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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
December 14, 1978     Shelton Mason County Journal
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December 14, 1978
 
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Jour00J:l, pf OPINIOI00. Choosing the speaker Those dedicated public servants you elected to tile Washington State House of Representatives last month have a problem. Since you, in all your infinite ignorance, elected 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans, they are faced with the awesome task of selecting a Speaker of the House on other than a party basis. Like little black sheep who have lost their way, they are wandering aimlessly through fields of alternatives as the January session draws nearer. The solution that seems to be drawing the most support calls for the hiring of an outsider to preside over the representatives' compound in the marble zoo. By an outsider, of course, they mean someone who has been so corrupted by the political process that he will be acceptable to both parties. Even in the hothouse atmosphere of Olympia, there is not enough time in a single session to turn a bright, competent parliamentarian into a House speaker. There is also the matter of compensation. It makes no sense to give taxpayers' money to a genuine outsider when there are party faithful of both persuasions who are not yet on the public teat• Legislative expenses, after all, did not grow from $3.5 million during the 1965-67 biennium to $25.7 million in 1975-77 through the hiring of outsiders. From the tables down at Tyee, to the place where Dizy dwells, to the dear old Greenwood bar we know so well, the fraternity comes first. What is needed, then, is an outsider who is so far inside that he will not frighten the assembled Whiffenpoofs with references to the public interest or statesmanship. • The choice is so obvious if it were a beer stein it would wet your nose. The compromise speaker should be a lobbyist. What could be fairer? Special interests have bought and paid for the representatives. Their lobbyists know the system. And, above all, they are faithful to the party. Both parties. Like dogs in heat, they put out for all comers. If the Democrats had been in the majority, John Bagnariol would have been the speaker. If the Republicans had prevailed, Duane Berentson would have wielded the gavel. A look at the list of special-interest contributors to these two leaders shows a remarkable similarity. First Associates, the slush fund that Dexter Horton built, is on both lists. So is Rainier Bank. And Pacific Bank. And the catch-all WASHBANKPAC. /Realtors were equally generous, as were the .,tte dentists'i+dJte builders. ; ..... : ,++ The Washington Jockey Club bet on both horses, and Weyerhauser and Boeing patted both on the head with banknotes. The Fair Competition Council, which is the nom de obfuscation of the power and gas companies, energized the campaign kitties of each without regard to sex, race, color, creed, height, weight, or present condition of servitude. It is obvious that a representative of one of these public-spirited organizations should serve as the next speaker of the House. The sooner he is picked, the better. As our contribution to good government, we suggest the following procedure for picking the winner. Lobbyists and legislators will gather at the Tyee at 6 p.m. At 4 a.m. the following morning, a vote will be tallied, with each lobbyist receiving one vote for every round of drinks he has bought, one vote for every poker hand he has lost, and one vote for every dollar contributed to Bagnariol and Berentson. No fuss. No muss. The winner takes all. Baa, baa, baa. uMuMMWIlluMulMM Mack McGinnis' Comedy0000Comment uu A lady says that some time ago she heard her eight-year-old son discussing a certain political race with one of his buddies. "Right now it's so close it looks like a throwup," alleged one of the tykes. (Ashley Cooper in Charlestown, S.C. News and Courier) Any renter who has run into problems in seeking a return of a cleaning deposit for an apartment must have found a hero in Terry Sundkvist. Sundkvist had plunked down a $50 deposit on renting a place in Sacramento, California, and then asked for its return when he moved out, leaving the rental in a neat and clean condition. He was told in so many words by the manager to go to Helen Hunt for it. Sundkvist, it turns out, was a law student, and, well, he needed the practice. So he filed suit in small claims court and won a judgment of $50 plus $200 in punitive damages. Management of the apartment complex still was unmoved and unpaying. Sundkvist continued to take legal steps and the firm that owned the units and its attorney continued to ignore them. Then the owners attempted to sell the property and ran into a little problem. Sundkvist has clouded the title and has refused their offer of $10,000 to relinquish his interest. it seems the once frustrated renter is waiting for the A gasp of horror By JOHN GAAR Well, we've had our ritualistic and delicious gasp of horror over the cult business in Guyana. It's always refreshing to find fault. In fact Ambrose Bierce decided that people attend church to hear their neighbor "roasted to a nut-brown discomforture." Soon you can read scholarly explanations about "why they did it." For those of you unable to wait there are numerous instant experts who will provide "boned wisdom for weak teeth." Some legislator will introduce legislation outlawing cults - that's as safe as predicting Russia will continue to produce refugees. If there be a mystery about the Jim Jones cult it's not "how could they do it?" but rather, how we can do it. Understand, every group called "they" is also a group called "we." And that "we" is you and I. So it's a case of perspective and who makes the definition. The We's of this world have an equally horrifying record. We, as Christians, declared lending money for interest was usury. We forced the Jews to become our moneylenders and then reviled them. We also put them into ghettos because they engaged in such reprehensible acts which, incidentally, furthered 9ur financial ends. We, as Christians or !:Moslems or Jews, have declared holy wars and joyously slaughtered our fellow men whom we called "they." We've blessed and glorified war and C__apitol00Dome: death. We've never learnt such acts only bring suffering. In his endless dissections of World War II, German novelist Hans Helmut Kirst described our attitude perfectly. "Give people a chance to ride rough-shod over other people or lead them up the garden path, and most of them will, if it's required or expected of them. If you go one better, and persuade them that they're doing it for the sake of an ideal - patriotism, liberty, it doesn't matter what - then they'll really put their backs into it." The sardonic science fiction writer Robert Sheckley has a BEM (bug-eyed monster) named Ze Kraggash lecture us with a similar view. "I have observed ... that men will give their bodies to any rogue who asks, and will enslave their minds to the first voice that commands them to obey. This is why the vast majority of men cannot keep even their natural birthright of a mind and body, but choose instead to rid themselves of those embarrassing emblems of freedom." The point is: all of us can and often do become members of a cult. We don't always pay the same price. At least one thing can be said for the cult members: they had a belief for which they were willing to die. That's a helluva lot more than most of us have. In a quiet moment, weighing everything, ask yourself what you'd be willing to die for. I .think you'll find most ,of us value our existence more than truth, we leave drastic tests for the fanatics. Legislators study mandatory auto checks By ROBERT C. CUMMINGS The problem of reducing air pollutants caused by motor vehicle exhaust emissions continues to perplex the House Ecology Committee as the 1979 legislative session draws near. Committee members have found it easy enough to draft strict laws on the subject, but enforcement is something else. Consequently, a measure which would require mandatory inspection of the exhaust systems of all vehicles is getting a comprehensive working over. An Elusive Target The goal is to resolve both problems in a manner which will satisfy the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The committee has heard testimony from the state Department of Transportation on the amount of federal highway funds which will be withheld if the state fails to comply with the EPA requirements. restrict the provisions to urban areas such as Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane. There would be provisions for extending it to other areas if air pollutants rose above a specified level. Application of the act would be determined by the address shown on the motor vehicle license. Admittedly this method could be subject to deception, but many lawmakers are. resigned to the fact that any method will pose enforcement problems. The Future Arrives Early A glimpse of what can be expected as routine in the next legislative session with a 49-49 tie vote in House was provided at a committee meeting here. The House Parks and Recreation Committee had two bills on its agenda for a meeting I t has received 111 Renters hero recommendations from the Puget I Sound Council of Governments © 78 Ht Ittw0s : for meeting requirements of the act. It has been told by the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control ::::'';':: Agency and Department of Ecology of actions taken, or ..... '::: being prepared, to implement the act in the central Puget Sound 'iiiiii ................. and Spokane area, and statewide. And it has received from representatives of the federal Environmental Protection Agency an outline of the actions which have been taken by other states to implement the act. Localization Pondered While it is presumed all new  • cars are or will be* equipped to burn unleaded gasoline, some ...... committee members want to minimize the impact that ..... restrictive legislation might have .... :::,' ...... on the many older models still in use. owners to clean tip their act. A proposed amendment to a mandatory inspection bill now front Lapeer C'ottnly Press under consideration would Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, December 14, 1978 earlier this month, and the Rules Committee scheduled the session for 8:30 a.m. But Margaret Hurley (D., Spokane), who heads the committee had to attend a national meeting the preceding day, so couldn't get to her own committee in time. That resulted in just four members being present - two Democrats and two Republicans. And you guessed it, they divided evenly along party lines. Not Even a Partisan Issue Strangely, neither of the measures scheduled for action involves partisan issues. One would restructure the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, which originally was created by an initiative. The other would instruct the IAC to give a high priority to urban parks. Imagine what may happen when anything with a slight aroma of political philosophy bobs up next session, with all committees split evenly politically. Very few measures may ever get out of committee to test the even division of party members on the floor of the House. The Parks Committee bills weren't the only ones to be stranded for lack' of action, although political divisions weren't present elsewhere. The House Commerce Committee had twenty-five bills on its agenda, including six dealing with liquor, a state lottery bill, and numerous regulatory measures. It looked like it would be a long day. But the committee completed all of its business in less than fifteen minutes. 4 .... . ", ,,, -"+ ' :, .... , ,, .............. d .....  jl.., ,,. ____ II__. I ...... " Y/F';,+' __, , + (,lbll OUT Till 00055|. / Editor, The Journal: I would like to extend my gratitude to the considerate soul who disposed of his lunch in Evergreen Square (including two glass bottles). It is a great thing to have a parking facility right downtown. It makes for easy access to local shops. It's .just too bad abuse it. My thanks to considerate soul, are, for malcmg my two fiat tires. P.S. - Hope youn go at once. Disparaging Editor, The Journal: It was extremely depressing to read the article about Crystal Kroum by Steve Patch last week with all the disparaging remarks about the care of the patients at Fir Lane, their age, mental capacities, and their physical condition. I feel sorry about the terrible experiences that Crystal and her family have to endure, and I don't want to minimize her plight in the least, but I do think that the article about her could have been written without mentioning the other patients, or the nursing staff unless something pleasant and encouraging could have been said. I have a mother living out there who is 85 years old. She has been out there for a very long time, and I have nothing but the highest praise for the care and understanding she has received from all who work there. They are indeed a caring and compassionate group of people who are well trained, overworked, underpaid and for most of the time, unappreciated. I thank God for every one of them. They give me peace of mind that no one else can, for I know that when my mother has a dizzy spell and falls and breaks a bone or cuts or bruises herself, that they go into action and get her begin a thorough assess the damage. care for her, a hospital if" her doctor, or whatever be done with care Uncaring? No, not Steve Patch has a about writing articles make a name for may not be the name he he saddens and who read his artides. to learn the art of facts, and making it without belittling The old adage "If you something nice about don't say anything at a pretty good rule Editor, The Journal: Your paper better serve the community with0 irresponsible, babbling (give or take a thirty-year-old Steve can't even use age as George We all die Editor, The Journal: How can a reporter who in writing a story about our young resident, Crystal Kroum at Fir Lane, be so uncouth as to refer to our elderly residents as "babbling 90 year olds" or "the bleating of an old woman" or "the drone of unending wah walls?" Does he have no compassion for our elderly who have through no fault of their own, suffered CVA's organic brain syndrome or a multitude of other ailments that take their toll of the human body? To us who work at Fir Lane these people are very important human beings. They deserve the highest respect, having been hard working independent people who have raised families served their communities and been productive citizens. We resent the statements. Mr. Patch, I hope there is someone around to care for you when your body eventually wears o.ut. And I assure you it will. We all have one thing in ,• i i common, "we die." Oh, yes, one more are in the process second bake sale, the raised $125. The to be spent on for our residents who families. Does this like callous staff?. Staff Co Editor, The Journal: 1 appreciate the Journal last week. me with an opt express my vie problems of the do, however, .wish the people I live "bunch of olds." I hdpe this confusion that maYl caused by this Temporarily Editor, The Journal: l've lived in Shelton the past few years, and Steve Patch's insensitivity as a reporter never ceases to amaze me. I am refering to his comment in the article on Crystal Kroum in the December 7 edition of the Journal. He refers to the older residents of Fir Lane Terrace as a "bunch of babbling ninety year olds." I have no quarrel with the young lady, Crystal Kroum, who is the subject of this article. I'm quite familiar with fight for dignity for people. She is a woman, and I admire I am also oratory about the that Mr. Patch am her forensiCS quoting the last are temporarily Patch would remember tha "temporarily youalolal 0 Founded 1886 by Grant C. Angle Mailing Address: Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ..................... Member of National Editorial Association Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $8.00 per year in Mason $10.00 per year in State of Washington $15.00 per yea Published at 227 West Cota Street, She!ton, MasOn Washington 98584, weekly. , Second.class postage paid at Shelton, Washing