anaheim-gazette 1958-07-24

EDITORIALS Kuchel Sponsors Air-Safety Bill A broad aviation bill establishing a new control agency to increase air safety, of which U. S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel of California is a co-author, has been passed by the Senate as an aftermath of recent airplane tragedies in California and other sections of the country. "We have taken a major step toward centralized regulation of flying and in the direction of reducing to a minimum chances of collisions in our heavily traveled airlanes," Senator Kuchel said after the Senate unanimously approved the legislation. "The reorganization of existing aviation regulatory bodies, which is in accord with special recommendations from President Eisenhower, is a long step toward the coordination which I have been demanding for many months. The need for this action has been glaringly apparent as we move closer to the all-jet era and as congestion in the skies over our major cities and on our principal air routes makes it painfully clear we are running out of space for all who want to fly." Complete Single Authority A single Federal Aviation Administrator would have complete authority under the new Kuchel-sponsored law to issue all rules and regulations for all aircraft operation. In addition, this official would have almost complete power — subject to certain appeals to the President in cases involving national defense — to determine the location of airports and rocket and missile bases as well as changes in existing fields. The Administrator would be responsible for investigating accidents and handing out penalties for violations of regulations. The bill would leave in existence the present Civil Aero- issue all rules and regulations for all aircraft operation. In addition, this official would have almost complete power—subject to certain appeals to the President in cases involving national defense—to determine the location of airports and rocket and missile bases as well as changes in existing fields. The Administrator would be responsible for investigating accidents and handing out penalties for violations of regulations. The bill would leave in existence the present Civil Aeronautics Board as the Federal agency for governing economic aspects of aviation, such as route certificates for airline operators, schedules, and rates. Unified Set of Rules "The big accomplishments if the House concurs and this bill becomes law will be to have a single, unified set of rules for all who fly," Senator Kuchel commented. "No longer would the military users of the air be a law unto themselves and a mechanism will be provided for setting aside different blocks of airspace for different uses. "This legislation will end the chaos which has resulted from a breakdown of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, the breath-taking expansion and development that has occurred in the past 20 years, the existence of numerous boards and committees dealing with different phases of aeronautics and aviation, and submergence of our regulatory machinery to the status of a mere bureau in a large department with scores of unrelated interests. "A companion bill is pending in the House and has received widespread support such as was registered for our Senate proposal. The President has called for action along the lines laid down in the Senate measure. Therefore, I am very optimistic that before this session of Congress is over, the United States will have a clearly-written, up-to-date, and meaningful bill that will come as close as is humanly possible to eliminating hazards due to congestion in America's airspace. This bill will give greater peace of mind to everyone who flies." More Bills to Increase Taxes Legislation which would make sweeping changes in present railroad retirement and unemployment insurance systems are being sponsored by railway labor groups. Senator More of Oregon is author of S. 1313, and H. R. 4353 was introduced by Representative Harris of Arkansas. A railroad employee paying the maximum is assessed by present law $21.88 per month. The legislation proposed would increase such employee payments to approximately More Bills to Increase Taxes Legislation which would make sweeping changes in present railroad retirement and unemployment insurance systems are being sponsored by railway labor groups. Senator More of Oregon is author of S. 1313, and H. R. 4353 was introduced by Representative Harris of Arkansas. A railroad employee paying the maximum is assessed by present law $21.88 per month. The legislation proposed would increase such employee payments to approximately $30.00 per month in June of 1959, and $36.00 per month by 1975. A $1 Million Dollar Tax Increase Railroads now pay about $290 million a year in retirement taxes. Under the proposed legislation this cost would be increased to $390 million. By 1975 the total would have reached $476 million annually. Railroads now pay three times as much in retirement taxes as do all other employers, including carriers in competition with railroads. The legislation proposed would increase the rail carriers' unemployment taxes to a point where they would be more than four times the amount of taxes paid by industries covered by state unemployment systems. Only five state unemployment systems provide a maximum weekly benefit as high as the proposed minimum. Railroad unemployment taxes for 1958 will be about $115 million. The proposed increase would add another $85 million. Freight Increase Would Be Needed Railroad labor contract commitments now existing, plus the proposed retirement and unemployment tax increases, would make the total railroad annual cost of business figure become $350 million more than it is in 1958. A 5% general freight rate increase would be required to meet this cost... Passage of these retirement and unemployment proposals hold more than nullify the relief being afforded the railroad industry through the Smathers-Harris legislation. Retirement System Amendments All annuities are to be increased by 10%. This is an national 10% above the 1956 similar increase, which was accompanied by a corresponding tax raise. These bills will increase the tax upon both employers and employes ½% on June 30, 1959. The current tax rate is 6¼%. If the rate goes to 8% in 1965, to 8½% in 1970 and to in 1975. The present tax is based on the first $350 of employee's monthly salary. The new rates are on employee ings of $40. There are other provisions liberalizing effits. Unemployment System Amendments Minimum daily benefits for unemployment or sickness would be at 60% of the last daily rate of pay. Present rate 0%. Maximum daily benefits would be $10.20. They are $8.50. The unemployment insurance tax is paid entirely the railroads. The rate would be increased from the rent 2½% on a $350 base to 4% on a $400 base. Numerother increased benefits are provided. YOUR LEGISLATOR AT WORK! rates by 1959-60, which would be greatly increased if the measure were approved. The committee was informed that the only way the 1,000 new residents who enter California every day can contribute to the state's welfare is through the sales tax. It was suggested to the committee that any net loss of revenue if the initiative were approved could be made up, either by increasing inheritance and corporation taxes, or by taxing food, which is now exempt. A Limit on Legislature One problem to which the attention of the committee was directed is that, if the measure were approved, the legislature would be limited to reducing the 5 - Anaheim Gazette Anaheim, Calif., Thurs., July 24, 1958 Anaheim Gazette Theodore B. Kuchel, Publisher Frank Hall, Managing Editor G. E. "Andy" Melleng Adv. Manager TELEPHONE Keytone 5-206 Published Thursday of each week at 359 East Center Street, Anaheim, California Entered as second class mail matter under the Act of March 2, 1878. All rights herein are reserved. creases it would make. Deprived of its authority to set tax rates, the legislature could only be new types of taxes to pay required costs for schools, wells and other state-assisted services. Seems as though the approration committees for the Seat and Assembly are going to bake a few problems as to state reruns to keep them busy in 1959 session. The Kellogg Bird Sanctuary near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Mich., is the largest of its kind in the world. LAW IN ACTION FAILURE TO PROSECUTE If you start to sue somebody, it is your duty, not your opponent's, to move your lawsuit right along. He needs only to keep up with you. If you don't move you may lose your case for "failure to prosecute." Of course, your opponent may be happy not to push you. But your failure to act promptly still might injure him: Favorable witnesses may die or move away; or key evidence may get lost or be destroyed. Your inaction after filing your suit may hurt your opponent by stopping the running of the statute of limitations. Finally, his fortunes may change during your prolonged delay. If he becomes poorer, you lose; if richer, he loses perhaps in a forced settlement to avoid the risks of litigation. The courts always could dismiss a case where the plaintiff dallied; but the law also gives specific grounds for dismissal. In three years after service summons but no response pleading; not starting the trial within five years after suit filed, or within three years after entry of order of trial or the date of filing of mittitur. An action can also be dismissed when an appeal from justice court to a superior court is not heard within three years from date of filing. The judge may dismiss the action also within two years after ruling, for failure to bring the action to trial. Courts must rid themselves of stale lawsuits that tend pile up and clutter our our California state constitution, the voters have specific reserved to themselves the legislative powers of the initiative and the referendum. In so far, they have carried out the triple stated earlier in that document that "all political power inherent in the people." California voters have freely exercised the powers they retain or themselves, and our condition and statutes bear abundance witness to their carving out their own laws. Sometimes, we legislators are confronted by some highly problems raised by initial proposals, but under the condition we must follow the will of the people as expressed at the interim committees are of help in enabling us to study active proposals in advance of being voted on, so that we determine whether any serious problems demanding legislation acton might result from adoption. The joint interim committee on tax problems has tentatively held hearings on an issue which, from the evidence presented, promises to be hotly revered before the election November. Should Reduce State Sales Tax be measure is one which proposes a three way change in our revenue law. First, it proposes to reduce the state sales from its present three per cent to two per cent. Second, it and cut the state tax income on individuals having a netable income of $5000 or less year, and on married couples such income of $10,000 or per year, in half, from the tent one per cent to one-half percent. Third, it proposes to raise the tax rates on all single incomes over $25,000 per cent the maximum being jump from six to 46 per cent. "A Democratic Base" opponents of the initiative Why swelter? Electricity cools a room for 5º a day Now comes the hottest part of the summer. Don't wilt and try to wait it out; play it cool! Your whole family will feel better, spend more happy time at home together, when you air-condition. (Seen the heat pump models? They cool now, heat in winter!) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Gadson COMPANY Get all the benefits of modern electrical living. Make sure the new home you buy is a Medallion Home. You live better electrically—for pennies! YES WE DO JOB PRINTING ...and at Satisfactory Prices WEDDING INVITATIONS WEDDING INVITATIONS DIRECT MAIL PIECES BOOKLETS AND FOLDERS OFFICE FORMS BUSINESS BUSINESS STATIONERY LETTERPRESS and OFFSET REPRODUCTIONS ANAHEIM GAZETTE JOB PRINTING DEPARTMENT 259 E. CENTER ● KEystone 5-2206