Monday, July 27, 1998

Tax research

Rep. Charlie Stenholm is getting too much criticism over his ideas about the Value Added Tax (VAT). Although I can't quote every word he said, Stenholm's comments have not frightened me to the point of hysteria, fearing for my life of intrusive tax hikes.

His words -- "I believe that the Value Added Tax has merit worth exploring" -- tell me that Stenholm is simply researching options to prepare for the near future when the tax code is replaced by 2002.

While Stenholm is doing his best for us by looking at options on how our government will pay for our services, he's being ruthlessly attacked by those who give no solutions others than to throw the old system away. You can't just get rid of the tax code and think you've somehow made the government more efficient! How do you expect to pay for roads, public works, parks, schools, police, fire departments, the military, farming subsidies, social security, and anything else that receives some sort of federal funding?

A lot of people are suggesting a flat tax or a national sales tax. Those are options too! Where is the great flood of letters from people ranting and raving about how Rudy Izzard supports a flat tax? I haven't seen them.

Both Rudy Izzard and Charlie Stenholm are looking at options for replacing the tax code in 2002. Before you choose which side you're on, just check out Charlie Stenholm's options. You'll probably like them. I hope you will.

AARON TWEETON

Abilene

Boiler mishap

As the spokesman for Davenport Mammoet L.L.C., the company transporting the ABCO boiler that "unloaded" on Loop 322 last week, I would like to provide some facts to your readers on the accident as reported in your paper.

1. This boiler was not of sufficient size to require one truck pulling and one truck pushing. The second truck was provided as a "back up" in case of mechanical failure of the first truck and to carry some spare parts and equipment.

2. The boiler did not fall off the truck because the chains broke. After our preliminary investigation it appears that an o-ring failed and a design flaw in the trailer's hydraulic system allowed hydraulic oil to flow between two segregated suspension zones. The result of this failure was that the trailer was "signaled" to tilt completely to one side.

3. The transporting unit was not an 18-wheeler flatbed.

4. Our steerman was walking alongside the front of the trailer at "crawl speed" monitoring the pressure gauges. The boiler was at least 30 feet behind him on the trailer. When the tractor and trailer tilted he took the obviously prudent course of action, vacating the area, but he only had to move about 12 feet to be out of harm's way from the neck of the trailer.

5. We did not decline to comment. Our receptionist received a call from your newspaper. The person asked for the name of the person in charge. The name was given and the person said they would call back later. We did not receive a second call.

6. I did ask our Supervisor on site to pick up my "promised" box of Bayer aspirin from Jon Nash, the President/COO of ABCO. While these incidents are few and far between for our company, even one is too many, and they do indeed give you a major migraine.

We appreciate all the help we received from the local authorities and the personnel of ABCO Industries. Sorry for any "traffic" inconvenience we caused.

DENNIS R. DAVENPORT

President/CEO

Davenport Mammoet L.L.C.

Rosharon, Texas