BE
A Greenstreet News Co.
Publication :
* “Americans buy radios and
televisions from Japan,
cameras from Germany, and
~ watches from Switzerland.
Maybe they should start buying
“their life insurance from
~ Can&h.”
Tha was the reaction of
Pennsylvania Insurance Com-
missioner Dr. Herbert S.
Denenberg to the findings of the
~~ “Shopper’s Guide to Term Life
Insurance” that six or seven
~ lowest cost non-participating
- policies were sold by Canadian
companies. Only nine Canadian
companies are licensed to do
business in Pennsylvania and
~ Dr. Denenberg said, “All nine
companies looked significantly
- better than the average Amer-
ican company.’
The Shopper's Guide lists the
costs §f policies sold by the fifty
large®) insurance companies
doing business in Pennsylvania
and shows cost variations for
similar coverage of 140 percent
over 20 years. It also includes
lists showing the 15 highest and
lowest-cost policies. The Guide,
prepared by the Pennsylvania
Insurance Department, was re-
leased Dec. 11.
The guide also showed that
Canadian companies offered
the four lowest-cost policies.
There are no Canadian com-
panies on the list of the highest-
cost policies
The guide also showed that
Canadian companies offered
the four lowest-cost policies sold
by the 25 largest selling non-
participating policies. There
are no Canadian companies on
the list of 15 highest-cost pol-
icies. Non-participating policies
are those that do not pay divi-
dends.
“Our earlier Shopper’s Guide
to Straight Life Insurance
: “Special interests still wield
too much power...When the
er gs of these groups gain
supremacy over the general
public interest, legislators are
not giving fair serve either to
their constituents or the
Commonwealth. We :@ need
rigorous laws for the reporting
of expenditures by lobbyists.”
. “The practice of coming to
Harrisburg for a day or two at
the Beginning of the week,
calling frequent recesses,
stretching out the session, and
finally acting on most im-
portant matters in a frantic
rush in the last few days before
adjournment simply does not
make for orderly and respon-
sible government today. The
best practice would be to buckle
down at the beginning of the
session, meeting regularly,
conduct business, and then
adjourng®,
—Willk#n W. Scranton, in his
farewell address, Jan. 3, 1967.
© When William» W;« Scranton
“stepped out of the governorship
in January'of:1967, he ‘expressed
no regret that the Pennsylvania
“Cons®vution at that time
prohibited him from running for
a second consecutive term. As
exhilarating as the job was for
him, it also had been
exhausting: One of his major
frustrations was the
Legislature, though he had
remarkable success with it as
had few governors before or
since:
Scranton’s legislative
farewell on Jan. 3, 1967, is one of
the great speeches in the annals
of Pennsylvania government. A
reformer and activist to the
end, Scranton cited numerous
changes that should be made.
And many of them had to do
with the Legislature.
The former Governor will
now return to attend an early
reorganization meeting of the
upcomjig Republican House
maior caucus. Scranton will
‘be in "Harrisburg either this
week or shortly before the new
Groundwater Study
Evaluates Basement
Floo&ing Reduction
Secretary of Environmental
Resources Maurice K. Goddard
announced recently the start of
a groundwater study to eval-
uate alternative methods of re-
ducing basement flooding con-
ditions in homes in the area
around Kingston.
The study will be conducted
as a cooperative project be-
tween the Department’s Office
of Engineering and Construc-
tion, the U.S. Geological Survey
and the Susquehanna River
Basin Commission.
- Fielgd operations will begin
Jan. Ind will continue for 18
months in the project area be-
tween Kingston and Wyoming.
The study will determine the
source and. movement ' of
groundwater and the seasonal
fluctuation of the water table to
delineate areas and degree of
basement flooding.
~The study will include:
mapping of the shallow subsur-
oh drilling of
additional observation wells;
~ monitoring of water level in all
wells, and preparation of a
composite map showing areas
susceptible to high groundwater
levels. a
a
work.
THE NEXT House Speaker is
Rer. Kenneth B. Lee, of Eagles
Mere, who was Speaker when
Scranton was in office. Lee has
donned the garb of Scrantonian
responsibility in promising
some major overhauls in the
Legislature’s way of doing
business. The former Governor
should be in his corner all the
way.
Lee wants the open com-
mittee system. He wants a time
litmit set on voting in the House
to prevent four-hour in-
terruptions such as went on for
the income-tax vote. He wants
to prevent ‘‘ghost voting,”’ or
absentee voting. He also wants
to rid the legislative payroll of
“ghost employes.”” He wants
the legislative session
scheduled, so that committee
meetings are logged and not
called impromptu off the floor.
In addition, he wants the
Pennsylvania Economy League
to: make recommendations on
better served with hired per=
sonnel. There will be $2.25
million more available in the
Shapp budget for staffing. This
will be important. The House
Ways and Means Committee—a
jpower in Congress—is a weak
reed here. Now it can be staffed
and given some independence.
A stronger Legislature is the
best hope against the
rapaciousness of the lobbyists—
and in Harrisburg the term
“rapaciousness” is inadequate.
Governor Scranton himself
expressed amazement at the
arm-twisting, subterfuge and
bullying that outside vested
interests apply behind the
scenes.
Lee is an experienced
Speaker, a respected and
capable politician and not
without ambition. He could very
well be the right man for the
right job at the right time.
OUTGOING Speaker Herbert
Fineman, four years in the job,
made some major im-
provements. He trimmed the
number of committees, though
more sub-committees were
added. Fiscal notes or
pricetags, were attached to
bills. A standing Ethics Com-
mittee was established. A
master rollcall is taken at the
beginning of each day’s work.
And, most importantly in the
long run, Fineman backed the
rule that a majority in a com-
mittee can discharge a bill over
the committee chairman’s
objection.
Changes such as Fineman
made and the additional ones
that Lee proposes are land-
marks. State senators so far
have feared to act in this
comprehensive fashion. And
Congress is absolutely
autocratic in comparison.
High on the list of im-
provements necessary is a
simple one—full-time
legislative sessions. Not since
1964, midway in the Scranton
- Administration, has the
Legislature closed shop in June.
Ever since then, the sessions
have droned on, with
lackadaisical attention,
frequent intermissions and last-
minute frantic hassles, like this
year’s, to get the books closed
and the caseload marked off.
Just changing the game rules
of the Legislature isn’t enough,
though those rules are im-
portant. The conduct of the
Legislature’s fulfulling the
/
showed that Canadian com-
panies offered lower-cost
policies,” Denenberg said.
But the differences in term
life are so significant that we
think American companies
should start copying the Cana-
dians. Everyone of the nine
Canadian companies looks good
Some look ex-
cellent, and none even look
close to bad.”
Denenberg said all the
Canadian companies received
one of the two highest ratings
from Best’s Insurance Reports.
Dr. Denenberg explained that
the rating is an indications of
financial stability.
The low-priced Canadian
companies include Dominion
Life Insurance Co., Canada Life
Assurance Co., Crown Life
Insurance Co., National Life
Assurance Co., Sun Life
Assurance Co. of Canada, and
the Manufacturer’s Life In-
surance Co.
Two other Canadian com-
panies Great-West Life
Assurance Co. and North
American Life Assurance Co. --
also sell low-cost non-
participating policies.
However, these policies are not
generally issued in amounts
less than $25,000 and for that
reason were not included on the
list of low-cost companies.
Confederation Life
Association is the only
Canadian company not on the
low cost lists. It is also the only
Canadian company selling
participating (dividend-paying)
policies and ranks 14th in cost
out of the 25 largest companies
selling that type of policy. It
ranks 17th out of the 65 com-
panies selling participating
policies.
About 20 percent of the
business of Canadian life in-
surance companies is con-
ducted “in the United States.
Canadians buy approximately
an equal amount from
American companies.
OEP Office
“Oscar Snead, director, Office
of Emergency Preparedness in
Wyoming Valley, announced
today the office will move from
the quarters it has occupied in
Holy Cross Hall, King’s College,
since early in July to make way
for students enrolling for the
next semester.
The President’s Office of
Emergency Preparedness is the
agency responsible for coordin-
ating federal disaster relief
activities in the Wyoming
Valley and neighboring flood
regions.
Mr. Snead, who arrived short-
ly after the June 23 flood, will be
the OEP Director for Wyoming
Valley. The new office will be at
400 Kidder St., East End Sec-
tion, Wilkes-Barre, where the
recovery effort will continue to
operate under Mr. Snead.
Mr. Snead, who spent three
years with the Office of Emer-
gency Preparedness in the
Biloxi-Gulfport area after Hur-
ricane Camille struck in 1969,
came to the Wilkes-Barre area
after completing his assign-
ment in the coastal region in
May.
He will be the last OEP repre-
sentative to leave the Wyoming
Valley area when the entire em-
ergency program is phased out,
possibly in two to three years.
Dallas Attendants
Update Aid Training
Fourteen members of the
Dallas Community Ambulance
Association renewed their ad-
vanced first aid cards at a
course given Dec. 12 at the
Dallas Borough Building. It is a
requirement of the American
Red Cross that this refresher
course be taken every three
years by active first aiders.
The course was given by Ann
Rowlands, R. N., whois first aid
chairman of the Wyoming
Chapter, American Red Cross,
and also a member of the Dallas
ambulance unit.
Those who received updated
first aid cards at the monthly
meeting held Tuesday night are
as follows: Robert Besecker;
David Carey, Timothy Carroll,
Wesley Cave, Gary McDade,
Willard Newberry Jr., Donald
Shaffer, Lynn Sheehan, Harold
Smith, J. R. Sperl, William
Ward, MiMi Wilson, Catherine
Dr.
Police
KINGSTON TOWNSHIP
Late last Thursday night
when driving conditions were
foggy and wet, Joseph Hankey,
71 Summit St., Edwardsville,
was involved in an accident on
Mount Olivet Road at the inter-
section with Green Road. Mr.
Hankey was traveling on Saw
Mill Road when he veered off
the side of the road, losing con-
trol and striking a utility pole.
He was not hurt."
On Dec. 14 about 1 p.m., there
was a two car collision on Route
309 approximately 250 feet north
of E. Center Street. Eileen
Hughes, RD 1 Huntsville was
traveling north on Route 309 in
the ‘driving lane when a car
driven by Muriel Vino, 118 S.
Sherman St., Wilkes-Barre was
simultaneously leaving a ser-
vice station. Ms. Hughes at-
tempted to avoid hitting the
Vino car, but was unable to.
Both women were taken to Nes-
bitt Hospital for injuries.
Patrolman Pugh was the inves-
tigating officer.
There was another accident
early Thursday morning when
Robert Youngblood, 81 N.
Lehigh St., Shavertown, was
forced off the road by another
car, causing him to climb a
bank. The mishap occurred on
Route 309 about 100 feet south of
Birch Grove, Trucksville. There
were no injuries. Patrolmen
Gallagher and Stephenson in-
vestigated.
Report
Olga Lieb, 7 Westminister St.,
Dallas was injured slightly last
Tuesday when she hit an icy
spot and lost control of her car
on Route 309'not far from Hol-
comb Grove. Her car then over-
turned landing on its roof at
‘Rave’s Nursery. Police reports
reveal that the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation
had been notified of this parti-
cularly hazardous area appro-
xXimately 2 hours prior to ‘the
accident, but had not responded
as of 12:30 that night.
Dallas Township
On Sunday there was a minor
collision involving a juvenile at
the intersection with Upper De-
munds and Seddler Roads. The
youth’s mother stated that they
were approaching the curve on
Upper Demunds Road when a
car, driven by Keith Keiper, 611
Welter Lane, Kingston, travel-
ing in the opposite direction,
crossed the intersection and hit
the front end of their car. There
were no injuries. Patrolman
Gruver investigated.
About 9:30 Friday evening,
June Wasserott, Applewood
Manor, Dallas, lost control of
her car on Upper Demunds
Road '. mile north of the Route
309 intersection when her car
slid on the slushy ice and then
struck a pole. She was not in-
jured. Officers Lamoreux and
Kelly investigated the accident.
Crispell, Dale Clark.
Dale Clark.
Roger Boston, Albert Gobel.
Ralph MeCormick.
Dave Fritz.
Dec. 18 - William Meixell to
Boston, John Lyons.
Nesbitt Hospital. Crew: Roger
Carey.
by Ralph Nader
WASHINGTON -- For the past
generation, millions of high
school ' and college students
have taken college or graduate
school admissions tests
prepared and scored by the
Educational Testing Service
(ETS) of Princeton, New
Jersey. They were to be tested
for their ‘‘scholastic aptitude”
and, by and large, they
passively accepted the results
even to the point, parents have
noted, of viewing their scores as
a measure of their self-worth.
So towering has the influence
of ETS been that other test
producers felt courageous just
toimitate it. As one ETS official
joked: “(ETS has) tests for
everything except admission to
Heaven.” The schools have both
reflected and reinforced the
kind of subject matter tested.
Often a closed loop developed
with the tests helping to shape
the curriculum and the
curriculum helping to shape
and prepare for the tests.
At last the bloom is coming off
ETS. There is mounting student
and faculty criticism reaching
beyond the tests themselves to
the very structure of this giant
definer of human intelligence
and determiner of so many
careers. The criticism began
with assertions of a cultural
bias against women, blacks,
chicanos and native Americans
that pervades the questions on
the tests. Close analysis also
showed how imaginative or
creative student responses
could be tripped up by questions
whose answers were based on
ambiguous assumptions. Now
moving toward center stage is
the ‘very issue of ETS ac-
countability as a rapidly ex-
panding private, unregulated
educational corporation ad-
ministering 5 million tests a
Citizens Lobby
Julie Lorenzini, Exeter,
Common Cause coordinator for
the 11th Congressional District,
in a letter to Congressman
Flood, urged him to call for a
public vote on each committee
chairmanship when Congress
reconvenes Jan. 3.
‘‘Key chairmen are not
selected according to ability or
quality of performance,” Miss
Lorenzini explained, ‘‘but solely '
on the length of their service.
These men wield enormous
power, especially in matters
year. Such a gatekeeper can
become a tyrant even with the
best of intentions by virtue of its
monopolistic position.
Getting underway in
Washington is a student-
supported Project on
Educational Testing. With only
director, James Ghee and a
small staff, working out of an
old gray building in
Washington, D.C., has produced
a concise 25-page description of
its research plan. ‘Highly
regarded educators = and
psychometricians have
questioned the utility of stan-
dardized objective tests from
their inception,” the statement
reads, but ‘‘the critics have had
noticeably little impact on the
practices within the field.”
Describing itself as a
‘‘research, educational and
advocacy group,’ the Project
wants to establish a
clearinghouse and serve as an
advocate for consumers (the
students) of standardized tests
and the users of test results.
Critics of these tests assert
that they do not reveal the
creativity and imagination of
the student and cannot measure
the important factors of
determination and dedication.
They maintain that there is a
gross over-reliance on these
tests by colleges, law schools,
and professional licensing
boards. As the Project notes:
“Most admissions and
placement officers have used
standardized tests as infallible
predictive measures of
academic competence. The
result is that standardized tests
emerge as the sole ‘objective’
measurement in admissions
and advancement procedures.’
What is worse is how the
administrative apparatus of the
schools takes these test scores
and ‘‘rubs them in.” Students
entering college have been
which directly affect our
pocketbook, such as the draf-
ting of tax legislation. If each
chairman were subject to an
open election, they would then
be accountable not only to their
fellow congressmen, but to the
citizenry as a whole.”
Prior to the November
election, as part of the project
“Open Up the System’’; local
Common Cause coordinators
throughout the country sent
questionnaires to all candidates
and incumbents. When asked
counseled that the best they
could do is ““C” or ‘‘B” or “A”
work. Some students take this
as an inflexible determination
of their potential. They lose
their self-confidence and resign
themselves to mediocrity.
Other students scoring higher
often become complacent, too
self-assured that they ‘have it
made” and make certain that
they don’t reach their potential. |
Either way the psychological
impact is destructive of student
development, diversity and self- A
discovery. i
Standardized tests mesh
logically with a standardized
curriculum starved of student
involvement in real-life
problem study and solving but |
replete with rote memorization
of principles and formulas.
At a small but growing
number of colleges, faculty and
administrators, sensitive to the
need education has to break out
of its rigid molds, are rejecting
these tests as prerequisites for
admission. ETS is aware of
these spreading currents of
discontent and has established
advisory committees and
sponsored conferences to
discuss suggestions and
criticisms. The company’s
leaders say if there is a better”
way to test students, they
to know about it. However, they
seem to be willing fo hear but
not listen. There are ways to
improve these narrowly gauged
tests but the more fundamental
change is to redesign the
educational system within and
beyond the school walls for
greater development of student
talents, assets and value
systems which ETS does not
begin to measure. Only then will
the tests extruded by ETS
shrink to a proper modest level. “*
Students will have to shoulder
a major burden for generating
such changes.
“Will you support in your party
caucus an end to the seniority
system by requiring an
automatic, public vote on each
individual committee chair-
manship?’’ Mr. Flood |
responded, ‘‘Yes.” i
Letters have also been sent to
Senators Hugh Scott and
Richard Schweiker asking them
to vote to abolish the seniority
system, as well as to vote toc end
secrecy in senate committee
meetings, except in cases in-
volving the national security or
invasion, of privacy.
‘We urge concerned citizens
of all parties, or no party, to
write to their congressman and
senators at once in behalf of
these reforms’’ said Miss
Lorenzini.
Common Cause is a national
non-partisan organization
which lobbies for citizens’
rights and governmental
reforms at the national and the
state level. John Gardner,
former Secretary of Health,
Education and Welfare, heads
the non-profit group.
With
every printing
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