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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
November 27, 1975     Shelton Mason County Journal
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November 27, 1975
 
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"rite "IMA'r" It's time to put a stop to unfair criticism of the Central Intelligence Agency. it was reported this week by the Senate Intelligence Committee that the CIA, that dedicated band composed of the nation's finest minds, stood alone in opposition to the sinister power of Fidel Castro's beard. It's easy for critics of our system to take potshots at the world's premier intelligence organization, but we challenge the bitchers.to come up with anything equalling the CIA's "beard plan," uncovered by the Senate group's investigation. The beard plan was to have been used when Castro stopped at a hotel during a trip abroad and, according to custom, put his shoes in the hall to have them shined. A CIA operative was to have dusted the shoes with thallium salts, which would have caused Castro's hair to fall out. Castro cancelled the trip, so the plan was never carded out, but that does not detract from its brilliance. It is far superior, for instance, to the plans of other nation's intelligence units. The Russians worked for a year and a half on a plan to destroy the image of H. R. Haldeman, whom they believed to be the most powerful man in the United States during Richard Nixon's presidency. A Russian agent was to have sprayed the insides of Haldeman's storm trooper boots with a substance that would cause his hair to grow so fast that he would look like Abbie Hoffman ten minutes after the White House barber had given him a crew cut. The Chinese perfected a plan to substitute elevator shoes for Nancy Kissinger's regular footwear, thus making her so intimidating around home that Henry would lose his self-confidence and be an easy adversary at the bargaining table. The Chinese also concocted a scheme that was to have been perpetrated during an address by Hubert Humphrey to Democratic luminaries. Humphrey's after-dinner coffee was to have been laced with a potion that would have caused him to stutter, thus leading to the starvation of all members of the Democratic heirarchy between the fifteenth and eighteenth days of his extemporaneous remarks. The North Koreans planned to kidnap Barry Goldwater and operate on him to replace his brain with that of a spider monkey• The plan was scratched following receipt of a note from their Washington intelligence operatives, which said: "Suggest you pick target who would not benefit from operation•" The only foreign plan that comes anywhere near the CIA's brilliant product was a Russian scheme to sprinkle a substance on Gerald Ford's breakfast muffins that would have him the urge to rarnlbla:, tlae Amecican countryside, shaking hands with mindless parade-watchers and making insipid speeches, rather than tackling the problems of the nation in his Washington office. That would have been a winner for our enemies. Fortunately, it was never carried out. Working too hard? Need a little more vacation time ? Maybe you should change jobs. There will be openings next year in a small organization that employs only 535 souls, who enjoy the following vacation schedule: Eleven days off for Lincoln's Birthday; An Easter holiday of 17 days; Thirteen days off to observe Memorial Day; A bang-up Fourth of July vacation of 10 days; Ten days off during October; Veterans' Day; Ten days off to celebrate Thanksgiving; As many days as the employees choose during the Christmas season. Time off during 1975 for the 535 will amount to about three and a half months. We ordinarily wouldn't meddle in employee-management matters, but thought we'd bring up the subject in this instance because you pay their salaries. The employees are - you guessed it -- members of Congress. Ready or not, here comes another Snickers competition. After some ding-aqing in a crowd pointed a toy pistol at Ronaid Reagan last Thursday, the newest presidential candidate said, "It makes you wonder; was he serious or just .someone wanting to get his name in the paper?" Ten silver dollars and a box of Snickers will go to the reader who can explain most clearly what Reagan meant by "serious." it may help you to know that the man holding the toy did not shout, "Bang! Bang! You're dead!" So he was not serious about assassinating Reagan. He also did not say, "stick 'era up" or threaten, "your money or your life," so he was not serious about robbing him. You figure it out, in the answer, and take home the goodies. t 4 Shelt( County Jot ,nal Thursday, November 0 By ROBERT C. CUMMINGS Working wives and others who hire a "cleaning woman" once a week may be paying payroll taxes the same as other employers one of these days. The House Labor Committee headed by Charles R. Savage (D.Sbelton) is now considering legislation which would provide workmen's compensation and household tax would reach everybody. The Senate Transportation Committee, meanwhile, is continuing to work on variations of a "veto-proof" bill combining transportation and highway construction funding in a single measure which was proposed in last September's session. "Lost" Bill Stays Lost unemployment compensation No effort will be made to coverage for domestic workers, revive the liquor legislation which Based oa U.S• census fi~ures, ~,, ~,, ~ ~ ..... it is estimated that some~ 1'5,000 was lost last May between the in this state are employed House and Senate after it had full-time in domestic work• A passed the House• major share of these are hired through agencies and work in a different household each day of the week. It is planned in these cases to have the taxes collected from the agencies. Some Questions Remain Collecting payroll taxes on those who work similar schedules but independently will be more complicated, but the committee is working on it. No draft has been completed in bill form yet. The committee still hasn't determined the minimum wage on which taxes would be assessed. The measure may be ready for submission to the Legislature when it convenes next January. But because of its controversial nature, it may be held over for consideration by the 1977 Legislature. Other Taxes Loom A household tax is another possibility, and this conceivably might be considered in January. Suggested by the Association of Washington Counties as an alternative to the motor vehicle excise tax for funding public transportation, which was vetoed, it is one of four proposals under consideration by a Citizens' advisory Committee on Transportation Funding. The citizens' group is assisting Transportation and Utilities Committees of the two legislative houses in solution of the overall transportation problem. Committee staff members estimate a household tax of $14 to $17 a year would be required to raise an amount equal to what the vetoed motor vehicle excise tax would have brought in. In the case of renters, the tax would be assessed against landlords, who would collect it from their tenants. The proposal would have permitted theaters which provide live dramatic entertainment or musical productions to sell cocktails and other hard liquor to their patrons. It was tacked onto the omnibus liquor bill, SB 2423, in the form of an amendment, and sent back to the Senate for concurrence. But somewhere in the engrossing process, the amendment was "lost." It never reached the Senate and nobody would admit having seen it after it left the House. Efforts to revive it were attempted since, but the House Commerce Committee has instructed its staff to research the issue further, a task which won't be completed before the 1976 session convenes. Editor, The Journal: 1 am doing some research on river otters in Western Washington and am in need of your help. I would appreciate space in your newspaper to reach persons who may have seen otters as well as to inform others of the otter's presence and habits in hopes that more of these fantastic animals will be seen and appreciated. There is a rather healthy population of otters in your area and a good chance that your readers might see one. A unique aspect of otters in this area is that they are marine-going and it is this use of the marine environment which intrigues me most and is a major emphasis of my research. Often confused with the "true" sea otter (Enhydra lutris) of the outer coast, the river or land otter might be seen in a stream, lake or swimming along the marine shoreline. "Our" river otter (Lutra canadensis) is the same species which occurs throughout much of the U.S. and Canada in freshwater habitat. Here and in other coastal regions it has taken to the sea, but to a degree not quite as complete as its larger relative, the sea otter or other marine mammals such as the seals. I suspect that the physiological and behavioral adaptations to life in the marine environment made by the river otters approach those of the sea otter in its successful adaptation to marine life. These adaptations to the marine situation might include: a larger body size to deal with temperature stress; larger or modified kidneys to deal with salt; a greater degree of gregariousness and sociability as seen in sea otters. This last category is perhaps the most fascinating since we see the possibility of a species evolving different behavioral traits according to its physical Compulsory Insurance Eyed environment. A H o u s e F i n a n c i a I Sea otters are quite "social" Institutions subcommittee has 'ins observations of a, many as decided to drop consi~ration of, 70-100 male sea otters,hatfled out HB 648, which would require a together on Amchitka Island person to prove financial responsibility in order to qualify for a driver's license. But the subcommittee is still pursuing the issue, from another approach. Realizing it would be as hard to spot an uninsured motorist in this manner as it is to detect unlicensed drivers, the subcommittee plans instead to make proof of financial responsibility a prerequisite to obtaining a motor vehicle license. ~~~~~~~~l~~~~~~~~~~ll~~~~l~~~~ll~~~l~~~~~~~~~~l~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~l~~l~~~~~~~~~~~l~~~~~~~~~~ll~~~l~~~~~~~~l~~~~~~l~~~ll~~~l~ Mack McGinnis' ~~~~l~~ll~~lM~l~~~~l~~~~u~~~~~~~~~~~~~~l~~~~~~l~~~~~~~~l~~lll~l~~~l~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~l~~~~~~~~~~l~~~~Ml~~~~l Or Maybe a Head Tax Three other alternate proposals have been offered to the legislative committees by their staffs. These include a payroll tax on private business at the rate of O.ll percent; a business and occupation surtax of 5.5 percent, and an employee head tax of $13 a year. Jack Rogers, executive secretary of the Association of Washington Counties, said leaving Fran Weiley caught it on one of those TV shows. A widely known author was being interviewed on the expertise required for his craft. • • ~,, Then he was asked, "What is the most lucrative kind of wnttug today. "Ransom note,," came the quick reply. (Alex Thien in Milwaukee Sentinel) Of course computers work faster than humans - they don't have to stop and answer the telephone. (Aaron Gold in Chicago Tribune) About the only thing that movies leave to the imagination these days is the plot. (Gene Brown in Danbury News-Times) The trouble with Congress today is that they just don't want to get involved• (Gene Brown in Danbury News-Times) David Frye said he had this terrible nightmare the other night. He dreamed he was only seconds away from death and Richard Nixon's entire life flashed before his eyes. (Alex Thien in Milwaukee Sentinel) A Charleston, S.C. accountant who arrived at the office with his arm in bandages explained he had bought a new hairpiece and worn it home. His wife recognized him immediately, but their German shepherd didn't. (Red O'Donnell in Nashville Banner) Phone 426-4412 Mailing Address: Box 430, Shelton, Wa. 98584 Published at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Mason County, Washington 98584, weekly. Second-class postage paid at Shelton, Washington. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $6.00 per year in Mason County, in advance -- Outside Mason County $7.50 out governmental employees ............. wouldn't be equitable, hul a EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ...................... Henry G. Gay indicate. In contrast male river otters in freshwater areas are quite solitary and seem to establish territorial boundaries. Family groups of 3-5 otters are often seen; however, in the San Juan Islands observations of as many as 12 individuals in a group indicate a more complex social situation than a single family group. In this area river otters use both fresh and salt water and should, therefore, reflect an intermediate degree of adaptation to the sea. They inhabit lakes, streams and the salt water, but seem to restrict their movements in the marine areas to small bays which offer a stream refuge. Feeding forays are made into the salt water, perhaps only at high tide and often at night, where prey includes flounders, sculpins, sand fleas, and an occasional duck. Back in the freshwater, otters do prey on spawning salmon and steelhead, but the favorite food item by far is the crayfish. Their fish eating ways often get them in trouble with fishermen and hatchery personnel, but the esthetic value of these fun-loving, graceful aquatic mammals to others must far outweigh any damage they inflict on a few fish. The otter population in this area is serving man in ways other than for entertainment, however. The impact of industrial developments such as Trident, increasing possibilities of oil spills and the effects of organochlorine pollutants (DDT and PCB's) and heavy metals all loom as threats to marine mammal populations and to man. A determination of the present status of otter populations and continued study of these and other marine mammals will allow us to monitor changes brought about by man. Otter populations will reflect the detrimental effects of pollutants and habitat deterioration and can be used as a warning signal if we are attentive. Investigators have already indicated the near extinction of otters in most of Europe, blaming industrial pollution and habitat destruction. We still have time left and should, therefore, carefully consider all our options before approving any developments which affect shorelines and our water resources. There is a short trapping 27 1975 r I ' '~ , t[ ' \ \' 1 / season in Western Washington during the winter, when some 500 otters are taken annually for their fine fur. It is from the carcasses obtained from the trappers that much information concerning physical adaptations, reproductive status and general health of the population is procured. Trappers also provide much valuable information concerning the ways of otters since one must know an animal well in order to catch it in its own environment. For a more complete understanding of the otter population in this now needed are which your readers Any sightings can be sent to me. with specific any sighting will request. Questions, information from: College Seattle, Phone: Editor, The Journal: To answer the lady from Dakota, complaining of having to wait one hour at the old Shelton General Hospital in 1968 for a doctor, while he had finally found some time to eat. We tend to forget that these men are also human, as we are supposed to be, and they cannot be expected to be constantly working 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When the day off, they town in order to get J There were doctors in care for our As the gen~ Shelton said be an observer at the a time. ] Editor, The Journal: Volunteer firefighters are needed throughout Fire Protection District 5. District 5 is presently a epting applications at each of the n!nestations in the distHcU' St~tl6n~f', ~yn; Station 2, Victor; Station 3, Mason-Benson Lakes; Station 4, Lake Limerick; Station 5, Timberlakes; Station 6, Deer Creek; Station 7, Spencer Lake; Station 8, west side of Mason Lake; and Station 9, Hartstene Pointe. The membership of the district is presently running about 70 volunteers. These volunteers are your friends and neighbors who put in many hours and much effort to serve you. Your participation and the participation of others would mean less burdens for a few and would mean more available personnel at all hems. We have particular problems during the day and Friday and Saturday evenings and on weekends during the summer months• We need people who are interested in firefighting and people who are interested in emergency medical and ambulance service as well as those who might wish to participate in a "support" capacity. Membership is open to men and women 16 years or older• We accept a limited number younger than 16 as apprentice flrefighters, subject to some restrictions• Anyone wishing to be considered as a be at any station in l 7 p.m. any which is our every week. If yotl serious, come in;" these are don't just sit around. Don't caU on the except for needing District 5, call Shelton (426) 426- 1 232. F¢ information call 426-3060. Richard A.] Post All3 Editor, The Journal: ! have sent message to Bonker: Our forefathers independence without represe people of representation in I hope you are not to tax the to pay the New York City. clen WIS By KARL L. MONROE The Collinsville (Ill.) Herald It was probably a myth, but the editor grew up witl the story that the ancient timeless wisdom, paid the doctor regularly well, but were entitled to services for nothing ill. Not very practical, perhaps, but there delightfully logical equity in the idea. Apply this to Congress with a twist• Congressmen only so long as the revenue which is what a well-run system does? No kitty, no pay for the Congressman. It seems that Congressmen would pay more attention to they blithely vote for. Of course, this is all dreaming, just as tile Chinese medical system was probably a my th. Also just dreaming is Rep. Jerry Litton of has introduced a bill to repeal the automatic Congressmen. Litton voted against the will give the raise back, but he is whistling the remainder of the Congressmen, having constituents by passing it, would throw back triggered the wrath• Sounding surprisingly like the ancient dec only as long as he kept them well, Congressmen's salaries should go up only if down, should go down if inflation goes up. i