,4 .The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, April 3, 1996 RGR via rly EDITORIALS = the pressure on National Utilities 5 At last, National Utilities, the rogue water company, has gotten what it deserves. The state Public Utility Commission last week asked that $5.1 million in fines be assessed against “the company, which has among its holdings several small water systems in the Back Mountain. Among them are systems at Oak Hill and Warden Place, complaints about which were “included in the evidence against the company. National Utilities’ shortcomings have been the subject of - _ongoing articles in The Dallas Post, as customers and munici- pal officials have brought forward a litany of complaints about poor service, poor quality, sloppy repairs and denial of respon- sibility for the problems the company has caused. Through it -all Joe Bontrager, the company’s president, has been acces- sible and cordial to reporters, even as he has blithely assured “us that everything was being taken care of. It wasn't. - Aside from endangering the health and safety of its custom- ers, National Utilities is charged with misusing $50,000 it ‘received in surcharges to customer bills, and falling behind in loan repayments to the state. Now, the company wants an average 49 percent rate increase, which, it says, will allow it to do all the things it has promised time and again, but failed to complete. And get this; the company’s costs to file a rate increase request are passed on to customers. Bontrager said last year that adds about $60,000, or $17 per customer. We've heard these promises before, and then we've learned that the repairs that were to be financed with higher rates were not completed. There is no reason to reward this irresponsible behavior any longer; if National Utilities wants more money from its customers, it must first prove it won't steal it. The only way that can be done is for the company to make improvements with its own funds first, and get paid back later. And if National Utilities is unwilling to do that, it should be forced to turn its Goerations over to a company that will treat customers fairly. Make middle school student's punishment fit their crime otc ag py It s wrong to possess marijuana. It's stupid to smoke mari- ana. It’s both wrong and dumb to get caught smoking the stuff at school. And the Dallas school administration has every right and reason to severely punish the two Middle School students caught doing that, but they must make the punish- nent fit the crime. ‘. Expulsion is one of the punishment alternatives available to the school, and while it may sound attractive in this era of tough talk about crime, it's probably the worst one. It makes little sense to banish teenagers from the place where they are likely to be most closely watched by people who know them best. Expulsion can take many forms, from home schooling to transfer to another school. Either of these options carries extra expense for the district, and does little more than punish without exposing the offenders to a lesson-inthe consequences of their behavior. It would be far better to send the pair for several weeks of community service with a drug rehabilitation program, where they could see firsthand the effects of drug abuse on the minds and bodies of users. At the same time, their conduct should be monitored closely, and they should be required to relate their observations to their peers alter the community service was over. This would seem to nl appropriate punishment for first-time offenses. If there's another occurrence, expulsion or stronger measures would be in order. po «= dg i Publisher's notebook Health care reform is in the news again, this time over proposals pushed by Republicans in the U.S. House. What began as a useful bill to make health insurance more affordable and accessible got sidetracked when special-interest amend- ments were added. The two most serious ones would do little or nothing for the typical citizen, but would be a windfall for the better off. One would limit damage awards for pain and suffering to $250,000, and ban suits filed more than two years after injury was discovered. That seems like a puny amount these days, and an unreasonable time limit. Suppose someone had surgcry, and discovered several years later that improper procedures had caused great harm? Even if they could prove it was unreasonable to expect the problems to surface in two years, they would have to go lo a great deal of extra expense to do so. That's not the worst amendment, though. That honor goes to “Medical savings account,” an IRA lookalike that would allow individuals to salt away up to $2,000 a year tax-free for use paying medical bills. Who, pray tell, would verify that this money was used properly, or would see that taxes are eventu- ally collected if not? This sounds a lot like the wording in the original home equity loan legislation that restricted tax deductibilty to money used for home improvement. It took about a week for everyone to [igure out that no one was checking, and now the loans are being touted for every purpose The Dallas Post Published Weekly By Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 717-675-5211 Charlotte E. Bartizek ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ronald A. Bartizek PUBLISHER Grace R. Dove REPORTER Peggy Young ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Paul Rismiller "PRODUCTION MANAGER Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER A ew en # 2) PRINTED WITH NIN” PENNSYLVANIA | SOY INK i NATIONAL NEWSPAPER NEWSPAPER Suburban horse, Dorchester Drive, Dallas..Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. As I was Jack Hilsher Almost 75 years ago a book hit the top of non-fiction best seller lists and stayed there. It was called “ETIQUETTE - The Blue Book of Social Usage” by a lady named Emily Post. I picked up a copy at the last Back Mt. Library Auction. It was almost 50 years old, (and inanamazing 77th print- ing!) and I thought that one day I might get a column out ofit. Sure enough, this is it... Why did Emily's labored and pretentious effort get to be such a hit? And on such a dull subject? Simply, to millions of Americans who wanted desperately to better themselves, the subject was not dull, it was a must, an answer lo dreams. Into the 20's came the automo- bile, the telephone, movies, prosperity...all these combined to cause a longing for a better life, and the need to know how to behave in that life. Mrs. Post held that knowledge of etiquette is es- sential to one’s decent behavior; its precepts must be so ingrained John W. Johnson Notes from all over: e Why is it that when a man acts in any way conceivably like a woman he’s called a wimp, but that when a woman acts, in par- ticular, dresses, in any way con- ceivably like a man she's called *chic”? e Should Michael New, the man who refused to wear United Nation's insignias, or follow United Nation's commanders, have been court martialed, and thrown out of the military? New's positon was that he swore an oath of allegiance to the U.S. constitu- tion, not to the UN charter. It would seem that, and while New's point of view is implistically valid, his argument also makes a dis- tinction without a difference. Our Constitution provides for com- mand of the military by civilian authority; in this case, the Presi- dent was acting with authoriza- tion of Congress to use U.S. troops on a foreign soil. Whether or not U.S. troops should be there—and they shouldn’t—is an entirely dif- ferent question from that of a soldier disobeying a lawful order. * With so many right-wing Re- publicans now dotting the politi- callandscape, doesn't it now seem that when listening to President Clinton, he has almost been forced into running against himself, the self which was elected President four years ago? Of course, that Emily Post: don't spit out the olives from your martini that one acts on instinct. Perhaps so. But it was still dull. The page on how to ask a girl for a dance for example goes like this: “She replies, ‘Yes, I'd like to very much.’ Alter the dance you say, ‘That was wonderful!’ She says thankyou casually, not seri- ously.” Who is Emily kidding? Today she couldn't sell book one. The restofherinstructions are just as painfully detailed: “If food is too hot, quickly take a swallow of water. Never, NEVER spit it out! If food has been taken into your mouth, no matter howyou hate it, you must swallow it. It is offen- sive to take anything out of your mouth that has been put into it, except dry fish bones and equally dry fruit pits. If you choke on a fish bone, cover your mouth with your napkin and leave the table quickly. To spit anything what- ever into the corner of your nap- kin is too nauseating to comment on. Well, Emily, I've got news for you. A guy named Erasmus of Rotterdam, a classic scholar in the Netherlands, said it back in 1530justas clearly and alot more succintly..."Ifyou cannot swallow a piece of food, turn around dis- creetly and throw it somewhere.” Of course he also covered some ground even you, dear Emily, would never dream of touching, like: “Do not move back and forth on your chair. Whoever does that gives the impression of constantly breaking or trying to break wind." Both Mrs. Post and Mr. Erasmus might be surprised to find they had ‘earlier groundbreakers in the etiquette field. In the 13th century one said, “A number of people gnaw a bone and then put it back in the dish - this is a serious offense.” From the 14th century: “You should not poke your teeth with your knife, as some do, it is a bad habit.” And the 15th: "Do not put back on your plate what has been in your mouth.” But I shouldn't poke any more fun at our Emily, after all she got herself into a dictionary entry (Post, Emily) and afterall I've been following some of her instructions without being aware of it. Like Olives in Cocktails (Page 501) “Drink the liquid and when the glass is drained it is easy enough to tip the glass and drop the small olive into your mouth. Since a “large olive is too much ofa mouth- ful, lift it out and eat it in two or three bites.” And don't forget, never, but NEVER spit it out! What color should pot sellers call the kettle? speaks more of the courage of the President's convictions than it does the quality of his opposition. ¢ Does it worry anyone else but me that two fifths of the world’s population is located in just two countries: China and India? e The so-called “Million Man March” on Washington was de- signed to demonstrate indepen- dence and responsiblity to a white culture generationally conditioned to perceive all black men as lazy, shiftless, drug dealing, lusting- after-white-women, bums. How- ever, the statistical facts are that, if you eliminate black crime, and crimes by black kids with guns from the overall crimes statistics, this country virtually has no crime problem. At the same time, the majority of the black crime and criminals involve the so-called (and futile) war on drugs, with more than 70 percent of all per- sons incarcerated at any level of government today being there because of drug related offenses....much of that being blacks selling drugs to whites. Sort of like the marijuana...er, the pot, calling the kettle black...er, white. e Basketball loudmouth Dick Vitale wants to start a league for NBA hopefuls; that is, people who don't go to college, but who can play the game, and be a source, other than college, for NBA pros- pects. Why not? The natural progression of college athletics to pro sports only came about be- cause white people controlled both in the beginning. e Did you know that this nation has spent more? And whether or not we wish to look this particular fiscal demon in the eye, unless we get Medicare and Medicaid costs under control, we are going to bankrupt ourselves. What does this really mean when it is the government which controls the money printing press? It means that, while we can control the money supply, we can- not control the belief and support for our economy by those in other countries whose faith and sup- port are vitally necessary in our interdependent economies. The key here is faith. If we, and those we do business with, continue to believe in our system, it will con- tinue to work. If we, and those with whom we do business per- ceive us as every more increas- ingly financially irresponsible, faith in the system evaporates, and without faith in the system, it collapses like a house of cards....regardless of the safe- guards built in after the Great Depression. ¢ How is it that the movie Seven—a film with grotesque physical and mental brutality— received an “R" rating, while Showgirls, complete with its sexual themes, received an “NC- 17"? For the same reason that the nation littered over Pee Wee Herman being arrested [or masterbating at a porno theater...places where such be- havior is encouraged, almost by definition. Ours is a confused, juvenile culture, seemingly bent on punishing itself with unreal- ity. If you missed The Post - you missed the news! ONLY YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - Apr. 10, 1936 FLEMING WINS COUNTY FORENSICS CONTEST For the second year Robert Flemming, a junior at Dallas Bor- ough High School, is champion of Luzerne County's student orators. Flemming attracted considerable attention last year with his fiery forensics, won the county boy's oratorical contest last Friday and then took first place in the, finals at Wyoming Seminary on Mon- day. A committee of three Dallas Borough Councilmen has been instructed to ask Works Progress Administration officials at Wilkes- Barre why work on borough roads has been delayed. Projects, on Pinecrest, Spring and Ridge Streets were halted by. cold weather. Councilmen believe the work should no longer be delayed. 50 Years Ago - Apr. 12, 1946 TEACHERS REQUEST PAY RAISE OF $3 PER DAY. Probing the possibility of ob- taining additional salary increases amounting to $3 a day or $540 annually, Kingston TowhsHhip teachers met with the Board of Education to study the school budget and determine whether the district is able to pay ‘more than the $100 increase which will be granted under state law. Di- rectors explained that township taxes will have to be raised at least 5 mills to take care of the $100 increase already graritéd each teacher in the new budget. The Orange School in Franklin Township was closed this week by an epidemic of mumps. -' The teacher, Mrs. Forrest Kunkle, also has them. 40 Years Ago - Apr. 6, 1956." POACHER SHOOTS RARE TRUMPETER SWAN Deputy Game Protector Peter Fritsky of East Dallas sadly dis: played the beautiful ‘and raré Trumpeter Swan shot last Friday afternoon at Huntsville Reservoir by a Luzerne poacher. By special permission of the Game Commis- sion the bird is being mounted and will be presented to the Back Mountain Memorial Library. J Improvement of traffic condi: tions on Machell Avenue in the vicinity of Gate of Heaven Church and school during peak periods, was asked by a group of Machell Ave. propertly owners at thetheet- ing of Borough Council Monday night. John Hildebrant said that it is impossible to get in or qut of the street because of two’ way traffic and improper parking. Leslie Bartstow, member of the parrish indicated one way traffic during peak hours might be a suggestion. “Unconquered” with GaryCoo! per and Paulette Goddard-now playing at the Himmler Theatre. 30 Years Ago - Apr. 7, 1966 HUNTSVILLE CHURCH HIT BY BURGLARS Burglars pillaged the Hunts! ville Methodist Church sometime late Monday night or early Tues- day morning. The intruders gained entry by breaking the kitchen door window, then pro- ceeded to ransack the church, strewing around what they did not steal. Abandoned for a year like the remains of some ancient temple, the new Harveys Lake Post Office has begun to rise once more. A new contractor has gamely taken up where the last one left off, One skeptical lake resident observed that he would not want to.be in the contractors shoes and have to guarantee the building after it had been allowed to sit out in open alter the past winter.’ Well over 1,000 books are al- ready on hand [or the Book Booth at the 20th Annual Library Auc- tionJuly 7, 8, and 9. Lastyear the booth netted over $800, the high- est amount ever realized during the auction. 20 Years Ago - Apr. 8, 1976 NEW GOSS RESIDENTS WANT 2ND ENTRANCE Ken Adams and Robert Parker, representing New Goss Manor: Homeowners’ Association, again approached the Dallas Township Supervisors at their monthly meet- ings and asked when something: final would be done about Or-! chard St. as a second entrance to’ Orchard View Terrace. -— a (} Ww 8
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers