them, so that if legislation you favor is stalled, you'd all know some background. First, most of the work of Congress is done in com mittee. If you were to visit Washington and sit in the gallery of the House, you'd wonder where all the representatives were. There'd be someone presiding, members of both the Democrat and Republican leadership on the floor, and those few members directly tied to the bill who wish to speak. Everyone else is not jjist gallivanting. Members may be in their offices where the proceedings are available on closed circuit TV, or • in committee. The best idea, the most necessary cost cuts, the changes in the tax code necessary to moving the economy forward - none of this can be debated on the floor unless they can be reported from committee. As of now, the Democrats enjoy a 5 to 4 ratio in Congress. Nonetheless, they want a 2 to 1 edge on the major committees. Republicans are asking for a 3 to 2 •>ratio as better representing the true make up of the House. Republicans agree that the Rules com mittee, traditionally the province of the majority leadership, can retain a 2 to l edge. Although the last paragraph sounds com plicated and your reaction might be "who cares?" it is vitally important. It is not a petty partisan battle. If the last election is to be meaningful, the will of the people must be fulfilled. The majority of Americans opted for a change, and Congress should reflect that desire. Private meetings continue as both sides meet so that a fair solution can be reached. Many Democrats believe in at least parts of what will be the Republican program. Every thinking person knows that the economy is the major problem facing this nation. Many Democrats feel it can be done even if the committee structure remains almost a totally Democratic preserve. I'm not sure it can. But I do know that the future of this nation rests in the hands of the members of our two great political parties. That future is too important to let parliamentary procedures put a stop to the steps that must be taken. Whatever politicalparty to which a member of Congress feels loyalty, he or she must return to all voters and face their judgment. ' ^That judgment is apt to be severe if America can not move forward. Toll Free Phone For Help On Heating Bill Illinois residents needing assistance in paying their heating bills may call, toll- free, 800-252-6643, for in formation on the state's Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). One-time individual household assistance may range from $60 to $430, and is available to both from HISTORY'S SCRAPBOOK OATES AM EVENTS FROM YESTERYEARS •eSafe Any material that has been treated with a cleaning solvent or saturated with flammable liquids or solids should never be pitted in a dryer -- or you're risking explosion. Foam rubber and rubber-like materials can be dried in a dryer -- on the "air" setting only. A "heat" setting used on those materials may damage the plastic and could be z fir? '""vd. S, IMS -- Patton's Third Army breaks German Sieg fried Line. Febraary 6,11*5 -- George Herman ("Babe") Ruth, baseball's "King of Swat," born in Baltimore. February 7,1M4 -- John Deere, manufacturer and inventor of steel plow, born in Rutland, Vermont. ° February 8, ltlO -- Boy Scouts of America chartered in Wash ington, D.C. Febraary t, 1971 -- Earthquake in Southern California record ing 6.3 on Richter Scale kills 63. Febraary 18, 1933 -- Postal Telegraph Service introduces sing ing telegrams. Febraary 11, 17*0 -- First antislavery petitions submitted to Congress. ARE YOU NEW IN * The McHenry Area? Do Yoo Know Someone New? WE W0DUI LIKE It EXTHS A ROYAL WELCOME TO EVERY NEWCOMER TO OUR AREA!!! CALL LORRAINE H0NAHAN BS5-547S JUNE VOjGHT 3S5-2S50 t tmu mum X O'Connor cautioned against using the complaint statistics, alone, to judge a company's performance. Consumers should compare prices, talk to friends, deal with agents they have confidence in and be skep tical of boastful claims when choosing an insurnace company to do business with," said O'Connor. Complaint ratios are only one of several tools con sumers should use when purchasing insurance, he said. Other factors to be considered might be the service provided by the agent or broker, proximity of claim or service offices to the consumer's residence or business, and prices charged for insurance, O'Connor explained. Insurprs, on the other hand, can utilize the com plaint ratios to gauge their/ ranking among competitors' and to assess potential problems within their own organizations, said the In surance director. "It has not been an easy task, even with our sophisticated computer system, to compile this in formation," said O'Connor, "This information is for consumers and the in surance industry." In the future the complaint ratios will be ready within several months of the close of business for the previous calendar year, O'Connor said. The Illinois Department of Insurance has an office at 160 N. LaSalle street, Chicago, 60601 First Replacement Taxes To Governments homeowners and renters. Special emphasis is being placed on assistance to the elderly and handicapped. Eligibility for assistance is based on income and the amount of assistance depends on such factors as income, location and type of heating system. Local units of government have received the first of eight payments this year under the Corporate Per sonal Property Replacement taxes, according to J. Thomas Johnson, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. Checks totaling $76.3 million were mailed last week to some 6,639 units of local government, Johnson said. "During 1981, local governments should receive about $510 million in replacement taxes," Johnson noted. "This will be an estimated $19 million above the projected $491 million that governments would have received under the old corporate personal property tax." The replacement taxes replace funds lost to local governments when the corporate personal property tax was abolished by the new state constitution. The replacement taxes were authorized by the Illinois General Assembly in August, 1979. Under the new system, taxes are collected by the state revenue department and the money is funneled to the local governments, beginning this year, distributions will be made eight times a year, rather than the quarterly schedule followed last year. Payments are to be made in January, March, April, May, July, August, October and December. • The 1981 payments will be an estimated 8 percent lower than the $552.8 million distributed during 1960. This decline, Johnson explained, is due to the combination of (1) a slowed economy and (2) a decrease in the tax rate on corporations (the rate went from 2.85 percent to 2.5 percent effective Jan. 1, 1981). The replacement taxes are: (1) a 2.5 percent income tax on corporations; (2) a 1.5 percent income tax on partnerships, trusts, and sub-chapter S corporations; and (3) a 0.8 percent tax on the invested capital of utilities. New York - Thousands of impoverished people throughout developing countries will be wearing sneakers and drinking lemon flavored vitamin C fortified drink mix donated to CARE by generous American companies. Individual con tributions are the base of CARE support, but the organization also depends on corporate contributions of medical supplies, nutritious food, seeds, and educational materials for its program in 35 developing countries. ROYAL WELCOME KMW YAH MEJHNYM. WELCME MES IT KST McHfNRY, IUINCMS - aiW>l SERVICE LINE MCHENRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 386-4800 FAMILY SERVICE A MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC 3409 W. Woukegon Rood McHonry 385-6400 TURNING POINT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRESS LINE McHonry County 24 hours a day, 7 days a wook Paronts Anonymous mooting* on Tuosdoy. Call 815-344-3944 * 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. wook days (Evor had o problem involving tho federal government and not known where to call? And then 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 Comploints 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 Child Ab6se Center McHenry County (312) 546-2150 CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 800-638 2666 (Operates five national lines. Answers inquiries about or repor ting 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 Pregnant? Need Help? Counseling Service. 385-2999. 24 hour Answering Service. YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU FOR McHENRY COUNTY 4719 W. Elm St.. McHenry Phone: 344-3240 24 hour Crisis Intervention and Confidential Counseling for youth and families ILLINOIS STATE CHAMBER HOTLINE Phone 217-522-5514 Answer to questions on government regulations MENTAL HEALTH 1-S00-S92-S900 jCrlsis Center Line for McHenry Co. 24-Hour Emergency number and professional staff will answer year cell. Sponsoring agency McHenry County Comprehensive Mental Health Service System. MEMO TO RUSSIA COD LP Ll(5»HTMV 1 February, 1981 The Trees Stand Wistful in the Square, Wearing a Half-expectant Air. •Anne, Lawler. The name February derives from the Latin "Fcbr- are," meaning to purify, and from church custom and superstitions. In the United States it is notable for containing the birthday anniversary of the father of this country, George Washington (on the 22nd). Candlemas, a purfication feast, is observed by Roman, Anglican and Greek churches, and in others, on the 2nd. Many in this country know it as Ground Hog Day. The territory of Illinois was established on the 3rd, in 1809. Roger Williams, a famous defender of freedom of religion, arrived in Boston (from England) on the 5th in 1631. Ronald Reagan, 40th president, was born in Tampico, Illinois on February 6, 1911. Boy Scout Day, commemorating its American chartering, is the 8th, dating from 1910. William Henry Harrison, 9th U.S. president, was born in Charles County, Virginia, on the 9th in 1773. Thomas Edison was born at Milan, Ohio, on the 11th in 1847. Abraham Lincoln was born in Harden County, Kentucky, on the 12th in 1809, his ancestors having first settled in Hingham, Massachusetts (from Nor wich, England). He lived later in Indiana and (at 21) moved to Illionis. James Oglethorpe landed at Savannah on the 12th in 1733 and founded Georgia. St. Valentine's Day falls on the 14th, as well as Arizona Admission Day-dating from 1912 when Arizona be came a state. luaiated Unlike most mosses, the rock moss Grimmia can go without water for two years, National Geographic says. Its leaves end in long white hairs that provide insulation and reflect sunlight, thus reducing evaporation. It looks dead when dried out, but its greenness returns with rain or * spaking from mountain runof~ EMI H WALSH t JACK WALSH INS. Uro Aw*« Farm lil* RfllASU COWAMHl 4410 M R«a IN HkHwi, MS ISM DENNIS CONWAY Auto tei rm State Fan In Co S3I«W llm «cMa*rf Nt MS /III JAMES H McHfTEE. LAWYER AVAKAMI to PHACTKI IN: ftfMMl tntwry 'trMi IwImm Corporation* WllU/ProWo Otvorto - Raalf Mata Workman's Campanaatlon MMW. (ImSlraat McHan far appaMmaiH phono: MS-1440 M UOURO B0TMM IM1 Richmond M.-McHonry f rat aaamlna4-Canract lanui Gtaiftat Httod Men., Two*.. Thurt. M. 4-4pm Tuat.. Than M. 7-9pm So* t:M Jpm t»ono»MS-4l$l or MS-1M2 McHENRY COUNTY OFFICE MACHINES SAKS SfRVICI • Rf NtAlS Moo M « S:M trUav H4 •« VS Gran) t> Cryttal lako Mmm 4S* (>M II Pays To Advertise In The Plaindealer. Farm Equipment George P. Freund. Inc. Cos* - Now Holland 4)02 W Crystal lake ltd McHonry Bus. 385-0420 Res. 385-0227 BIREIILI RADIAL TIRES FOR ALL CARS Europa Motors. Inc 2 3 1 8 R t e 1 2 0 8 1 5 3 8 5 0 7 0 0 Onn/ttl m # W <*' out quic quick action copy center FINEST QUALITY COPIES MADE ON XEROX EQUIPMENT Soo us. also, for ovory hind of Printing Nood| PRINTING 3909 W. MAIN 315*7600 TRAILERS MOR$t S CAtHf TRAIKRS DUMP FLATBEDS CAR HAULERS TRAILER HITCHES (IXPCRT INST Al IA TIONI RUNNING BOARDS SRADfN WINCMIS ADAMS ENTERPRISES 301/W Rta 120 McHtnry II aiS3aSS0;0