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Show The Public Pulse Summer, 1961? Srihunf file Salt Gas Tax Income Requires Sunday Morning, February 12, 1961 Amendment Protection Leave Slogans Out of Health Debate The health insurance section 6f President Kennedys medical program greatly overshadows the remainder. For health insurance, which provides care for the elderly, has been a subject of controversy and will be the subject of much more before the issue is resolved. Mr. Kennedy proposes hospital, nurs- care for ing home and other about 14,200,000 persons 65 years of age or older who are eligible for Social Security benefits. But the President was quick to deny that this meant socialized medicine. Said he in his message to Congress, It is a program of prepayment of health costs with absolute freedom of choice guaranteed. No service performed by any physician at either home or office, and no fee he al The Escalante Story It for rejoicing that the people of Escalante, Garfield County, again k have a supply of fresh water after a emergency caused by the freezing of the towns main pipeline from a spring is cause five-wee- about ten miles away. This is just one of several similar instances this winter. In most cases it was due to the lack of snow to protect the pipes from frost. ESCALANTES GRIM experience dramatizes the inconvenience and threat to health and comfort when the well runs dry." It is accented by the severe drought in the region, the effects of which cannot be erased even by a long rainy season. Everything reasonable must be done to prevent waste of water, including elimination of all avoidable sources of contamination, not only because of the drought emergency but because population increases and industrialization are exceeding water potentialities. ESCALANTES RECENT crisis is one of several in the town's history, and its experience is symptomatic of this whole and abuse have region where over-us- e thrown nature out of balance. Heber H. Hall, graduate student in -biology at the University of Utah, dramatically related the Escalante story from a scientist's viewpoint in a study published in 1954. In 1880 Escalante Creek was 12 feet wide and less than two feet deep, he reported. By 1954, after many floods and extended siltation, it was more than 130 yards wide and 20 feet deep. botany- The primary cause of the deterioration of the area was overgrazing. The common cry of the people of Escalante is if we only had more water, Hall declared. Yet when the writer visited the North Creek Reservoir in August, 1952, a tormented feeling of despair came over him for these people . . . (because) siltation is rapidly rendering their main water resource useless." Escalante, with flamboyant scenery, is now staging something of a comeback. Its future economic stability will be measured in terms of the success of efforts to restore the stability of the watersheds and former meadows. charges for such services, would be volved, covered or affected in any way. Whether or not this Is socialized medicine depends upon the source of the definition. Certainly It is social legislation of a most sweeping nature. Nor is it coincidence that the program would be part of the Social Security system. It is placed there, logically enough, because it would deal with elderly persons already eligible for Social Security benefits. And since this means a heavy drain on Social Security funds, the President would raise the payroll tax and extend from $4,800 to $5,000 the. maximum annual earnings base on which the tax French jet pilots the plane carrying Soviet President Brezhnev could have caused an international crisis. As it is, they created an international incident. According to the French, the Soviet airliner was fired upon when it failed to answer challenges as it entered the The trigger-happ- y who fired on off zone of responsibility Brezhnev was en route to Morocco on a good will trip. This is an unsatisfactory explanation quite as unsatisfactory as some the Russians themselves have made when they shot first and asked questions later. However, to comment Look whos talking! when Moscow protests is to overlook the fact that the incident should never have occurred. Certainly the turboprop In which Brezhnev was traveling looks like just what it is, a civilian airliner. French Algeria. Visiting Cartoonist , Special levies on motorists are a heavy burden to bear on top of the regular taxes collected In our state. is levied. THE PREDICTED result is an addil1 i billion dollars in revenue a year. However, the people who pay the taxes will be younger than those receiving the benefits. This has always been true of basic Social Security, but it will be far more noticeable if the benefits are extended to include health care. Yet it is generally the younger people w'ho bear the burden of caring for the aged. And a sound argument can be made for spreading the burden through some kind of prepayment plan, rather than letting it fall heaviest where chance dictates. Moreover, while the first recipients will be getting something for which they did not pay, this will not be true as the years pass. Because of this fact, we agree wholeheartedly with your view that Utah should by all means guard against diversion of highway funds. Where highway yser groups and The Tribune apparently differ, however, is on the Important point of the best means toward that tional Health care for the aged is only part of the Kennedy program. He also proposes scholarships for medical schools, hospitals and nursing homes. The problem of child health is emphasized too. The nation's children now 40 per cent of the population, said the President, have urgent needs which must be met. So he suggests broader programs of research and more money for maternal and child health and welfare. But while all these are vital matters, it is on health care for the aged that the battle will center. It is certain to be a fiercely fought affair. First, it raises the spectre of socialized medicine. Second, it is political in its sponsorship. Last summer, during the post convention session of Congress, a similar program offered by Mr. Kennedy lost 51 to 44 in the Senate. He made health care a campaign pledge; now he has been elected he will attempt to make good. -- WE ARE NOT ANXIOUS to see the federal government grow larger and larger, taking on more and more responsibilities, extending its influence Into more and more fields. There are, nevertheless, certain problems which only the federal government has the fiscal power to solve. This could be one of them. Congress should gie the Kennedy program the most careful consideration. It would be highly irresponsible to reject the program out of hand, without providing an adequate, wotkable substitute. The decision Congress makes must be based on facts, not slogans and emotion. Heritage From Lincoln One hundred years ago today, on his birthday, Abraham Lincoln was traveling from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington, D.C. His inauguration was 20 days away but there was much to be done in preparation for taking over a country that was rapidly flying apart. Seven southern states had seceded from the Union. The shot that was later recognized as the first of the Civil War, had been fired in Charleston Harbor. All southerners had withdrawn from Bucha52nd Too Trigger Happy Editor, Tribune: On behalf of the Utah Highway Users Conference, the Utah Highway Advisory Council and the Utah State Automobile Assn., I would like to take this opportunity to comment on your editorial of Feb. 8 concerning Senate Joint Resolution 9, the constitutional amendment that is now before the Legislature to guarantee that all revenues derived from highway user taxes in Utah be used solely for highway purposes in the future. in- nans cabinet, and the provisional Confederate government had been set up. And Jef- ferson Davis had been elected president of the Confederacy. It has been said that Lincoln would have been a weak President if the Civil War had not compelled him to draw upon the Inmost resources of strength. Whether this is true or not, the man from Illinois, a moderate, who was given to agonizing study of every problem that came before him, served superbly the needs of the country. He was a solid rock between the radicals of the North and the rabid secessionists of the South. Considering the hatred and passion generated by four years of bloodshed, it is extraordinary that Lincoln was able to block revolutionary excesses. This is emphasized by Fawn M. Brodie in the book, Thaddeus Stevens, Scourge of the South." Lincoln's respect for the sanctity of property, plus his capacity for magnanimity toward the enemy, lived after him and were vital elements in uniting the Union again after the war. end. The Public Forum Make em Retire Editor, Tribune: I wonder If our governor knows why there is so much unemployment and so many people on relief. If he would only make a survey of the Capitol, Liquor Control Commission and State Highway Commission offices he would find many employes over 65 years of age. They should be on Social Security, giving younger people a chance to work. There should be a law setting up a retirement age for Utah. RAY CARR Humane Slaughter Editor, Tribune: All good people are rejoicing in the knowledge that the state bill for the humane slaughter of meat animals has passed the State Senate without a dissenting vote. The bill is now before the House. In line with Utah's traditional moral leadership, this state initiated that great humanitarian reform, the Fed-erHunftne Slaughter Act. This bill was signed into law by former President Eisenhower in August of 1958. This bill climaxed a four-yoa- r battle in the Congress, in which Utah's former William A. Dawson, played a prominent part. Sen. Wallace F. Bennett cast his vote in favor of the bill. Outraged by the knowledge that animals providing the nation with meat were meeting pure torture on the killing floors, Americans deluged the Congress with the greatest outpouring of mail on a given subject with a n Robert C. the troops angrily inuncertain stead of hysterically h a as quoted. It hard to say whether the Eisenhowers were more cynical than the Kennedys about this business the fading Ike regime for instigating it, or the Kennedys for reversing it. new-com- Potomac Fever ONLY ONE thing is demclearly: The governments disregard of the of the milmental itary man is just as cavalier, By Fletcher Knebel You are forced to arrive WASHINGTON The Kennedy crew federal a health program. huge urges Democrats figure we need lots of medicine for all the bad news theyre pumping at us. onstrated As he feels now, 'Sen. Goldwater says he wont seek the Republican presidential nomination in 1964. He trusts, however, the feeling isnt mutual. SomervIlU in Atlanta ConatituUon . Where no news Is good news Republicans vow to rebuild the party from the grass roots. That's all right with the Democrats. The GOP can have the want is the grass roots. All the Democrats ' city pavements. g just as callous, as always. that Forum Rules Letters from Tribune readers are welcomed. They should be brief (preferred limit: 200 words), typewritten if possible, must carry writers correct name and address and be in good taste. (Pseudonyms may be permitted, if requested, if writers name and address ere signed to original letter, but letters signed for publication with writers full name will be given preference.) Writers are limited to one letter in 10 days. And letters which exceed spare limitation may be cut by the editor. acted laws. humane slaughter Utahs initial leadership in this matter, was published throughout the nation. Our rejection of a state law will also be published throughout the nation. But we can yet distinguish ourselves by passing this humanitarian legislation without a dissent- at unsavory conclusion that perforce the Eisenhower announcement couldnt have been very important to the public weal, or Kennedy wouldnt have dared reverse it. And if It wasnt Important, what a hell of a terrible thing to do to the individual man who makes up your armed forces! To louse up the lives of a half million people in the present, and heaven knows how many for the future, Is little short of criminal If done capriciously. And you certainly cant deny that it was capricious. Any major order affecting the function and morale of your overseas military that is so structurally flimsy that it can be canceled overnight by a new order has got to be whimsical in its concept and execution. Was it Ike's whim to implement it? Or was it Kennedys whim to kill it? And what right have the heads of state got to be whimsical over the physical and mental welfare of their troops? You will notice that I will studiously avoid any accent on words like sacred trust7-o- r governmental responsior even "practical bility loyalty of government to the Individuals who form Its military In peacetime. FAR TOO many abuses of these finely-wrough- t con- cepts have occurred In past ,But the fulfillment of contractual obligation, for harsh business reasons, is something terribly important in s the military business. a feeble word, but it'll have to do. The government wants men, and needs good men in its forces. It wants career men. It wants technical experts in its officers and enlisted personnel; men who will forego more highly paid Jobs in civilian Industry in Mor-alejfi- non-roa- d constitu- tions for several decades. In no . instance has a serious effort been made to repeal them. To the contrary, these states have found that the assured level of road revenues has enabled highway departments to plan their highway programs soundly and intelligently. Fundamental questions, such as this Is, belong in the state constitution, which is essentially a means of outlining basic policies and of establishing the rights of people, so that future legislation shall not trespass upon them. YOU ARE no doubt correct in assuming that the sentiment of the present state Legislature is opposed to diverting highway funds and, as long as this sentiment prevails, it might be assumed that constitutional protection is unnecessary. But sad experience in other states has shown clearly that motorists can be lulled Into a sense - of false security merely because there is no immediate danger of diversion. Just "two years ago, for example, one northeastern state (Connecticut), after many years of adhering to a policy, suddenly voted to divert 21 million dollars of highway-use- r tax money. In other states, strenuous efforts have been made In recent years to misuse road funds for subsidizing railroads, subway systems, and a variety of other which, although projects meritorious, have no special relationship to highway use. WE THINK this lesson is clear. What happened reand cently in Connecticut could hapin other states pen in Utah next year, or 10 years from now. We sincerely believe that the constitutional amendment now before the Legislature is the best and only way of Insuring that It doesnt happen at any time In the future. We further believe that In view of the continuing and increasing demand for highway funds and the peril in which they could be placed without constitutional protection, it is an obligation of the Utah Legislature to give the citizens the right to vote on this important matter by approving passage of S.J.R. 9. This is all that is asked. Is it right for the Legislature to deny the citizens this cherished privilege? We are sure they would not intentionally withhold citizens' voting rights. We confidently look forward to members of the Legislature giving their constituents this voting opportunity. ELIAS J. STRONG, FOR EXAMPLE, such amendments have been by margins rangadopted ing vote! MARY S. LOWE, ing as high as four to one in Arizona, California, Utah Constitutional Redress Committee jj Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Apart from Stop Doodling Utah, only New Mexico in should Editor, Tribune: It this area has not yet acted be pointed out that this is not the first but the third to approve a constitutional amendment against road successive meeting of the fund diversion and lawLegislature in which bills makers in that state are have been introduced to coractively considering the issue rect problems related to juat the present session. venile detention. None have Wherever the people hae ever been enacted. been given a chance to exAt this time we are faced press themselves on this with a solution which would, amendment, the proposition if passed, leave the problem has been approved by an with a divided responsibility. overwhelming majority at Divided responsibility is the the polls. most important factor conto which defects tributing We are confident that now exist in the legal procUtah citizens will react essing of juveniles. similarly. The need for remedial acIt is worth noting that in is tion by the Legislature none of these states has the painfully obvious. It would constitutional highway fund seem that six years of urgamendment protection ing by citizens of this state caused problems of fiscal would produce constructive management nor tied the measures on a comparatively hands of future legislators" simple matter. Too much so that thov were unable to Chairman, romblnrcl rommlTteea time has already been wasted nf Ctah Hixhwav t'aers fulfill their responsibilities. which could be profitably ttah Highway Advissome of matthese Although on other pressing spent and t'tah State ory Council amendments have been a ters. Automobile Assn Let us hope that this legislative doodling will cease. It certainly will not produce results. JAMES O. DOUGLAS, By Ham Park Ogden, Utah Obstinacy is ever most me some concern, for I have positive when it is most in a low opinion of that just the wrong Necker. looking part. You 6ee, she Never Say Never has, so to speak, been confined to quarters" for several Seven years ago, when we months which has resulted in moved to our present adher having nothing to wear dress, I said to the Missus: nothing to wear thats in order to sign on for full I am NEVER hitches in the military comstyle, of course. So I wont going to move be surprised if I am called And plex. The short terms are again! almost useless. By the time upon to help put to flight she, who the recession in the wearing theyre ready to pay off. The knows me bet-te- r investment i n specialized apparel field. Oh, well, her than I know myself, happiness is important to training, they're mustered out. me, and I shant complain said nothing. unless she tries to make me Well, we are TO GET these men, and in the throes style conscious, too. That to keep these men, you offer never there I go again Ill of moving definite compensations, such with that "never. I guess and its again, as cheaper living abroad, never learn. Ill idea. At my more facilities for happy least, I think it is. Maybe Notes on Cuff Department family life, extra frills such there is some truth in the as housing, transportation, The greatest argument tn theory that a person changes cheap booze, PX food and favor of advertising is the sev en every completely on the 1st fact that to the person who luxuries, travel opportunity, years. Anyway, and, above all, security. With doesnt know about you, you of March we'll be backdn the these things in mind a man dont exist. we to where used Belvedere full signs articles for the be will live. much like It cruise. It is the military apNowadays, it seems, the returning home. old man no sooner gets his proximation of civilian inwe moved Into When this centive pay. daughter off his nands than neighborhood about 10 years he has to get his son-i- law RIGHT. So you sign up a ago we enjoyed the walk to on his feet. on his family) chap (and town. It was a delight to cut', these terms, and the second It may be hard, as the through the Temple and somebody hollers hurt in Tabernacle and Bible says, for a rich man to grounds some vaguely related field feast our eyes on the beauty get Into heaven when he die, you Immediately aim a of the spring, summer and but its easy for him to keep at the retrenchment phony autumn flowers. But we from going through the othdefenseless defense forces. were at least 20 years younger place while hes alive. They can't kick back; er physically, that is than in now, the The modem way: He proArmy you're we are now, so we have to bud, and an order is an posed to her In an automouse taxicabs, and they have order. bile, and she accepted him in become much too expensive This is. a very sappy way a hospital. the meters were insince to ruif any business, because stalled. Duke Mayo says that even you have hired people under We have made some wonif you are on the right track false pretenses. over friends and derful here, On the record of the govyou will be run over if you to miss them. ernment's treatment of its. were going keep sitting there. We hope they wont forget help, if I were a military us. A. young school girl was man right now I wouldn't The Missus is looking forasked to. give the definition trust anybody, including my ward to being able to stroll of a demagogue. A demamomentary saviors in the the dress downtown motive through The gogue, she said, is a vescamp. Kennedy sel containing whisky and shops on a just looking there could be purely politiJaunt That Til admit causes other liquids." cal, too. No Way to Treat the Hired Help The summary reversal of the Eisenhower doctrine on reduction of military dependency abroad which was supposed to be a ital step In the checking o f America's dollar outflow, ought really to well-bein- in the memories of living congressmen. Some members of Congress received 35,000 to 45,000 letters each. Resisted by the packing industry (which also had resisted federal meat inspection and later found it a blessing) the industry now acknowledges that humane slaughter is distinctly to its advantage. It has brought about better working conditions, improvement in products and economy in operations. Animals in the smaller are state slaughterhouses still unprotected. A 6tate law will bring no hardship to the small state operators. They are already using the approved humane method of shooting. This has been made by the invention of a cartridge now on the market. Six s t a t e s California, Washington, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Massachusetts have already en- - Ruark Thats make By Our Readers We strongly believe and experience has demonstrated this to be true that the only foolproof method of safeguarding potential highway funds in Utah is for our state to join the 27 others that already have constitutional amendments on their books forbidding the use of highway funds for purposes. It is perhaps significant that nearly all of the western states where highways have a particular significance to the welfare of the economy have incorporated the road fund protection principle in their constitutions. part of the. state Senator From Sandpit |