Wellsville Daily Reporter from Wellsville, New York • Page 5

Page 6 WELLSVILLE DAILY REPORTER. WELLSVILLE, NEW YORK Tuesday. August 31,1 976 (Oellsville Reporter About Serving Allegany, Potter Counties -Fifth Year Established 1880 Thanks for a great weekend otofact ol our ducusaion it not that my words may triumph over not that may gain victory over but that between we may discover the moat perfect truth Socrates Editorial Presidential debate There is something both exciting and disturbing about the possibility of a series of presidential debates in the coming weeks of the campaign. The positive assessment comes from the prospect of a format which the contenders address themselves openly to the major issues of the day. offer their solutions and rebut the opponent's arguments.

The disappointment comes when the format doesn't shape up quite that way. Negotiating for presidential debates is not far different from labor negotiations Albany Report involving major industries. Front men for the opposing sides try to work out the arrangement which presents their side's strong points in the best light. Carried to extremes, such formalizing of a debate tends to sacrifice substance for personality or style. That was one of the criticisms of the 1960 debates between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

But if the 1976 debates can be brought off with a minimum of interference from campaign managers, the voters could find the results enlightening. Consumer bills in the '76 session By SEN. JESS PRESENT The typical New York State Senator is a member of seven legislative committees and participates in the conduct of each committee's business. In addition to being chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government, I serve as a member of the Senate Committees on Agriculture; Consumer Protection; Education. Mental Hygiene and Addiction Control; Social Services and Transportation.

In past weeks, I have discussed the major items of legislation some of these committees have worked on in the 1976 State Legislative Session. This week's column will offer a discussion of some of the consumer protection legislation we worked on this session and which Gov. Carey signed into law. Consumer protection is one of the most difficult areas faced by the Legislature. In the current economic climate, state government has to balance the importance of safeguarding the consumer with the necessity of retaining jobs and encouraging industry.

We also have to consider that every new inspection program and every new labelling and pricing law is going to add some increment of cost to the overall price of any item covered by the law. In a very real sense, it is the consumer who pays the price associated with each piece of consumer protection legislation which is signed into law. While many consumers feel that they are smart enough shoppers to protect themselves, many others have demanded that the State step in to protect each of us from a wide variety of questionable practices. What follows is a quick run-through of consumer- oriented legislation which became law this session. Legal protection for consumers was strengthened by new law making the operation of schemes to defraud ten to more people a Class felony and making the operation of schemes to defraud less than ten people a Class A felony.

(Chap. 384, Laws of 1976). The new law makes possible the imposition of tougher penalties as a deterrent to consumer fraud. In additional action, a bill was signed into law which authorizes the State's Attorney General to press for restitution of funds in cases of securities fraud. Food-related consumer legislation received special attention in the 1976 session.

In earlier columns, I reported on Senate action on bills providing for the sale of natural flour, grain and macaroni products not containing state-mandated nutritional additives. This bill became Chapter 259 of the Laws of 1976. I also reported that milk inspection functions have been centralized in the State Department of Agriculture and Markets and will no longer be shared with the State Department of Health. (Chapters 571 and 572, Laws of 1976). Foods that have been frozen and then thawed for sale must now be labelled as such.

(Chapter 554, Laws of 1976). Sales, Services and Advertising practices were subjected to further state statutory regulation in this last Legislative Session. Persons who fit or sell hearing aids will be required to be registered with the Secretary of State. Failure to register will be a misdemeanor. The Secretary may refuse registration for enumerated reasons, including an applicant's failure to furnish evidence of good character, reputation and fitness; guilt of fraud or fraudulent practices; the practice of dishonest or misleading advertising; gross negligence in the fitting, selling or repairing of any hearing aid; or for failure to perform repairs or service on any hearing aid sold by such applicant for registration.

The law makes specific provisions for disclosing pricing and warrantee provisions to the purchaser and expressly forbids registrants from making certain types of misleading claims to customers. (Chapter 274, Laws of 1976). Other new laws require that packages containing unassembled goods must be so labelled and that clear assembly instructions and a list of necessary tools for assembly be included (Chapter 179); that purchases made through door-to-door sales can be cancelled without penalty to the buyer until midnight of the third day after purchase, (Chapter 659); and that other sales contracts can be cancelled at will for a maximum five percent cancellation fee (Chapter 535). Under existing law, unordered goods are deemed to be gifts to the recipient. A new law prohibits firms sending such gifts from sending continual payment requests to the recipient and provides procedures for instituting suits to block such requests.

(Chapter 658). While other consumer legislation became law this session, the forgoing bills cover most of the highlights. There are currently two state agencies directly charged with overseeing consumer affairs. The first such agency is the State Consumer Protection Board, created in 1970. This cabinet-level body coordinates the consumer protection services provided by other state agencies, investigates consumer problems, assists consumers in class action suits, represents consumer interests before other state agencies and develops a consumer-oriented legislative program which it sends to the Governor for review and possible introduction in the Legislature.

The second agency is the Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection in the Department of Law. This Bureau conducts a legal protection program against unscrupulous business and investment practices. In 1975, this Bureau handled over 21,000 consumer fraud complaints and recovered over $5 million for victimized citizens. If readers of this column have been victimized by unfair business practices; they are invited to advise my office concerning their complaint and I will see that it is referred to the proper agency for action. To the Editor: Wellsville Midget Football would like to thank Wellsville, N.Y.

for the way it treated Wellsville, Ohio this past weekend. We would like to thank the VFW for the wonderful dinner Friday night at their club, and also their auxiliary for preparing the fine dinner. Thanks also goes out to the Wellsville schools for use of their facilities, the pool, field, concession stand, locker room, and to Mike McKinley and his staff for getting the field ready. Thanks to Doug Jackson and the Community Center for the pizza party for the boys, and to Paul Baker and Dan Richardson for being life guards at the pool Friday night. Thanks also to Mayor Bob Gardner for all he did, and Rev.

Atkins and the Methodist Church for the wonderful breakfast they put on for the Ohio people Saturday morning. We would like to thank the Wellsville Police and Fire Company for all they did, and Roger Nicot for his magic acts he performed at the banquet. We appreciate the help the Lions Club gave in running the concession stand, and Bob Umiker and the rest of the referees for donating their time. Thanks to Leon Abbott, Matt O'Brien, Carlos Starr, and Hugh Elliott in the press box, and Dean Piscitelli, Mark Wiedemann and Mike Stanton for selling programs, and Dick Buck and the Wellsville Daily Reporter for putting the program together. We would like to acknowledge the Wellsville Ambulance Corps and Dr.

Atkins for standing by at the game, WLSV for making announcements, Berwin Hauser for the wonderful job he did on the sign on Main Street. Thanks go out to Reba and Gus Rigas, and John and Wanda Dean for taking Ohioans into their homes because the motels were full. Dick Green and the Blue Devils are also appreciated for their full performance at half time. Sincere thanks to Bob Walsh and his helpers in cooking the chicken and corn for the barbecue, and to Bill Simons for delivering the corn, Frank Carter and his wife for the many hours they put in at the park getting ready for the barbecue, and also Bill "Red" Johnson, Debbie and Lisa Piscitelli, Debby Insley, Jackie Dean, Liz Gasdik, Barb Piscitelli, Ann McKinley, ByGAILFLESCHUTZ Aug. 30, 1926 Wellsville's new clothing store, The Cannon Clothing opened to the public on Saturday and enjoyed a most excellent patronage.

The store, located in the Rockwell Block, has the former location of the Carter Clothing but the stock is all entirely new, direct from the manufacturers, and covers all the Jatest fall styles in clothing and haberdashery. For over a month the store has been in the hands of decorators and everything is spick and span, while the display of the usual fall goods is an unusually complete one. Fay Welstead of Wellsville, Harold Chaffee of Angelica, and Robert Mclntosh of Niagara, returned Sunday from a week's fishing trip at Georgian Bay, Canada where they were the guests of the Nash Motor Co. Welstead, who prides himself on being an energetic and truthful fisherman, reports the capture of a three-pound and a four-pound small mouth bass, the latter being the next largest of that variety caught this year in those Canadian waters. Bonnie Neal, Lorraine Chaffee and Rose Dahar for passing out food at the Island Park celebration.

Many thanks also to all the mothers that made cakes and cookies, and all the parents that took a boy from Ohio into their homes for the weekend. Now we would like to thank all the boys and coaches on our team for the fine job and effort and we might add that they have nothing to be ashamed of. They gave 100 percent and that's what counts. Boys, you did a fine job and we are proud of you. There were many people who donated money and gifts: First Trust, Citizens, and First Federal banks for the gifts; village board and Dick Neal for the time he put in making the photos we gave the Ohio people.

Money generously came in from the Elks and the Lions Club, who each donated $100; the Police Department $50, Quaker State $45, Lee Meyn, $25, Moose Club $25, Dixon's Sub Shop $25, Sears $20, Don Lester $20. Donations of $10 were from ARCO, Ludden Realty, Cannosn, Fisher Drug, Keystone, Randalls, Burrous, Harkness Clothing, Hamilton Shoe, Wellsville Bake Shop, Western Auto, Kertons, Brunswick Coffee Shop, Giant Food Mart, First Trust, South Main News, Taylor Home, Linza's Meat Market, Charlie Shine, Pastime Bar, Rice Music, Wellsville Travel Bureau, Charles' Jeweler, Montgomery Ward, Texas Hot, Sherwin Williams, Arnoy Dye, Buckwheats, Super Duper, Ludden Shoe, Lester Loucks and the Wellsville Dry Cleaners. Five dollar donations came from Jim McKinley, Kirk Lauzze, Mike McKinley, Pat Gostley and Dr. Stanford Masin. And if we have forgotten anyone, we thank you too.

Bob Piscitelli, Midget League Pres. Mike Lauzze, Vice-President Jim McKinley, Chairman George Knight, coach Disaster relief NEW YORK (UPI) Church World Service, the relief and development arm of the National Council of Churches, spent more than $3 million in disaster relief efforts alone during the first half of 1976, the ecumenical agency has reported. Tough battles seen for the presidency WASHINGTON (UPI) President Ford and Jimmy Carter are showing all the signs of preparing for a gloves-off slugfest for the presidency. In addition to trying to reverse his image of being fuzzy on the issues, Carter is pounding away on the Ford administration's record. Ford has decided against taking a passive role in the campaign and will not stay home working at being President while others do his stumping.

In the week since the Republican Convention narrowed the field to Ford and Carter these events have happened. Ford agreed to face-to-face debates with Carter. His risky, but bold, decision, was a signal that Ford will stand on his own as a campaigner. If he can hit as hard in the debates as he did in his ringing acceptance speech in Kansas City, he will be no lightweight in the contest. The latest Gallup Poll showed Ford pulling within 10 percentage points of Carter, after being down 23 per cent a month ago.

As expected the gap betr Worth Talking About A special Thank you To the Editor: As president of the Wellsville Midget Football League, I would personally like to thank Police Chief Jim McKinley for the job he did as chairman of the Ohio Weekend. Mike Lauzze, myself, and all the coaches will be indebted to Jim for the job he has done. Jim did a job and put a lot of his extra time into this weekend and Wellsville Midget League and the communities of Wellsville, N. Y. and Ohio.

Thank you Jim from the bottom of our hearts. Bob Piscitelli, Wellsville Midget League ween the two had narrowed. Carter began a series of speeches hitting the issues head on. He spelled out a specific plan to grant a blanket pardon for Vietnam draft resisters i and did it before an American Legion convention, an audience he knew in advance would boo his position. Ford sent Sen.

Robert Dole, his running mate and one-man "Truth squad" after Carter. The Kansas senator told the same American Legion convention the administration does not advocate blanket pardons and he was cheered. Carter responded by going to the heart of Ford political base blasting the administration's farm policy at the Iowa State Fair. Carter said he would not impose any more embargoes on foreign sales of American crops a policy he said has been leading to decreasing markets for the farmer. Ford is steering a narrow course down the middle of the divided Republican party.

He picked Dole, a middle American, for his running mate, James Baker, a Texan but not a staunch conservative, to run his campaign, and Mary Louise Smith, an lowan as GOP national chairman. At his Vail summit he summoned both Vice President Nelson Rockefeller from the left and former Texas Gov." John B. Connally from the right to give him counsel. The head-on confrontation in the four debates is shaping up at the decisive factor in the campaign. Ford will rehearse with a Jimmy Carter stand-in before facing the Georgian before the television lights.

The issues will boil down to Ford's record as president over the past two years versus Carter's thus far hazy stand on such major items as reorganizing the federal government. In the first postrWatergate election, the battle will be as good clean, but hard- fought contest. In a year when an unknown former Georgia governor walked away with the Democratic nomination and an incumbent president almost was denied nomination by his own party, there are more surprises yet to come. You,.