Milford chronicle., 1962-10-05

observance, and has little religious Signifi-
canoe.
IDIOTS DELIGHT
Various commentators tell us that great
numbers of Americans are confused, and
even Indifferent, when it comes to consider
ing domestic problems and issues of this
time.
If that is true, there is every reason for
For instance, we anticipate a federal
deficit of something like Sc billion for this
fiscal year, and the figure could very well
run much more. At the same time, we are
told that before long there must be tax re-
duction and tax reform in order to spur
purchasing and investment in an economy
which is faltering. Then, to top it all off,
the government in certain areas at least, is
pursuing policies which, if successful and
continued. will discourage private invest
ment, will prevent the creation of new
sources of urgently needed tax revenue, and
tap the public till Officially known as the
Treasury of the United States) for more
millions for totally non-essential govern
ment projects.
If this seems an exaggeration, consider
current situation in Idaho.
The taxpaying, business managed pow
er company which serves the state has in
vested more than $500 million in taxable
property since the last World War. 1t has
plans for investing an additional $14O mil
lion over the coming five years. 1t is the
states largest taxpayer and if these plans
are cofsummated its tax payments-tO the
federal as we'll as state and local govern
ment-will materially increase.
But the governments Bonneville Power
Administration is considering selling some
of its power in a part of Idaho-on, of
fox> f,oo hos CO fha 70
utility's president has been forced to an
nounce that his company must abandon its
plans if this is done. He added that, if in
the past Bonneville had provided the facili-
ties his company has provided mot one dime
of additional taxable wealth would have
been created"
One question remains: How long can
wholly inconsistant national policies be en-
dured?
TOO OLD AT FORTY-FIVE?
A great deal has been said lately for
the advantages an employer might find in
of their working life. Still, there seems to
be many employers who are afraid to en-
ploy anyone except those who are in the
prime of their working life.
Some firms have even had a policy to
get rid of their employees when a certain
age is reached, unless that person is in the
higher eschelon of the operation of the
business.
The international Shoe Company tan
merry is generally considered as a reversing
factor in the general personnel practices
used by many other employers. For in
stance, recently a potential employee ap-
piled for job and was refused because he
was in his early forties. The tannery in
formed him that he was too young Their
policies required the personnel practice of
not hiring any worker who is under forty
fives years old.
This idea is the result of a vice-presi-
dent Mr.. r. H. Richards, who himself is
sixty-one years old, and is in charge OF
the tannery's operation. Mr.. Richards be-
lieves that industry will benefit when they
shake the taboo of not hiring men who are
over forty-five years of age.
Mr.. Richards says: at has been our
experience that older men are reliable, they
work well, they are easier to work with,
and, above all, have more mature judgment
than younger men,"
Under the tannery's present policy, en-
ployees may retire at sixty-fve and bene-
fit from the company's pension program, but
they do not have to-.
The local unions for the tannery do not
go along with the minimum age limit but
reluctantly admit that it is good for the old
men to have a place in which to get job.
With International's experience with older
men and their potential, the personnel ex-
perts of the day may face setback in
their present procedures.
There must be many places in industry
where older men serve as capably, if
not more so, than their younger counter
parts. With some effort, almost any indus
try should be able to utilize their older per-
sonnel to advantage.