The Independent-News, Volume 106, Number 36, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 12 February 1981 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - FEBRUARY 12. 1981

EDITORIALS

GOING UP AGAIN! The I S. Postal Service is going to lake a page out of a telephone company's advertising jingle and “reach out and touch somebody”. They are going to reach out and touch everybody that uses the mail service and that is just about everybody period. This may happen real soon and without much fanfare. The amount of increase isn’t definate just yet, but first class raises are expected to be three or four cents, to 18 or 19 cents for the first ounce despite the fact that an increase of five cents was asked for. It is stated that every cent increase on first class mail raises approximately S6OO million. Increases in other classes are not known, but it is known that increases across the board may be the beginning of the end for some borderline businesses who depend heavily on the mail service. The percentage of increase in other classes comes without much fanfare and certainly second class rates have increased time after time without the public’s knowledge, in fact almost without the second class mailers knowledge in many cases before it happens. This has been the one factor that has signaled the end of some magazines and newspapers over the years. About the only thing the Postal Service doesn’t seem to increase is common sense and practicality, especially in the smaller rural areas. We “enjoyed” the benefits of some of their modernized changes already just on a minor basis and if this is a preview of what is to come, especially if and when the ridiculous nine digit zip code goes into effect, we don’t like what we see. For example, when sending out our January monthly statements, all of a sudden our post office employees couldn’t find some businesses that have been in the same place on the Walkerton routes for a long time. Always before they were able to find them but alas, we had no less than five pieces of mail going to Walkerton rural routes returned because without the proper box number they weren’t able to find them. This is progress? We need and depend on the Postal Service as do a lot of other business as well as individuals. However, every time they take another “step forward” we seem to slip another step backward. It’s time that the dollars and cents not be increased as much as the common sense! REPORTS FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES We have been and are continuing to for some time ahead, given to you the weekly columns and news releases offered to us by several of our respresentatives in the various governmental bodies. We have been getting regular releases from State Senator V. Richard Miller and Rep. Ed Cook, of the Indiana Legislature. This week we have an article by Rep. Richard Mangus concerning his main committee responsibility, the very tough and touchy redistricting following the 1980 census information recently released. Also this week we have the first weekly column sent out by Representative John Hiler on a national level. We feel these columns are newsworthy, especially in this time when so much emphasis is being put on finances on all levels and the many ways this will affect us all. We might add however, that these are the views of the authors of the columns and not necessarily the policy or views of this newspaper. We are trying to assist our elected officials in getting the word out and they do appreciate your response and opinions on the various subjects. We will continue to bring these to you as long and as often as possible strictly as newsworthy items and expressions of their views on the legislation that is before the various bodies at the present time.

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There’s a cartoon circulating now in the State House which depicts me as a butcher, contemplating the slaughter of a flock of chickens, which are assumed to be members of the General Assembly. Labeled the "Apportionment Butcher Shop", the comic refers to me in my role as chairman of the House Elections and Apportionment Committee, which has the job of drawing new lines for stale legislative districts this session. While other representatives sometimes joke about the possible future shape of the districts they

Legislative Update From The Office Os Rep. Richard Mangus TENTH DISTRICT IndlaM Houm 01 R«prt<«ntithm

represent, they arc genuinely anxious about the decisions our committee must make, as they will ultimately affect citizens and their ability to influence government through their representation. In drawing the districts, we must use the new- census data and be guided bv court decisions which consider ethnic and racial balance, compactness and contiguity of districts and the one-man-onc-vutc principle • It's been a well-published fact that the U. S. Census Bureau figures show Indiana will almost

ccrkiinlv lose a congressman, and one of om I I voices in Washington. |) ( But ss hat do the figures mean |oi Si loseph (ountv ' Conforming with the statewide shift in population from urban and farm areas, our counts population du lined 2.6 percent. I hat loss means tin average House district in St Joseph (ountv should serve lour tenths of a per cent fewer citizens and the average Senate district would serve two tenths of a percent fewer St Joseph (ountv residents. In practical terms, that would mean in drawing the districts, townships in St. Joseph (ountv would simple be combined with some townships outside the countv to define boundaries of representation . Iwo major reasons can be identified lor the countv population change from 1*970 to 1980 First, it is evident that families arc smaller, with voting couples consciously deciding to have lower children In a rural arey like ours, modern farming methods mav be one reason it is no longer a matter of economic survival to have a large familv tomanage. We also conform to the general trend toward “bedroom communities' '. where workers daily commute to their employment and return to sleep in the suburbs For our area, here is what the people count" revealed: 1980 1970 %Os Township Pop. Pop. Change Greene 302 b 2’99 8.1% Liberty 2910 3222 -9.7% Lincoln 2860 2907 -|.6% While the decline in Liberty township residents is significant, it is not the biggest loss. Portage township lost 16.6 percent of its residents. The biggest growth area is Harris Township which grew from 2.860 residents to 5.723. for an 84.4 percent increase. Another "boom" township is (Tay. where the population grew 32.2 percent over the decade. Once all of these figures are certified, likely around March 15. we will use a computer to "draw the districts". A computer cannot, though, make the judgement calls which will be required for racial, ethic and political considerations. Those decisions will be made bv legislators, and will last until the 1990 federal census, when the whole process must be repeated, under the Constitution. Weekly Senate Wrap-Up From Sen. If. A. Miller The Indiana General Assemble has now completed 23 of the 61 scheduled session days. A number of important bills have moved through the committee process and are now being heard on the floor of the Senate. One of these bills which would created an industrial training program within the Indiana Department of Commerce passed the full Senate by a vote of 47-0. The aim of the bill is to make Indiana more competitive in attracting new industry and to make the state better able to expand existing industry. The bill would enable industry to train or retrain people for specific skills so they could keep up with changing technology. The bill is part of Governor Orr's jobs package. and would outline existing technical schools in its training program Another bill which was passed out of committee. S B. 108 would give tax credits to private business enterprises that employed prison inmates. The legislation is designed to aid in the rehabilitation of prisioners. who would learn job skills and responsibility as part of the work force. The families of inmates would also benefit, since they would receive most of the income derived from the program. Some Senators question that the bill would only add to unemploy-

Weekly Update From Congressman JOHN HILER

Increasing The Federal Debt Ceiling last week, the House of Representatives made it's first major vote of the new 97th Congress, a request bv President Reagan to increase the federal debt limit from $935 billion to $985 billion, which was approved. In my opinion, every time the federal government spends more than it takes in. it helps fuel inflation. Federal spending is three times higher than it was in 1970. Federal debt is four times higher. In this fiscal year, it will cost taxpavers almost $95 billion just to pav the interest on the federal debt, the third largest line item in the federal budget. In the past. 1 have strongly oppossed increases in the federal debt ceiling because they were proposed with no thought in mind of reducing federal spending and getting the budget under control. The new President and his budget director. David Stockman, have assured me that meaningful cuts in the federal budget will be proposed

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ED COOK'S

DISTRICT 18

The word "sunset" has become a familiar word in state government. but not everyone knerws the relationship and significance. Ihe performance of state agencies and boards was the subject of a law passed by the Indiana General Assembly in 1978 — thus establishing the Sunset Evaluation Committee. This committee is com posed of members of both parties from both houses of the Indiana General Assemble. There are 13 members from the House (8 Republicans and 5 Democrats) and 8 members from the Senate (5 Republicans and 3 Democrats) on the Sunset Committee. The system of checks and balances which is inherent in our government is exemplified in the Sunset Evaluation Committee — the legislative body designed to determine if the state agencies and boards are carrying out their responsibilities in the best manner ment. but supporters of the bill contend that the inmates employed would soon be out of prison and part of the job market, and the tax credit aspect of the program in effect creates jobs that would not otherwise exist. Other bills which passed the full Senate this week include: — SB 227. which would increase the penalties for ingesting and inhaling any substance which contains toluene acetone, a toxic chemical found in airplane glue. —SB 157. the Hazardous Waste Siting bill, passed the Senate 39-9. The bill now goes to the House for final legislative action. —B 44. which requires that budgets of community mental health centers be reviewed by county councils. SB 232. establishing a central official repository for criminal histors information to maintained by

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soon Unfortunately, federal spending obligations made bv the previous Congress have resulted in the need to increase the previous $935 billion ceiling. If the debt limit was not increased bv about February 18th. the federal government would not have been able to pav for further incurred obligations, possible including next month's Social Security payments. That would force those who could least afford it to pav for the excesses of the fiscally irresponsible 96th Congress and previous administration. It is my view. it was necessary to give the new Reagan Administration enough operating room to make reasoned spending cuts. I'm hopeful that the President's comprehensive economic program, which I intend to fully support, should make further debt ceiling increases unnecessary. I invite vour views. Write Congressman John Hiler. House of Representatives, Washington. DC. 20515.

Indiana House Summary

possible. Ihe purpose of the Sunset Committee is that the "sun shall set" every seven vears on state agencies and boards when they are reviewed bv the committee. A report is prepared by the Sunset Committee for recommending either termination, merger, or no changes in the state agency or board. The recommendations of the Sunset Committee do not always meet the agreement of members of the state administrative branch but. more importantly, the work and performance of various state agencies and boards arc subject to public scrutiny through the efforts of the Sunset Evaluation Committee. If you have any questions, please contact me at the Indiana House of Representatives. Stale House. Indianapolis. Indiana 46204, or tollfree at I 800 382 9842. the state police. SB— 238. which permits a trial court to use split sentences when sentencing offenders. Finally, in committee action this week. Ihe Senate Public Policy Committee approved by a vote of 8 to 0. SB 12. the lobbying reform act. This bill will be the subject of several amendments in the full Senate, and will in all likelihood be ready for final passage within the next two weeks. However, there arc four different lobby reform measures in the House, and so it is not clear at this time which version will prevail. I welcome your thoughts and opinions on bills pending before the legislature as well as ideas you have for future legislature as well as ideas you have for future legislation. You can contact me by calling the Senate’s toll free number I 800 382 9467.