The Mail-Journal, Volume 9, Number 46, Milford, Kosciusko County, 13 December 1972 — Page 4

JTb-C PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY The Milferd Mail (EsL 1888) Syracuee-Wawasee Journal (EsL 1907) Consolidated Into The Mail-Journal Feb. 15, 1962 DEMOCRATIC ARCHIBALD E. BAUMGARTNER, Editor and Publisher DELLA BAUMGARTNER, Business Manager Box 8 Syracuse, Ind., — 46567

On Christmas day This Christmas Season, 1972, the mystery and magic of Christmas night are very real as hundreds of millions of people in small countries and great nations across the breadth of the world join hands in the eternal wish of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. In this day of instant communications, flashing in words and pictures the sometimes confusing kaleidoscope of world events, it seems appropriate to give thanks for one gift that has preserved the humanity and the hard-won, accumulated knowledge of man through thousands of years — the gift of the written word. In countless languages, the written word has spanned the whole surface of the Earth making knowledge of God and the teachings of Christ life-long, everyday companions of men and women everywhere. Through the written word

Congressional travel club

The nation’s most exclusive travel dub, Congress, is off on its annual round of international junkets to broaden its collective mind — complete with wives, girl friends and anyone else not opposed to traveling at public expense. Not many Congressmen can resist the lure of foreign travel, especially if they don’t have to pay for it, account for the money they spend, justify the jaunts, or report what they learned. Last year more than half the members of Congress went abroad, leaving a tab for the public in excess of sl.l billion. That was 10 per cent over the previous high set in 1968. What’s the public getting for all this? Well, a number of “lame ducks” who won’t be in Congress when it convenes in January have arranged some daborate last flings for themselves through several European countries. And members of the House Judiciary Committee are going to the Intergovernmental Conference on

Know Your Indiana Law By JOHN J. DILLON Attorney at Law

Thia is a public service article explaining provisions of Indiana law in general terms.

'Disability of the President'

The United States Constitution as originally adopted provided in Article II that the Vice-President would assume the duties of the Presidency if the President became unable to serve. Unfortunately the Constitution was vague as to just how it would be determined that the President was suffering such a disability or sickness that he could not discharge his duties, and how and under what conditions a VicePresident could assume the office as suggested by the Constitution. Because many of our governmental leaders were fearful that the country might be paralyzed because of the inability of a sick President to discharge his duties the impetus was provided for the adoption of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This Amendment makes specific provision for the Vice-President to assume the presidential duties as acting President under certain conditions, and makes provisions for the duly elected President to regain his position when the disability is removed. This Amendment provides that the President may notify the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in writing that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office and thereupon his duties can be assumed by the Vice-President as acting President. If the President’s disability is such that he cannot notify these congressional officers, then the Vice-President

EDITORIALS

and a majority of the principal officers of the executive department can notify the President pro tempore and the Speaker of the House that the President is unable to discharge his duties and the Vice-President can immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as acting President. Whenever the President transmits to the same congressional officers that the disability no longer exists and he is capable of resuming his duties the President shall have the power to resume his duties unless the Vice-President and a majority of the principal officers of the executive department state in a written declaration that the President is in fact still disabled and unable to assume the powers of the Presidency. At that point Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within 48 hours, and if Congress determines by twothirds vote of both houses, that the President is unable to discharge his duties, then the Vice-President shall continue to serve as acting President. By this Amendment to our Constitution we now have a specific method by which a VicePresident may become acting President during the disability of the President. This Amendment also provided for the filling of the office of Vice-President in the event of death or resignation of the President. Under the 25th Amendment whenever there is a vacancy in the office of VicePresident, the President can

all men know the story of Christmas. These words endure to be read and reread again and again. How else could the story of Tiny Tim and the name of Charles Dickens have become synonymous with the Spirit of Christmas? Countless millions of children have listened in breathless wonder as their parents read the fantasy-conjuring words of “The Night Before Christmas” —the reindeer, the fur-trimmed red suit and the jolly cry of, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!” These words, written in 1823 by an American minister and poet, Clement C. Moore, are here today as part of the living legend of Christmas. So, let’s give thanks for the written word. Its power has preserved the Spirit of Christmas, and its wisdom may yet save mankind from his own folly.

European Migration in Geneva, with some planning “side trips” to Italy, Austria, London and Paris — all in search of information about migration, no doubt. But the grand prize this year for imaginative junketing must go to the House Public Works Committee which will study several issues in Western Europe, then rendezvous in Moscow with other Congressmen who have been traveling through the Far East. There’s nothing particularly wrong with any of this if Congressmen are getting anything out of it besides some good food and more home movies. But that’s the problem, there’s no way to find out. Congress, if it wants to make any pretense of being accountable, ought to require committees to justify their trips, itemize expenses, and document findings in line with the purpose of the trips. But that’s kind of thing that can ruin a good vacation. — (Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette)

nominate a Vice-President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress. This provision of the Amendment makes it now possible for the first time in our history to have a VicePresident available when the Chief Executive has been taken from office by death. Copyright 1972 by John J. Dillon. JOlLotsii and Social Security Q — Can a person who did not enroll in the medical insurance part of Medicare during his four opportunities now enroll in the insurance? A — Beginning January 1 and ending March 31 of any year a person can enroll in the supplementary medical insurance by agreeing to pay a premium that is higher than if they had filed at age 65. q — What was the first month the 20 per cent benefit increase was effective? A — September was the effective month of the increase; the check received October 3 included the increase. There will be no retroactive payment on this increase. q — Will all widows and widowers be eligible for 100 per cent of their spouse's benefit? A — No. Widows and widowers who begin receiving benefits on or after the month they reach age 65 and whose deceased spouse did not receive benefits before age 65 will be eligible for 100 per cent of their spouse’s benefit. Q — Are prescription drugs covered under the new Medicare Amendments? A —Prescription drugs are still not covered under Medicare.

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—Special Report from Washington — MURDERDER OR MADMAN? By Jack Anderson 1972 Pulitzer Prize Winner for National Reporting (Copyright, 1972, by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.)

WASHINGTON - Nearly five years after the tragic My Lai massacre, our military judicial system is still agonizing over the fate of Lt. William Calley. He is the only man the military has convicted for the slaughter of villagers at My Lai in March of 1968. Lieutenant Calley’s sentence to life imprisonment has already been reduced to 20 years and his defense attorneys are now arguing in court that the conviction should be overturned entirely. They are saying that the Vietnamese villagers slain were “fair game,” that Calley did not know they were noncombatants. Lost in all the legal maneuvering is the possibility that Calley may have been mentally disturbed on the day of the killings. Calley has steadfastly refused to consider an insanity plea and government psychiatrists who examined him have called him normal. Yet two psychologists, working independently, have tested Calley. Their findings—which are remarkably similar—raise serious questions about the state of Calley's mind on the day of the killings. We have obtained the confidential results of Calley’s psychological tests. These suppressed documents appar-

ently will never be presented as evidence to a military jury. Dr. Eugene Stammeyer of Washington, D.C., found, after testing Calley, that the lieutenant had “a potential for anxiety attacks of near panic proportions when under, limited stress.” Dr. Stammeyer wrote that it would be difficult to describe Calley’s exact condition on the day of the massacre, but added: “it is improbable that Lt. Calley was able to maintain...objective, rational control, being surrounded with horror, cruelty and violent death.” Professor Arthur Weider of New York also tested Calley and concluded: “The possibility of a psychotic or prepsychotic condition must be considered.... This patient’s test results are suggestive of a serious psychotic condition.” Confronted with these findings, Calley’s chief counsel, dignified old George Latimer, considered an insanity defense. Would Calley want to risk being branded a murderer or a madman? The lieutenant and Latimer decided irrevocably against Claiming insanity. KISSINGER’S PLAN Henry Kissinger, the White House foreign policy expert, has secretly started work on a plan for settling the Middle

Congressional Corner — Earl Landgrebe Reports From Washington

Landgrebe to seek erosion legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Earl F. Landgrebe has called upon the Department of the Interior to prepare legislative proposals to control the erosion of northern Indiana homes and property by the waters of Lake Michigan. In a hand delivered letter to the Secretary of the Interior, Rogers C. B. Morton, Landgrebe cited the continuing threat posed by the erosion problem and asked that proposals and necessary funding by drafted which he could introduce into the 93rd Congress to obtain emergency or interim aid.

Plan for medical expenses WEST LAFAYETTE - The unexpected can happen — even unexpected illness. And because that can add up to many dollars and cents, every family should have a plan for both large and small medical costs. In fact, medical expenses should be part of every family’s regular budget, says Dr. Jan Armstrong, extension consumer marketing specialist at Purdue university. “Both routine, predictable costs and large, major costs should be planned for,” she adds. “When making a plan for possible medical expenses,” Dr. Armstrong notes, “keep in mind that there are two parts to such a plan.” The first part is for routine expenses. “Make a place in the budget for routine health care expenses,” the consumer marketing specialist suggests. Out of this section of the budget you should pay routine costs such as the costs of regular check-ups, inoculations, or visits to the doctor for treatment of minor illnesses, Dr. Armstrong says. In <

East crisis. The key Co his plan is to work out a deal with the Kremlin to reduce tensions and encourage both sides to negotiate. President Nixon will take up the plan with Soviet party chief Leonid Brezhnev next year—at a White House summit meeting. It will take Soviet intervention, in Kissinger’s view, to keep the Syrians from setting off the powder keg. Secret reports from Damascus have warned for many months that Syria’s president, Hafez al-Assad, has been militant in his private conversations. One CIA account says that Assad told his subordinates that the Syrians will fight no matter whether Egypt or Israel starts it. The Syrian army chief, Gen. Mustafa Talas, is also quoted in the secret reports as telling his military colleagues tersely, “There is no other choice. We must fight and we will fight.” General Talas acknowledged, “All the Arabs combined are weaker than Israel.” But he vowed the Syrians would fight anyway, “if not to gain a victory, at least to keep the war case hot between Syria and Israel.” General Talas contended that, if the Arabs had continued to fight Israel after their defeats in 1948, 1956 and 1967, rather than turn their backs, many world leaders might have changed their policies toward the ArabIsraeli dispute. The Soviets, meanwhile, have extended their influence with Syria by increasing military shipments. Kissinger is counting on them to check-rein the Syrians. But full scale fighting is still very much a possibility in the Middle East. -AROUND THE U.S.NUDE KlSSlNGEß—Washington is all aflutter over

The .Congressman said the army corps of engineers is currently beginning 2 18 month studies to determine other action that can be taken. The Landgrebe legislation would attempt to provide some interim solutions until those studies are completed. Landgrebe also said that he is seeking the support of the rest of the Indiana congressional delegation. A second letter from the delegation has been drafted and is currently being circulated for signatures. Landgrebe’s office said that that letter should be completed and sent later this

addition, she adds, this portion of die budget should include an emergency fund for unexpected expenses that can’t be met by either insurance or the regular budget. “The second part of your health care expense plan is a health insurance program,” the specialist points out. “There are many different policies which vary widely in the benefits they offer; you must select the one that best fits your family and its resources.” Before you buy a health insurance policy, be sure you understand what it covers — and what it doesn’t cover, Dr. Armstrong warns. And if you already have health insurance, she suggests you get out your policy and brush up on these points, too. Any questions? “Let your insurance representative answer questions about an individual or family health insurance policy,” she says, adding, “An employer or union officer should be able to answer questions about a group policy.” WATCH FOR ICE AT INTERSECTIONS Be on the lookout for icy spots at intersections, warns the Chicago Motor Club-AAA. In wintry weather, these spots form at intersections, making them doubly dangerous.

“Harvard Lampoon’s” fulllength, fold-out picture of what looks like Henry Kissinger—in the nude. The picture is not of Kissinger, of course, but the resemblance is so close it has turned an otherwise ho-hum parody into a spectacular best seller. Harvard’s undergraduate editors expect to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars on the issue. The trouble is: The Harvard Lampoon is nonprofit. The students can’t pocket the money they make. It’s Harvard University that’s cashing in on “Kissinger’s” naked body. EYES RIGHT—The Marine’s top brass have spread the word that they want more pictures of women in the ranks. A recent directive makes it mandatory for women NCOs to submit pictures with each promotion from lance corporal to master sergeant. The pictures will be used to help determine which young lady gets a top secretarial job. The Marines explain hastily that their top brass are not looking for knockouts as secretaries. The brass, we’re told, just want to give the more hefty women NCOs an incentive to trim their waistlines. ILLEGAL DRAFT?—Disturbing reports from Bethel, Alaska, indicate that the National Guard may be illegally drafting Eskimos into its ranks. Local recruiters, we’ve learned, have compiled a list of young Eskimos “eligible” for .the Guard. The recruiters, we’re told, have flown several Eskimos to Bethel, examined them and signed them into the Guard without, first informing the recruits that the Guard can only accept volunteers. Affidavits have been filed with Alaska Legal Services protesting the practice.