Nn 45 by Ralph Nader WASHINGTON—One of the reputed safeguards for con- sumers is that companies will challenge ‘each other’s viola- tions of law and marketplace excesses ont of their own self in- terest. T44 doctrine is called economic pluralism and was given popular currency over 20 years ago in John K. Gal- ,braith’s American Capitalism: The Theory of Countervailing ‘Power. The trouble with this theory is tthat it didn’t take sufficient ac- ‘count of the pressures and in- iducements for accommodation ‘ between companies or indus- ‘tries. These include interlock- Ling economic interests; conglo- imerate takeovers, fear of cor- ‘porate’ ‘retaliation by ‘giant ‘firms, ‘and reluctance to start a ‘conflict which could get out of ‘control and backlash. Even in ‘such an elementary activity as ‘one company: publicly pointing ‘out its competitor’s deceptive ‘advertising, the practice has wsually been mutual toleration ‘of each other’s frauds. The consumer resurgence in the past decade, with all its do- cumented . disclosures of ha- zards, bilks, waste and mono- ‘polistic practices, is beginning to give some companies and in- dustries ‘a measure of courage. For example, after nearly two generations of meekly accept- ing the way auto.companies de- signed cars, the casualty insur- ‘ance industry is edging toward a ‘confropt tion over vehicle safety ol cpm costs. For four years, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, under Dr. William Haddon, has been widely distributing infor- mation about eggshell bumpers and the enormous damage caused to specific car-makes at 5 mph collisions. Over a billion dollars a year are wasted by motorists who pay for replace- ment and repair costs arising out of crashes no faster than walking speeds. Because the IHS named names—Chevrolet Impalas, Ford Galaxies, Ply- mouth Furies, and so forth—the industry has begun to put more effective bumpers on cars. On 1973: cars, these front bumpers are now about as protective as those i 'on' the 11933: Model “A sorts. a W Allstate has = been heavily pushing apd advertising the Ng air bag as a major automatickinjury prevention system: should auto crashes occur. They have fitted 200 of their 1972 automobiles with these air bags and tested them safely: iwith human occupants. This open advocacy has not en- deared.the insurer with the De- troit auto moguls who want to take their own time about im- portant safety innovations. Allstate has also challenged the 'broddcasting networks which” have’ refused the com- pany’s paid air bag messages to the public on the ground that they are too controversial. The company went so far as to testi- fy before a Senate committee in objection to this practice. Another insurer, State Farm, has petitioned the Department of Transportation about the alleged inaccuracy of GM fig- ures as to frequency of a ve- hicle’s corner impact involve- ment in crashes. GM gave a figure of seven percent involve- ment, but State Farm asserted that corners of vehicles are in- volved at almost a 40 percent rate. It submitted these figures to support its opposition of “any weakening of the standards pro- mulgated under the (auto safety law)" for purposes of stylistic convenience.” More far-reaching has been State Farm’s quiet but persis- tent Washington campaign to break the monopoly group which the auto companies have in selling their ‘‘crash parts’ (e.g., fenders, lamps and grille sections) through their fran- chised dealers. State Farm be- lieves that excessive profits are made by the auto companies be- cause independent garages have great difficulty in obtain- ing these ‘‘crash parts” from independent ‘manufacturers since auto manufacturers vir- tually monopolize their produc- tion. The Federal Trade Com- mission has been developing an investigation into this multibil- lion monopoly but ‘is running into great difficulty getting in- formation from the auto com- panies. In other segments of the eco- nomy, these healthy corporate collisions appear to be increas- ing. Smaller companies are using the antitruct laws to chal- lenge monopolistic practices in the computer, telecommunica- tions, utilities, franchise and distribution industries. Some- times the giants, such as ITT, challenge companies of lesser size such as General Telephone and Electronics Corporation. Last year ITT won in Federal District Court an order requir- ing GT&E to shed its equipment manufacturing subsidiary. This through AT&T whose equip- ment subsidiary, Western Elec- tric,, may. be similarly e¥posed to litigation soon. “Many of these. boii con- flicts ‘also generate long over- due action by government en- forcement agencies, as in the Control Data and Telex court challenges to IBM. It is too early to say whether such countervailing pressures amount to a trend. Accomoda- tion is still the norm, often even after suits are filed for negotia- ting purposes, as shown in the recent settlement between Con- trol Data and IBM. But enough creative friction is going on to the consumers’ benefit to illu- minate the consumers’ cost of continued accomodation and corporate interlocks. May 31 June 1 side. June 2 side. June 2 Elementary School, from 10 a.m. June 2 until 6 p.m. June 4 side. June 5 Phillip Walter will preside. June 5 June 8 June 16 June 19 Martz terminal at 6:30 a.m. levels: open meetings. States. DALLAS TOWNSHIP Three accidents were reported in Dallas Township last week. The first happened at 11:25 a.m. May 24 at the inter- section of Hildebrant Road and Lower Demunds Road. Sophie Parduski, 174 Hillerest Ave., Shavertown, was learning to drive on a learners permit. She had stopped for a stop sign and when she started up, lost control of the vehicle. Her car went across the road and hit a tree. Daniel Hughes, RD 3, Dallas, was a passenger. There were no injuries. Police officer James Kelly estimated damages at $500. A second accident happened at- 4:45 a.m. May 25 on the Kunkle-Alderson Road. Donald Kelly, 26, RD 2, Dallas, was traveling east when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed into the westbound lane, hit a parked car owned by John Smultz Sr., RD 1, Dallas, proceeded ten more feet and hit an oncoming car owned by Mr: Kelly was ‘taken to the Nesbitt Hospital in the Dallas Community Ambulance. Patrolman Elliot Ide investi- gated and estimated damages to the Kelly car at $250, to the Smultz car at $100, and to the Siley car, $800. A one-car accident occurred May 27 at 2 p.m. when Chester H. Brzoska, 24, 25 Laurel St., Edwardsville was travelling on Harris. Street and the ball joint on his vehicle gave way. The car pulled to the left and he went down an embankment, hitting a tree. Policeman James Gruver and Russel Banta estimated damages at $850. There were no injuries. HARVEYS LAKE BOROUGH An accident occurred at Har- veys Lake at 5:15 p.m., May 28, involving ‘an automobile and a pedestrian. According. to the report, the vehicle was a 1969 Dodge sedan, owned by Michael Novajosky and operated at the time of the accident by Francis Novajosky, 21, RD 2, Harveys Lake. James E. Faerber, who in- vestigated the accident, re- ported that a witness observed two girls, one of which was identified as Janice Horst, 14, 45 Pettebone St., Forty Fort, run quickly across the road, Route 415, at Pole 91 in front of the Harveys Lake Yacht Club. The witness said the girls ran right in front of the car driven by before striking Miss Horst. The witness believed the car was not traveling fast. Miss Horst, taken to the Nes- bitt Memorial Hospital in the Harveys Lake ambulance, was admitted with possible internal and rib injuries. No charges had been filed at press time. KINGSTON TOWNSHIP Only one accident in Kingston TO THE EDITOR: 1. did 13 months in “reform school’ when I was 16. That was in 1950. I didn’t learn a goddamn thing- except that jails, run as that one was run at least, could never help anyone be a “good” citizen. The reason they could never help anyone was one of “attitude’’. The attitude then, as it largely is today, is to bury the criminal from the sight and ciety believes it is taking care of the problem of crime. Leonard Mack, superinten- dent of the state correctional in- stitution at Dallas, is apparent- ly one of those rare human be- ings who understands that men must be treated like ‘“men’’, that they are not objects to be rehabilitated but humans who need to be educated. Coercion, as exemplified by cells and guards, will never give a cri- minal insight simply because it was the coercion of society as a whole—and the criminal’s in- ability to cope with that coer- cion—that drove him from the one society to another, from “freedom” to imprisonment. Just because a thing is accepted and becomes traditional does not necessarily mean it is good. The traditional method of hand- ling criminals is not necessarily the best method just because it has become traditional. There- fore, Mr. Mack’s courageous attempt to provide alternate solutions must be supported be- cause nothing can be lost. If it doesn’t work out we still, have the traditional method of caging and forgetting (which really doesn’t work either). Yes, it takes a hell of a lot of courage to put up your job, your character, your life on the line just to introduce a new method of doing things when with no effort you can sit back, pick your teeth, collect your pay, and, usually unknowingly, await your death. Is that what life is about? If so, what, really, is our purpose of living? John Allen Box 376A, RD 2 Dallas, Pa. To the Editor: On behalf of the Lake- Lehman Band Sponsors Association and also our fine band, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the splendid coverage you have given us this year in the Dallas Post. It is most gratifying to have an item printed as we have written it and to have it appear when we have asked that it be. Your two pages of congratu- latory messages were also appreciated. In this area, we would like to thank all those who expressed their congratulations and those who have helped and supported the band in any way. A special thank you to “Jimmy’’ Kozemchak for his help, for always being available when we needed a picture, for being a good friend to the band, and for offering to help again next year. Working with the Lake- Lehman Band has been most rewarding and gratifying, for they are a fine group of people. The Band Sponsors Association is proud of their achievements and their behavior and wish them well always. Mrs. Stephen L. De Barry " Publicity Chairman Township was reported last week. It occurred May 25 at 4:15 p.m..on Route 309 at the South Main Street intersection. Paul Richard Ney, 51, RD 5, Tunk- hannock, was traveling south on the highway and stopped to make a left hand turn onto South Main Street, when he was struck from behind by Henry Warfield, 72, 75 Midland Drive, Dallas. There were no injuries. Chief of police Paul Sabol investi- gated and reported damages at $300 to the Warfield vehicle and $700 to the Ney car. DALLAS BOROUGH Three accidents in the borough during this past week resulted in about $1,700 damage, and no serious injur- ies. Officer Harry Wesley reports that at about 7:55 a.m., May 29, there was an accident in the Town House parking lot. Joseph S. Katyl Jr:, 67 Norton Ave., Dallas, was turning into the lot when he stopped to let another cdr ‘back out of a space. When he stopped, ‘he was struck ‘from behind by a car driven by Michael J. Grisci Jr., 1 Circle Drive, College Manor, Dallas. Both men were driving 1973- model autos. Mr. Grisci had an approximate $225 damage done. Mr. Katyl, $75. Patrolman Tim Carroll was at the scene of an accident the day before at the intersection of Lower Main Street and Pio- eer Avenue. A Guyettes’ Com- munication Inc. vehicle, driven by William James Guyette, Sugar Hollow Road, Tunkhann- ock, was traveling north on lower Main Street, approaching the Pioneer intersection, when an unidentified vehicle, travel- ing south, forced him off the road. The - Guyette machine then went through a fence owned by Anthony Broody of Main Street, hit an electrical pole and then went down a steep enbankment. Officer Carroll reported the vehicle badly damaged, estim- ating total property damage at $1,000. Mr. Guyette was bruised. Mr. Carroll was assisted by Carl Miers, a Dallas Township patrolman. At 12:30 p.m., May 27, officer Carroll investigated an accident at Park Street and Huntsville Road and was attempting a left turn onto Park Street at the time of the accident. He was struck in the left rear by a motorcycle driven by John Paul Filar, RD 4, Box 155, Dallas. Mr. Filar was operating on a learner’s permit. He had a pas- senger, Michael P. Prender- gast, 139 Jewell St., Garfield, N.J., aboard at the time. As it is illegal to drive a motorcycle with a passenger with a lear- ner’s permit, officer Carroll charged him with the violation. The only injury was to Mr. Filar, who suffered a bruised side. He saw his own doctor with the injury. About $100 damage was done to the New York City firm’s auto; the motorcycle received an estimated $300 damage. Chief Ray Titus reports that he will begin making more motorcycle arrests. He and his men will be looking for cycles without mufflers, for motor- cycles on private property, making too much noise, and for minibikes on public roads. The chief reports several noise-nuis- ance complaints regarding motorcycles. 3 Ne x Page. 5 Forty Years Ago 1933 Bids were solicited for a new concrete road at Harveys Lake penters Road. A frame garage aflame on the property of John Sullivan, Par- rish Heights, called Dallas fire- men from a meeting concerning the installation of two new cy- linders in the fire truck engine. The building was destroyed and the proposed improvement voted down. Dallas Borough reduced its school tax millage from 30 to 25 mills. Farmers were dread to use to prevent the destruction of young game birds. L. E. Cottle, Shavertown, breeder of fine wire-haired fox carriers, and his wife attended the National Dog Show at Madi- son, N.J. Lee Tracy, Broadway star visited his mother, Mrs. W. L. Tracy, Shavertown. Thirty Years Ago 1943 Lt. John P. Gleason, U.S. Air Force, high school Cum Laude student, reported missing in ac- tion. The year 1942 was reported wettest since 1890. Shavertown honor roll was scheduled for dedication, May 30, honoring 127 in the services. Five children of Anna Wal- ters, Lehman, were engaged in same defense plant in New Brit- ain, Conn. Gus Led the group and was soon followed by his sisters, Edith, Anna, Emily, and Martha (Mrs. F. E. Mur- tha). Two thousand chickens were dressed daily at new North Star Farm plant in Shavertown. Funds from the sale of scrap were turned over to Air Raid Wardens by Dallas Township. -Servicemen heard from: Joseph Hudak, Donald C. Smith, Dick LeGrand, Vincent Spaciano. Mildred Porter chosen May Queen by ‘Dallas District Girl Scouts, 2 W. H"Deaf) detown, cele: brated his 83rd birthday. Died: Benjamin Goldsmith, 71, Dallas Township, son of old Back Mountain family; Mrs. William Watson, formerly of Conservation District Will Exhibit at Armory | The Luzerne County Conser- vation District will have an exhibit at the Parade of Progress at the Kingston Ar- mory from May 31 through June 3, Bette Turner, executive assistant, announced recently. Included in the display will be a soil exhibit and a conservation information program, including a presentation of color slides. Information booklets will be available covering a wide range of subjects. Christine Konnick, last year’s Parade of Progress Queen will be present on Friday from 7:30 pm, to 9:30 p.m. as Luzerne County Conservation Queen. Ham 'n Yegg Club Open for Members The Ham 'n Yegg Club has been considered an important part of the Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction since the club was started many years ago by Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks, editor emeritus of the Dallas Post, and the late Bill Moss, one of the auction’s most devoted = workers. Those residents who join the club have been considered a select group of people supporting the library. By contributing a check for $10, a person can experience the feeling of personally supporting the Back Mountain Memorial Library and becoming a member of the Ham ’'n Yegg Club. According to Bill Um- phred, chairman of this year’s auction, it is considered an honor to be called to the colors of the club. - To quote a letter to area residents, once written by Mrs. Hicks, ‘You can write a check for $10 and mail it to the Library. Then you can sit back on the last night of the Auction and listen to the song of the auctioneer with a light heart.” Once again, letters asking for membership in the club have gone out to area residents, asking for support of the Library Auction, which is sche- duled for July 6, 7, and 8. Noxen, died at Lawton. Twenty Years Ago 1953 Twelve-year old Jimmy Kelly, Dallas, was in fair condi- tion after being struck by a car minutes before the beginning of the Little League parade in Fernbrook. Linda Hetrick was named valedictorian and Beverly Louise Colwell, salutatorian at the Westmoreland High School; Theresa Burnat, valedictorian and Donald Glas, salutatorian at Lehman, and Lena Misson, valedictorian and Irene Schultz, salutatorian at Dallas Town- Chris Drapiewski, Sweet Valley florist, was admitted to Mercy Hospital when he man- gled the fingers of his left hand in a power motor. Mrs. John Nelson Shaver, Dallas, completed plans to fly to Ireland after being away for 34 years. Died: Mrs. Ralph Frantz, Huntsville; Joseph Petrick 33, Dallas Township; Mrs. S. L. Seavy, 88, Dallas. Ten Years Ago 1963 Little League begins 13th sea- son at Dallas Township field. John Jeter, Dallas Borough engineer, received an award from Wilkes College. Lake-Lehman School District had classes Memorial Day be- cause of the delayed start in September. Heavy frost wiped out the local tomato crop. Valley Tennis and Swim Club, Harris Hill Road, Trucksville announced their opening May 30. : Dallas Post Office conducting a 1963 livestock survey. Three limbs on Lake Street caused a power failure for three hours to Dallas residents. Harveys - Lake Power and Light Company reduced rates to their customers. : Sixteen Lake-Lehman seniors named to the National Honor Society. Births: Lorey Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Art Coolbaugh, Dymond Hallow; Kathryn Ellen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Menzel, Applewood- Manor, Dallas; Denise Dawn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Harry Derhammer, Beaumont and Robert Welford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scouten, Noxen. Deaths: James Coulter, 71, Dallas; Glen Loveland, 64, Centermoreland. Supermarkets advertised holiday specials: hot dogs, two pounds for 97 cents; corn, 59 cents a dozen; radishes, two bunches for 13 cents; canta- loups, 39 cents each; ham, 35 cents a pound; rib steak, 69 cents a pound; shrimp, 59 cents a pound and lemons 45 cents a dozen. pickles, orange juice, milk. FRIDAY—No school. milk. TUESDAY—Pot luck a 2% Rx sauce, ice cream and milk. THURSDAY—Pot luck day. cake and milk. below. Passed, May 21. May 21. mative, May 23. programs of the NATIONAL AERONAUTICS and SPACE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers