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Show July 1975 Utah Farm Bureau News Page 2 Farm Bureau honors two employees Reverse growing regulation: Ford All too often, the federal government promulgates new rules and regulations which raise costs and consumer prices at the same time. To achieve small or somewhat limited social benefits in these cases, we must either revise proposed rules and regulations to lower their costs or we must not adopt them in the first place. Moreover, we must examine the whole range of existing rules and regulations to determine whether modifications could lower costs without significantly sacrificing their objectives. Let me emphasize that we do not seek to eliminate all regulations. Many are costly, but they are essential to preserve public health and public safety. But we must know their costs and measure those costs against the good that the regulations seek to accomplish. A major problem is that these costs are often hidden from the public generally. While we are. all accustomed to an open debate on the governments budget, far too little attention has been focused on the ways in which government regulations levy a hidden tax on the American people. In the nearly 90 years since we created the first federal regulatory commission, we have built a system of regulations which abounds with contradictions and excesses, all to the detriment of the public. There are sound estimates that government regulations have added billions of unnecessary dollars to business and consumer costs every year. To reverse this trend of growing regulation, my administration is working hard to identify and to eliminate those regulations which now cost the American people more than they provide in benefits. I feel strongly that we must keep and improve those regulations which work, but we have an obligation to discard those that do not. President Gerald R. Ford . ? ; Railroads: Another regulatory mess As a taxpayer, you have, during the past year, invested your share of about $30 million to find out what is causing the railroads in this country to go broke, and to devise a plan to rescue the bankrupt lines in the Northeast and Midwest. Unfortunately, the real cause of the trouble has not been talked about very much. The real culprit is the Government itself. . .and specifically the archaic system of regulation of the railroads and other modes of transportation that has smothered innovation, allowed monopoly power to hold sway, and prevented the carriers from responding to the demands of the marketplace. Instead of calling for regulatory reform, too many experts on the problem call for further tapping of the U.S. Treasury to subsidize the railroads. They say that other forms of transportation, like water, air, and highways have been highly subsidized, while the railroads have not gotten their fair share of the loot. The American Farm Bureau Federation has pointed out an alternative solution to this imbalance, if it exists. The alternative is to reduce the subsidies going to other modes of transportation, and move in the direction of requiring that all modes price their services so that those who use them pay the cost. The Farm Bureau says it does not favor taxpayers in Chicago and New York City subsidizing farmers, and neither does it think that farmers should subsidize mass transit in Chicago and New York City. It has become a habit in this country to solve all problems by tapping the federal Treasury', which calls for more taxes or deficits, which in turn fuels inflations reduces the value of the dollar, and causes unemployment. It is about time we break the habit. . From INSIGHT, a Farm Bureau radio program FB rewards alert Rich county man It pays to keep your eyes open, says Rich county Farm Bureau president Robert Rex (left)' as he presents Vernon Bell of Randolph with a reward check for $200. Bell had spotted a strange truck at the ranch of Ross and Von Farm Bureau members protected by the Utah Farm Bureau Insurance Company reward program. He turned in the license number to the county sheriff, Ar-gyl- Non-memb- er Second Class postage paid at Salt Lake City, Utah OFFICIALS President Vice President Executive Vice President Editor Garland; William Holmes, Ogden; Jack Brown, Grants-vtllEdward Boyer, Springville; John Lewis, Monticello; Stuart Johnson, Aurora;-KennetR. Ashby, Delta; Mrs. Paul Turner, Morgan; Robert Johnson, Randolph. DIRECTORS: Frank Nishiguchi, A bill calling for the removal of e binder and import duties on baler twine has been introduced before the U.S. Senate. Sponsored by Senator Clifford P. Hansen (R) of Wyoming, the measure was requested by the American Farm Bureau Federation to thwart the stalling of a similar bill in the House ways and means committee's subcommittee on trade. man-mad- John C. Datt, director of AFBF Congressional relations, pointed out in April testimony before the house group that of the 300 million pounds of baler twine used in this country each year, 250 million pounds must come from foreign sources. The present import duty, amounting to 20 percent of the retail price of twine, adds a heavy burden to spiraling farm production costs and ultimately to consumer food prices, he said. Average twine prices to farmers reportedly are $25 and upward per bale as compared with an average of about S9 per bale in 1973, Datt declared in calling for an end to the import duty. He pointed out that removing the duty would encourage increased exports of Public Policy director Utah Farm Bureau Federation Published each month by the Utah Farm Bureau Federation at Salt Lake City, Utah. Editorial and Business Office, 629 East Fourth South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102. Subscription price of fifty cents per year to members is included In membership fee. subscription price: One dollar per year. C. Booth Wallentine Elwood Shaffer y Lucille Walton Jacob Fuhriman The Fuhrimans have seven children. They live in Providence, Utah. Mrs. Walton, nee Lucille Medill, was bom in Magna and raised in tt Granger. Her father worked for Copper Corporation for years and retired from that company. She attended Cyprus high school and L.D.S. Ken-neco- business college. She came to work for Farm Bureau in 1950 as a filing clerk, but after six months, she took over her present job at the reception desk. She has done insurance billings and promotional mailings as well. Callers are familiar with her friendly greeting both over the phone and in person. Lucilles husband, E. Woodrow Walton, is a light supervisor and city property manager for Salt Lake City. Lucille enjoys golfing and fishing. She and her husband live at 1935 Douglas Streef in Salt Lake City. Senator makes new try to end import duty on binder twine By Tom Bingham send Form 3579 to Utah Farm Bureau, 629 East Fourth South, Salt Lake Elmo W. Hamilton, Riverton Jerold N. Johnson 'VX-- twine to the U.S. and lower its cost here. The House bill introduced by Congressman Bill Steiger of Wisconsin in March 1975 gathered good support, with 24 presenting it. A spokesman for the commerce department indicated opposition to the bill, wanting the duty reduction to be part of trade negotiations. Farm Bureau policy established by farm members generally favors free trade between nations. co-spons- ors 'Quotes Worth Noting Agriculture. . . the new common language Agriculture is the new common language and one of the most effective areas of dialogue open to us on the diplomatic front . .Food is a positive tool in furthering peace. One of the strongest elements we have going for us in the world is the tremendous food production capacity in the U.S. Earl Butz U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Business pays, schools receive bulk of property taxes in Utah saddles and a bridle stolen from the ranch. UTAH FARM BUREAU FEDERATION .5J e, who arrested two men and recovered POSTMASTER: Please City, Utah 84102. Two long-tim- e employees of the Utah Farm Bureau have been honored for 25 years of service. Jacob Fuhriman, now manager of the Utah Farm Bureau Service Company, and Lucille Walton, receptionist for Farm Bureau for nearly her entire period of employment, have both completed a quarter of a century of service to Utah agriculture. Fuhriman joined the Utah Farm Bureau as a combination fieldman and claims adjuster for' northern Utah just after the founding of the Utah Farm Bureau Insurance Company in early 1950. He has served in several capacities over the years, including claims manager, company secretary, and director of natural resources, before taking over his present job of handling economic services for members. He has long served as staff advisor to the Young Farmers and Ranchers and has worked with the Talent Find program. He is also advisor to the Womens committee. Before coming onto the staff of the state Farm Bureau, Fuhriman was an officer in the Cache county Farm Bureau and farmed for 17 years. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, both he and his wife Valene are officiators in the Logan temple. He has served as bishop and in various other church leadership capacities. e; Who pays property taxes and how are they spent? These are key questions for all Utahns. About half of all property taxes 49.1 percent charged in Utah in 1974 were collected from owners of commercial and industrial property, according to the Utah Foundation and state lax commission. Homeowners are the second largest contributors of property taxes, paying '36.8 percent of the 1974 total. Motor vehicles represent 7.5 percent and agricultural property 4.8 percent of the total. Although the overall average tax rate has declined in. each of the past three years in Utah, the reduction has been more than offset by increased property values. Property owners paid 6.1 percent more taxes in 1974 than in 73. Nearly 60 percent of all property taxes last year went to finance education. Local schools received $108.3 million in 1974 out of $181.1 million collected. In addition, public schools receive all the state individual &nd corporate income tax revenues and much of the state sales tax. Other recipients of property tax revenues in their order of shares include: county governments, 20.2 percent; cities and towns, 13.8 percent; special improvement districts, 6.1 percent; and bounty taxes, 0. 1 percent. |