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THE FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - JAN. 4,-1973 -
mill 1 FORSYTH mill we
1 lib COUNTY niltVß
Established 1908
TONY MADDOX - PUBLISHER
PAUL BEEMAN - EDITOR
PAUL PLAGINOS - ADVERTISING MANAGER
Published every Thursday by The Forsyth County
News Company. Second Class Postage paid at: Post
Office in Cumming, Georgia under Act of March Bth
in 1897. Subscription rates in Forsyth and adjoining
counties, $4.12 per year, including State Sales Tax*
elsewhere, $5.16 per year.
*
107 DAHLONEGA ST. CUMMING, GEORGIA...
887-3127 30130
Editorial page
Step to the rear
There is no better existing answer to orderly growth than
adequate, competent and responsive planning and zoning, Fpr
syth County is growing and growing fast and there isn't any
way to stop it. The best we can hope to do is control ‘that
growth so that when it’s • all over and things settle down, we
aren't left in an eye-polluting damnable mess. The means
to such an end have existed. Cumming and Forsyth County
have a joint planning board comprised of representatives
from both the city and county. Their role is advisory only
with the final say so left up to the city or county governments.
The non-paid planning board members give up their time
just so their opinion can reach those who make the ultimate
decisions. But somebody is messing with that planning board.
Commissioner Lanier Bannister led a move Tuesday to sepa
rate the city and county representatives for voting purposes
even though the votes are not binding and are only advisory.
No question about it. It is a regressive move. The citizens
of Cumming have a stake in Forsyth County. They pay taxes
to the county and depend on its roads and other services.
The citizens of Forsyth County likewise have a stake in their
county seat even if they live outside its Corporate limits.
Any thing less than the fullest spirit of cooperation between
city and county is not enough. Bannister tells us that he has
not the time to carefully examine each of the zoning pro
posals.
We hold no sympathy for those who choose to seek public
office and upon winning complain about not having enough
time. Planning and zoning boards are the type of thing that
function best when allowed to function Independently. Each
commissioner can make his appointment and after that sit
back. Each commissioner should weigh the vote of the entire
planning board as well as the vote of his own appointee. Any
thing less is little more than an auxilliary board of proxy
voters and becomes effectively useless. Bannister may be
right in urging the limitation of land speculators and devel
opers on the board. But the city never had a chance to agree,
It seems. Mayor Ford Gravitt told us that the county commis
sion through Bannister put it in simple terms. Change the
rules to suit them or they are no longer in the game. Gravitt
said he would have liked to have sat down with the new county
commissioners and talked about it before the decision was
made. But the county did not meet with the city, the decision
•was made and the county is wrong. They are wrong because
the action without ample discussion is not justified. They
are wrong because there is no harm in getting the most po
ssible opinions on any matter and they are wrong because
they are about to cause a split where cooperation is needed
badly. At the same time their action will serve to take away
the voting rights of county representatives on city zoning
matters. It’s just not the kind of split Forsyth County needs.
Not at all
“No fault” makes sense
The divorce law, here in Georgia, is a long drawn-out
procedure. According to a Superior Court judge, Georgia
needs to change it.
At the next session of the Georgia General Assembly, it is
likely that a *‘no-fault”‘ divorce will be considered. In a pre
vious session a divorce bill, similar to the latest proposal,
did not make it out of a committee.
We see no earthly reason why a legal contract of marriage
should be any more stringent than the cancelling of other legal
contracts.
We are not in any way reflecting upon marriage as a religious
rite. We are not in any way reflecting upon marriage as a high
institution. We are talking about law, Georgia's too complex
divorce statutes.
Other judges agree. Judge Marion T. Pope Jr. said, “when
all of the general objectives of a marriage have been destroyed”
between two parties, there isn’t any need to make the process
any longer than necessary.
We encourage our Georgia Senators and Representatives to
support the “no-fault” divorce bill.
THE FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS
WELCOMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
LETTERS MUST BE SIGNED AND MUST
NOT EXCEED 200 WORDS IN LENGTH
SIGNATURES MUST ACCOMPANY ALL
LETTERS. BUT WILL BE WITHHELD UPON
REQUEST
LAKE LANIER LEVELS
Wednesday, Dec. 27, 1972 1064.90
Thursday, Dec. 28, 1972 1064.95
Friday, Dec. 29, 1972 1 065.05
Saturday, Dec. 30, 1972 1065.11
Sunday, Dec. 31, 1972 1065.28
Monday, Jan. 1, 1973 1065.44
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 1973 1065.55
PAGE 2
SENSING THE NEWS
THE CONTROLS ARE KELP
No one was surprised when the Nixon administration an
nounced that it would seek an extension of a wage and price
controls beyond next April 301 For some time it has been
clear that the controls will be a feature of the American
economic scene for a long time to come. In fact, one of for
mer President Lyndon Johnson’s economic advisers, in a
recent speech at the University of Virginia, predicted that
the controls would be in effect for many years.
That’s precisely what the Southern States Industrial Coun
cil predicted when the controls were instituted in August
of 1971. The SSIC was outspokenly opposed to the controls,
arguing that they would be Ineffective. THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL recently took the same position, saying that con
trols “have never worked yet, and they were first Invented
by the Emperor Diocletion.” Neverless, controls have a
powerful attraction for politicians who are unwilling to ad
minister the unpalatable economic medicine which a sick
economy requires. In the case of present-day America, the
necessary treatment would Involve massive cuts in govern
ment spending and the ending of union restrictions on pro
ductivity.
The Nixon administration has lost a real opportunity in
not calling for abolition of wage and price controls. The
Eisenhower administration ingerited controls imposed by
the Truman administration, but President Eisenhower had
the political fortitude and economic common sense to junk
the controls. Originally, it should be recalled, President
Nixon said he did not want the power to impose controls
when Congress first gave it to him. But then he reversed
himself. Administration spokesmen still speak of controls as
.“temporary” and “short-lived,” but such comments aren't
creaible in view - of tKe admirilsfration call for an extension
of the economic restrictions.
And now Mr. Nixon finds himself in the curious position
of being praised by Sen. Edward Kennedy for having imposed
controls. In a recent speech on the West Coast, Sen. Kennedy
hailed the President for “his willingness to set aside a
prior position,” adding that “we know that the wage-price
freeze of 1971 was right.”
In his career, Sen. Kennedy has made one thing perfectly
clear; he stands for a controlled economy. Thus it is dis
turbing to find the Nixon administration on Sen. Kennedy's
side of the fence. Union leaders, of course, long have suppor
ted the concept of controls. They simply want stronger con
trols than now exist—controls which drastically limit the
right of buliness to operate. For example, Leonard Wood
cock, president of the United Auto Workers, wants a control
system in which companies that allegedly set prices in any
industry would have to go before a review board before mak
ing any price Increase—and justify the increase sought.
But a number of prominent businessmen also bear a mea
sure of the responsiblity for the controls system which may
be saddled on our free enterprise economy for the rest of
this decade, if not longer. They hailed President Nixon's
original wage price controls order. This was shortsighted in
the extreme inasmuch as, in the words of THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL, the country is “stuck with a program that in the
long run cannot work.”
“The powerful unions are determined not to be bound by
the controls system, and they bootleg the increases they
want. Coalminers, for example, have won increases will a
bove the 5.5 per cent Pay Board standard. Major union con
tracts expire this year. It will be interesting to see whether
the administration will stand firm against settlements which
violate the pay increase standard or whether some conven
ient “out” will be found for the unions. Meanwhile, a liberal
Congress is likely to tighten the profit margin rules for
business. Existing rules already force many businessmen into
the absurd position of having to use their managerial skills
to prevent profit Increases above the allowable level—a
• fantastic situation in a country supposedly based on the pro
fit motive.
While McGovernism is dead under that label, the country
is bound to hear much more about “distributive justice”
from the union forces and from advocates of all-out control
systems. -In. the end, therefore, businessmen who applauded
wage and price controls helped to promote an increasingly
socialistic critique of our country’s economic system. This
is what happens, to be sure, when people retreat from eco
nomic principle and support. the temporary application of
economic devices which are contrary to the spirit of the free
enterprise system.
It is all the more important, therefore, that believers in
free enterprise protest anew against controls which retard
the free working of the economy. Controls are incompatible
with economic freedom.
Ecology—And .A Look At Ourselves
The current emphasis on our environment is justified.
Americans have finally awakened to the fact that our en
vironment is in danger—and must be saved. We’re con
cerned with air pollution, water pollution and noise
pollution. We’ve discovered that we must protect en
dangered animal species before they become extinct. We
are aware of preservation of forests and streams.
Let’s be equally concerned about people. As we’re
caring for our environment, we’re neglecting our own
good health. As a result, the majority of Americans are
not enjoying optimum health. Fatigue and sluggishness
are thought to be the products of polluted air; nervousness
is attributed to our fast-paced lifestyles. Sadly, obesity
is considered a mark of the “good life,” perhaps for the
gourmet who has achieved success.
Like our lives, our bodies are constantly changing.
Through a process called mitosis, the body reproduces
three billion cells per minute. Should we not be concerned
with ourselves and our health? Should we not look to
body-building foods, those which offer nutrients we need
for optimum health? If we are thoughtful of ecology, we
must think of ourselves as well.
Well-balanced meals are a must in this busy age. In
spite of food budgets and time limits, proper nutrition is
relatively simple. The U. S. Department of Agriculture
suggests the Basic 4 Food Groups as a daily guide to re
duce food costs and minimize preparation time. Two serv
ings of meat, fish, poultry or eggs should be consumed each
day. Four or more servings of vegetables and fruits and the
same amount of breads and cereals are necessary. Milk, in
cluding cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream and ice cream,
is especially important. For children, three to four cups
are required. For teens, serve four or more cups. Adults'
need two or more cups. Luckily, balanced meals can be as
delicious as they are nutritious.
People are concerned with ecology. People also should
be concerned with people. Let’s enjoy optimum health
with good nutrition. Only then will we realize “the
good life.”
By Anthony Harrigan
JACK ANDERSON'S
WEEKLY
SPECIAL
WASHINGTON-The Su
jreme Court may soon issue a
ruling that could revolutionize
jpublic service advertising on
[television and radio.
In the past, public service
ads rarely have gone beyond
the rumblings of Smokey the
Bear or the antipollution
appeals of Woodsy the Owl
But the days of the soft-sell
in public service ads may be
numbered For 14 months
environmental and consumer
activists have been pressuring
TV and radio stations around
the country to run tougher ads
in the public interest.
Many ads have actually been
prepared but rejected by TV
and radio stations. One ad
prepared a vear ago had ihe
.Rev. Billy Graham advis
ing consumers not to buy
phosphate detergents. A
nother more recent ad has
actor Burt Lancaster hurling
broadsides at the drug in
dustry.
In his ad. Lancaster takes
several drug companies to
task for peddling aspirin that
is unrecommended and over
priced. Lancaster advises
bluntly:"Next time you get a
headache, use your head and
buy the cheapest aspirin vou
can find. "
Station managers are under
standably reluctant to run
such ads free of charge. But
even when consumer activists
have offered to pay to get the
ads on the air, the men behind
the media have turned thumbs
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Having a fantastic time is living a fantasy.
The wonders of a fantasy land amount to an
exhilarating ride and joyful smile for Paula
Pfeifer #
Paula, 5,
of Tulsa, Okla., is the 1973 National Poster
Child for the March of Dimes.
Leaving the pleasure steeds of the merry
go-round, she has another good time “squeezing
the weeze,” as Bozo the Clown calls it, of
two of the park’s best loved citizens. And Mickey
Mouse and Happy obviously are enjoying it too.
Paula, who was born with open spine,
hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and club feet,
represents some 250,000 children born every
year with birth defects in the United Stater.
She is a bright, active girl who walks well, and
can even run. This fall she entered kindergarten.
THE NATIONAL\FOUNpATION/MARCH Of DIMES, BOX 2000,'WHIT* PLAINS', tjtßtt YOQK 10*02
down.
The Supreme Court, how
ever. may compel the stations
to run the ads. Before the
Court are basically two ques
tions: Does the first amend
ment apply to broadcasters
and. if so. does it allow broad
casters to ban controversial
ads?
Indications are that the court
will rule in favor of the con
sumer groups. If so. we may
all soon be seeing Burt Lan
caster giving the drug indus
try headaches.
Footing the Bill -
The Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts has discover
ed a unique way to handle its
enormous construction cost
overruns.
Kennedy Center executive
board members, who for
months had been frantically
searching for funds to pay the
center's debts, finally arrang
ed last fall for the center to be
made a United States agency
A confidential memo of a
recent board meeting outlines
the details. The memo states.
‘The Department of Justice
has now determined that the
(KennedyI Center is a ‘United
States agency.'
This means, according to
the memo, that the Justice
Department will now "deal
with the matter of unpaid
construction costs and delay
damage claims from the
general contractor...and some
24 subcontractors." The memo
adds: “Unpaid construction
costs and damage claims total
about $4.5 million."
The official memorandum
also describes the reaction of
the Kennedy Center trustees.
The trustees, says the memo,
“were in a high state of elation
when they heard the news.’
Small wonder. Not only will
the Justice Department settle
the $4.5 million construction
debt, but the U.S. Park
Service will shell out another
$2 million to pay for main
tenance and other operating
costs. .
The Kennedy Center may be
for the arts, but there is
nothing refined about the price
tag.
Down on Henry _
Chinese Premier Chou En-lai
apparently has changed his
mind about Henry Kissinger.
In the past. Chou has praised
Kissinger to visitors foe- his
role in negotiating the detente
between Washington and Pe
king. But recent visitors have
reported that Chou is dis
appointed in Kissinger over
his handling of the Vietnam
truce. This could hurt Chiryse-'
American relations.
Meanwhile, in Washington.
President Nixon and Henry
Kissinger are keeping such
tight rein on the Vietnam
truce negotiations that the top
State Department experts
don't know for sure what s
going on. The more they learn,
however, the more appalled
they are. One lop expert told
us that Kissinger tried to
handle too much by* himself
without the strong support he
should, have requested from
the State Department. With
the proper back-up. they say.
he could have avoided the
imprecise language that has
led to a breakdown in the
talks.
As for the impact of the
homhing on the North Viet
namese. intelligence reports
claim that Hanoi correctly
anticipated that President
Nixon would renew the bomb
ing of Hanoi. As early as
nil
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.
December 4, according to the
intelligence reports, they
started evacuating schoo
children from Hanoi.
, Around the U.S. -c
U.S.MEDICAL CRISIS-
Medical bills have been sky
rocketing so high that the
public is demanding action.
We have received complaints
from middle-class working
people, who have spent their
whole lives saving up a small
retirement nest-ejgg only to
have their entire savings
wiped out by a 60-minute
operation by a high-priced doc
tor. We have heard from citi
zens in remote areas out West
as well as minority groups in
the inner cities. All complain
that they "are cut off from
adequate medical service.
President Nixon, we’ve learn
ed. will soon propose the
establishment of a paramedi
cal corps to provide emergency l
help to ghettos and remote
communities.
BUCKLEY FACING AXE- !
William Buckley 's popular TV
show Firing Line has only one
chance in 10 of retunning to
public television next fall.
Buckley got the word per
sonally from his friend Henry
Loomis, chairman of the Cor
poration of Public Broadcast
ing. last w’eek. According to a
recent survey, more than a
hundred program directors of
educational stations around
the country rate Buckley's
show "essential" to their pro
graming. But Buckley, out ot
favor in the White House, is
considered “too much a per
sonality." according to Re
publicans who control CPB
purse strings.
UNPUNISHED POLICE
MEN - A spot check of police
brutality cases at the Justice
Department reveals what
could be a disturbing trend.
Over the last year, the FBI
has referred more than 200
cases to the Justice Depart
ment. but the Justice Depart
ment informs us it has suc
cessfully prosecuted less thtfn
a half dozen of these cases.;