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Show bit 4 J 11 f guest A. VIGUERIE the of abuse Congressional mailing Widespread privilege may not shock you, but it's one of those small scandals that, taken together, eat away at the foundation of democracy. The Secretary of the Senate has released a report on the amount that various Senators spent on franked ("free") mailings during a recent three-mon- th period. Of course, the mailings may be free to the Senators, but you and I as taxpayers pick up the tab. During the period from July to September, the biggest spender was Senator Alan Cranston $1.6 million, followed byArlerSpecter Heinz John $790,000; (R -- Pennsylvania), (R -- Pennsylvania), : $650,000; Christopher Dodd (D Connecticut), $600,000; and Don Rlegle By RICtHRD -- and Chuck Crassley $500,000 a), each. Remember, that's during a period of only three months. And those figures greatly underestimate the cost to the taxpayers of the mailings. Senators have press secretaries to write their newsletters, and artists to design them, and government presses on which to print them. They get many services "free" (or at a reduced price) that would cost a lot of money in the Real World. Thus, the supposed cost of the mailing only represents to one -- half of the actual cost to the taxpayers. When each state's population is taken into account, the biggest mailers were Dodd, Patrick and Mark Andrews (R -- North Leahey Dakota). Dodd, for example, sent his constituents 1.3 pieces of "free" mail for each man, woman, and child in the state. Of course, the office-holdeInvolved claim that they are providing a service to the folks lark home by letting them know what their Senators are up to. But the truth Is that most Congressional mailings are nothing more than one-thi- rd campaign brochures. That's why the official cost of the mailings will escalate from $86 million this year to ar estimated $144 million in 1986 (which, it so happens, is an election year). With thousands of news media covering Washington not to mention all the political organizations that monitor the work of our officials why.should foot the bill for these propaganda sheets? Mark Green, a Ralph Nader protege, puts it this way: "Franked mail is a new form of It's a valid purpose which has vanity press. grown to excess, reminding me of the brooms of THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE. Too often it's more a gimmick than an information tax-pap- service." Does anyone doubt that the mailings are used by an incumbent Senator to build himself a propaganda machine in order to ensure his reelection? What challenger would have the resources to spend $1.6 million or more on mailings in - hlgh-taxB- do with. Every day the advantages of Incumbency grow and our elections become less fair. The big question is: If this continues, how long can democracy survive? months, as Senator Cranston did? I "VI not be 13 MORE ABOUT School Board School teacher, requested to attend the drug and alcohol school in Salt Lake City. Heber H. Davis moved that the request be granted. The motion was seconded by James A. Mayer and unanimously approved. Superintendent Haslem presented a proposed salary schedule for 1 986 -87 based within the Legislative allocation for classified personnel, teachers, and administrators. Discussion followed. Superintendent giver approval to present proposals to the classified and teachers. Superintendent indicated that adjustments will be very small in most categories and none at all in some. Request for use of school buses to attend Youth Conference was denied. There being no further business to come before the board the meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m. I I A V gage now. Even though the variable rates are low right now, it is likely they will increase in the near future. A fixed -- rate mortgage gives homeowners a better idea what their expense will be from month to m onth, Lown says. Vou certainly wouldn't want to consider refinancing unless the new mortgage rate was at least two mnDnnn UD 1 SfctM 11 tst USPS Scud dddrcss cttanis to llr.irr Count) I. ,vt,..iit : P.O. Ilux 1;.S, Hilfurrl, Utdh I'OSTMASTtH: SUBSCRIPTION RATES IN UTAH $12.00 PER YEAR ELSEWHERE $19.00 PER YEAR COPY DEADLINES MANAGING IN ADVANCE MONDAY mk AND PUBLISHER Entered as second class matter weekly in trie Hi 1 ford Post Office. . NOON when holidays fall on the first three 1ays nf th. li forward tint full working 1a tt Sa'tinlav nnon. EDITOR 07J-00- 0 Urs S7il, ) MARJORIE movaj GRAY dial ' MILFORD IN MOTION . . . JESSIE WILLIAMS WILMA DAVIS MINERSVILLE SAN RUSTICO VALLEY . . BARBARA MAYER ADAMSVILLE BESSIE EDWARDS GREENVILLE BEAVER SPORTS MEL OS BORN AND NEWS -- 0 sumoaui Mwtrwsa fh flaf iwi;. INDUCE The Milfor J Voluuteer Fire Dept checking Fire Hvdrantd throughout Milford City within th next few weeks. iwlll be if il r.it.4 Nut. '.Ml, iMi.i.it e if Mri' la, with ., fH tr ffiulh inrt art 'ntt.a r all. Vi '. neJrt Benson, Woodland and Anderson joined NFU President Cy Carpentp- - ay percentage points less than your current mortgage. Even If It Is more than two percentage points less you need to do some pay -- back analyLown says. Add up all your closing cost and divide by the points expenses, amount of the monthly savings and you will get the number of months it will take to break even, Lown says. This means you also need to consider how long you plan to stay in your home. If you plan to move in the near future, you are going to have another set of closing costs and points to pay on a new house, sis, she says. "There are many more aspects to consider than simply the difference between interest rates of your current mortgage and the mortgage you could acquire through refinancing," Lown says. "The lonrer monthly .payments certainly are attractive, but a new mortgage usually also means added expenses." She says the amount of closing costs and "points" vary. These costs Include bank attorney's fees, preparation fees, reappraisal costs, applications fees and title search update. There may also be a prepayment penalty on your current your family's emergency savings even though it decreases monthly payments. Lown says an additional consideration is your tax bracket. The lower your tax bracket the more sense It makes to refinance because interest payments are tax deductible. If you are in a high tax bracket, you stand to benefit more from deductions. FmllA dHdlliw. will CORRESPONDENTS ralMp alktclur trh II fttanl, m. tar in 1985. culture, ' . we cannot retain rural com- munities for them to serve and supply. Agriculture must receive equity In the marketplace In order for rural and ultimately all communities America to prosper," Carpenter noted. Stanely Moore, Vice President of the National Farmers Union said the fight for the family farm system of agriculture does not only begin in the nation's legislative chambers, It also begins at home. If we are not willing to Invest our time, money and out patronage In our own system of farmers cooperatives and our rural communities, what credibility do we have to ask the nation to use Its resources on behalf of family farm agriculture," he asked? The Farmers Union offical noted that the issue facing the nation is not slm ply the preservation of family farm agriculture, "it is a question of whether the nation's food production, farmland ownership, and the fate of millions of rural Americans will be concentrated Into the hands, and control of the few." "Today, we have an even greater stake in cooperative enterprise as the means of preservation of services $fi4eral communities. ' We n)ust hjfUjvt together iie collective strength of our marketing, supply, .credit, and service cooperatives to achieve economic power and to have a strong voice In the marketplace." Development of cooperatives has been a traditional part of the National Farmers Union's advocacy for rural America. Members of the farm group are credited with being responsible for establishment of more farmer cooperatives than any other group In the nation. , On a $50,000 mortgage the cost for refinancing may be $500 to $2,000. This is cash you will have to come up with at the time you refinance, which may put a strain on t Publiih.d at Milford, Utah 14751 Elfl.pt verse rural Interests "Historians in agriculture are going to look back to 1985 as a time when agriculture came together," said Nairn a Benson, national president of Women Involved In Farm Economics (WIFE). "This is a new era of opportunity and cooperative action among farm groups." DeVon Woodland, Presidnet of the National Farmers Organization (NFO), said during a separate appearance that agricultural producers and their organizations are uniting to advocate policies which will return economc stability and prosperity to the American countryside. Do we look vainly In the hope that someone will stumble allowing VS. exports to climb, or do we together look realistically at the need for collective bargaining and supply management," he asked? National Grange Master Ed Anderson told the Farmers Union convention that the severity of the rural crisis requires unified action from all major agricultural organizations. "A lot of people are saying the rural crisis Is behind us, but I see nothing that Is going to increase t mortgage rates; as high, as 17 or 18 percent. jWhen mortgage rates fell to 12-percent many analysts thought rates would not go lower. Recently, however, rates have slipped below 10 percent, prompting many people to consider refinancing their mortgages. Others who opted for variable -rate mortgages are considering remortgages. financing to fixed-rat- e Although the low Interest rates are tempting, refinancing may not be the most economically wise decision for homeowners, according to Jean Lown, assistant professor of home economics and consumer education at Utah State University. Lown says those who chose variable-rate mortgages primarily because fixed rates were too high several years ago might want to mortswitch over to a fixed-ra- te interest rates have many people thinking Chrismas has come eary. In the past seven years many with people have bought homes HERE'S Improving farm Income, eliminating unfair tax provisions for farmers and providing alternatives for family farmers In debt service were among the top issues discussed by more than 600 members and delegates attending the 84th convention of the National Farmers Union in Spokane, Washington. The podiun of the NFU convention became a forum for farm unity as leaders of four national agricultural organizations pledged to continue the cooperative spirit forged among di- in P. mortgage tened due to economic conditions in rural America. "Workers must know that without family farm agri- hold 84fficonvonfion OGonosiiieal By DENNIS HINKAMP Carpenter also called on other 'friends of agriculture who now see their jobs and livelihoods threa- Fanners Onion l .i,fVt-4BcorDdurittth- . , ofiniiiGififi voiir homo Plummetting of PRICES ar rs just three Consider: If Cranston mailed at the same rate for four years, he would be getting a subsidy of at least $25.6 million more than the amount spent by any Senate candidate In history! How can you have free and fair elections when the incumbent is given such an incredible advantage? It's like a marathon where the previous year's winner is given a four -- hour headstart.' (Interestingly, many of the same Senators who abuse their mailing privileges are in favor of taxpayer financing of Congressional campaigns which would limit the amount their challengers could raise and spend against them.) Indeed, the advantages of incumbency are so strong that many Congressmen are, in effect, elected for life. How things have changed! When this country was young, citizens were expected to serve in office only a short time, then return to their former occupations to live under the laws they had passed. Of the original 26 members of the U.S. Senate, only four served two full terms; none sought a third. Daniel Webster served only terms (five years) in the House, and Henry Clay: only five terms; Clay was elected Speaker while a freshman. Before his election to the Presidency, Abraham Lincoln served a single two-yeterm in Congress. Through 1870, the average Congressman had served less than four years; in 1920 the average length of service was less than seven years. Until 1896, at least half of every Congress was made up of new members. As late as 1949, SO percent of the members were freshmen. Today the average member of the House has served more than a dozen years. Only 9.4 percent are first -- termers. Of the 468 Congressmen (including Senators) whose terms ran out In 1984, 437 sought and 418 of those won. After two Reagan landslides, why are most of the seats in Congress still heldbymenwho believe in the lg Government philosophy of Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and Walter Mondale? Largely because of the effect that privileges like franked mall have had, In underminingdemocracy. The practical effect of those privileges Is that it has become extremely difficult to defeat a sitting Congressman, no matter how much his philosophy differs from that of the folks back home. He has a huge staff 50 or more, for some Senators and many staff members do almost nothing except work on his He commands free time on the radio and TV and free space In the newspapers. An entire bureaucracy exists to enable a Congressman to take credit for federal grants to his district, most of which he had nothing to h AKENT THESE LOU GAS homestead program Farmers Home Administration borrowers who have to leave their farms for financial reasons may be able to retain their homes, accor-din- g to Rulon B. Twltchell. Under the dwelling retention (homestead) proeram, a farm home acquired by FmHA through voluntary conveyance, foreclosure, or lank- ruptcv proceedings ran be leased back, undor certain conditions, to the former owner with an option to pur- - O. Box 846 Dear John, Several weeks ago you answered my letter with this last sentence "and remember, these businesses have a lot of employees, what would happen if all the jobs were lost?" Three or four months ago the ru- mors flowed Crisp Foodtown was going to close, transactions were made, and partners taken In. In the process jobs were lost. Some of the employees fond other employment, others have no', and may have seeking Congressional action to amend the 1985 Farm Bill with provisions to help financially strapped family farmers and ranchers. "Farmers must join forces with workers, churches, land grant colleges, rural businesses and others to 'Fight Back' against the recent devastating policies that have pla gued the 1980s," NFU President Carpenter admonished the agricul- COUB1TV ture Industry. "We each must take 3 some personal responsibility for reversing the bankruptcy, hunger and suicide that are products of recent Thursday, April 10, 1986, Page political policies." )hmM Cloie Out to leave Milford. drastically. Grocery stores run on a low profit margin. Large stores like Safe- Dear mm luff iiono 387-24- 57 Witch, I support what you are saying in principal, but have some reservations in agreeing with you on the profit margins, especially when it comes to the chain -- operated stores. Tnanks for writing and hope someone out there Is listening to you. chase. A former FmHA borrower can apply to FmHA to lease the farm home and "a reasonable amount of land", usually about five acres, for up to five years with an option to purchase when he or she If financially able. The former owner must have sufficient Income to make rental payments and to maintain the property In good condition. To be eligible for the program, a farmer also must show that in at least two out of the last five years, gross farm Income amounted to $40,000 or more than 60 percent of family Income came from the farm operation, Mr. Twltchell said. On c4U mm Quality Market has just laid off five employees due to lack of business, and will be reducing their stock way, Albertsons and Skaggs profit is about one -- percent of every dollar. Small stores such as C4B Foodtown and Quality have about five percent profit oa every dollar. Ladies, how would you like to run your household on five cents of every dollar your husband earned after he cents for expaid out ninety-fiv- e on Incurred his penses job? Yoj couldn't do it, neither can they. If every family in Milford spent just $200.00 a month on groceries it would well be enough to support both of our stores. Next time you go shopping and miss some of the familiar andsmll-in- g faces, you'll know someone isn't shopping in Milford. Wicked Witch of the West 2 I Milford RETIRE WITH A GOOD BOOK You'll find it fascinating reading. It's all about the Flex-PA- us, now. Before the rush. And see IRA is why the on our list. tax-seas- Flex-PA- best-sell- on C er BILL WAGNER PO Box 95 C Milford, Utah IRA from Transamerica Life. And what we call the Ultimate Combination. low-ris- k A high-yielIRA that provides you tax shelter now, d, security later. So send away for free booklet, or call J:his Phone 387-28- 34 NAME. ADDRESS . CITY STATE PHONE ZIP. . The Current Inlemt Kate n neither guaranteed nor ' estimate of future performance. an an Trcnsamcnca lill htm Kan. Pension Services I ., it m. J |