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I NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
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PRESS
ASS OCIATION
Publi^ied Every Thursday at Raeford, N.C. 28376
119 W. Etwood Avenue
SubKription Rate* In Advance
Per Year - $5.00 6 Months - $2.75 3 Months - $ 1.50
PAUL DICKSON .................................... Pu blirfier?Editor
SAM C. MORRIS General Manager
MRS. PAUL DICKSON Society Editor
MARTY VEGA Reporter
Second Class Postage at Raeford, N.C.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1976
I Italy Erupts Again
; The latest political crisis in Italy could not come at a worse time. If
; it is not quickly resolved and leads to early national elections, it will
*. bring to a halt progress on both the political and economic fronts
; that is crucially needed to stem the growing Communist tide.
'? Politically, an early election means the Christian Democrats and
: the Socialists will set aside the process of revitalizing their parties.
:-Yet without a renewal of the pro-democratic political torces. it may
? prove impossible to stop the Communists' drive for power.
Economically, the crisis brings to a standstill the effort to get the
Italian economy in better shape for elections in the spring of 1977.
: After months of squabbling the government had finally proposed a
$32 billion plan to help solve the unemployment and other problems
brought on by the recession.
The Socialists, who brought on the crisis by withdrawing their
support 6f the government, thus appear to have acted most
^irresponsibly, although they may have a case for complaint. One
; long-standing grievance is that they have not been consulted
^sufficiently about the economic program and other matters.
; - It is still possible the crisis can be resolved. The Socialists sav thev
: do not want early elections and they do not exclude participation in a
;.new government. But the question is what the price will be for such
: participation and whether the Christian Democrats can pay it. The
^Socialists vaguely demand that the Communists have a more
: formalized role in support of the government program. What that
? means no one knows.
In any event, the West watches the confusion of Italian politics
? with growing concern. For, although one party and a handful of men
: have ruled Italy for 30 years (despite periodic crises), matters have
'.reached a point where political stability is being threatened. Because
: of strong Communist gains in local elections, the once-safe margin of
??the Christian Democratic Party is declining. How these results will
^translate in national parliamentary elections is the big and crucial
Question. The Communists are pushing hard for what is termed
?:"historic compromise" or participation in the government.
This is not a development which Italy's democratic friends would
welcome, despite the moderate position which the Italian
Communist Party is evolving. Whether CIA covert assistance to
:Italy's political parties is the way to deal with the Communist
.advance raises serious questions of judgment, however. Certainly the
irresponsible public disclosures of such aid have done nothing but
embarrass both the Italian parties and the United States
Government - and thus helped the Communist side.
'. At the moment it can only be hoped that the Socialists will
Submerge their own intraparty politics, agree to support a new
government and thereby give Italy time to put its house in order
before the voters again go to the national polls.
Christian Science Monitor
Pension Reform
? When pension reform legislation was passed in 1974, supporters
; said that not only would employees' pension rights be protected, but
?:hew regulations would encourage private companies to set up
; pension plans.
Now it appears that just the opposite has happened. More than
: 5,000 companies terminated their pension plans last year, several
: times more than would have been expected given the natural
attrition of some businesses due to economic conditions.
The tens of thousands of employees affected by the termination
will be paid retirement benefits either from their employers' assets,
or from the government-operated Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation. But some employees may receive less than they would
have under the privately operated plans, and there is fear that the
government fund may become depleted.
Part of the problem appears to be the confusing and complex
.regulations and reporting procedures required of the 100.000 or so
'pension plans covered by the legislation, particularly burdensome
for those thousands of very small businesses affected.
> While the federal government should ensure that companies are
riot merely using this as an excuse to bail out of operating pension
Jlans, the U.S. Labor Department and Internal Revenue Service
could do much to simplify the regulations now imposed on small
businesses.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act represents
:-much-needed reform that could go a long way toward preventing
:past abuses. But it must not become so cumbersome that
government ends up taking over what is properly private industry's
?role.
'? Christian Science Monitor
'Congress has pinned that sign on you again, Henry'
Tha Christian Science Monitor
by Marty Vega
Resolutions All Broken
Now thai we arc already two
weeks into January, no doubt
everyone has already broken their
New Year Resolutions and anybody
w ho claims he hasn't, is just a bare
? faced liar. Now that this is out of
the way. we can get on to this
week's lesson.
Faithful readers of this column
will remember the valuable advice
which was given on how to
discourage door - to ? door
Puppy Creek
Philosopher
Dear Editor:
According to an article 1 read in
a newspapef which blew against my
back door and 1 had to pull down
anyway to see out -? I know where
that loose board is on the step but 1
like to see it before I put my foot on
it -? seventy percent of the U.S.
population now lives in or near big
cities.
As you can see. this leaves 30
percent in small towns and the
country , which is all right with me.
as it's not the percentage that
counts, it's the quality, and when
it's not the quality, it's the distance
apart, which sometimes is nearly
the same thing.
But the most important thing
about the article was its statement
that in 40 years all these big cities
will double in population.
1 don't see how the cities can
stand it. I never heard of solving
the problem of over-crowdedness
by crowding in more. What I mean
is. go into any big city and try to
imagine it with twice the traffic
snarl it has now .
Furthermore. I saw a television
report the other night showing one
block in one city with 1600 people
living in it. You try to picture 1600
people living on one block in
Raeford and then multiply that by
a few more blocks and while I don't
know what vou'd come up with, it's
not for me. I like my fellow man.
but not that many that close.
1 understand that the main
purpose of most big cities is to keep
growing; any time a census report
shows one has gained in population
its newspapers come out with big
headlines, but it seems to me the
cities may be carrying this too far.
If they all double in size in 40 years,
they'll be building highway loops
half way around the country just to
by-pass them, and a man in the
country wanting to get another spot
in the country will have a choice of
driving 200 miles to get around one
or losing a week trying to go
straight through.
I don't know that there's any
thing that can be done about this,
or should, but it's a problem I
intend to watch from a distance.
Yours faithfully,
salesmen who come knock, knock,
knocking to disturb your peace.
Faithful readers will remember,
but the dimwits, although loyal,
don't remember so well so it bears
repeating. If you don't own a
menacing large dog. hang a sign
'Quarantined bv order of health
dept. - PLAGUE. If this fails, and
you are foolish enough to open the
door, remember you w ill be at the
mercv of this predator who will lav
bare your inadequacies and failings
to peddle his product. Consider this
little vignette which could easily
transpire:
"Good morning, madam. What
an alert, intelligent mother you
are".
"Thanks, but I don't want any".
"Not for yourself - but you do
want to give your child the best
things in life!"
"Yes. but...
"I'll bet he's the brightest
student in his class".
"Why. no. but he's doing all
right".
"Just 'all right'? You mean he's
about to be lost in the shuffle, just
another face in the crowd?"
"1 didn't mean that".
"It takes courage to admit
failure but you can tell me. What
grade is the poor thing in?"
"Third '.
"My. you brave woman, the
humiliation you must feel".
"But he's only eight".
"It's so sad. Only eight, and
already on the scrapheap".
"He seems so happy!"
"Of course. There's no challenge
for him in the third grade. He's
taking the easy way out. Re
member. ignore an intellectually
sluggish child and you have a
future drop-out!"
"I never thought of it like that".
"What will you say when he
becomes a bum? Will you say that
he failed you-or admit that you
really failed him?"
"What can I do? Help me.
please".
"Not 1. madam, but Encyclo
pedia Europitanicecs will save him.
Now here's our easv ten year
monthly installment plan with in
terest deducted in advance
Double up,
America.
Browsing in the files of The News-Journal
:25 years ago
?Thursday, January 11, 19S1
U. C. McLean, Raeford electrical
^contractor, died here early this
?morning. He was about 45 years of
jage ana h(d heart trouble.
?The town 8t*rd of Commissioners
.?voted last week to expand and
jmprorc the town water and sewage
facilities and streets to the extent of
1 believe the people of our country
are honest and sincere in their
prayers to the God in whom they
trust. If left to their own wills, not
many would defend a cause many
thought was not for the good of the
greatest number.
15 years ago
Thursday, January 12, 1961
At the directors' meeting following
the annual meeting of stockholders
$200,000 if the voters of the town
are willing.
From Rockfish News:
Probably a lot of people don't know
that Rockfish has a Fayetteville
street. It's the one on which cars get
stuck in the sand. It has its
advantages though for it's a
wonderful place for children to
play.
Pmm PnnU'r KA~A\
of The Bank of Raeford Thursday
H.L. Gatlin, president since 1945,
was moved up to the newly-created
position of chairman of the board,
and R.B. Lewis, executive vice
president since 1946 and cashier
since 1920 became president.
E.B. Satterwhite, 66 who retired
December 31 after 34 years as
McCain postmaster, died Sunday
in Moore Memorial Hospital at
Pinehurst.
CUFF BLUE ...
People & Issues
FULL EMPLOYMENT -- Last
week we mentioned Terry Sanford
calling for full employment but
noted that he was not spelling out
details of how he proposed to bring
about "full employment."
We have a suggestion for Terry
and other candidates who are
interested in full employment.
Our proposal would be patterned
after the program provided for
World War II veterans after their
return home from the smoke of
battle with the supply of jobs not
sufficient to go around.
Set up a program for trainees,
regardless of age. if they are
unemployed and need work. It
would be financed by the Federal
government and private industry ?
large and small, and would run for
a year.
First three months, government
pays J 1.50 and private employer
50c for a total of $2.00 per hour.
Second three months, government
pays $1.20 and private employer
90c for a total of $2.10 per hour.
Third three months, government
pays 80c per hour and private
employer $1.40 for a total of $2.20
per hour. Fourth three months,
government pays 40c and private
employer $1.90 for a total of $2.30
per hour.
Thereafter, it would be up to the
trainee and the private employer to
work out the rates without obliga
tions on the part of either. The man
should be trained sufficiently in a
year's time to earn the minimum
wage or more.
In the meanwhile, while the
training was in progress either
party could, for good reason,
discontinue the program. Maybe
the trainee would want to terminate
because he found a job that would
enable him to earn a better salary
than that for which he was in
training. On the other hand, maybe
the employer found that the trainee
was untrainable for some reason
and wanted to be relieved of the
contract.
Money lor the government's part
might well be taken from the
welfare fund or funds for the
unemployed since it would be these
people it would be helping. No
extra tax funds would be needed.
Also, it might be well for a person
on unemployment pay to be offered
work three out of five days on some
type of public work for which he
was qualified. This would provide a
strong motive for him to get a job
rather than going around to places*
inquiring for work where he or she
knew no job was available. The
other two days the person could
spend looking for work while
"drawing." While we know there is
serious unemployment and these
people need and deserve our help, a
number of the unemployed are not
overly interested in a job as long as
they can "draw."
This would not only put people to
work but would increase pro
duction which should ease in
flation.
ENCOURAGING NOTE - -
There is one encouraging note in
the fight against crime. Cumber
land County Sheriff O.F. Jones has
invited 58 sheriffs to a meeting in
response to increasing crime rates
and an apparently growing laxity %f
the courts. Buncombe County
Sheriff Tom Morrissey is helping
arrange the meeting, and a similu
session will be held later m
Asheville for Western North Caro
lina sheriffs. "Sheriffs are be
coming more alarmed throughout
the state that they cannot do their
jobs because of the increasing
laxness of the law," Jones said,
adding, "The pendulum has swung
too far. The laws are protecting the
criminal, and they weren't intended
to do that."
More power to Sheriff Jones and
Sheriff Morrissey and the other
Sheriffs joining in the meeting. Our
feeling is that they will have great
public support behind them in their
efforts to uphold the law and not
the criminals.
HERBERT HYDE - ? Rep.
Herbert Hyde, a Democratic candi
date for lieut. governor hits hard at
crime, saying: "I suspect that crime
is increasing in our state and
elsewhere because we have failed to
apply the proper sanctions. . . They
(the public) do not believe there is
any certainty in law. We have also
been hypocrites in other ways. For
so long we have accepted and even
championed the idea of rehabilita
tion in prison. It is a myth and a
will o" the wisp. It doesn't work,
never has and never will," says
Hyde, adding, "it is time we faced
up to the facts of life. We cannot
hope to rehabilitate those in prison.
We can only hope they go out no
worse than they went in.' ?
Well, it appears that Rep. Hyde
is simply facing reality, and we
have heard it said that "an honest
confession is good for the soul."
Recently in the Senate 1 co
sponsored, with Senator Lawton
Chiles of Florida, a bill to reform
the Food Stamp program.
We have had many complaints
that the program is costing too
much and is being used by persons
who really are not in need.
Somewhere along the way, the
well-intentioned program
wandered away from its Con
gressional mandate, which was to
"provide for improved levels of
nutrition among low-income house
holds."
Under the program, as it is now
administered. a person can deduct
his income taxes, retirement. Social
Security, union dues and even
alimony payments from his gross
salary and thus reduce his income
so that he will be eligible for the
stamps.
This has led to many middle
income families becoming qualified
for assistance, even though they do
not fall into the category of
"low-income households" the food
stamps were intended to help.
After hearings were held, we
decided on the following course to
reduce the cost of this program and
to increase its efficiency.
The bill eliminates all of those
income deductions that are now
being used and substitutes a
standard deduction of $120 per
month, with an additional $60 per
month deduction for households
with elderly residents. These latter,
living on fixed income, have been
the most severely hurt by inflation.
By changing the deduction
method, it is estimated that
650,000 households will be re
moved from the program and
millions of others who are poten
tially eligible now will also be
eliminated. The bill alio calls for
better procedures in adriHniitration
to reduce errors that tesulted in
650,000 ineligible persons obtain
ing stamps during the last six
months of 1974.
The adoption of these two
measures -- the standard single
Report
To The
People
by Senator Robert Morgan
deduction and better administra
tive procedures ? should save the
taxpayers between S250 million and
S350 million during fiscal 1976.
One more provision in the bill
calls for continual Congressional
scrutiny of the program and
requires that the Secretary of
Agriculture submit an annual
report which would include a
comprehensive evaluation and a
systematic review of necessary
changes.
One of the main problems in
government today is that the
Congress starts programs and tM|n
fails to see what course they take.
This has been one of the principal
reasons the Food Stamp Program
has gone astray.
There is little argument about
the plan's original purpose to
provide the needy with a better
diet. The bill outlined above will
return the Food Stamp Program to
that original intent.
In the newsletter of August 22,
1975, complaints about the Food
Stamp Program were discussed.
This letter is simply an explanation
of what I have tried to do about this
situation.
Stories
Behind Words
Canter
When Thomas A. Becket became
Archbishop of Canterbury he opposed
King Henry II in many matters. In
1170 some of the king's followers,
upon a hint from him, assassinated the
archbishop in Canterbury Cathedral.
The king was required by the Pope to
do penance at Becket's tomb.
Becket was canonized and it became
fashionable for the people of England
to make pilgrimages to the saint's
shrine at Canterbury.
Many of the pilgrims traveled great
distances, and those who wet*'
mounted rode their horses at an easy
gallop so as lk>t to overexert them.
The gait was called a "Canterbufy
gallop", a name that was rfiortened to
"Canterbury" and finally to "canter".