ES A ___—_——_—_—— Death in the Mines by Ralph Nader Washington—With more asualties to be counted, the unshine Silver Mine disaster at ellogg, Idaho is already the yuntry’s second worst non-coal line c¢ Firophe in this cen- ry. &% fire which swept rough this silver mine—the rgest in the US—and en- mmbed anywhere from 50 to 90 lien is under investigation by ie US Bureau of Mines, the nited Steel Workers and the unshine Mining Co. But an assessment of govern- lent, industry and union in- olvement in the safety of hard- xk miners reveals that the liners and their families are eing deceived into thinking 1at safeguards and protections xist under the law. The federal aetal ang nonmetallic mine afety ac®¥passed by Congress 1 1966; is a fraud. In the first place, the act rovides no penalties whatso- ver for violating any mine afety standards—the first of vhich did not go into effect until fuly 1970. The Department of nterior, which is supposed to idminister the act, is given no subpoena power against the nining © companies. But the Jepartment is required to heed he propoissls regarding sug- gested st8Wdards of advisory committees dominated by in- dustry representatives and their supporters. Finally, the act is specifically excluded from the Administrative Procedure Act which gives rights to the public that the mining lobby did not favor. The only sanction which the government can impose is to State Secretary of Health J. Finton Speller, M.D., has issued a warning for Pennsylvanians to take Wety precautions nécessary Yo guard against possible exposure to renies| which, appears to be on the rise in the state. « From/Jax. 1 to May, 1972, 1 cases of i in animals were reported; compared with a yearly total of 23 cases for 1971, according to Dr. Ernest J. Witte, chief of the health department’s veterinary public health section. Dr. Witte reports that 10 of the 16 rabies cases occurring this year involved wild animals, such as skunks, bats, and foxes, and could be resulting from a buildup in the population of these species. Greene and Centre Counties have had the highest number of cases in the issue a witdrawal order to temporarily close part or the whole of a mine. Most of the law is devoted to giving mine companies rights of appeal and re-appeal from any such orders. But the fact is that such orders are almost never issued. Because they are viewed as so drastic and procedurally cumbersome in nature, they are a clumsy and late means of obtaining compliance with standards. According to the latest Bureau of Mines data, between July 31, 1970 and Dec. 31, 1970, it conducted 1,492 inspections around the country and un- covered 15,958 violations of mandatory standards (averaging 10.7 violations per inspection). This was the total even though inspectors give advance notice of their coming to the mines. Only six with- drawal orders were issued in that period. The United Steelworkers, which is now denouncing the weak law and its anemic en- forcement, was not exerting much of its power when the mining industry virtually wrote the 1966 act. Since then, the USW has neither hired the experts nor maintained a watchdog role over the Bureau of Mines and the industry to advance the protection of its rank and file miners. What the investigators are finding out at the Sunshine Mine are the predictable conse- law surrounded by government abdication and union apathy on one side and powerful industry pressure on the other side. There was no oxygen equipment state, with three cases in Centre County and six in Greene. Since pets, other animals and humans can contract rabies from the bite of wildlife, Dr. Speller has issued the following precautions: Do not take home or pet stray or wild animals. Have dogs'and cats vaccinated against rabies regularly. Be on the alert for any change in the normal behavior pattern of an animal and report suspicious cases to local health authorities. In a fox, for instance, rabies could manifest. itself in friendly behavior. Also, provide protection for children if they wait for buses in rural areas where rabies in wildlife , particularly has been a problem. If bitten by any animal, encourage free bleeding, wash the wound Objectiorss were voiced to Dallas TWnship Planning Commission Monday night against changes of zoning re- quested by Francis Gerald and Alex Dombroski, both of whom own property near Demunds Corners, The requested zoning was from A-1 (agricultural) to R-3' (multigie dwelling). The * five¥man commission, composed of Carl Goeringer, Frederick Salada, Jacob Alexander, referred the matter supervisors for decision. During zoning hearing board meetings of the last three months, residents in the Mid- land Drive, Dallas, area have protested the placement of a trailer in their vicinity. At Mon- day’s meeting, the application for a trailer permit, requested by David Superko, was disap- proved. Joseph Dolinski was given permission to place a tempor- ary trailer on Ryman Road until his house is completed. Sixteen acres of property on Upper Demunds Road may be subdivided by Lyle Merithew to the extent of giving three acres to his grandson, David Merithew, for a home. and then f Faerber: Chet Davis, John Stenger. Faerber. Jerry Talent. in the key areas of this un- derground mine, and no carbon monoxide monitoring system, nor were there enough self- rescue devices, nor regular fire drills or posted emergency escape routes for the miners to know and use. The company’s answer to these charges is that the law does not require these safeguards. State mine in- spections conducted a few months ago located numerous violations such as oily rags in the hoist rooms, absence of warning signs and other The company shrugged these off as minor and temporary in- fractions which were later corrected. The Congress responded to the Farmington, W. Va. mine tragedy, which took 78 miners’ lives in November, 1968, by passing a much stronger coal safety act. It is imperative that there be Congressional hearings and comprehensive amend- ments to the 1966 metal and nonmetallic act which give the miners as well as the govern- ment the tools to compel en- forcement. One penalty for safety violations by companies, which the amended law should authorize, is to dispatch some of the top executives of the mining corporation to spend a few weeks working side by side with the miners who are their em- ployees. These executives will better realize how horrible underground mining is as an occupation without additional hazards or disasters that could have been prevented by a more conscious regard for the miners’ safety and health. thoroughly with soap and water, get medical attention im- mediately, and report the bite to local health authorities. If bats are suspected in attics, call in a professional exterminator and cover openings thru which bats enter and leave attics with a quarter-inch ‘mesh ' hardware cloth or sheet metal after bat exodus or extermination. Dr. Witte says the victims of animal bites should have the animal responsible for the bite apprehended and confined for a 10-day period by a veterinarian. “The state of health of the animal is the best guide for the physician in the management and treatment of the person bitten,”” he points out. ‘if the animal cannot be apprehended, it may be destroyed. But damage to the head should be avoided, since it is the animals brain that must be examined for evidence of rabies.” know—frosted wheats! Police Kingston Township A bee was the cause of a Kingston young man losing control of his car May 10 on Route 309 near Huntsville Road, at 5 p.m. John T. Herrscher, 19, told Kingston Township Patrolman Cliff Culver that as he was driving south on the Highway a bee got under his shirt. When he tried to remove the insect he lost control of his machine, knocking down three guard- rails, sideswiping a utility pole and knocking down another guardrail. His automobile traveled for a distance of 117 feet. Mr. Herrscher was’ not in- jured in the mishap, but damage to his car was estimated at $1,300. Faulty lights were claimed by the driver as the reason for an accident on Church Road, Trucksville, May, 12, According to police records, Joyce Snobitch; 19, of Hazleton said that something was wrong with the car lights, and she lost control of the machine as she’ car hit an embankment on the right side of the road and turned over on its roof. Neither the driver nor a passenger, Donald Buzinkai, 32, of Shavertown, was injured. Approximate damages to the car were $2,000 as listed by Patrolman John Appel. Reckless driving charges have been cited against Nicholas Senchak, 21, of Swoyersville by Patrolman John Appel after a two-car Three of the five top awards in the 1971 Associated Press statewide competition have been won by WNEP TV, Channel 16. Report of Fracas Is Not Accurate Police Chief Robert. Cooper, in describing events which occurred last Friday near Farmer’s Inn Jackson Town- ship, stated that two juveniles were operating a car in a suspi- cious manner on the Chase Road. Assistant Chief of Police Don Jones was called to investi- gate and did locate the car and juveniles near Norris’ Glen (or Farmer’s Inn). The boys fled on foot into the woods and one of them acci- dentally ran into and bumped Officer Jones who had pursued them. No fracas took place as was previously reported. But the youths made good their escape ‘and assistance in lo- cating them was requested of Dallas and Kingston Township police. When the youths were apprehended several hours later, they were questioned and released into the custody of their parents. No charges have been filed as yet. When Officer Jones was con- tacted he referred this reporter to Chief Cooper for any and all information concerning the case. But he did state that he was not injured in any way by the youths. General manager Thomas Shelburne and news director Bob Carroll have been notified that the station received the Joe Snyder Award for outstanding news service, the first place award for outstanding public affairs, and the first place award for ~~ outstanding editorializing. The Joe Snyder award is presented to the television station which in the opinion of the judges gave evidence of the most complete general news service of the year in the area they serve and contributed most to the advancement of television news. This award is singular. The outstanding public affairs award is presented to the that demonstrates through a program or series the most thought provoking response to some facet of the community life. The intention is to recognize imaginative measures taken to deal with the special problems of the area. The entry was based on WNEP TV’s Town Meeting of the Air series. The award for outstanding editorializing was presented by the judges to the station which in their opinion displayed ex- ceptional initiative or courage in presenting editorial com- ment, The competition included television stations from all areas of the state, excluding Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties. Report accident Sunday night at 6:45 on Route 309, about 50 feet north of Birch Grove, Trucksville. The driver of the second car was Leo P. Salatino, 44, of 191 Main St., Shavertown. Mr. Salatino and his wife, Margaret Salatino, who was a passenger, were taken to Nesbitt Memorial Hospital in the Luzerne am- bulance and Dallas Township police cruiser. Mrs. Salatino was X-rayed for possible hip and skull injuries. Her condition is listed as satisfactory. Mr. Salatino was X-rayed and released. Patrolman John Appel reported both cars were traveling south with the Sen- chak vehicle in the outside lane and the Salatino car in the passing lane. When the second car tried to pass the Senchak car, the latter speeded up; then would slow down. According to witnesses this occurred several times, and then Senchak lost control of his automobile and hit the Salatino vehicle, causing this car to hit guardrails and turn over on its roof. The Senchak vehicle con- tinued down the highway for about 200 feet, knocking down guardrails, before it came to a stop. Total damages to both cars were listed at $2,400. Assisting Patrolman Appel were Dallas Township Patrolman James Gruver, Dallas Borough Patrolman Ted Montrose, and Courtdale Police Chief James Larson. Dallas Township A Wyoming young man was cited by Dallas Township Patrolman Carl Miers for ex- pired registration and misuse of registration after he was in- volved in an accident Sunday. Leonard J. Dupcavitch, 23, and a passenger, Maureen O’Hara, 17, were going north on Warden Place Road when the vehicle left the right hand side of the pavement and went down a 10-foot embankment. The car traveled a path parallel to the roadway and came to rest against a large tree. The oc- cupants were taken to Nesbitt Memorial Hospital in the Harveys: Lake ambulance. The Dallas Township policeman was assisted in his investigation by Harveys Lake Police Chief W. Leinthal and Patrolman Richard Williams. Harveys Lake Borough The driver of a truck was pronounced dead at the scene of an _accident Monday morning. Chief Deputy Coroner Joseph Shaver reported Reynold Vanderhoof, 69, of Wood Street, Courtdale, was fatally stricken while driving his truck on Second Street, Wardan Place, Harveys Lake. The truck ran off the roadway into the yard at the home of John VanCampen, according to Police Chief Walbridge Lein- thal. The vehicle came to rest against a wire fence, but also bumped a car in an adjoining driveway. FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED PEOPLE. The American Red Cross. statewide interest. Reprinted from Harrisburg Patriot It was commonly expected that when businessman Milton Shapp took over the ad- ministration of State Goven- ment, efficiencies would come thick and fast and the number of individuals employed by the State could be reduced: The reverse has been true. Although the Governor’s Management Review Com- mittee reported recently that 7,600 positions could be eliminated over -a period of a year or two, nothing exactly like that is in prospect. On Dec 1, 1971, fulltime salaried positions numbered 102,098; on March 1, 1972, they numbered 105,568 (plus another 15,000 or so part- time employes). And, according to Secretary of Administration Ronald G. Lench, the projected hiring of an additional 3,000 full- Why the increase? ‘New programs,’”’ Lench explains, “that have to be staffed.” He points to the people hired to handle the new State income tax, the lottery, the program for senior citizens and increases in employment on State College campuses as accounting for most of the December to March increment of more than 3,000. The additional 3,000 projected in the new budget are largely for public welfare posts. By way of illustration, there are the 516 new employes requested so that ‘‘institutional peonage’’ can be ended. Institu- tional peonage exists, it is said when inmates of State hospitals Youngsters Advised On Gun Handling Game protectors, state and local police and public utilities urge shooters to handle fire- arms safely and sensibly to pro- tect lives and save property. Each 7vyear “there ' are to public utility equipment by shooters. Sometimes there is also personal injury associated with such activity. Investigations show that much of the damage to utility lines, transformers, insulators, etc., is caused by young persons using firearms in a careless and, in many cases, a deliberate run into the hundreds of thou- sands of dollars in Penn- sylvania. Every year as soon as schools close there is a sharp upturn in shooting damage. Evidence of misdirected target practice by youths during summer vaca- tions has prompted law enforce- ment agencies to add special emphasis in their programs to impress upon teenagers and parents the importance of hand- ling and using firearms properly to save lives, reduce injuries and protect private and public property. Severe penalties can be imposed upon shooters who indiscriminately damage property or endanger others through deliberate or careless misuse of firearms. Lake-Lehman Plans Special Board Meeting Board will hold a special meeting May 23 at 8 p.m. for general business, President Edgar J. Lashford has an- nounced. The session will be held in the board room at the Lehman- Jackson Elementary School. Taxes Payable Now In Kingston Twp. Vern Pritchard, Kingston Township tax collector advises all township residents that taxes will be collected at face value during the month of May. Starting June 1, a five percent penalty will be added to all un- paid county, institutional and township taxes. Also please note that it will be necessary to close the office on Wednesday and Saturdays during the month of May. Subscribe to the Post are required to do housekeeping chores which have no relation to their rehabilitation needs and may actually keep them from participating in the rehabilita- tion programs they require. There is no question of releasing the patient from work when he has either time or reason to accomplish it, representatives of the Welfare Department explain. ‘But the needs of the patient and treatment of the patient must come first.” Hence 516 additional individuals are slated to go on the State payroll to make this possible. It is hard to quarrel with this sort of humanitarian concern, but it is possible to ask where it is all going to end. In 1957 there were only 52,505 salaried State employes—half the present total. It can be fairly asked whether we are doing twice as good a job, or whether the taxpayer is getting twice as much for his money, or whether he really wants all the services that someone keeps telling him he needs. In 1957 the estimated State population was 10,963,000. A preliminary calculation’ after the 1970 census put it at 11,600,000— up about 6 per cent during the time that the number of State employes grew 100 percent! Anyone returning today after being away from State Government for the past 15 years must look askance at all the new desks and offices and faces, and ask in astonish- ment what there is for all the extra people to do. Administration Secretary Lench says that the Governor has not forgotten about the 7,600 positions’ which the . Management Review Com- mittee said could be eliminated. He says the departments. are working on this and that many of these jobs will be abolished over the next few years. But, obviously, we add new positions faster than we eliminate old ones, so it will doubtless be possible one of these days for some Administration spokes- man to claim that ‘‘we have cut back while building up!” Big government we have, indeed! Rejected, May 8. Resolution passed, May 9. NTE Agreed to, May 10. agreed to, May 11. threaten U.S. May 11. May 11. 78. Passed, May 11.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers