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The Daily Republic from Mitchell, South Dakota • Page 4

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Mitchell, South Dakota
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Editors' Daily ReptiMfe February 12, COMMENT Hope for Endangered Wildlife Perhaps to the envy of most of us like to hunt, ft prominent local went on an African safari ll few years ago and returned with an "extensive collection of trophies which now on display in the lobby of the fporn Palace. A large wall map is post- id near the mounted heads, and shows route and campsites of the safari, with a brief text by the F. D. (Doc) Randall. At the conclusion his message, Randall expressed the ish that he might return one day for flother such African adventure, "this me armed only with a camera." Randall had bagged a wide variety game, from small species of deer and intelope to the larged Jiippo, rhino, giraffe and elephant.

All Wrere taken with full approval of government conservation officials as part the perennial effort to reduce herds to as not to deplete dangerously Na- food supply. Having "done it all" with firearms, Randall was content do his further shooting with camera. By contrast, there is a small minor- ty of sportsmen who are not content pith the single experience, are not content with observing the limits or the Bunting seasons As a result, numerous fpecies of wildlife have been hunted, (ripped or fished to extinction over the of recorded history Today, another 400 species are listed as "endang- Ared" by the U.S. Department of Interior. Many species that became extinct were killed off because of man's greed for food, hides and feathers.

The great auk and the passenger pigeon are examples. This region's own bison were nearly wiped out. Word is that today the alligator, Bengal tiger, spotted cats, and several varieties of whale face eradication at the hands of human predators. Federal survey figures show that of dangered wildlife species 14 mammals are in the U.S. and 151 in foreign countries, 50 birds are in the U.S.

125 elsewhere, seven amphibians and reptiles are in the U.S. 23 elsewhere, and 30 fish are in the U.S. 8 elsewhere. Besides man's direct assault, environmental conditions some of these manmade pose an additional threat. Pesticides are blamed for the danger- our reduction in the number of peregrine falcons by making their egg shells too thin to survive incubation.

Draining of certain wetlands and clearing of woodlands, and other destruction of habitat are extremely harmful. Now, there is hope that the trend is going to be reversed around the globe. Representatives from more than 100 countries will begin on Feb. 12 a three- week parley in Washington, aimed at drafting a treaty to protect endangered species. One of the key features is to ban international trade in animals and plants threatened with extinction.

Hopefully the conference will arrive at solutions which will reduce human population pressure and pollution enough to block the paths of wildlife obliterations. NEXT WEEK'S DATE BOOK: Feb. 11-17, National Crime Prevention Week; Feb. 12, 1809 (164 years ago), Abraham Lincoln was born; Feb. 14, St.

Valentine's Day; Feb. 14, 1912 (81 years ago), Arizona became the 48th state in the Union; Feb. 15, 1820 (153 years ago), Susan B. Anthony, pioneer crusader for women's rights, was born; Feb. 15, 1898 (75 years ago), Battleship Maine blew up on Havana Harbor, killing 268 U.S.

sailors and touching off Spanish-American War. Mahon Backs Off Of Navy Scandal By JACK ANDERSON WASHINGTON The supposedly mighty House appropriations chairman, George Mahon, whose growling and snorting intimidates most government officials Summoned into his lion's den, has suddenly Developed a timid streak in a showdown with the Navy. He apparently, is backing down in the face of the Navy's refusal to produce documents dealing with its illegal over- commitment of $110 million. The over- commitment, a rare and serious violation, was first reported by us last November. At that time, the House Appropriations Committee had been awaiting a full report on it from the Navy for more than six months.

When the report finally arrived in January 10 months after it was promised It was shot through with 1 inconsistencies and coverups. It contended, for Instance, (hat the Navy was not aware until late 1971 of the over: spending which began in 1969. Then Admiral David Bagley, whose Navy personnel bureau was responsible for the whole mess, gave an elaborate explanation which concluded he wasn't to blame. Nevertheless, there was enough hard information, coated over by rationalization and doubletalk, for committee investigators to draw these conclusions: When the overspending had reached major proportions, the Navy made improper and, in some cases, illegal transfers of at least $80 million in an elaborate effort to cover the whole thing up. The Bureau of Naval Personnel even tampered with official accounting records to conceal the overcommitments.

Three successive admirals in charge of the personnel bureau may have broken the law by failing to institute the kind of controls required by both law and military regulations to avoid just such THE DAILY REPUBLIC AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER J. H. Putjenter, Publisher-General Manager Bruce Stoner Executive Editor Robt. Powell Advertising Director Don Fitzler Circulation Manager Published Daily except Sunday by THE MITCHELL DAILY REPUBLIC at 120 South Lawler Street, Mitchell, South Dakota. 57301 MEMitfft OP THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AifOCleted Prtw If entitled exclusively to We oi repubUcttloo the local newe printed (H the newspaper weU AP newt, under the ol 3, H7t.

to up-to-the-minute worldwide Telephoto picture Put. of overspending. What makes the scandal especially embarrassing at this time is that the overspending occurred in the face of specific admonitions from Mahon's committee to cut back in expenditures for personnel. The Navy promised it would. Then it embarked on spree of promotions and relocations of personnel that cost tens of millions more than Congress had appropriated for such purposes.

In one year, for example, there were more than 525,000 relocations although the Navy had just 623,248 persons. It averages out to nearly everybody being moved. Committee investigators have been after the Navy for months to produce the supporting documents used to prepare the whitewash report. So far, the Navy has refused. About a week ago, a letter demanding the materials was drafted for Mahon's signature.

But instead of being sent, it was slipped into a file. As of this writing, Mahon was reported to be in a quandary about whether to send it. What's more, there is now serious doubt as to whether extensive public hearings on the scandal will be held at all, even though the overcommitments are an unprecedented violation both of law and congressional budgetary authority. The final irony is that the handful of offenders have been disciplined by mere letters of admonition and transfers to other comfortable jobs. Meanwhile, of course, the Navy is trying its best to force Gordon Rule, whose economizing on Navy contracts won him the highest civilian award, to leave his job for answering congressional questions.

The Navy's policy seems clear: If you violate the law and defy Congress by overspending millions, you get a slap on the wrist. If you distinguish yourself by saving the taxpayers' money, you get kicked out. The brass ring, good for one free ride on the Washington Merry-Go-Round, is awarded today to George K. Bernstein, the interstate land sales administrator for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Last month, Bernstein received an invitation from the Deltona Corporation of Miami, to take a five-day junket inspecting the company's properties.

The major stockholders, the Mackle brothers, are close friends of President Nixon and, therefore, have excellent political connections. Nevertheless, Bernstein fired back a letter declaring: "The letter and the attached schedule indicate that your will provide first-class air transportation, hotel accommodations, food and other 'normal expenses' during our stay, as well as 'free time for golf, fishing, boating, swimming, as "We consider the offer contained in your letter to be presumptuous and clearly improper, If an inspection of your propertiei becomes necessary, (his office, la the rfsponsible of itatutory obligations, will select time, the (witlma and the method ol that inspection, I that moat atato regulators will take the same position." A corporate spokesman told us mos.t of 89 invitations have been accepted. Those who go, of cowrie, will see only what tbim to see. George will get to Capitol Nuggets- State, Local Surpluses Figure in Nixon's Axing Back Over The Yean By REPUBLIC BUREAU STAFF WASHINGTON Ballooning state and local government surpluses were an important factor in President Nixon's decision to curtail many federal programs. His controversial new $268.7 billion budget proposes to end federal funding for a host of local programs; such as antipoverty agencies, economic development, public service jobs and hospital construction.

Mr. Nixon said local communities can continue to conduct such programs if they desire, but will have to dig into their own pockets to pay for them. In response to complaints from governors and mayors that thev can't afford to finance such programs locally, the Nixon Administration points to a newly-issued Commerce Department renort which showed state and local governments had a whooping surplus of billion during 1972. The cities and states took in $175.2 billion, but spent only $162.9 billion last year, according to the report. Government economists acknowledge that this is an overall picture, and the statistics do not show that some cities and states are in fiscal trouble.

But they cite the big surplus as evidence that states and cities can be more self reliant, as the President asked in his Inaugural Address and then mapped out in his new budget. PASSENGER COMPLAINTS: Irate airline passengers filed a record 10,520 complaints with the Civil Aeronautcs Board last year. The complaints, which were up 28 per cent over the previous year, listed fares and refunds as the major gripe. Other major sources of complaints were fouled up reservations, flight delays and lost baggage. USED CARS: If that low mileage used car you have just purchased conks out on you, Sen.

Philip A. Hart, points out that you now have easy recourse against the seller. Hart, author of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act passed last year by Congress, notes that one provision of the law makes it illegal to tamper with an auto odometer. If you suspect that the odometer has an untrue reading, contact the previous owner and if he verifies your suspicion, go to court against the dealer who sold you the car, says Hart. Effective last month, the law provides that a seller found guilty of tampering with an odometer must pay the car buyer triple damages, or a minimum of $1,500, as well as any court or legal costs.

After March 1, deceptions will be easier to catch, Hart points out. Regulations go into effect at that time which require anyone selling a used car to provide a written verification of the car's true mileage. REVENUE SHARING: About 2,000 city and county governments have complained they were short-changed in distribution of revenue sharing funds because the government used incorrect data about their locality. Distribution of about $5 billion annually to 37,500 local governments under revenue sharing is made under a formula which takes into account three factors; a community's population, local tax effort and per capita income. Early this year the U.S.

Treasury Department provided the localities with the data ba.se federal civilian and military employes are being overpaid. A measure approved a decade ago stipulated that federal workers earn "comparable" pay with their counterparts in private industry. For example government secretaries were supposed to earn the same as secretaries in private business firms, and government lawyers were to be paid what lawyers in private practice were earning. The "comparability" law has been improperly administered, according to some critics, who now complain that Federal workers in many occupations are earning more than they could get in private life. Elmer B.

Staats, head of the General Accounting Office, says his agency is doing a study for Congress to find out how the "comparability" concent is being carried out. GAO agents are checking to learn how the government determines going wages in the private sector, how government fringe benefits compare with it used in computing their revenue sharing checks, and gave the communities until mid- February to file a complaint if the data was wrong. A Treasury Department spokesman said some 2,000 localities have challenged the statistics, and their comnlaints are now being checked out. Any errors which are uncovered will be reflected in changed amounts in revenue sharing payments made later this year. The 1973 revenue sharing allocations are being paid quarterly, with the first check for this year scheduled to go in the mail April 5.

FEDERAL PAY: A congressional watchdog agency is in the midst of a probe to determine whether 4.4 million those in private industry, and whether government wage scales should take into account differences in the cost of living in various parts of the nation. The lowest paid government worker, classified as a GS 1, now earns $4.798. This rises to $11,614 for a GS 9 and to $36,000 for top executives with the supergrade GS 18 classification. TAX PENALTY: Sen. Robert Packwood, is making another effort to end what he believes to be federal tax discrimination against the 30 million unmarried taxpayers.

He has re-introduced his bill, which has 29 co-sponsores, to permit unmarried taxpayers to figure their taxes using the same tax table now reserved for use by married couples filing jointly. Packwood contends a single person now pays between 10 and 20 per cent more in taxes than a married person. For the single taxpayer with a taxable income of $10,000, the extra amount is $270 or 15 per cent, he claimed. New Enemy Is Scandinavian By ART BUCHWALD WASHINGTON- Every country needs an enemy to call its own. You really can't have a foreign policy or a giant defense establishment unless your national security is threatened by another nation.

President Nixon has been moving so fast to mend fences with our former enemies that there is some question in the post-Vietnamese war era as to which country will play the role of the heavy in U.S. foreign affairs. A team of top diplomats and military men has been working on the problem for more than a year under the direction of Heinrich Himmelfarb, a deputy to Henry Kissinger. Himmelfarb, who Is known in the White House as the "Kraut's Kraut," told me, "It isn't easy to find an enemy since the President visited Peking. Once Pat Nixon was shown on television eating won-ton soup with Chou En-lai, we had to eliminate China as the No.

1 threat to America." "What about Russia?" 1 asked. "They're, buying all our wheat. You can't make an enemy out of a country that's helping your balance of payments. "Cuba?" I suggested. "We've considered Cuba, but sin.ce we're trying to work out an antiblocking treaty, the President thinks it best to cool it as far as Cuba is concerned." "But we have to, have an enemy," I stid.

"Every nation needs another country it cm bate." "We're aware ol that," Himmelfarb replied. "And we think we have one-" HJmmejfwp went over to a large globe in hu office and TOi finger mar top "Sweden?" "Yes," said Himmelfarb, his eyes burning. "Sweden is a threat to the security of the United States and the Free World. Unless our country arms itself and takes a stand, half the world will become Swedish." "It's that serious?" I asked. "Ideologically, Sweden is against everything we believe in.

They're for free medical care, free help for the poor, free homes for the aged and free love for everyone. The United States cannot sit by and allow them to spread their message to the rest of the globe." "Blimey," I said. FBI has n- trovertible evidence that Sweden has financed Swedish massage parlors all over the United States. These parlors are being used to lull American men into a false sense of security. Swedish films have been used to subvert the young and the disenfranchised.

We know for a fact that the Sexual Revolution is being plotted and administered directly from Stockholm." "Who would have thought it?" "Swedish tankers have been following the Sixth Fleet, Swedish freighters have been seen in the New York harbors, Swedish airplanes have flown Los Angeles. The American people must alerted to these lets of aggression which we cannot take lying down." "But it's so hard to hate Swede." I said. "Why is it hard? took id our American deserten and draft dodgers. organUfd damonstranons V'etnamese conflict. Attd they unforgivable when they 49 EARS AGO ROCKFORD, HI.

OM week from today Russell McWilliams 18, will know if he must pay with his life for the slaying of William Sayles, street car motorman, during a robbery. Clarence Darrow, 75-year-old lawyer emerged from semi- retirement since the famous Massie trial to plead the youth's life. MITCHELL Radio station WNAX at Yankton was charged with piracy by Robert manager of the Mitchell Broadcasting company in commenting on the tction of the federal radio commission yesterday in ordering radio station KGDA off the air. VERMILLION With no warrants outstanding, without cent of current or bonded indebtedness, and with a sub' stantial cash belance amounting to several thousand dollars in the treasury claims first place in financial status among S. D.

towns. 25 YEARS AGO LOS ANGELES Americana is on the brink of disintegration a top-ranking psychiatrist said today, reason: the increase in divorce and juvenile and adult delinquency. YANKTON A retired physician who tried to give away 11 motor cars stood Committed to the state hospital. MITCHELL Former U.S. Senator Herbert E.

Hitchcock attorney in resident of Mitchell since 1884, endorsed city manager commission government and urged Mitchell citizens to vote for a change. 10 YEARS AGO WASHINGTON A shock wave of Asian flu a wintry friend of death is hitting the Eastern Seaboard and leapfrogging inland as far as Kansas. PIERRE Gov. Archie Gubbrud told the joint appropriations committee Monday that rising costs of state government "scared me. "But we have tried to present a budget the state could support as well as meet the demands of the people.

MITCHELL Direct Distance Dialing went into effect in Mitchell with the first official ODD call made by Mayor C. W. Klingaman from the Mitchell office of Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. To Your Good Health- No, the Tailbone Doesn't Lengthen By GEORGE C. THOSTESON, M.D.

Deaf Dr. Thostetofi: Is it possible for the tailbone to become longer? Since my little girl was born ir months ago my tailbone has been sensitive. When I sit on a hard surface (as in the bathtub) it becomes painful. The doctor said It could.be bruised but otherwise he couldn't find anything wrong. He told me to sit on a pillow or to gain a little weight on my backside.

My husband and I have snowmobiled for two years. Could this be the reason? Do you have any idea what can be D.G. Put aside the idea that the coccyx (or tailbone) has grown longer. That doesn't happen. However, pain in that region is not what you'd call rare.

Quite a lot of folks have to struggle through a bout of that. The pain (called coc- cygodynia) most often results from spasm of the muscles attached to the tailbone, and that in turn ordinarily is the consequence of some injury or strain involving those muscles. You've had this trouble since birth of the baby; it would be logical to assume that the muscles or related tissues were strained at that time. It happens sometimes in childbirth. Most generally, the "treatment" you can do for yourself is the most effective way of gradually overcoming the trouble.

It does, however, take time. Spasm of the muscles can be relaxed by hot baths; in some cases physicians can massage the muscles through the rectum. For the sake of accuracy, I must point out that infection in the area of the rectum or of the genital area in women can account for the pain that affects the coccyx or tailbone. Subduing the infection relieves the pain. But since your doctor found no sign of such infection, that would not seem to be the source of the trouble in your case.

What you must do yourself is to make a point of maintaining good posture, particularly when sitting. Avoid slumping; that aggravates the pain, since it puts more strain on those sensitive muscles. Sit erect, and always on a firm but padded seat. Avoid overstuffed chairs or couches; you can hardly help slumping In them. For padding in the bathtub, a folded towel will help.

The secret is a firm seat. Watch your posture when driving or riding a car. As to snowmobiling, although falls in a sitting position are rather often the cause of such tailbone pain, I would be inclined, on the basis of what you have told me, to think that childbirth rather than the snowmobile caused your trouble in the first place. But the bumping-sitting that can go with snowmobiling can prolong your trouble, so I'd act accordingly. If you are going to do any more snowmobile riding this year, be careful to avoid any bumps.

Dear Dr. Thosteson: Would you give me the address where I can get a bracelet warning about being allergic to certain medicines? I saw it but lost the M.E. It's Medic Alert, a non-profit organization. Address is Turlock, Calif. 95380.

(In Canada: Medic Alert Foundation, 174 St. George Toronto 5.) Some department and jewelry stores also carry tags or bracelets. Dear Dr. Thosteson: I am 13 and I have two dark moles on my neck. It looks like vampire marks and I hage to wear low dresses because I'm embarrassed.

Please, doctor, what can I It's a simple task to have your doctor remove the moles. HYPOGLYCEMIA Low blood puzzler until correctly often the cause of faintness, headaches, visual and emotional disturbances. To learn how it can be identified and brought under control, write to Dr. Thosteson in care of DAILY REPUBLIC, Box 1400, Elgin, 111. 60120, for a copy of his booklet, "Help For Hypoglycemia," enclosing a long, self-addressed (use zip code), stamped envelope and 25 cents in coin to cover cost of printing and handling.

Dr. Thosteson welcomes all reader mail but regrets that, due to the tremendous volume received daily, he is unable to answer individual letters. Readers' questions are incorporated into his column whenever possible. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." Timothy 1:15 If we never lose sight of why Jesus came, we will never lose the vision and the value of even one soul. Jesus said, "I am come to seek and to save that which lost." "As my Father hath sent me, even so se'nd I you." Open Forum 'GOD HELP AMERICA' To the Editor: The recent ruling of the U.S.

Supreme Court permitting abortion on demand has such extremely far reaching implications it makes me shudder. The finding of science, and even existing laws, support the teaching of Christians and others that life, a new human being, begins at the moment of conception. Now, for any reason at all up to a certain stage, any woman anywhere In the nation can find a codperating to murder the totally innocent little boy or girl she carries in her womb. This is a moral wrong of grave proportions and cannot be changed even if all nine Supreme Court Justices had voted in favor of it. The magnitude of this killing is staggering.

The estimated legal abortions in the U.S. since 1967 is 1,598,000. Most of these were in just the last TWO years! This dwarfs the Vietnam war casualties of almost 46,000 lives. Or the total of less than 700,000 American live in all wars of the last 200 years' (These figures from U.S. Newi World Report, Feb.

5, 1973.) What can we do? WRITE! Write letters simple and to the point. Letters will be read. Write to President Nixon, our Senators and Representatives; ask Congress to amend the Constitution to guarantee the right to life of the unborn child. Even write to Supreme Court Justices at Supreme Court, Washington, D.C., 20543. Associate Justice Harry A.

B1 a spokesman for majority favoring abortion, Chief Justice Warren Burger, Associate Justices, Lewis F. Powell Potter Stewart, William 0. Douglas, William J- Brennan, Tburgood shall. Dissenting were: Associate Justices Byron R. White, William H.

Rebnquist. At this point in history tbf heart warming phrase "God Bless America" may well be replaced with the prayerful petition "God Help America." MSRQYIf. SCHNEIDER Federal Red Tape Makes Revenue Sharing Popular KENNETH B. DALECKI Republic Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Federal grant-in-aid programs distribute $38 billion annually but have a poor reputation with officials in America's small and medium- sized towns. They view such programs as encumbered by miles of red tape and managed by bumbling bureaucrats with no concept of local problems.

Big cities employ expert lobbyists to ferret out federal cash, but small towns must go it alone, said the officials in a survey that found them en- thu'siastically backing a proposal for more federal revenue sharing. The mayors and city administrators responded to a congressional survey which asks question like "do you believe there is too much red tape applying for federal assistance?" In almost every case the answer is "yes." Richard B. Kerwin, administrative assistant for Memo Park, told the survey takers that applying for a federal grant of less than $20,000 "does not pay for itself due to the man hours spent in paperwork." Red tape causes Millbrae, administrators to be "discouraged from the beginning" and the mayor of Vallejo, said one of bis city's major grant applications was "lost by the appropriate federal agency for two years!" Grantsmanship "has beome a lobbying game exclusive to the larger cities and complained Mayor Alicita Lewis of Stanton, a community of 33,000 persons. Partly in response to this kind of criticism, the Nixon Administration is sponsoring islatjon that would scrap the present grant structure It would consolidate 70 categorical aid programs Into four block grants of "special revenue sharing" funds. States and local governments would get i block grant for education, manpower, community development and law enforcement.

They would have to spend the funds for those four general purposes. Proponents of the plan say tt would cut red tape, save on administrative, costs and give local communities the freedom to spend the funds on tbeii' most Spencer, S-0 itmas bowtotti of many United States, then don't know what the word means." "But surely if President Nixon has mide bis peace with China and tbf Soviet Union hi can find some way of resuming diplomatic relations with Sweden-" "Not as long as. Eweden continues to enslave its people and spmd its diabolical around tbf of many Congressional, liberals Is that Jim a of categorical grants will mean, the. end of federal efforts to attain great national goals, such as providing decent housing, education mMcjl (or the diiaovantaged. Muskie beads the Subcommittee on Maine Democrat said the panel will conduct hearings this year into 'how red tape can be cut without "abdicating federal responsibility." "The emphasis in these hearings in contrast to the President's (special revenue sharing) program will be on a positive search for better ways to solve problems," he said.

Preliminary indications from his subcommittee survey shows overwhelming support from local officials for the special revenue sharing format. But they also show -some unexpected support for the Muskie position. "I have never felt that categorical grants are necessarily hinderances to local government," wrote Richard E. Watson, administrator for Millbrae, a small city just south of San Francisco, "In a sense, I think in some cases, they require the local government to plan and put their purposes in a more clear and concise way," he said. Culver City, 'Chief Administrative Officer H.

Dale Jones said that in his unity "we have yet to find an item of high priority which is not covered by some Sort of categorical grant," Jack T. Crippen, mayor of El Monte, a suburban Los Angeles community, told the subcommittee that doing away with categorical grants might make it impossible for bis town to get enough money for major improvements. "There are still many. needs for large sums of money in the categorical grant program which. certainly would not be adequately substituted for by the revenue iharing," Crippen said.

He called for i i a i but not elimination, of categorical grant programs, Zanesville, City Manager Samuel Grey said categorical grants should- be eliminated and "the sooner the better." But be exempted "areas where vital national policy needs are at Maurice W. Smith, assistant city administrator for San Gabriel, said many communities in the Angeles suburbs avoid federal grant programs "not. because of the paper work, but because cities don't want to admit to having problems." Smith said federal grant guidelines are easy to understand and that local federal officials are "courteous and prompt" in assisting loci! pf- ficials who seek aid. Despite these local a i on about elimination of categorical programs, the dominant foment is voiced by Uni Heigbtsyoblo Msyw IrJv Kptfgsherg who. "I see tw reason to trust competence of the bureaucrat.

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Pages Available:
74,426
Years Available:
1937-1977