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Show Page Two THE SALT LAKE TIMES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1976 F More Paper Recycling Urgently Needed Adoption of a national policy to recover, recycle and reuse paper products "now buried, burned wastefully, or scattered as litter on Accountability Ensures Our Continuance (continued from page 1) time they are having. I am aware of this in my approaches to legislation on postal rates and other matters that affect a preservation of freedom of the press in this country. Winston Churchill once said, I am always in favor of the free press, but sometimes they say quite nasty relationship things.' This may describe the love-hat- e that has existed between our political leaders and the press since the beginning of our nation. But no matter how distraught an elected official may be with the various mediums of communication, there is one truth he or she can never deny. That is the freedom of the is a freedom our country cannot function without and cannot remain great if it is stifled. As an elected Representative in the United States, I am acutely aware of what the freedom of the press has meant. Over two hundred years ago, the first sprinklings of independence from England began with words on the printed page. Articles such as Thomas Paines Common Sense added sparks to the patriot cause in 1776; and throughout the pages of American history, the press stands out as the watch guard of our freedoms and the keeper of our faith. In this Bicentennial year, it is extremely appropriate to reflect upon the press and how it has aided politicans and officials alike in making their message known and keeping the people informed. One hundred years after the birth of our nation, the press in our country has grown rapidly in numbers and responsibilities. Technology not only changed society, but it changed the press, bringing faster presses and quicker distribution. And now, two hundred years later, we have a vastly different press that encompasses not only the written work but also the spoken and visual work as the mediums of television and radio add to the press. Although the mediums of the press have changed, one factor has not; and that is the continued sense of accuracy and dedication that our American journalists have heralded and upheld throughout our history. The Canons of Journalism produced by the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1923 says, A journalist who uses his power for any selfish or otherwise unworthy purpose is faithless to a high trust! I believe that you of the American Newspaper Association have been true to these canons, and I commend you for it. From the beginning, the idea behind a free press was the ability to report happenings accurately with no fear of prosecution if the facts point to wrongdoings or cause embarrassment to leaders and prominent officals. Indeed, this has happened in America, for it has taken the press to uncover corruption and scandal in the ranks of our society and our government. Where would our nation be if there had not been the freedom to report and question the entire Watergate incident? Or the Teapot Dome scandal? Or countless others? The press makes us accountable, and accountability ensures our continuance. Abraham Lincoln once said, Let the people know the facts, and the country will be safe. You have let the people know, and the country is still free. You deserve recognition as our most important vanguards and I and the millions of other of freedom Americans appreciate it and thank you!!! our landscape" has been urged by a Presidential advisory group. "Adoption of a national policy and programs to achieve these objectives merits priority attention by all levels of government and the nrivate sector. There are important social environmental and economic benefits to be gained by doing so," according to the Citizens Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality." Fuell committee recommendations are contained in its new booklet, "A New Look at Recycling Waste Paper. Chairman of the committee is Henry L. Diamond, former New York State environmental commissioner. The committee urged federal action to rectify the inequitable economic relationship between recycled and virgin fibers and recom- mended that the President establish an interagency task force to pinpoint specific market incentives that would increase the recycling of paper. Among these are tax incenfederal loans, a tives, low-cosubsidy for stockpiling used paper, and a solid waste disposal charge. In announcing publication of the booklet, Diamond said, It makes environmental and economic sense to stockpile whatever wastepaper we can recover in a manner that will make it readily available for at least three purposes: as a low cost raw material for the recycling industry. . .as an export commodity to foreign countries. . .(and) as a source of fuel for United States st industrial and electric power plants, when the first two demands are inadequate to utilize the available supply. The same priorities were adopted by the entire committee. Noting that taxpayers now spend at least $26 per ton to burn or bury three tons of aper for every ton which gets recycled, Diamond proposed that a disposal tax be levied y weight on paper products at their points of origin. The tax would be reduced in proportion to the and improve recycling capabilities, and the other is to develop alternatives of the paper recycling in- dustry, American municipalities each year would have to dispose of an extra 14 million tons of solid waste, and at least 200 million more trees would have to be cut to make more paper products, the committee said. Arguments for increased paper recycling forwarded to the President contend that such increases would: Reduce the national solid waste and related environmental damage and reduce taxpayer costs stemming from its disposal. Conserve forest resources. The committee said, It is mportant to recognize that trees are more valuable as energy-savin- g building materials than for grinding into pulp." Save energy. The production of recycled paper requires from 25 to 50 percent less energy than production from virgin pulp," the committee said. Improve the U.S. balance of payments by reducing the need to import virgin newsprint, pulp, and oil, and possibly by expanding exports of waste paper. Achieve a new plateau in environmental quality protection and achieving of a national waste not-wanot" philosophy. Key points of the committees recommended national policy to encourage paper recycling include redirecting the use of our diminishing timber resources to their highest beneficial use; federal responsibility for leadership; federal steps to rectify economic inequalities between recycled and virgin fibers; leadership for citizens who want to help support recycling; and ecognition that recycling paper is better than burning it for fuel, although the latter is preferable to landfilling or incen-eratioload nt well-inform- ed n. IRS Employees Furloughed, But Not For Long amount of recycled fibers used in manufacturing the product. The committee stressed in its Ogden IRS Center employment report to the President that in- officials announced this week that creasing production of paper pro- the Center will be furlqughing ducts made directly from trees approximately 620 data transcribresults in throwing away valuable ers during the first week of Decemfiber resources faster than satisfac- ber. These transcribers would tory ways to reuse them can be have normally been furloughed last found. summer, but were kept on the job As a result, we are spending to complete a special project," said millions of taxpayer dollars on a Ralph G. Ingebretsen, Administraprocess that wastefully destroys tive Chief at the Center. forever millions of tons of a valuadata transcribers usually work ble resource a loss that we only during the income tax filing should not, and need not, tolerate," season - late January through the the committee agreed. months - but most summer early It called for immediate planning were able to work almost 12 toward the time, within 10 years or months this year processing SS5 less, when forest resources will no documents for the Social Security longer be able to meet worldwide Administration. Because these demands for paper fibers, as well employees worked throughout the as the many other uses to which year, an estimated $1.1 million was wood is put. The national interest pumped into the local economy in dictates two immediate steps, the unexpected salaries," Center officommittee said. One is to maintain cials noted. dial Where thousands of listeners enjoy concert music and news every dayI th- eLEASED GRAPEVINE v According to the Utah Legislatures Transportation and Public Safety Committee a state police academy should be constructed in Salt Lake County. The Legislature has failed to achieve accord on a police academy through its last three sessions, largely because of a dispute over whether the facility should be located in Ogden or Salt Lake. The recommendation will be presented to the Legislature when it convenes Jan. 10. A special shuttle bus system was abolished by the Salt Lake County Commission this week. The bus transported employes between the City and County Building and the County Complex in South Salt Lake. Instead, the county will use the Utah Transit Authority, which offers trips at 35 cents less per passenger. controversial Utah Transit Authority request for a bus barn in Granger was turned down this week by the Salt Lake County Planning Commission. The request had drawn strong opposition from Granger residents, who charged the noise level and fumes would be A detrimental to the residential neighborhood. The bus barn would have been located near Redwood Road and 35th South. The area is zoned for agricultural use, and UTA applied for a conditional use permit to build the facility. Give your family the best Christmas they have ever had, by giving a Christmas to a needy family. Several needy families in Salt Lake Valley may not have any Christmas at all, unless readers open their hearts and pocketbooks and join the Santa's Helping Hand program. Donors are needed to provide adequate but not lavish Christmasfamilies with es for many-size- d small children. Persons wishing to volunteer may call Santas Helping 8 between 8 a.m. Hand at and 5 p.m. weekdays and between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. 524-445- In a brief ceremony in Secretary of State, Clyde L. Miller's office, Utahs four electoral votes were officially added to President Fords losing total. The four electors Dr. Paul L. Child, Ogden; Boyd J. Black, Delta, David Hemingway and Mrs. Ruth Skeeters, both of Salt Lake City, signed 20 certificates attesting that Ford had won the election in Utah. Each elector was handed a letter from Washington inviting him to appear on the steps of the nations capital during the presidential inaugural next month. Despite legal uncertainty as to whether the money can be spent, Salt Lake County has decided to distribute $4 million in tax money to various taxing districts. R. Paul Van Dam, County Attorney, issued a legal opinion this week saying Treasurer Arthur Monday can distribute the money, but must inform recipients they may have to pay it back. The issue over the use of the tax funds arose at the end of November when several large taxpayers paid their property taxes under protest. The county is prohibited, under a state law, from distributing tax funds that are paid under protest until the protest is settled in court or withdrawn. |