The Gettysburg Times from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania • Page 4

THE GETTYSBURG TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1984 5 Benedict accuses Dwyer of wrongdoing By DAN BIERS Associated Press Writer HARRISBURG A State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer was part of a conspiracy to get kickbacks on consultant's fees to be paid by his campaign four years ago. Auditor GeneralAI Benedict alleged t9day. Dwyer and two Pennsylvania State Education Association officials used their wives to form a corporation that was to be a vehicle for getting campaign funds from PSEA-endorsed candidates. Benedict alleged at a Capitol news conference.

However, the scheme never got off the ground and Dwyer never received any money, according to Benedict. Dwyer, who is running for re-election against Benedict, immediately called the allegations campaign tactics" needed "to divert attention away from (Benedict's) tragic seven-year record as auditor general." Benedict is acting in "desperation" to divert attention from the conviction of his former top aide in a job-selling scheme in the auditor general's office, Dwyer said. Earlier this summer. Benedict publicized allegations that a California company promised a $300.000 contribution to Dwyer's campaign to win a hefty, no-bid Treasury Department contract. The treasurer has vigorously denied that allegation, too.

The various allegations leveled at Dwyer indicate "a pattern of unethical behavior." Benedict said. Benedict identified the two former PSEA officials as Gary Davis and Fred McKillop, and said they were fired after their activities were revealed by a media consultant. According to Benedict, the consultant was told to add a 15 percent "finder's fee" when he billed the Dwyer campaign. The additional charge was to be forwarded to Poli-Ed. the company formed by the three wives.

Benedict alleged. Benedict said he based those allegations on testimony of consultant Neale Walsch at arbitration proceedings held after the two PSEA officials were fired. "Absolutely. Dwyer was a party to this," according to Benedict. He said he based his claim on Dwyer's wife being involved with Poli-Ed.

"The only reason this scheme never gt off the ground is that the political consultant who was to be used 'blew the whistle' on the participants." Benedict alleged. The auditor general said his department received a complaint about the alleged conspiracy scheme several months ago. Benedict would not say who provided the arbitration documents to his office. Many portions of the documents handed out to reporters at the press conference were blacked out by Benedict's office. Study calls claims of noTMI health effects unjustified By ARTHUR BUCKLER Associated Press Writer HARRISBURG A Official statements that radiation from the Three Mile Island nuclear accident caused no adverse health effects cannot be justified, according to a court-supervised study released Wednesday.

Official and unofficial estimates of how much radiation the plant's neighbors received vary widely and are all based on incomplete evidence, said Dr. Jan Beyea, a nuclear physicist who conducted the $100,000 review. The study commissioned by the TMI Public Health Fund analyzed 100 reports regarding radiation releases during the 1979 accident. "I found methodological flaws in every report," said Beyea. a staff scientist at the National Audubon Society He added that the flaws were surprising given the pressure for quick answers after the accident." TMI's Unit 2 suffered the worst accident in U.S.

commercial nuclear history in March 1979, when its reactor core overheated and radioactive gas escaped into the environment. The largest estimate of the population's radiation "dose" from the accident is more than 200 times greater than the smallest estimate, he said. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has concluded that radiation from the accident would result in no deaths from cancer. But based on the available evidence, the number of cancer deaths due to the accident could be anywhere from zero to 130. Beyea said.

He called for further study in 16 areas. The research would include collection of "private data." such as readings from radiation-sensitive film badges used by dentists and X-ray workers. Scientists also could analyze bricks on houses in the area to measure any absorbed radiation, he said. "There's a lot of private data that we believe exists." he said. Beyea acknowledged that further study could confirm the official finding of no adverse health effects.

Until then, he said, "If the data is not there, we should not pretend it is there." Lisa Robinson, a spokeswoman for TMI's operator. GPU Nuclear said the company had only recently received the report and refused to comment on it. One of the flaws in the official investigation of the accident was the assumption that radioactive iodine inside the reactor building was trapped by filters, the report said. Subsequent information indicated that the radioiodine managed to bypass the filters, the review said. The Public Health Fund was formed in 1981 as part of a settlement of a class-action suit against General Public Utilities the plant's owner, on behalf of residents and businesses within 25 miles of the reactor.

It was financed withh $6 million from the $31 million settlement and is supervised by U.S District Judge Sylvia Rambo. The fund's attorney, David Berger, said the fund would ask the judge to approve spending about $500,000 to pay for the studies Beyea proposed. Groups, state clash on enforcement of farmworker laws By JOEL SIEGEL Associated Press Writer HARRISBURG A Thousands of seasonal and migrant farmworkers are exploited under crowded and unhealthy conditions because the state has failed to enforce farm labor laws, a House panel was told Wednesday. Witnesses before the Select Committee on Seasonal Farm Labor said some farmworkers receive pay below minimum wage and have unfair deductions taken from their wages, even though the state is supposed to protect them from such abuses. "We're not asking you to change this law.

but just to enforce it," Lawrence McMillan, chairman of the State Advisory Board on Pennsylvania Farmworker Opportunities, said in prepared testimony. Officials from the state departments of Labor and Industry and Environmental Resources defended their agencies, telling the committee they do a good job enforcing the state's Seasonal Farm Labor Act, adopted in 1978. "There is a high level of conformance on the part of employers." said Frank Carey, a deputy secretary of labor and industry. "Inspection data reflects a rate of compliance at 92 percent." Representatives of several organizations used the hearing as part of a day-long attempt to highlight farmworker conditions. They held a Capitol news conference in the morning and planned a march through Harnsburg and a prayer service in the evening MUMS Hardy Cushion Mums Assorted Colors MIDDLE GREEK NURSERY R.D.

FAIRFIELD 334-8605 From Gettysburg Follow Business Route IS South cross over the 15 bypass Go 3 miles, turn right onto Boyle then turn right onto Middle Creek Road 2 miles From Ftirfield Go out W.ler St 3 miles to stop sign, bear left 3 1 mile then turn right before crossing Middle Creek 1 mile on right Arthur Head, an attorney with the Philadelphia-based Friends of Farmworkers, estimated that 20.000 to 30.000 seasonal and migrant farmworkers are employed in the state. Many come from Philadelphia. Harrisburg and Allentown, where they board buses every morning for "day work" on nearby farms, he said before testifying. McMillan said housing is "a unanimous complaint that almost all the farmworkers" bring up. "In both mushrooms and other crops fruits and vegetables housing is often overcrowded.

Sometimes there are as many bunks as they can put in there." he said. "Every year in Pennsylvania, some farmworkers have to sleep in their cars or outside in the woods." But Richard Boardman. an associate deputy in the DER, which inspects migrant and seasonal farmworker housing, said his agency acts on all the complaints on housing under its jurisdiction. "As far as I know, conditions are very good and compliance is very good." he said. Several witnesses said farm-labor contractors often take advantage of the workers, who sometimes don't speak English and fear they will lose their jobs if they compain.

"Getting accurate pay stubs from the contractors is unusual. Therefore, the workers don't really know what they're making before and after deductions," said McMillan. Carey told the committee that the Department of Labor and Industry licenses 70 to 80 farm-labor contractors, including one from Philadelphia. He said his agency has had to adjust the wages of workers in only three cases and has had to revoke the license of one contractor since 1978. "I guess any constituent group can make an allegation he said after testifying.

"We have confidence in our compliance figures." But Mark Finegan. of Legal Services Inc. in Gettysburg, said he can "produce 1.500 workers who have inadequate pay records." "This agency does not talk to workers, that's what it is," he said "The inspector goes up to the crew leaders, and says. 'Is everything all rightT They say. and that's it Read said there are at least 2(10 farm-labor contractors in the state.

and that more than 100 of them are unlicensed, including 40 operating in Philadelphia. Rev. Charles Dorsey. of the Pennsylvania! Coalition for Farmworker Issues, criticized the DER for not convening its Seasonal Farm Labor Committee since 1981. He also called for the re-establishment of the Governor's Inter-Departmental Council on Seasonal Workers.

But state officials who testified said there already is sufficient communication between them to make sure efforts to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers are coordinated. The Chesapeake Bay supports some 2,700 species of animal life. Some of the most notably edible bay creatures are: oysters, clams, crabs, flounder, bluefish. eels, sea trout, croakers, shad, striped bass and herring LEVELS CHARGES AGAINST POLITICAL OPPONENT Pennsylvania Auditor General Al Benedict. Democratic t'umlidulc for state treasurer, arouses his Republican opponent, state Treasurer R.

Kudd Dviyer. of wrong doing in I9KO in Dwyer's campaign for stale l.aserpholo PaulVathisi Site for pioneering private prison ELLWOOI) CITY. Pa. A I A Union County firm said Wednesday it had purchased an empty nut and bolt factory a rural area ol southwestern Pennsylvania for the nation's first private, maximum security prison The proposed Riverhavcn prison would accept up to (HMI so-called "special needs" inmates, such as government informants and others who must be isolated from other prisoners for i own safety, said Joseph Kenton. a rounder ol Buckingham Security Ltd of Lewisburn Buckingham plans to spend about $20 million to renovate the former Textron Inc property bcginnitiM next spring.

Kenton said The facility would sevc the Northeast and Midwest While the venture would create up to welcome jobs and generate a revenue from an estimated annual payroll of $5 million, some correct ions officials raised questions about regulation of such prisons The stale House Committee is considering a bill a i would empower the bureau to oversee private prisons But some legal including a K. Wilson, the director of the bureau's Special Services Division, has the bill as too vague HR BLOCK TO OFFER TAX SCHOOL IN GETTYSBURG Thousands ol people are earning money in then spare lime income tax preparers HR Block, the world largest income tax preparation service, is oflenrq a basic income tax course starting September 4th with morning and evening classes available During the 14-week course students will study all phases ol income tax prepara- ton and receive actual experience in preparing individual returns Frppnenced Block personnel will teach current laws, theory and application as practiced in Block offices nationwide There is a classroom lecture on each and practice problems at every level Courses are programmed to teach students increasingly complex tax problems as study progresses Students will find the course both interesting and challenging Anyone may enroll There are no restrictions or qualifications Courses are ideally suited for housewives reti ed persons, teachers or persons wanting to increase their tax knowledge Qualified course graduates may be offered job interviews for positions with Block Many accept employment with Block becauses of the flexible hours available However. Block is under no obligation to offer employment no' are graduate, under any obligation to accept employment with HR Block The modest course fee includes all textbooks supplies and tax form', necessary for completion of the school Certificates and 7 5 continuing education units will awarded upon successful completion of the course Registration forms and a brochure for the income lax course may br- obtained by contacting the HR Block at Chambersburg St Gettysburg Pa 'J34 48'ji Video Store VMS Beta Movies THE VIDEO DEN of Gettysburg 11 W. Railroad Street 334-9357 COUPON Back to School Special OFF ALL MEMBERSHIPS i i coupon coupon expires Sept 30. 1984 OUPON SEPTEMBER SPECIAL Tuesday, Wednesday Thursdays Only 2-1 Day Rentals for the Price of 1 expires Sept.

30. I9M PARKING" HOURS: Monday thru Saturday 10am-9pm Sunday 12 NOON-5pm as low as Includes FRLE $50 Membership T120 or L750 VIDEO TAPES as low as 6.49 CHECK OUT OUR FILM LIBRARY ITS FREE FROM UNITED United Telephone has a whole library of i i films dealing with a wide variety of topics that will entertain and inform you. it's tight categories of films are available: F.conomic F.due ation Series Drug Abuse Series Series i a i Series Development Series a a Series i i Series i Public. A a i a i i fj Community A a i Check out (Jnited's Free Film Library. For your a a describing the available films or for further information, i Public Relations Department United Telephone Box 1 17O Carlisle, PA 1 7 0 1 3 I United I Telephone System EWSFAFERI.