Springfield Union, Springfield, Friday, March 5, 1971 Tax Bill Faces Senate Test O'Brien Advocates Tightening Welfare I BOSTON The head of the legislative commission which probed welfare ad. ministration in Springfield sought support of the commission's recommendations before a mittee hearing Thursday, Rep. John P. O'Brien, D- Springfield, chairman of the commission, which filed its final report Monday, apSpeared at a hearing of the Joint Committee on Social Welfare as it took up a number of welfare bills. The recommendations also backed by Reps.
Steve T. Chmura, D-Ludlow, Robert J. McGinn, D. Westfield, James A. Adams, 3-Westfield, Rudy Chmura, Springfield, Vernon R.
Farnsworth, R-Longmeadow and William I. Kitterman, D. Pittsfield. at 4They would: Establish a central agency and regional distribution centers for commodities given welfare recipients, including clothing and furniture, so the Kems could be bought cheaply in bid lots rather than bought from stores Ridividually by recipients. Direct the state Department of Welfare to pay rent and public utility charges of delfare recipients directly to Landlords and utility.
firms, leaving the payments to recipients, themselves. Require persons collecting welfare benefits to to the Division of Employment Security to seek fobs. Transfer the Fraudulent Claims Board from the DPW to the office of Atty. Gen. H.
Quinn. 20 Brien told the committee the bills "would be a starting point in reversing the present trend of public welfare 'in Massachusetts." He said the transfer of the Fraudulent Claims Board would "put an end to welfare employes investigating welfare employes." "We also feel that employing some state police in this new division will give the fraud squad the necessary teeth to crack down on this serious fraud that has been brought forth in the past year," O'Brien said. A bill to replace the present welfare system with an "annual income supplement" would reduce the present state expenditures for public welfare from $900 million to $640 million a year, Rep. Robert A. Belmonte, R'- Framingham told the committee.
"This plan. would encourage welfare recipients 10 work because they would continute to receive some welfare benefits until their income level (for a family' of four) reached $7,000 a year," Belmonte said. 1. Belmonte, Republican House whip, argued that his bill "would reduce welfare costs by about $260 million a year', increase benefits and give welfare recipients more rights." Rep. William D.
Kitterman, D-Pittsfield, urged the committee to favor his bill the Department of Public Welfare to pay rent and utility bills. directly to landlords and utilities instead of giving the money to the recipients. "I know of case after case in Pittsfield where welfare recipients just don't pay their landlord," he said. Hearing Jammed The hearing room was jammed to capacity. with welfare recipients to such an extent that the crowd spilled out into the hallway and down the corridor.
Remember How Tall the Grass Seemed Last Summer? Surveys Slide (UPI Telephoto) Gloria Nakamura looks over the edge of what at one time was a tennis court in her Pacific Palisades, backyard shortly after an earthslide altered the property line. Dump Truckers Denied Rates Hike by, PUC BOSTON -Department of Public Utilities Chairman William I. Cowin Thursday announced that the DPU had denied a request by the Construction Truck Owners Association for an increase in minimum hourly, and yardage rates. Cowin said the vote on the matter was 6 to with Commissioner Edward G. Seferian dissenting.
He said the vote ruled that the association had "failed to sustain. the burden of proving that cost increases were such' a nature that the minimum rates were inadequate to provide a reasonable return to an efficient operator." Cowin said the DPU also rejected the association's request that it adopt Connecticut rates. He said the department "noted that the Connecticut Public Utilities Commission had simply accepted filings of rates by truck companies without investigating the propriety of such rates." A Get a Power Mower 6.. Checkup Now Make Cutting Easier This Year Prevent Breakdowns Sears 7 Preventive Maintenance Cleaning, Checkup Make life little easier for yourself, Regular $14.95 prevent the frustrations of a operate mower or a non-functioning one! Come to Sears and get your power mower put in top operating condition. Parts Extra FREE 1-Gal.
Gas Can with Each Checkup Start the season with a clean gas can no rust or dirt that can foul up fuel system in your engine. WEST SPRINGFIELD SERVICE CENTER I Sears 42 Sears Way SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO. West Springfield By PHILIP D. BRUNELLE State House Reporter BOSTON Senate President Kevin Harrington, D-Salem, in dicated Thursday that the new state tax program, cut severely to $246 million in the House, faces more serious difficulties in the Senate. "Somewhat Difficult" "Based on my, cursory information," Harrington told newsmen at an informal press conference, "I would say it would be somewhat difficult to move any tax program through the Senate." He said he understood that "a substantial number of members in the Senate in the majority party do not intend to vote for any tax plan." Elaborating further, Harrington said he would "certainly" be "surprised if .21 Democrats voted for any tax proposal at least 10 Democrats are in opposition." He' said in a meeting Thursday with Gov.
Sargent he asked the chief executive if he had a "head count" from among the 10 GOP Senate members on their attitudes toward the tax plan, and. was told. that the governor has no such count as yet. Harrington indicated he did not agree, personally, with those senators who say they will vote no new taxes. "I don't think a person who, takes a position that he will' never vote for any tax is taking.
a responsible position," Harrington replied to a newsman's question. Harrington said that regardless of the outcome of the tax controversy, there "will be a growing demand for drastic administrative changes in welfare" in the state within the Senate. said he believed personally that with "dramatic and severe administrative changes a complete overhaul of the administrative structure of welfare, we could save as much as 10 per million annually." With regard to welfare fraud, Harrington said he. thought it had "been demonstrated by all those responsible persons who have been investigating welfare that the incidence of fraud is, if not minute, certainly. negligible in cost." The Senate president said he had set up a meeting of the Ways and Means Committee Monday at which the committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, Administration Commissioner Charles E.
Shepard and Taxation Committee Fiscal Expert Robert H. McOlain would review in detail the $64,8 million in House cuts to the original $311 million tax program, and their impact. Earlier, Ways and Means Chairman James Kelly, D-Oxford, said his committee, would. give "priority" in its executive session studies. to the tax plan.
Harrington told newsmen that. the "earliest possible" Sears ALL FROSTLESS 16.0-cu. ft. Coldspot Refrigerator-Freezer, time the. measure could hit the Senate floor for debate, amendments and voting, would be Tuesday, but he added "there is no guarantee" it will be out by then.
The measure met considerable trouble in the House, On Tuesday, after cutting the $64.8 million from it in amendments, the House killed the entire bill. But leadership moved sideration and postponed it overnight. combined pressure campaign. House Democratic and GOP leadership, Sargent. Massachusetts mayors and organizations, resulted in a 30-vote switch Wednesday which enabled the amended measure to pass.
1 $277 3. c' Frost never forms so you never have to defrost either the freezer or refrigerator section Space saving thinwall insulation Big 3.64-cu.. ft. freezer holds 127 has its own cold control Doors hinge to open either way. 3 14.8 Cu.
Ft. Side by-Side :1 5: 1: 3 A $319 1 Big capacity little space: 32-in. wide, 60- in. high Family refrigerator section Full door. shelves, large porcelain enameled crisper Both sections self-defrost; freezer holds 171 Ibs.
Pre-Season Air Conditioner Sale FREE PERT SI No Obligation. find Out How Little It Will 10 Cool Your Home 4 I it Mail this Coupon Today Scars, Roebuck and 65 Mr. Conn. R. Holmes E.
06111 Pezzino Newington, 43 Name Phone Address 1 City State Zip Code Coldspot 5,000 BTU Multi-Room 14,000 BTU Room Air Conditioners Air Conditioners Only in. wide Regular 109.95 $97 Unes only 7.5 amps for lower operating for older homes, apartments and areas with amperage restrictions. Keniran air filter removes dust, dirt, pollen. Rust-resistant construction. Coldspot 8,000 BTU 169.96 Regular $147 Shop Your WATERBURY BRIDGEPORT WEST HARTFORD Sears SPRINGFIELD NORWALK MIDDLETOWN SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
MANCHESTER ORANGE DANBURY GREENFIEND 5 Regular 219.95 $197 Lots of rooling power for indoor comfort. Weather seal helps keep mir dust-free. Comfort Sensor holds room temperature at thermostat welling. Slide-out chassis, Rust resistant construction. 18,000 BTU Regular $269.95 $237 Nearest Sears Store" SPRINGFIELD Also at AMHERST-HADLEY these Sears Appliance BRANFORD Stores BRISTOL TORRINGTON HAMDEN EAST ROCKVILLE HARTFORD MERIDEN SOUTHBRIDGE OLD WARE SAYBROOK HOLYOKE WESTFIELD NORTHAMPTON WILLIMANTIC 5.C Or.
