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Show 2 The Magna TimesWest Valley News, Thursday, April 17, 1997 Viewpoint Chris Cannon appeals to people of New Yorks 26th Congressional District The following Utahs is a statement Chris Cannon made to the people of New Yorks 26th Congressional District: Representative My name is Chris Cannon and I Utahs represent Third Congressional District. The reason I am here today is because of a bill that your con- Maurice gressman, Hinchey, intends to introduce in Congress. The bill is H.R. 1500, a measure that would designate 5.7 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land in Utah as wilderness, most of it in my district. To put it into perspective, 5.7 million acres of land is bigger than of Connecticut, the states Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Rhode Island individually. It is approximately the same size as New Hampshire, Maryland or Vermont. ! Several weeks ago, I spoke with Mr. Hinchey once by telephone and once in his office. In both conversations I politely asked him not to introduce H.R. 1500. Let me tell you why. Here in New York, particularly her in the upstate region, you have hills, scenic towns tree-cover- and numerous recreational opportunities. But, almost all your land is privately owned, privately protected and privately managed. Not so in Utah. Utah is a western, public lands state. Over 70 percent of our land is owned by the federal government. Federal land management directly affects the livelihood and lifestyles of our people. Utah farmers, cattlemen, miners, and loggers are not only dependent on ever changing weather and markets, but unfortunately, their prosperity is directly tied to federal land managers, as well. We have great recreational opportuniBut often, our hikers, ties. campers, boaters, rock climbers, and others must deal with regulations promulgated without understanding, in Washington, D.C. What happens on Utahs public lands is critically important and we in Utah bear the consequences when Washington politicians do things without consultation or understanding of our needs. For example, last September, by deception and without consultation, President Clinton created the massive Grand Staircase-Escalant- e National Monument. It covers 1.7 Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: wealthy finally see the light. For a long time I was concerned about always being on the opposite side of the fence against various programs and Maybe if someone provided me with all expenses paid free trips to various sports events, dinners, parties, etc., along with the potential of receiving more free tickets and more free travel to future parties and Olympic events, I too would probably have supported getting the Olympics for Salt Lake. If I or some of my friends or relatives had the potential for realizing financial gain by building a Light Rail system in Salt Lake County, I might have considered actively lobbying for that project also. But, 1 have no vested interest and I owe favors to no one. And I believe that it is duty on every citizen to monitor the activities of our elected officials and to complain and point our inefficiencies, inaccuracies, bad decisions, and questionable projects whenever they are proposed even when it might be viewed by some as a sour grapes attitude because the person had nothing to gain from any of these projects. Its too bad that the legitimate concerns of citizens continue to be ignored in favor of the financial interests of special interest groups. Instead we are told to shut up and to quit complaining. In the meantime, until someone comes up with better than half ($25.6 million) of the total burden being placed on taxpayers for the West Valley Ice Arena, I suggest that the name of that project be called TAXPAYER DOME. - 1 projects being pursued by our elected officials. I just couldnt bring myself to support the Olympics, the West Valley Ice Arena, Light Rail, RDAs, Franklin field, et al. After reading a recent new column (Apr. 9, 1997), I finally understand why I always have such a different opinion. I suppose that if I had been given a $3200 diamond and emerald ring like the ones given to the city manager and elected council members of one of Utahs largest cities, I also may have supported getting taxpayers to build and give away a 53 million dollar ice arena to a MAGNA TIMES USPS 325-58- 0 The West Valley News 8980 West 2700 South Magna, Utah 84044 J. HOWARD STAHLE Publisher BONNIE STAHLE Advertising Manager Office Manager GARY R. BLODGETT Editor KENT GOBLE SportsFeature Writer DEANNA JONES Arts & Entertainment Editor Production Manager DALE SIMONS Sports Columnist ALAN BLAIN Staff Writer SHARON LINSCHOTEN Staff Writer sports conglomerate. Ed Radke West Valley City million acres of land, about the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Without talking to a single Utahn Mr. Clinton who will admit it wiped out the economic future of two counties in my congressional district and placed sharp restrictions on the more than 10,000 residents of the surrounding communities. This dark act did not go over well with Utahns. Whether rural or or urban, most Utah residents feel trammeled by a decision that was imposed by an Administration in the midst of a political campaign. For good reason, Utahns are right now especially sensitive to outsiders who would impose their own will upon Utahs public lands. That brings me back to H.R. 1500. When I met with him, I asked Rep. Hinchey not to introduce H.R. 1500 in this Congress. Two year ago, Utah went through a painful public debate over wilderness. Some wanted no wilderness. Others wanted about two million acres. Another faction wanted 5.7 million acres. After a vigorous, often vicious, public debate on all sides, the Congress failed to act on any of the proposals. To be blunt, the votes were not and still are not there to pass any Utah wilderness bill. Given that no Utah wilderness bill can pass at this time and that Utahns are terribly divided on the issue, I asked Congressman Hinchey for a cooling off period on the issue of wilderness in Utah. I proposed a two-yeperiod during which no one, including me or another member of the Utah delegation, would propose Utah wilderness legislation. Hopefully, this would create a window whereby Utahns could fashion a Utah solution. I told Mr. Hinchey bluntly that his bill would fan the flames in Utah, not cool them down. I believe, as does our governor, ar Utahs congressional delegation and most Utahns that any bill right now would just have the effect of pitting Utahs political leaders, environmentalists, rural residents and public land users against one another. It would rip our state apart at a time when we need to draw Second class postage paid at Magna, Utah 84044 Send change of address to: Postmaster: Magna Times 8980 W. 2700 So. Magna, UT 84044 6 (801) 5 or FAX (801) Is TOWN WHERE'S JONES, THE CASHIER? -- r. prophesy. There is more to the story, but I will not give more now. Since this is near the anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, April 14, 1865, it may be interesting to compare the deaths of both Lincoln and Kennedy. Here are the similarities: Lincoln was elected in 1860; Kennedy in 1960. Both were slain on Fridays in the presence of their wives. Their successors were both named Johnson, both were southern democrats and both were in the Senate. Andrew Johnson was bom in 1808; Lyndon Johnson in 1908. John Wilkes Booth was bom in 1839; Lee Harvey Oswald in 1939. Booth and Oswald were both assassinated before going to trial. Both presidents wives lost children through death while their husbands were in office. Lincolns secretary, who name was Kennedy, advised him not to go to the theater. Kennedys secretary, who name was Lincoln, advised him not to go to Dallas. John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in a theater and ran to a warehouse. Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy from a warehouse and ran to a theater. The names Kennedy and Lincoln each contain seven letters. The names John Wilkes Boioth and Lee Harvey Oswald each contain fifteen letters. where I got these similarities, but it was almost 30 The statements are absolutely amazing. years ago. I cannot remember According to the prophesy, Ronald Reagan was the first to avert the condemnation since 1840. We may scoff at this Shawnee leader, but no one can deny the accuracy of the prediction. The office of President is regarded as the most powerful office in the world. We need to demand that this office never be diminished in the eyes of the people. Each president must maintain the proper standards and the federal government must take the responsibility to make sure that the prestige never slips from its vaulted station. together. I challenge Mr. Hinchey to stand by a statement he made last year when he said, Its not the loss of trees that is critical to this country right now. Its the loss of jobs. If Mr. Hinchey believes this, he will not introduce H.R. 1500. That is why I am here today. I have come to New York to ask the people of the 26th District to urge Mr. Hinchey not to introduce H.R. 1500. Utah is 2,200 miles away. The bottom line is that Mr. Hinchey should spend his time on New Yorks needs and let me tackle Utahs needs. Thank you. -- Published each Thursday Subscription $18 per year $21 per year out of state One of the hottest daily topics in the media is of the President of the United States and what he has or has not done that is improper or illegal. It gives rise in our minds how important an office it is and to what extent the President is to be protected and how much latitude he is to be given. A great Shawnee Chief by the name of Tecumseh was trying to organize the Indian tribes into a single Indian Confederacy to drive the whites back into the sea. As he was traveling to consummate the confederation, General William Henry Harrison attacked in an attempt to destroy the confederation before it got off the ground. The battle was fought near the Tippecanoe River in the Indiana Territory in 181 1. Tecumsehs brother known as The Prophet led the Indians and was killed. Before he died, he told William Henry Harrison that seven presidents of the U.S. would die in office, beginning with Harrison, and would continue for each president elected in' a year ending with a zero. Harrison was elected President in 1 840, caught cold while shopping, and dies shortly after being elected. Thereafter, every president elected each 20 years died in office. John F. Kennedy was the last to die during these 20 year cycles. Kennedy was elected in 1960. His death completed the TOPICS GONE TO THE AACeS IN BI&INE5B HOURSJ -- IT'S HIS LAST CHANCE TO MAKE THE BOOKS BALANCE! r GONE TO THE RACES, r The Magna TTmea a benAsd newspaper HMffMr Utah - or mv- Pn9 AmocMMi it u pool |