The Daily Mail from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 5

Opinion Page J828 JAMES M. SCHURZ, Editor JOSEPH M. HARP, Executive Editor GEORGE 0. RASH, Managing Editor The Other Side of the Coin' Hagerstown, Md. Tuesday Feb.

26, 1974 Six-Person Juries It is refreshing to see that a member of the House of Delegates is proposing a legislative act that would ease the financial burden. Delegate Darrow Glaser is proposing six-person juries in Maryland in the interest- of saving time and money. Jury strength in both criminal and civil cases has been 12 for many decades although fewer than 12 were common in colonial times and more recently the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled six-member juries are adequate in civil cases. Del.

(Jtaser's bill would reduce the jury number from 12 to six in criminal cases, and even fewer if the defense and prosecution agree The nutnher of jurors in civil cases could he sot by the court. A ihe present Washington County jurors receive 815 a clay and an additional Sl" if a irial lasts inlo evening Besides, a hill currently in Ihe Legislature would increase the jury expense allowance. Monev saved in the reduction would he considerable Who's Serving Who? By the year 2000. there may be as many public servants as there will be servees, says the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

That is. if you are willing to accept "public servant" as another term for public employe. 1900, the government employed fewer than one million persons This figured out to about one person for every 26 employed in the private sector. By 1972. the situation had changed drastically.

On the average, there were only 5 1 people employed privately for every civilian government employe II Ihe trend continues, says chamber, by the end ol this century every worker in the private sector there will be one "public servant." the for Voice Of The People Readers arc invited lo express their views in Ihe of Ihe People column. Letters should be kept to a maximum of 250 words. The Daily Mail reserves the right to edit and condense letters. All letters must be signed and contain the address of the writers. Preference will be given those letters whose writers permit publication of their names.

The Brighter Side As vou struggle through your 1040. lake hearl (here are bright spots along Ihe way These bright spots are called deductions It works out like itns During Ihe past year did you donale an old suit to Ihe Rescue Mission' 1 It's dcducl- ihle Dirt vou use par! ol your home in the conduct of your business'' It's deductible Did yon donale some books or personal papers lo a museum or historical society' 1 It's deductible Don't underestimate their value Be generous to yoursejf. If you apply yourself diligerit- ly to Ihe task it is possible, even on a salary of $200.000. to pay almost no income lax at all. I R.P Young People Care i i I a Matthews Where do vou gel off saying that we are a pampered penera- lion while you arc very much a part of if (Incidentally.

Ihe writers are ape 181 As for abusing our parents by driving lo school, is absurd, if parents object lo Iheir teenager driving the lamilv car lo school it is up lo them lo put tlieir loot down Between us. we (lon'l know of anv mothers or fathers who walk to work just so Junior can have the car lo drive lo school As For the 45-minute extension, we feel our generalion has more sense lo go lo class, than to stay in hed an extra 45 minutes later on in college life I was not our doing in getting the extension of 45 minutes, it was the older generalion. we were quite satisfied the way it was before' As for caring for America, we do: Denise Statler Cindy Draper Iv Williamsport Landfill I believe it is time someone bage was being dumped after It won't continue, though, will il 600 Tons To The Mile Okay, so what's the most efficient form of transportation in these energy-conscious days? Certainly not the automobile. Not trucks. Not even a railroad train.

According to the Lake Carriers Association, the typical oil-burning Great Lakes vessel moves nearly 500 tons a mile on a gallon of fuel, and the newest ones can move over 600 tons. By comparison, the performance of a three quarter-ton compact car getting SO miles to a gallon (which would be fabulous) Jhe Jack Anderson Column Judiciary GOP'ers Seek To Obstruct Nixon Probe Lakes vessel doesn't always go where you want to go Lop-sided Detente Favors Russians By BRUCE BIOSSAT WASHINGTON A I President Nixon often tikes to begin an announcement of policy with the phrase: "1 could have taken the easy way. Oddly, the achievements under "detente" with the Soviet Union up to now look more like the easy way than anything else. We have bad plenty of assertions of intent to ease tensions from the leaders of both sides. well publicized high level meetings with the promise of more, the SALT I arms limitation agreement and Ihe harder- phased talks called SALT II It would not he fair lo demean our government's motives in this vital arena as un-'serious.

And. furthermore, one can argue that there has to be a start somewhere But it is not unreasonable to contend that there is less to detente than meets the eye. A I. i a provides only the barest framework for arms control and clearly is not halting the arms race. The President's S87 billion defense expenditure budget for i a 1975, coupled i Defense Secretary James Schlesinger's declarations of nuclear arms policy changes, provides a portrait of a United Slates still deeply afflicted with misgivings over fundamental Soviet intentions These doubts run deeper than some Americans imagine Cert a i i i a who can he described as tough-minded but not blind hard-liners, believe that the Kremlin consistently a arms a in various civilian budget guises i masking of its elemental economic purpose behind a lacade of seeming political and military accommodation Detente in tact so Jar signals only a new turn in Soviet practicality Our collaboration, willing or otherwise, in the Kremlin's This could mean thai Russian- concealment ot purpose enables already known higher propor- ours.

mav be arms outlays, visibly to be tionately than even higher i courageous writer Alekandr Solzhenitsyn is only a freshly dramatic illustration of another hard Soviet reality that whatever detente means, it is not a consequence ol a general softening of a dictatorship, opening the way to freedom of thought and other prized liberties The rigidities ol Soviet slatism are as firmly in place as ever What the Soviet Communist leaders truly want from their doggedly persistent pursuit of detente probably if simple enough They want to the advanced industrial products of modern Western society, and large elements of the com- puterised, forward technology that makes these things possible With Mr Nixon quickly winning credit lor lorm rather than substance, he has in effect been a i i a in the WASHINGTON Kepubli- cans on the House Judiciary translates into a measely 22.5 tons a mile on (. omrniU ee are trying quietly to a gallon ol fuel. obstruct Hie inquiry into the im- Unlortunalely. your typical Great pem-hmcnl ol President Nixon They have put on a public show ol complaining that the Democrats are dragging out the inquiry Individual Republicans have issued angry statements, calling lor the Democrats lo impeach Ihe President or gel off his hack But sources privy to the back room maneuvering report that secret instructions have neon i to the GOP counsel. 32-year-old Sam Gamson to impede the impeachment proceedings Young Garrison, a former Spiro Agnew aide, is a tough, a i a conservative On paper he is supposed to play second fiddle to minority counsel Albert Jenner.

a distinguished Chicago attorney But our sources say that Jeriner is a figurehead and that many ol the HOP members deal directly with (iarnson a i has told close associates that he was hired specifically to obstruct Ihe investigation These were the instructions he conlided. of the committee senior Republican. Rep Edward Hutchinson, R-Mich. As Garrison recounted it. he was supposed to give the impression ol cooperation bul at the same time he was expected lo impede the inquiry tlulchm- son had also directed him.

said Harrison, to react negatively lo all Democratic proposals and never to initiate any action ol Ins own i denied ever having issued any such instructions, declaring that "nol one bit of il is true Garrison citing committee policy, relusod to speak with us. Nonetheless, our sources insist Garrison noi onlv has told i a a members ol his orders to a a ihe impeachment 11. ot course to mask al least in part a deeper aspect ot the mailer The Soviet need tor detente to quest a Western economic advances is a gross confession ol the failure ol its version ot communism, and probably of rigid statism in any form If Soviet communism was really working well as an economic system, it would not need detente Its failures, rather than being concealed, ought to be advertised for what they are proof that stalism has nothing lo give Ihe people of the earth, that it is a system barren ol energizing spirit and constricting of the best in human lite As i a practices i statism is both human repression and organized economic depression In its moves lo "detente." il appears only to he Irving to ease Us economic pains, while holding fast to its repressive rigidities at home and Us paranoid fears and aggressive adventuring abroad. (Newspaper Enterprise probe but has already begun to carry out the instructions Last week, lor example, he pul up a a a a against the committee's long- awnited "Legal Memorandum" on impeachable offenses Loudly and forcefully, he objected to several parts of the brief. As a result ot the and his ultimatum that the Republicans simply would not go along with the proposed a special counsel John Doar reluclanllv watered down certain elements ol ihe stall memo Hv Hie limejie had linished altering the report to placate Garrison.

Ihe deadline had passed for printing lite document in time lor HIP scheduled mecling This caused a 24-hour delay In short. Garrison and his gang were able, at Ihe last minule lo force key partisan concessions what was supposed to have been an "objective and professional" legal document Jenner who is supposed to head the GOP a has advocated a broad interpretation ot impeachment and generally supported the positions expounded bv Doar But il was Garrison, supported by ihe senior Republican committee members, who prevailed Footnote: At a recent a our son. dear. He must be happy, he's joined a gay meeting, committee attorney Richard fates confessed lo Doar that he had mistakenly returned a telephone call to my associate Bob Owens believing Owens was a friend ol Doar's Doar demanded whether other staff member had been contacted bv us and hands were raised throughout Hie room Doar growled his displeasure thai he hadn't been in- lormed about Ihe calls earlier Ho ordered the staff to report lo him immediately any calls horn Owens or any other reporter Following his own policy. Doar pnlrtelv declined to com- menl on our story "I iiist don't talk to anybodv ho sard Headlines And Footnotes: The government quietly slockpiled more than 1.5 million gallons ol luel oil al Ms Washington power plants, making it.

pnssiblv Ihi" counlrv's No I energy hoarder Rear Admiral Hoherl Welamler. who denied under a Ilial he ordered a Navy veoman to sneak sensitive documents out ol Henry Kissinper allegedly told a different story lo'tonwi White Ikmse aide John Khrlichman Wo have now learned thai Ehrlichman marie a tape ol Ins conversation with Welander President Nixon has selected another adviser wise in Ihe wavs of bugpmg Federal Com- murncations chief Dean Burch. who has just joined the While House stall, approved a tap on one ol his emploves in 1970 in search tor an alleged news leak A group of Washington area Quakers meeting in Bethesda Md have called for Ihe impeachment ot President Nixon and are sending copies of their statement lo other Quaker meetings across ihe country The President lists himself as a Quaker although he hijs never attended Quaker meetings in all his vears in Washington (Copyright, 1974, by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.) spoke up about Ihe unfortunate situation that exists outside of Williamsporl 1 am personally involved because I moved into tins area one year ago The Williamsport landfill is one of two in the county It is located ihree miles outside of Williamsport on Rt, 68 near Pmesnurg The landfill and adjacent (arm are owned by the city The county provides two employes and equipment to run the dump The ultimate responsibility for proper operation nnisl lie with Ihe city All during the past year smoke could be seen rising froin this area During July and August it was so had we had to elose all windows but still the stench of burning garbage penetrated inlo our home. Gar- normal operating hours and left uncovered for days Kids set tires and generally a chaotic condition existed Finally after hours dumping was prohibited a a i management of this landfill is more evident The heating and burning of garbage is readily evident. A ride by on the state road finds paper, plastic and refuse everywhere How long can the city of Williamsport violate air pollution and litter taws' We as individuals would be speedily prosecuted.

If the city cannot manage the dump I suggest they close it The county dump is just -as close. Dr. George C. Engstrom No Longer Sure I am average Joe Citizen I am rich. 1 am poor.

I am black, white, yellower brown I am on welfare 1 am employed. I am laid off. I am old. middle-aged, and young I am healthy. 1 am sick.

I am driving a Cadillac. 1 am taking the bus. I am walking, mostly I am fed up. I am paying as much as 55 cents per gallon of gas. or I am not getting any gas at all 1 am waiting in long, long lines 1 am late tor work, school and appointments, or don't go al all I am greatly inconvenienced I am paying outrageous food prices, and clothes prices, or I am doing without I am being asked la understand and bear wilh it.

to do my part, and it will all work out I am laced with financial burdens. I can either pay my rent and eat. or not pay my bills To be honest I am thoroughly disgusted with the whole matter I am tired of hearing excuses and promises of worse things to come I am tired of excessive inflation and want some type of retaliation immediately am immensely upset over the condition our government and president has.let this country fall inlo 1 am sure we. the people, can shoulder some of the responsibility I am demanding that something be done to curb inflation and alleviate the situation we are now in America, land of good and plenty. I ain nnt so sure.

Hear my plea, hear my cry I am L. Keeler Jottings From Yesteryears Virginia was interviewed on Art Lam's TV show from Washington. 10 Years Ago The Board of Education timetable calls for the completion of the new Cascade School addition by February 1, 1965. 40 Years Ago Superintendent of Schools William Brish told the County Commissioners. A Commentary Tales Of Early Residents With Strange Powers By HARRY WARNER Has an area resident, perhaps once each century, possessed strange powers beyond Ihe scope of the ordinary person? Such abilities have been claimed for a few persons in Washington County and immediate vicinity There's no way to be sure if those extraordinary reports were genuine, but a lot of people believed them.

The most famous 18th century countian in this category must bave been Rosa Orndorff, who lived near Sharpsburg. Unlike most persons who claim exceptional abilities, she didn't spring from an obscure family Her father. Major Christian Orndorff. was wealthy and widely known, and her sister married the son of Jonathan a Hagcrslown. You can grasp the impression she made on the general public Shepherdstown daily in 1791 on their way to visit the Orndorff home.

Road conditions were frightful in that era. and people wouldn't make the trip without believing they had a good reason to endure mud and jolts Rosa had a physical condition which one writer described as catalepsy Family members used lo tell how she showed no reaction when a pin was stuck into her flesh "A strict watcb had to be maintained over her to save her from being converted into a pin cushion." is the delicate way one historian described the situation. "Il niusl have been an intolerable nuisance lo have several hundred visitors each week although they did bring their provisions with them What more. HOSJI while apparent ly unconscious lo her surroundings would bold conversations which people interpreted as involving residents of the operator by those who wanted to contact dead friends and relatives. One old newspaper inexplicably referred to her as "St Rozo Vintzo the most celebrated person in this part of the country It sounds as if someone had tried to make her sound more glamorous by giving her a new name in dubious Italian spelling' The same newspaper article referred to a published "letter" written by someone who had visited her.

which could be bought tor tour pence The Orndorfls spoiled the local tourist business by moving to Kentucky Rosa managed lo cause another local sensation altei she died in lhat state Her lather liilhllcd the promise he had made her and sent her horiv hack In he buried on the old a a a procedure tor that earlv day Decades later dillerent kinds snn of the man who had founded trrt? tiny town was reputed to be a benevolent wizard 0 A Berthiaume has returned lo Fairchild Stratos and will serve as laclorv manager for the aircrafl-missiles division Roy Bowers 217 Franklin St was treated lor burns at the Washington County Hospital 20 Years Ago David owner of the a i i a Williamsport. announced the furlough ol aboui ItKl emploves and a reduction in the work schedule A Hagerstown man. Roland Kcbb. ot the 4flU block ol easier to find. John George Hohman "Long Lost Friend or Bonk ol Pow-Wows." to quote just the start of its inter- Mrs Madeline Dahlgren.

who mmable litle Reprint editors ol by estimates that 50 lo 6(1 per- spiril world. So she was utilizer! nl wonders were being reported sons were traveling through as a sorl of long distance at Ztltlcslown Michael Zittle with a similar book that a i Magic." gave Michael his mam boost toward fame through her book Today, however people might he more inclined to consider Ziltle a faith healer Zillle apparently created his cures by means ol certain spoken words and the laying on ol hands as instructed in a mysterious old German book which he owned, entitled "The Friend in Need or Science Despite diligent searches bv various people nobody around here has succeeded modern limes in finding a copy ol thai work, even though Michael seems lo had a now edition nl il printed in fioonshoro IH45 Bul there's reason lo i a il had some recipes in common that Hohman volume have traced some Us tore bark to a 131 century monk. Albertus Magnus Xittle lived from 1799 to 1877. a i Iraiislerred both his book and his powers lo a relative One section of the Zittle book seems to have given instructions for conlerring invisibility, and maybe that's whal happened lo the entire 1R45 edition Over the river and across the hills troin the Hancock area lived in the part ol this con- lurv Siherl Davis Sherrard. on Timber Rirlgc in Morgan Coun- Main neighbors were certain thai he possessed a sensntA perception and perhaps other strange nmvers like precogmlion Sherrard grew up intending to he i i a but while i i i i a Oakland doctor he contracted Ivphoid (ever After that, he went lo the Timber Ridge farm and didn budge from it for 40 years, living a hermit's existence He had no radio or telephone Bul he amazed persons visiting his farm lor the first lime by a i by a Neighbors credited him with the ability lo loretell Ihe luture.

He reputedly was almost exactly right when he predicted the date World War I would end Sherrard also seemed completely informed annul evorv- tlung happening in the Timber Ridge area with no apparent way ol learning those tacts 11 is nol known tl this man liari F.SP hul he would get a Ini ol alU'iilion Inim those interested in studying a sensnrv is the the sir.inge rust- is stirrirriert up in a Springs Kchnes." a history ol the West Virginia county Frederick Newbraugh 'With winter hanging on tenaciously and i the temperature one degree below zero." Hagerstown was facing a coal shortage, partly because of mines operating on only a 40- hour week Howard Hartman. president ol Ihe Washington County Bar Association, announced plans (or a testimonial dinner to honor three aged members. Remhold Helm, former Judge Martin Keedy and Daniel Doub a a Garbo returned to the screen to "thrill Hagerslown as never before' in the role of "Queen Christina." supported by the "dashing. romantic" John Gilbert. BERRY'S WORLD "We 're hoping he 'II graduate from college when an comes aion3.