January 28, 1971 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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ii I
State Senator Sam Guess, the White Knight of the Inland
Empire, has again descended on Olympia, ready to do battle
against a new foe.
Senator Guess, you will remember, bent his lance during
the 1969 session of the legislature in an unsuccessful struggle
against undraped buttocks, bosoms and other private
property in poetry, prose and picture. His bill defining what
appeals to prurient interest was so specific it appealed to
prurient interest, and became a collector s item for small
boys who had run out of naughty words to look up in the
dictionary.
The crusader's target this year is the hussy who undergoes
an abortion in the State of Washington. He wants her name
engraved for all time in the big book at the courthouse.
A bill sponsored by Guess and three fellow knights - Sir
William Gissberg, Sir James Keefe and Sir William Day -
requires a certificate of every legal pregnancy termination to
be filed with the local registrar stating the woman's name, age
and marital status.
This quartet of Old Testament avengers, unable to visit a
plague of boils, flies, frogs, hail or locusts on the offending
abortionee, has settled for a mortal statute guaranteed to
plague her for a lifetime.
If passed, the bill will also provide useful work for the
back-alley abortionists who were put out of business by
legalization of abortion at the polls last November and bring
back the time-honored coat hanger and other home remedies
which are a part of our heritage.
Since there is no requirement in the bill for listing the
name of the father of the aborted fetus, it can be assumed
that the sponsors are leaving his punishment to Jehovah, a bit
of delayed retribution which has always been favored by
knights and other hairy-chested potential sires.
One problem the bill doesn't solve is how a citizen can
tell the difference between an abortionee and a
non-abortionee without a trip to the courthouse. That's a lot
of work just to discover a simple fact about your neighbor.
An amendment to the bill is needed. It would require
that each abortionee wear a large scarlet "A" on the breast of
her outergarment. It's a new idea, but it just might work.
Washingtonians who were worried that a sagging
economy and other problems in the state might cause major
changes in the activities at Olympia's marble zoo can relax.
Things are frightfully normal in the legislative chambers, as
witness the following:
BELT-TIGHTENING - Conservative legislators from the
Spokane area will ask their colleagues for $7.5 million for
a state pavilion at Expo 74, the world exposition planned in
that city three yeats hence. It's po le they may be
successful - if they promise to staff the pavilion with:
employees from Nothern State Hospital.
LOBBYING - House Majority Leader Stewart Bledsoe is
the latest legislator to point out that receiving money from
lobbyists does not influence lawmakers. A pinball industry
lobbyist delivered a $100 contribution to Bledsoe's
Ellensburg ranch in 1966. Asked about the effect of such
money on scores of legislators, Bledsoe said: "For $100
you're not going to buy a legislator."
The hassle over the influence of money on officeholders
is a recurring problem. A lot of future sweat could be saved if
the legislature would appropriate funds for a commission to
study the matter and determine, once and for all, how much
money it DOES take to buy a legislator. Once that is
determined, all those receiving more than the magic figure
would be suspect and all those taking less would be clean as
hound's teeth.
MOTHERHOOD AND THE FLAG - Representative Paul
Conner, an expert on motherhood-and-the-flag legislation,
has introduced his 1971 bill in that category. House Bill 246
would provide free tuition at any state institution of higher
education for children of law enforcement officers killed or
totally disabled in line of duty.
This is the type of bill that makes conscientious
legislators squirm if it gets out of committee. How do you
vote against a bad bill whose emotional appeal outweighs
reason?
What law enforcement officers need - and never get -
are wages commensurate with the job they do and the risks
they take, plus decent health and death benefits. Given those,
they can take care of their children's education.
It's amazing how the current crackdown on games of
chance in Mason County has spooked the occasional gambler.
We were nursing a shrinking pile of dimes in a
neighborhood poker game when Saturday night's high winds
blew the door open and the lights went out. Before you
could say "high-low-split-the-pot," three cardplayersdove
through windows, one hid behind his wife, one disappeared
into the bathroom and the two who were ahead for the night
phoned their lawyers.
Mailing Address: Box 430, Shelton, Wa. 98584
Phone 426-4412
Published at Shelton, Mason County, Washington,
weekly, except two issues during week of Thanksgiving.
Entered as Second-Class Matter at the Post Office, Shelton, Wa.
Member of National Editorial Association
Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $5.00 per year in Mason County,
in advance --Outside Mason County $6.00
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ...................... Henry G. Gay
"The new Nixon is apparently the old Norman Thomas."
By ROBERT C. CUMMINGS
Just two years ago the
highway builders regarded the
environmentalists as nothing
much more serious than a small
puppy barking at their heels.
A year later, however, the
environmentalists developed
political muscle which they flexed
effectively in the 1970 special
session.
This year, they are being
taken seriously.
The Washington
Environmental Council is
supporting twin resolutions,
introduced in both houses, which
would repeal the constitutional
provision restricting gasoline tax
revenue to "highway purposes."
Tax Cut Proposed
Two other environmental
groups, the Committee Against
the R.H. Thompson Expressway
and the Committee Against
Freeways, would go a step
further.
They are reportedly proposing
legislation to reduce the gasoline
tax 2 or 3 cents a gallon, as an
effective means of curtailing
highway construction.
The Committee Against R.H.
Thompson (CART) already has
enjoyed success in helping kill the
Thompson Expressway, but is
retaining its original name.
It is unlikely that any of these
measures will go very far in this
session.
But they are more than
conversation pieces. They could
keep the highway builders busy
enough so that some other
environmental measures may pass,
such as one requiring
consideration of the environment
in all freeway and primary
highway construction.
Tax Dilemma Solved?
The puzzle of how to lower
the assessment rate established by
the constitution without creating
a problem with Initiative 44, the
20-mill limit measure, may be
solved, however belatedly.
The Senate had puzzled for
two days over a proposal to lower
the assessment base from 25 per
cent without risking a 50 per cent
cut in tax revenue, in the event
the voters should approve both
the 25 per cent amendment and
the 20-mill limit in the same
election.
The assessment amendment
finally was changed to call for
assessment at 1 per cent of true
i ll~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Absolute knowledge I have none,
But my aunt's washwoman's sister's son
Heard a policeman on the beat
Say to a laborer on the street
That he had a letter just this week
Written in the finest Greek
From a Chinese coolie in Timbuctu
Who said that all theNegroes in Cuba knew
Of a colored man in a Texas town
Who had it straight from a circus clown
That a man in the Klondike
Had the news
From a gang of South American Jews
Of a man in Borneo who knew
A man who claimed to know
Of a swell society female fake
Whose mother-in-law would undertake
To prove her seventh husband's sister's niece
Had stated in a published piece
That she had a son who had a friend
Who knew when the war was going to end.
~~~~u~~~~~~~~B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~lI~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~u~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
value, which is the same as 40
mills on 50 per cent valuation,
which senators hoped would serve
as a solution.
After the measure was passed
and sent to the House, Sen. Nat
Washington, D., Ephrata,
introduced a new proposal, leave
the assessment base at 50 per
cent, but lower the tax limit from
40 to 20 mills.
This would install in the
constitution the same provision as
called for with Initiative 44, and
still accomplish the same results
as 40 mills at 25 per cent, or 1 per
cent tax on full value.
Fair Game
Gov. Dan Evans' proposal for
increases in liquor and cigarette
taxes has left the affected
industries reeling, but there isn't
much they can do about it,
except maybe try to lower the
amount of the proposed increase.
Liquor and cigarettes always
are fair game when a need for
more revenue comes up. Besides,
they are in a poor position to
complain.
Cigarettes are especially
vulnerable ever since the start of
the cancer scare. The proposed
additional tax of 5 cents per pack
could encourage more people to
quit smoking.
That would please the Health
Department, but it wouldn't do
much for revenue.
The tax on liquor as proposed
would boost the price 26 cents
per fifth. If it doesn't kill the
goose that lays the golden egg, it
at least could result in greater
sales for the cheaper whiskies, and
curtail purchases of Scotch and
other imports.
,,r box:
Editor, The Journal:
I believe a lot of credit is due
to the firefighters of Fire
Protection District 5. During the
recent week of snow, the fire
engines and aid car were chained
and ready to go, and go they did.
Monday, Jan. 11 at 3:10p.m.
_ Fire call south end of Allyn,
overheated stove, no damage.
Jan. 11 at 5:25 p.m. Aid call
from Station 1 Allyn, child
swallowed turpentine.
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 5 p.m.,
Aid call in Allyn.
Thursday, Jan. 14, 4:23 plm.
smoke call, no fire located.
Friday, Jan. 15, 3:15 p.m.,
fire call, Benson Lake, explosion
Though workmen's
compensation benefits for injuries
in industrial accidents haven't
been increased since 1965, it
looks like they will remain at
current levels for another two
years.
Industry, with the Governor's
backing, is holding firm for a
"three-way option" plan, as
opposed to the present state
monopoly on industrial insurance.
"Three-way option" could
give the employer the choice of
self-insurance, insurance with a
private underwriter, or insurance
under the state plan.
Joe Davis, president of the
Washington State Labor Council,
has said labor is prepared to go
another two years without a bill
- if necessary - rather than
accept the "three-way option."
This is pretty good assurance
that there won't be a bill.
The Legislative Budget
Committee is out to strip some
power from local district
community college boards.
One bill sponsored by the
COmmittee would prohibit
establishment of satellites or
branch community college
campuses without legislative
approval.
This affects the State Board
for Community College
Education as4 well as the local
district boards.
It was prompted by state
board approval which resulted in
establishment by Centralia
College of a vocational-technical
branch in Olympia.
The other measure would
require local districts to obtain
approval of the state board for
construction of dormitory
facilities at any of the colleges.
of camp stove, no damage.
A bad week and a busy one.
All the above were answered and
adequately handled.
Unfortunately, I missed all
' but one of these. Since they were
during the day, and being a
volunteer, I was away at work, as
were many others.
Therefore, the Credit goes to
Assistant Chief Gay Valley,
Captain Ran Burke, Captain Bob
Wells, Lieutenant Mike White,
Lieutenant Frank Soveriegn and
the Firefighters who worked with
them.
Richard A. Knight, Chief
Fire Protection District 5
Allyn
Letter box:
Editor, The Journal:
I would like to publicly thank
the Shelton Police officer who
directed traffic for the funeral
cortege for my grandfather,
Walter Eckert.
When we were approaching
the Irene S. Reed High School
building preparing for our turn on
to the main highway toward the
cemetery, the officer turned to
face us, stood erect, removed his
hat and placed it over his heart
emanating an act of such solemn
deference I was deeply moved by
the experience. Of far greater
importance to me was the fact
that my dear mother, while
undergoing one of the most
desoairing moments of her life,
Editor, The Journal:
Like the lapping waves on a
rocky shore, the argument
concerning the S.S.T. is surging
daily into our lives. With each
surge I get increasingly concerned
over the integrity of the
arguments proclaiming its need.
I am not convinced that we
need such speed in an aircraft.
The affluent restless population,
plus those not so affluent but
possessing the ever present
sheaves of credit cards, are
streaming to and fro. Gone are
the day~ when people looked
upon each other as warm human
beings, as they patiently waited in
bus, railroad, and airport stations
for transportation.
Today, with the constant
addition of more speed, humanity
has been degraded into faceless
blood and flesh cogs of the wheels
of travel, thus adding to the
inhumanity mankind has created
with his brilliance in the field of
Technology.
There is yet another factor to
consider. Our planet, which we
have raped of it's life giving
resources, and are still raping in
our greed for power and
materialism, is beginning to fray
around the edges. And as Mother
Earth gasps in the man made
pollution, too many of our
elected leaders are not listening to
the cries of alarm, plaintive
warnings for the ultimate survival
.... Qtrite.: to.: thor' corrtrary, these
leaders are busily authorizing the
rape of Mother Earth, to provide
the resources to send man
scurrying back to the moon. Here
he will have to leave millions of
dollars worth of tax money in
highly technological equipment.
The price for this trip and this
equipment is much too great.
Precious resources have been
consumed in the process, and
more waste has been dumped
upon the already gasping earth.
Yes, I am aware that mankind
is curious about the origin of the
universe. I am also aware that it
takes brave men to carry out the
ultimate task of exploration. But
I am also increasingly disturbed
that this same technology,
dedication, and price tag, is not
considered important enough to
same teclanology, deOlcatlon, and
price tag, is not considered
Editor, The Journal:
Mainly because I received
such a gratifying response from
readers who feel as I do in regard
to Initiative 43, I felt I must
comment on the letter written by
Mr. Plews.
Absolutely incredible his
statement and ridiculous his
inference! He stated "93% of
Washington's usable, adjacent
shorelands is now owned by less
than 5% of the people." By such
logic then, shoreline dwellers
should be able to go inland and
claim use of farms, city yards,
mountain ski lodges, etc. Or else
cry discrimination, which is a no,
no!
While realizing that we live in
a welfare state where most
everything is supposed to be a
giveaway, I feel that a goodly
number of citizens still believe in
such old-fashioned virtues as
ambition, work, and foresight.
And the American dream. One
Editor, The Journal:
Here are a few hints for the
use and care of the flag, as I find
it rather surprising how few adults
and grown children are either
careless or neglectful.
I know of business people
who have let the flag fly all night.
Many fly a soiled flag, not
knowing that most dry cleaners
noticed this overt
respect and commented
tim e s o n the value
appreciation of such
Where an act such as
never manifest itself
headlines around the
brings to mind the
Jordan's 1956
message to her fellow
Reed classmates: If
would light just one
what a bright world
be.
Thank you
implanting a ray of
mother's memory
recollects that day in the
come.
Ken Eacrett
important enough
save mankind and the
he will ever have.
And now the la
are becoming roiled and
The proponents of the
facing soul searching
And so we have a new
The S.S.T. could
Supersonic
solution!! Yes,
instruments of
destruction, more
Mother Earth, more
more burdens for
aching back of the tax
more agony for the
burdened conscience
American who does not
the killing of his fellow
And let us not for
costly price we have
- the youth of
living, maimed, and
have provided the
rolling war machine in
and who have been
American victims of
making technological
As a result, precious l
have been lost,
disillusionment of our
youth, the life blood of
America. The earth
inheriting is the earth
raping, polluting, and
Our leaders have been
lax in hearing their cries
and distress. And so
turned to self
form of *~lrugs
violence. Aiad
we so willingly iml~tison~i
affected youth, that
responsible for
situation. Lastly, let
thought to those
embittered jailed
Americans as we lift our l
alcoholic spirits to our
imbibe in ADULT MARl
It is obvious to all
Americans that our
country is critically ill.
hasten to her bedS
concentrate on
necessary to her
health. Our leaders
power to heal her
power to insist upon it.
Are we great
approach America's
humble honesty and
all mankind? We must
survival depends upon it.
has only to pick up the i
turn to the classified
find waterfront
sale. Admittedly
obtained by giv¢i
inheritance, but by
planning. The
Perhaps there
planning in the early
land was up for
more shoreline should
set aside for public
sometimes I wonder
the public use. Watch
to the side of Hood
not to enjoy its
dump their beer cans
ground.) But
useless.
Mr. Plews does
Initiative 43 isn't
score I'll agree
Meanwhile, continue
your elected
representatives
unfair bill.
God bless America!
will clean a flag at no
between June I and
Some of us are verY !
placing the flag s
envelopes.
The flag sould
displayed with the
save as a signal of
on land or sea.
Mrs.
Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, January 28, 1971