4 —Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 2,-1969 From Where We Farmers Get Small Percent You know, we hear a lot these days about how much the Federal go\ernment farm programs are costing the tax payer. And we agree, a sizable figure is paid in subsidies and other programs where farm ers benefit. But we don't feel so bad about the farmers part in the tax burden after read ing just where the tax money goes as re ported in a congressional committee news letter. Where does the money go? “The first 53 cents goes into defense, including 13 cents for the Vietnam war. Veterans pro grams take a nickel. Interest on our na tional debt takes 11 cents of every tax dol lar. One penny goes for natural resources, two cents for housing and community de velopment, four cents for education, nine cents for health programs and a penny for other social services. Foreign aid costs two cents, space three cents, agriculture three cents, commerce and transportation programs get six cents.” The report adds that a look at Federal income sources reveals that individual in come tax payments make up 46 cents of the Government’s tax dollar (or $9O billion a year); corporation taxes, 19 cents; excise taxes, eight cents; social insurance taxes and contributions, 23 cents; licenses and other taxes, four cents. A Tractor Is A Thing For the farmer’s wife (we wish she would have signed her name) who takes ex ception to our editorial several weeks ago entitled “That Tractor Is A Killer' 7 , where we called a tractor a “her 77 —. No. we can’t teJl if a tractor is a male or a female. No, we weren't trying to blame all man’s prob lems on women. The tractor could well be a “bull” of a thing. We were only trying to do what little we could to get the males who read our paper and are responsible for plowing, planting and harvesting to not rip the “thing” around like he was fighting a bull but to handle his tractor safely and gently. And surely you’ll allow us men to af fectionately call our tractors “baby” once in a while. Begin With The Children One of the most insidious and destruc tive influences on the price level of thou sands of luxuries and necessities on retail ers’ shelves is something that few of us ever thing about shoplifting. Shoplifting is ex tremely costly to the retailing industry. Farm News This Week BJessomelle Cow Tops County Holstein Show Page 1 4-H Dairy Champions Named At Two-Day Show Page 1 First Tobacco Cut Thursday vvrett R. Newswanger, Editor Robert G. Campbell, Advertising Director Subscription price. $2 per year in Lancaster County; $3 elsen'here Established November 4, 1955 Published every Saturday by Lancaster Farming, Lititz, Pa Second Class Postage paid at Lititz, Pa. 1754? Member of Newspaper Farm Editors Assn. Stand. .. Chambers of commerce and retail associa tions sponsor clinics for merchants on shop lifting, and there are films which are distri buted for use by service clubs and other groups. Recently a spokesman for a large re tailing concern offered the suggestion that it might be a good idea to encourage news papers to comment on the subject so that parents can be made aware of the problem as it affects young people. His suggestion is eminently sound. Aside from the long term influence on prices, shoplifting has other far-reaching effects. It can change the life of a young person who might think of it as more of a prank than an offense against law and society. There are cases where a young adult, with an otherwise spotless record loses an opportunity for employment for the simple reason that his misdeed has found its way into the detailed history of his life upon which he must eventually depend to open the doors of opportunity. Any blot on this history is a handicap. Shoplifting is but another example of the lack of respect for persons and property that is so prevalent in the land today. Shop lifting is not a prank. It is a symptom of character weakness and a warning light to parents and authorities. A basic rule of be havior that should be taught every child at home and at school is to keep your hands off other people and other people’s property. This would pay rich dividends m years to come. Across The Fence Row In the early days of the country, Feder al employees numbered in the low thou sands. In 1816, for instance, President James Madison had only 4,837 people work ing in his administration. By 1871, the total had risen to 51,000 and then doubled the next decade. By 1914, the Federal payroll totaled 401,887 workers and continued to rise until it hit an all-time high of 3.4 million during World War 11. Cut back to two mil lion in 1947, it rose again to 2.5 million in 1951 during the Korean War and remained at about that level until 1966 when it rose to 2.9 million and stayed there. The present level, as of May 31, is 2,968,691. “What’s wrong, Henry?” asked his wife. “My razor,” boomed the voice within the bathroom. “It doesn’t cut at all.” “Don’t be silly. Your beard caSn’t be tougher than linoleum.” One of the problems of rearing children is to know where and when to give a big hand. A habit can change from a cobweb into a cable so easily. Husband: “I say we’re not going out to night, and that’s semi final!” The hand that rocks the cradle now charges a buck an hour. It’s Difficult To Misquote Silence. Even if happiness could be purchased, we'd be unhappy over the price. Many people speak from experience Others, from experience, don’t speak. Local Weather Forecast (From the U. S. Weather Bureau at the Harrisburg State Airport) The five-day forecast for the period Saturday through next Wednesday calls for temperatures to average near normal with daytime highs in the low to raid 80’s and the over-night lows in the 60’s. Temperature moderating at the beginning of the period with little change thereafter. Ram may total more than one-half inch as frequent showers tnroughout the period. THE COVENANT Lesson for August 3,1969 Secfcfround Scripture Exodus 19*24. D#v*h«n«l Rtadinf’ D«ul«roncmy A MO. What Is a covenant? The term is frequently used in both the Old and New Testaments, but what la it? Perahps the simplest explana tion is that it is an agreement between two or more parties. If your neighbor were to say to you, Til sell you my power mower for twenty-five dol lars,* and you were to respond with “Q.K.”, that would be a covenant. Yet we Rev. Althouse seldom use that term for elementary agreements. You would hardly say, "I covenanted with Mr. Jones to buy his powermower.” We usually re* serve die term for the more im portant agreements that wemake. A promise Many of you made a covenant when you united with a certain congregation. You were probably asked, "Do you promise... Will you faithfully endeavor to . . . Will you be . . .7” This was an agreement between three parties: God, yourself, and the congrega tion. In one denomination’s ritual of membership, the minister asks the congregation: "Will you enter into a covenant with him to cherish him in brotherly love and kindness . . God has already done something, I promise to do something, and the congregation accepts my promise to do and extends to me their promise in return. Or consider matrimony. This too is a covenant. The bride and groom in the presence of the con gregation make certain promises to each other and to God. They take upon themselves very solemn vows. Yet, there is more than vows involved; there is a relation ship that precedes and follows the vows. The minister says, "Into this beautiful and holy relation-. For Full Market Reports Read Lancaster Farming To Fish Farm Ponds Farm pond owners are urged to permit fishing in their ponds at this time of the year in cider to prevent over-pepulation. Many local ponds contain too many fish, especially blue-gills, for the favorable reproduction of the bass. Many fisheiman are only interested in the larger bass and will not try la catch any blue gills; this will only lead to stunt ed fish, because of the lack of sufficient food, and low repro duction of the bass. To Control Flies Recent weather conditions have been favoiable for the in crease in fly infestation. All filth, garbage, ard manure should be removed from tne premises as often a: possible to eliminate ■litp these two persons desire now( to enter . . ."Thus a marriage la defined, not only by the promises which people make to each other, but by the new relationship the/ will share. Priveleges and responsibilities This is also true when a per* 1 son unites with a church. He be-] gins with the realization that b/ his own sinfulness he has broken his relationship with God. Hs comes to understand that It is God’s desire to heal this broken relationship, and so he turns to God and accepts the mercy already extended toward him by God. Thus, a new relationship between a man and his God ars established. Entering this new, relationship with God, h* per ceives a new relationship with other Christians and he thusjoina a congregation, voluntarily taking upon himself new re sponsibilities. God acts, then offers a new relationship that carries both pri veleges and responsibilities. It Is up to man, then, to respond. God acts, man reacts. God always takes the initiative, but ths ! covenant is still dependent upon, man’s response. Therefore...! If we can understand this, then we can appreciate better tha covenant between God and tha Hebrews. In Exodus 19 we find them in the desert of Sinai. Be-' hind them is their miraculous excape from the Pharoah. God i tells Moses to remind the people*'. "You have seen what I did to th* Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” God had actedl Having acted on their behalf he now offers the Israelites a new relationship of privelege and responsibility: "Now therefore, it you will obey my voice and keep my covenant you shall be my own possession among all the peoples ... I am the Lord your God.” They will be his people and l he will be their God. Now that he has acted and offered a new relationship, he spells out their responsibilities under this covenant; *You shall ... You shall not . . .” Thus, remembering what he has dona for us and is doing and has promised to do, we do as he re quests, not out of slavish sub mission, but loving obedience* Because we accept bis Father hood, we accept also his Lord ship. tinted an euHmts copyrighted by At DtvlifeU of Christian Education, Notion ul Council of Ihfli Churches of Christ in the IJf, $» A* Relieved by Community frets Service.) NOW IS THE TIME... By Max Smith Lancaster County Agent } -"'ding places. Sanitation is the a step in good fly control. The v. of insecticides kill the fly maggots is recommended. To Evaluate Soil Erosion Problem Many farms have received the heaviest rainfall in the past dec ade during the month of July; this would be a to ob serve the amount of topsoil wash ed from the farm; close inspec tion immediately after heavy rains is encouraged *n order to recognize the amount of run-off and soil losses. The establishing of contour strips, terraces, or diversion ditches can reduce this pioblem on many fauns. Either fall or early spring are good times to get started.