20—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 18, 1973
In general, the mail coming
into a congressional office
reflects the real concerns of the
American people, or at least a
segment of the American people.
My mail since the opening of
the 93rd Congress in January has
covered a variety of important
topics. It may be of interest to
many of you what the mam
subjects have been in com
munications reaching me in the
past six months.
The number one topic as
measured by the sheer volume of
mail into my office is the question
of whether vitamins should
become prescription drug items.
This is obviously a concern that
has not been a big front page
story, but is on the mind of an
awful lot of people. The letters
are overwhelmingly against any
Food and Drug Administration
action to make vitamins
available only by prescription,
and favor legislation similar to
that 1 have introduced that would
prohibit any such FDA action.
Another big issue as reflected
by mail is the rising cost-of-living
and problems related to the in
flationary spiral. Food prices, m
particular, have disturbed
housewives, and they have
contacted me about their desire
to see government take positive
steps toward stopping the upward
surge in grocery costs. However,
once government had acted and
the price lid began to bring on
talk of food shortages, I started to
hear from people unhappy about
the prospect of being unable to
get food items. This is exactly the
kind of problem-creating
problem situation that occurs
under any wage-price control
program. It is almost certain to
make this a major issue for
months to come.
The energy crisis is the next
ranking issue in my mail People
are concerned about gas shor
tages, fuel oil shortages for home
heating and electrical power
problems during the summer
months Some of that
correspondence has indicated a
belief that the major oil com
panies have purposely brought on
the crisis to advance some of
their own mterests--the one thing
mentioned often is the Alaskan
pipeline. Congress is now con
ducting studies into precisely
that point, so all constituents
must be expressing similar
sentiments
There has been a rather large
volume of mail in opposition to
giving food stamps for strikers
As I write this column, the House
of Representatives is voting on
that matter, and my vote will be
cast against any further food
stamp program for people
voluntarily out on strike
Pension questions m one form
or another have accounted for a
good bit of the mail These
questions have included pension
reforms now being debated in the
Education and Labor Committee
on which I serve There also have
been requests for changes and-or
increases in veterans benefits,
Things to Come
Airlines, Amtrak and travel
agencies are indicating increases
in commercial vacation travel,
reflecting impact of gasoline
shortage Most frequent com
ment from callers making
reservations “We usually go by
car, but don't want to take any
chances on being stranded ”
On the other hand, one expert in
the field notes that because of
rises in costs of auto ownership -
maintenance, fuel, insurance and
parking - the car-rental business
m<t\ boom
the railroad retirement program
and Social Security. Of course,
Congress, just before its July
recess, did approve a new Social
Security increase effective July
1. 1974. With this increase. Social
Security has gone up 76 percent in
seven years.
You will notice that this list
does not include the Watergate
issue which has literally been
dominating national news
coverage. But I, personally, have
received only 25 letters on the
subject, both pro and con, which
compares to the over 1000 pieces
of correspondence on the vitamin
issue.
*22,500 Lost
As Quarryville
Barn Burns
A barn and its contents valued
at $22,500 were destroyed by fire
Wednesday at Christiana RDI,
about 12 miles east of
Quarryville.
The Bart Fire Co. responded to
the alarm about 1:14 p.m. Fire
companies from Quarryville,
Cochranville and Oxford were
called for assistance.
Water had to be hauled from
three miles away to fight the
blaze.
According to Norman Hart,
Bart fire chief, the barn and
nearby vacant house that was
unharmed, is owned by Norman
W. Rissel. Hart said there was
farm machinery, hay, wheat and
some antiques in the barn.