e 2
3
Horse sense '
ERNEST V. JOINER
1
I hope every Oregonian will read the letter in this week's
Mail Pouch written by David Mayers, president of Amax
Pacific Aluminum Corp. If they do they will understand why
I wrote, when environmentalists frightened state and federal
legislators into creating a multiplicity of environmental
agencies, it meant the last in a long series of moves to
complete government's stranglehold on every business in
America. All business can now be directed and controlled at
the whim of a handfull of ribbon-clerks-turned-bureaucrats
in such powerful agencies as the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Hazard Agency
(OSHA) and Oregon's ow n contribution to hysteria over the
environment, the Environmental Quality Commission
1EQC1. Why it was necessary and desirable for Oregon to
jump into an area already preempted by the federal
government and set up rules and goals even more ridiculous
and stringent, has not been explained. But these agencies,
whose heads were elected by nobody and who are responsible
to nobody, can make or break any business in the United
States, as indeed they already have through their
unreasonable demands. Amax is an example of what
irresponsible bureaucrats, who break their word and change
ground rules at will, have done to one industry the state and
nation sorely needs. Too, the letter may serve to underline
the truth of Oregon's classic maxim, "Visit Oregon, but don't
stay." It has cost Amax $9 million and four years to find it
isn't wanted in Oregon. It matters little to the EQC that
Amax has met and exceeded all EPA guidelines in pollutant
emission or that it is depriving 1,200 families of jobs and an
annual payroll of $15 million. Environmental agencies have
crushed industrial production, created unnecessary short
'ages of strategic consumer goods, spurred inflation,
contributed to mass unemployment and weakened the
nation's productive capacity, heretofore the greatest on
earth and the prime reason for our national existence and
high standard of living. Drinking pure water and breathing
clean air must seem a strange compensation to the man w ho
has just lost his job and who cannot put food on the family
ahle. Maybe it's time to re-run the Horse Sense column of
Oct. 25, 1973. because it prophesied this turn of events.
One predictable event to follow the general election is
that Congressmen are moving quietly to increase their
salaries again, from a base of $42,000 to $58,400. or about 37
per cent. These are the folks who are so outwardly concerned
with inflation and rising costs, who make meaty speeches
about holding the line, resist price and wage increases and
tirgefjs noyo buy things we can do without. Well, Americans
JuJH fa PS resisting this increase in the price of politicians;
and. for a faqj. they're among the things we can do without
On theothef Jiand. there's hope. Sen. Carl Curtis (R Nebr.l
Jias introduced a bill, S. 3913, which would cut congressional
Salaries 10 percent. It wouldn't hurt to let Sen. Mark Hatfield
know that of the two proposals we prefer his support of S.
3913. And that would probably ruin his day!
The City of Baltimore, Md., had a great idea for curbing
trime. Last August it began a program of buying up guns for" ;
$50 each. The city also paid $100 to informants wtjo jgave tips ai
that led to confiscation of illegal firearms. After spending
more than $650,000 for the purchase of 13,500 handguns, rifles
and shotguns. Police Commissioner Donald D. Pomerleau
said the program was a success. He also announced that the
umber of gun-related murders has risen more than 50 per
$ent in the city since the gun-buying program began!
The Bible, of course, is concerned with eternity. But the
ord 'elernity" is mentioned only one time in the Bible.
Right or wrong?
Oregon's minimum wage, effective Jan. 1, is $1 75. Now
all the kids we couldn't afford to hire last year at $1 60 an
hour are not going to be hired this year at $1.75 a great way
lo get every body working again! . . . Oregon's 1974 traffic
death toll now stands at 666, an increase of 4'i per cent over
1973 which indicates the 55-mile speed limit may be saving
gasoline but not lives . . . Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
said last week that the U. S. "cannot rule out war" as a
section to its oil crisis. The next day he said he would not
nave made the statement if it had not reflected the
president's attitude. If we have to go to war in the Middle
East to get oil. we can thank first the environmentalists who
have for years held up the Alaskan pipeline, off-shore drilling
and domestic explorations for oil.
Woman's Lib has struck the Oregon State Fair.
Women's World," used for home economics displays since
1965. has a no-no name that must be changed. We have until
Feb. 14. Valentine's Day. to suggest a non-sexist name for the
exhibit building. Send your name to "Rename Women's
World Contest." State Fairgrounds, Salem, Ore. 97310. 1 don't
think my entries would stand a chance: Whoever's World or
The Wonderful World of Whatever. But your entry might win
you two tickets to the 1975 Fair Grandstand Revue. I'm too
us? trying to find an acceptable, non-sexist substitute for
Ihe pronoun "her."
There's a fellow in Hood River who ought to be president,
but never w ill be. because he has come up with the perfect
solution to the United States' current economic ills. Clyde
Kirby . manager of the Fruit Tree, suggests that since the
Arab nations have 20 per cent of the world s wealth at this
iime and will have it all by 1980, we should not discourage
'Arabs from investing in the U. S. Arabs have been trying to
buy I'. S. airlines, railroads, hotel chains, steel and
automobile industries, and have been rebuffed. Wrong, Kirby
argues. We should sell the Arabs as many of our industries as
they can handle. Let them operate the industrial giants for 10
years, then nationalize all their properties and send the
beggars back to the desert, broke, with the seat of their pants
dragging. This is precisely the procedure other nations use
on the United States Nationals, and get away with it. We have
become so accustomed to having U. S. property confiscated
by foreign governments that our own government doesn't
evea bother to protest any more. The procedure is legal, it is
sanctioned among the "emerging nations" to which we
kow-tow, it has been approved by the United Nations, and it
has been used by the Arab world against us. And if the
blighters want to fight about it, they'd have to come over here
to do it instead of us (as Mr. Kissinger and our fun-loving
president suggested last week) having to go over there and
take Arab oil by force. If the Arab world could mount an
invasion, they still wouldn't have anything to wager war
with because we'd have it all!
t
prepared
Heppner, Ore., Gazette-Times, Thursday, Jan. 9, 1975
quoteunquot. Mayor of Hardman
"What common-sense man , "
Walk Softly And Rattle A Small Sabre
in his right mind would accept
the UN General Assembly as
having any binding force, or
any moral force for that
matter, on anybody?. . . Why
in the world should any
sensible person give A damn
what some spokesman for
cannibalistic tribes or slave
holding nomads thinks about
nuclear tests?" James
Rurnhnm, "Suicide of Ihe
West." I4
"The purpose of education is
not happiness; it is not social
integration, or political sys
tem. Its purpose Is at once the
discipline of the mind for its
own sake: these ends are to be
achieved Ihrough Ihe mastery
nf fundamental subjects w hich
cluster around language and
number, the two chief instru
ments by which man knows
himself and understands his
relation to the world," Allen
Talo. address. University of
Minnesota
"The ultimate result of
shielding men from the effects
of fully is to fill the world with
((Mils."- Ilerlicrt Spencer,
"Social Statics"
"Nobody is needy in the
market economy because of
the fad th, it some people are
rich The riches of (lie rich are
nl Ihe cause of Ihe poverty of
anybody. The process that
make some people rich is. on
the contrary, the corollary of
the process that improves
mam peoples' satisfac
tion "- l.udwig Von Mises.
economist
The mail pouch
EDITOR:
I am writing to you regarding a critical turn of events
concerning our Warrenton aluminum plant project, and
specifically to protest the arbitrary action of the
Environmental Quality Commission in changing the rules. In
effect, the EQC" is moving the goal posts back.
Four years ago Amax Pacific Aluminum Corporation was
invited into Oregon, and was given every encouragement to
proceed w ith plans to build an aluminum plant at Warrenton.
Gov. Tom McCall extended a welcoming hand, and other
state and local officials were generous with assistance. v-
Knowing of Oregon's outstanding record for preserving
liveahility. Amax Pacific determined that it would build an
aluminum plant that would be the cleanest in the world and
': completely compatible ith the state's environmental goals.
Amax Pacific designed its plant operation so as to
recirculate the water, and have zero discharge of process
water into any waterway.
On air quality, we proposed installation of a new dry
scrubber system which would capture and recycle most of
the fluorine, limiting fluorine emissions to not more than 1.5
pounds per ton of aluminum produced. ,
By comparison the federal Environmental Protection
Agency was proposing discharge standards of 2.2 pounds of
fluorine per ton of aluminum, and existing aluminum plants
on the Columbia River are emitting many more pounds of
fluorine per Ion
The EQC. however.- set Ihe state standards at 1.0 pounds '
per ton. which their spokesman. Ron Sommers, admitted
recently were "the toughest in the world." Amax Pacific
immediately undertook an intensive research and develop
ment effort to determine if technology could be developed to
meet the new standard.
After eight months of work and considerable expense, we
determined that with an efficient collection system and by
using both dry and wet scrubbers, we could meet the Oregon
standard. Data supporting our revised application indicated
w e expected to operate the plant at about one-third of a pound
of fluorine emitted per ton of aluminum produced.
The EQC now proposes to set the emission standard for the
plant at zero, making operation of the proposed plant
impossible, citing fears of damage to the estuary.
The great weight of scientific evidence shows that such
fears are without foundation. The facts are these:
The Columbia River and the Youngs Bay estuary both have
a natural fluonde content of approximately 0.2 parts per
million. By comparison, sea water contains about 1.2 parts
per million, and the cities of Astoria and Warrenton both add
fluorine to bring their drinking water up to about 1.0 parts per
million for tooth decay prevention. '
If all of the fluoride emitted from the Amax Pacific plant
ended up in solution in the Youngs Bay waters, the fluoride
content of the water in Youngs Bay would be increased by
0.onu7. This is an infinitestimal amount.
Competent marine biologists and fishery experts from
Beak Consultants and from Oregon State University agree
that emissions from the Amax Pacific plant will not harm the
organisms in Youngs Bay. The EQC has not made a similar
scientific study of the possible effects on the estuary at this
date.
The power BP A will supply to the Amax Pacific plant has
been another political football. According to our consultants
the operation of the Amax Pacific plant at Warrenton would
have little impact on the overall supply of electrical energy in
Oregon. Should Amax Pacific not be permitted to build, we
understand there is no assurance such block of power would
be allocated to other Oregon users, but would probably revert
to the priority users in the State of Washington and
neighboring states.
The Amax Pacific plant will be a major economic benefit to
Oregon at this time of recession and high unemployment.
Inflation and the cost of pollution control equipment have
increased to over $300 million the planned investment for the
Warrenton plant. The construction labor force will be about
1,000 the first year of construction, 1,800 the second year.
The employment impact of the plant will be about 1,200,
with 775 jobs at the plant and another 425 secondary jobs in
support trades and services. The combined annual payroll
will be about $15 million.
If Oregon did not want the Amax Pacific plant it should not
have encouraged us in the first place. Forcing Amax Pacific
to abandon its project at a cost of more than $9 million by an
eleventh hour unsubstantiated change of standards, does
nothing to enhance the State of Oregon's image. One can only
ask how successful the State Economic Development
Department will be in the future in attracting new business
enterprise to locate in Oregon. Certainly, the American
concept of fairness and ethics demands that this matter be
resolved in a manner equitable to all concerned.
DAVID MAYERS, president
Amax Pacific Aluminum Corp.
Warrenton.
EDITOR:
Enclosed is a check for a short subscription to the Heppner
Gazette-Times.
In 1906 my parents and Ihe children hamsieaded near
Eightmile. but left there later In 1929 I worked near
Hardman. on or between Ihe forks of Rock Creek on a sheep
ranch. Mahoney and John Kelly In the winter of 1937-38 I
helped Andy Baldwin on his transfer truck, and on Feb. 19.
19 . 1 hired out to Ihe Monahans as night shedman at their
lambing camp near Heppner Junction.
I left there w hen the job w as done and went to Montana and
worked on sheep outfits for several years, then I got sens
enough to come out here on Puget Sound w here Ihe weather is
milder.
I'm retired now withf ilenty of lime to read, so please send
the paper.
CLARENCE E. LAND.
Snohomish, Wa.
EDITOR:
Some time ago you expressed in your "Horseflesh" or
"Horse feathers" or otherwise horsey column your disdain
for Ihe man who combed his hair over a bald spot on his bean.
I have always been rankled by this remark, because, as an
almost baldy myself. I would like to know where in hell to
comb the lingering few hairs. Any port in a storm, I say, A
dissident reader.
GLENN HACK
Reedley.Ca.
EDITOR:
Head for the hills while there's still time! You've just
added 28 years to Ihe ages of Ihe young ladies pictured in
"Who And Where."
The picture was printed in the Gazette-Times, June 15. l7
issue. The young people were 4 H Club members from
Morrow County, and the picture was taken at the 1967
Summer School session the week of 1117.
The names are. front row: Julie Ayres (your print shows
only part of her dress I. Denise Bloods worth, Kathleen
Sweeny. Mania Young. Kristine Peterson, Kristin Nelson.
Maureen McElligotl. Gwen Drake and Debby Warren.
Second row: Leonard Munkers, Linda Early, Linda Cooper,
Cindy Harsin. Susan Melby, Sherri O'Brien, Ruby Fulleton.
Tanya Tucker. Vicky Hobbs. Mrs. Marjorie Wilcoxen. Third
row : Mrs. Bessie Kerlin, Sandi Carlson. Larry Pettyjohn,
Kerry Peterson. Jill Padbcrg. John Hall. Dave Hall, Melvin
Ashbeck and Leon Wilson.
PEARL P. KRUSE,
Portland.
(Ed. Note That's where we're printing this Issue of the
paper from the hills! The "correct" picture is being
published this week.)
r r
' "IVe Said All Along That
The Fords And Rockefellers Were
Gonna Wind Up Running This Country!'
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
You hear a heap of talk this time of yrnr About paying bills.
Folks Hint relaxed cause Ihey had all them credit cards arore
Christmas now is gitting the other half of Ihe message.
Deficit spending. Ihey are finding out. catches up with
people sooner and Guvernment later. I saw that one of the '
most popular games this year was a old one, Monopoly,
where you use play money to wheel and deal. I reckon if folks
can't do it fer real they enjoy pretending more, like we use lo
go lo see a south sea island moving picture in Ihe winter and
come oul refreshed.
Bui Ihe feller that runs Ihe store was looking at them bills
from the oilier side of the counter. He told the fellers at the
session Saturday night thai his big headache now is how lo git
folks to pay what's on his books. They ain't no debtors
prisons, he allowed, and general the cost of going to court is
more than the bill. . ,
He said little slores are hit worst cause them big chain
outfits don't five credit in Ihe first place, and in the second
place they un't lake no checks thai ain't backed up with
cverthing from birth certificate lo Social Security number. '
He said one place his old lady went afore ChriKtmas even
made a picture of her and her check, - '
What he's thinking about, the store feller said, is running a,
big notice in Ihe paper about all the deadlnntls on his books.
The first week he'll warn folks that owe him that the next
week he's going lo run all their names in Ihe paper. He said
he looked into it and he was told he might run into some legal
problems with holding a man's debts up lo public notice. He
says he probable won't run Ihe second ad if the first one gits
folks as shook up as he thinks it will.
Ed Gouty, fer one, didn't give Ihe feller thai runs the store
much Chanel with his plan. Folks that won't pay honest debts ;
to their neiglilnirs is powerful hard lo make ashamed of
anything. Ed allowed, and oncl Ihey git far enuff behind lo
take their credit business to another store you have lost em
forever. And with them revolving paymunt plans they got at '
the big stores, by Ihe lime they gil Ihrough spinning at tin
first of Hie month Ihey ain't nothing left fer the little bills
General cuking. said Ed, them revolving plans has got a
hook Ihe customer can't shake. If he skips two pay muni they
come gil his color TV. and if he missed one out goes his lights
When a feller has got Ihe benofil of $50 ad and w hen he has
eat the groceries, it s a heap harder fer him lo find a place fer
Idem hills on his monthly list, was Ed's words.
Talking alxuil bad debts, Ed said he alius heard that at the
end of the year companies write em off. The way be figgers
it. a company hasgni to make it afore (hey write it off As fer ' '
kiing business with neighbors. Ed said this junkyard owner
he knows won't credit his dcadU-al friends, he just gives em
parts so his wife won't gripe about writing it off
Yours Irulv,
MAYOR HOY.
What Epiphany
is all about
Twellth Night or Epi-phnny-Jan
It-mark Ihe end
l the , Christmas holiday
season
This is ihe traditional time
to burn Christmas greens, the
National Geographic Society
sa Jan fiis celebrated with
many other customs, rituals,
and. legend throughout the
Christian world
Epiphany seems In have
Ixvti observed in memory of
the baptism of Jesus long
before IhT. 2"i was celebrated
as Christmas, or Christ's
actual birthday. Epiphany
was first mentioned jn AD.
I'M Hy the -Ith century. Ihe
least of Epiphany was widely
accepted
In wh-century England.
Kmii Allred made Epiphany a
Savin fixture by decreeing
that Ihe Christmas season
should include Christmas day
and the 12 days following
When Charles II ascended
the throne, the Twelfth Night
cake was a standard tradition
along with the binning of Ihe
Christmas greens. One
chronicler reported : "Wee
had a great kake made in
which was put a beane for Ihe
king The kake was cut into
several pieces and all put into
a napkin, out of which every
one took his piece as out of a
lottery,"
According lo a Syrian le
gend, wild animals slay in
their dens and caves on
Epiphany Eve: at midnight
trees kneel in adoration of
Jesus and all wishes are
fulfilled.
The early Teutonic people
took a dim view of any Twelfth
Night revelry, They regarded
the season as a fearful time
when demons and spirits
prowled the earth. Al their
feasts, Ihey sacrificed food to
Ihe dead and drank to the
powerful god Wolan.
During till' Middle Ages,
Twellth Nmhi wiis com
memorated Willi play st.-.-ed
m churches Solemn oliser
v. im es lai k'elv lis;ti',ire u
Elizabethan England They
U.ne way In joyous revelry
and w.iss;nl. A popular song
echoed tlie spiril
Waail Wassail' all 'over
the tow n. ' - ""
Our tn.isi it is while, our ale '
it is brown
(tin Urn I it is made ol u
niaplui tree, " ;"
We lie good fellows all ' I
di ink to thee,
Shakespeare's "Twelfth
Niglti" reflects (he merry
mot! The play probably w as
fust presented in a command
K'rtiiriiianei- at Whitehall PuV
lace on J.m fi, 1 ui t . when
Queen Eli.ttieth entertained a
distinguished Italian guest,
the Duke of Urai-eiano,
Twellth Night ret els later ,
declined in popularity, but Ihe
customs ol feasting and stag-'
mt! masques still survive in, "
pai Is ol England
I .aim people regard Epi
phany as both a solemn ,
religious festiv al and the ,
tienmniiig of the pre -Lenten
carnival season. Mexico's
greatest pilgrimage is the
Epiphany inarch of the devout"
to theshrme of the miraculous
Lord ol Chalma in a valley ,
southwest of Mexico City
In present Christian iradi- '
lion. Epiphany, Greek for
"ape,'irance."hasa threefold (
meaning: ihe visit nft'th.e.
Three Wise Men lo Jesus,
being the first manifestlitliip;
of the newborn child as Savior
ol all;' His baptism; and
Jesus's first miracle in t hang
ing water to wine at the '
wedding feast of Canal' The',,'
three events supposedly.:
nirrcd on Ihe same , dale
though in different years. .
THE GAZETTE-TIMES
31
X
'
X-X
MORROW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER
' Box 337, Heppner, Ore. 97836
Subscription rate: $6 per year In
Oregon, $7 elsewhere
Ernes! V. Joiner, Publisher
Published every Thursday and entered as a
second-class mailer at the post office at
Heppner, Oregon, under the act of March 3, 1879.
Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon.
X-
x-.
JR.
X.
X
X-
-X-
-X
.
X
X
X.