The Times from Munster, Indiana • 1

28 Million Share in Social Security Payment pendent wife or husband, or a total of $101.70. The absolute minimum benefit is $84.50 a month for a single person. But the average national benefit of $161.54 for single retirees means $241.31 for couples. By itself, that doesn't allow comfortable living. But taken with a paid-for home, a pension or other income, it could provide a modest standard of living.

A fairly complicated formula is applied to a social security claimants average annual earnings to determine what the actual benefit should be. The more he or she earned, on average, the more he or she will get in social security benefits between the minimum $84.50 and the maximum $267.80. The earnings average is computed beginning with 1950, automatically excluding years when wages were much lower than they are now. Then the five lowest earning years after 1950 are also excluded, and the average is computed from those remaining. Generally, Calumet Region industrial workers qualify for the maximum benefit and often get a pension besides.

mond, East Chicago, Highland, Minister, Dyer, and Whiting in Indiana, and Calumet City. Of the total served by the Hammond office, 12,912 were retirees; 1,438 disabled; 3,329 were wives and children of retirees; Another 1,161 were wives and children of disabled beneficiaries; 8,283 were survivors of beneficiaries; 411 were automatically receiving benefits because they had reached the age of 72; and 438 received Medicare benefits only. In October, 1972, the national aver age payment for retired workers was it was $178.75 for the disabled. From 1970 to 1972, benefits increased by 50 per cent. And 'resident Nixon this month 3rd in a Series signed a bill enacting another 5.6 per cent increase effective immediately.

Social security legislation enacted by Congress last year has introduced a number of features finally guaranteeing a livable income to retirees. For years, a criticism of social security was that its benefits, especially for the elderly, were not enough to live on and barely enough to die on. That's no longer true. In the past, social security benefits were all too often outstripped by the cost of living. Under the new law, benefits will be reviewed annually and revised upward if justified by increases in the consumer price index.

This, in effect, will make benefits inflation-proof. At present, the maximum benefit for a single person is $267.80. In the case of a married couple, the main wage earner gets that sum plus half again that amount for the de By GABRIEL FAVOINO Times Staff Writer As of last October, 28.2 million people were receiving social security payments nationwide. This number was roughly equal to one-third of the working population. They received almost $.19 billion in cash benefits monthly.

As of December, 1971, the Hammond social security district office was serving 27,972 of those beneficiaries, with total monthly benefits of almost $4.3 million. The Hammond office serves Ham 68th Year-No. 25 The IME Home Newspaper of the Calumet Region Hammond-East Chicago, Indiana; Calumet City-Lansing, Illinois, Tuesday, July 17, 1973 LBJ Tape Talk Denied by Aides WASHINGTON (AP) The Secret Service and old White House friends of Lyndon B. Johnson have disputed claims by the Nixon administration that LBJ used secret tape recorders in his official duties. Both groups say the Nixon administration simply got its wires crossed Monday when it tried to lay at Johnson's feet the precedent for the wholesale and surreptitious taping of presidential conversations.

The exchanges were triggered by the surprise testimony before the Senate Watergate committee of former Senators Consider Outlawing Drug Raids 4w I 1 stars it1 hit at odds with Nixon. "All I can say is that it was not done," a spokesman said. While the spokesman emphasized that he could speak only for the Secret Service, a number of White House associates of Johnson insisted that no one else had done it eiither. Joseph A. Calif ano Johnson's domestic affairs counsel, said "Johnson was so wild on the subject of bugging and eavesdropping, I just don't believe he'd do it.

"Certainly there were no bugs ar- Watergate committee chairman Sen. Sam Ervin listened impassively. LSD 'Lab' Uncovered HAMMOND Undercover agents raided a laboratory described as a major supplier of LSD in tie Calumet Region Monday night. The agenst arrested three men and seized drugs, chemicals and lab equipment in the raid on a home at 417 Lewis St. A fourth suspect is sought.

The raid followed three months of investigation by the agents from the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, te Illinois Bureau of Investigation and the Chicago Heights and Hammond police departments. The men in custody are identified as Edward Faris, 26, of 1650 School Chicago Heights, and Jeffery Brager, 25, and Patrick Murzyn, 24, who gave the Lewis Street house as their address. HOT DAYS, COOL NIGHTS Forecasters say the temperature will drop into the 60s tonight with pleasant breezes. It will climb to the upper 80s Wednesday. Mid week will be sunny, with moderate humidity.

Wednesday's low will again be in 60s. Temperatures and weather map on Page JO. fft 4 Sections--34 Pages 15c HOME DELIVERED FOR LESS Knot Tied Interstate HAMMOND The new Mr. and Mrs. Chester Moneta held their wedding in two states.

The Monetas, of 911 Summer planned to be married at Dolton's Palmer Park Baptist Church. However, when they got to the altar on Sunday, Rev. J. B. Climer told them he couldn't marry them in Dolton.

The Monetas had a Lake County, Indiana, marriage license. Climer said he would have to marry them in Indiana. The ceremony was performed in Dolton. But when the "I Do" part came, the wedding party traveled to Hammond's Harrison Park where they completed the ceremony near a flower bed. The trip to Hammond was delayed several minutes.

Climer's car ran out of gas on the way. INSIDE THE TIMES V.S, economy shncs as brakes start to work 10 Ditch rats invade Highland; trustees talk 11 Classified Comics Editorials Illinois letters Obituaries 23 16-17 8 12 9 6 SNrts Theater TV Weather Women's 19 22 12 10 15 hn9 1 it the Truth! My two weimaraner dogs are smarter man I Jim because, unlike they will not go out in the noonday sun if they can avoid it. "A wise man avoids his wife when she laUirs." Anonymous Phone: WE 24100 Nixon aide Alexander P. Butterfield. He disclosed that since early 1971, virtually all of Nixon's White House calls, as well as face-to-face conversations, were recorded automatically and without warning to the other party.

The Secret Service quickly acknowledged that it had installed and operates the network. Another confirmation came from presidential counsel J. Fred Buzhardt, who added: 'This system is similar to that employed by the last administratioa" Butat the refreence to Johnson, the Secret Service suddenly declared itself and with proper authorization and full regard for individual rights. Despite the new rules issued Monday, some senators questioned whether anything short of repealing the no-knock 1 law can guarantee what the Constitution describes as "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches an seizures." Sen. Charles H.

Percy, 111., a key critic of recent no-lnock raids, called the new rules "a welcome and needed clarification," but said they don't go far enough. An aide to Percy said the senator is "seriously considering" introducing legislation repealing the no-knock authority granted by a 1968 law. The aide said there appears to be growing Senate support for the view that 'the mere existence' of legal authority for no-knock raids encourages abuse. The constitutional rights subcommittee headed by Sea Sam J. Ervin N.C., is reviewing that possibility.

GM Recalls 9,000 Cars DETROIT (AP)-The possibility of missing or improperly installed brake assembly parts is prompting the recall of 9,000 General Motors cars and trucks, the automaker says. The vehicles involved are 1973 models. GM said about 3,100 cars manufactured in Fremont, may not have had a gasket and protective boot installed on the master brake cylinder push rod. Should those parts be missing, GM said, dirt or water could get into the system, causing failure. The cars involved include Chevrolet Chevelles, Malibus and El Caminos, Pontiac LeMans, Huick Centuries and CMC Sprints.

The Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of former I nitecl Mine Workrra president W. A. "Tony" llnylc on charge of illegally contributing union funds to political campaigns. ound the offices. And as for phone conversations, I know of only one case in which the President turned on a recorder, and that was during the Six Day War of 1967.

He made a call to one of the embassies I don't remember which one and wanted to make certain there was no misunderstanding of the U.S. position," Califano said. Rep. James Jones, Okla, once appointments secretary for LBJ, said that he and other top aides recorded some calls during the Israeli-Arab conflict, and again "when we got "some peace feelers on Vietnam" in 1968. WASHINGTON (UPI) Every word spoken by or to President Nixon since the spring of 1971 in his Oval Office in the White House or his hideaway office next door has been tape recorded.

The Senate Watergate Committee wants to play the tapes. The White House said today President Nixon will not release tapes of his personal conversations to the Senate Watergate committee. Press secretary Ronald L. Ziegler said Nixon met for 35 to 40 minutes in his suite at the Bethesda Naval Hospital with acting White House counsel Leonard Garment and special counsel J. Congress Reacts, Page 1 0 'Bug not illegal, Page 1 3 Fred Buzhardt, his principal Watergate advisers.

Ziegler wouldn't discuss details of the meeting, but said the tape recordings are considered presidential papers. Nixon has refused to give the committee presidential papers. The recordings could either confirm that John W. Dean III tipped off Nixon to the Watergate cover-up as early as September, 1972, or disprove Dean's sworn testimony and go a long way toward reestablishing Nixon's credibility. A Gallup poll says 71 per cent of the public rejects Nixon's denial of Watergate complicity.

So far, White House officials aren't saying whether Nixon will release the tapes. But he already has laid down a firm policy of refusing to release White Mouse paxrs touching on Watergate despite the prospect the senators may seek to subpoena them. The existence of the procedure for taping every conversation in Nixon's (Continued on Back Page This Section) Alexander P. Butterfield, a former presidential aide, told the Senate Watergate committee Monday that Nixon had the devices installed in his offices at the White House, at the Executive Office Building across the street land at his cabin at Camp David Md. Brezhnev, Brandt, Mrs.

Gandhi, Heath, Hussein, Faisal, Mrs. Meir and Tito all talked with Nixon in his office in visits during the past two years. The President also conferred during that period with Prime Ministers WASHINGTON (AP)-The Senate may consider going beyond new Nixon administration curbs on no-knock narcotics raids by outlawing them completely. The Drug Enforcement Administration has admonished its 2,200 agents to burst into private homes only sparingly 2nd Fire Site Eyed CALUMET CITY Plans for a third fire station and a second police station were announced Monday by Mayor Robert Stefaniak. The new fire station will be raised 'just north of River Oaks Drive and west of Burnham Avenue.

The mayor told The Times the land was donated to the city about 10 years ago. Plans for the facility need city council approval. Construction would begin in six months. Stefaniak said federal revenue sharing funds should be enough to build the structure. It's construction will increase the city fire department force by another six men and will require about $80,000 in new equipment.

Calumet City is building its second fire station between Manistee and Marquette Avenues along Iulaski Road. Stefaniak will present to the council has plans for the second police station soon. It will be adjacent to the Pulaski Road fire station. He was not specific on its plans. The next council meeting is July 26.

Landmark Sale OKd CROWN POINT The old Hammond courthouse site at Ilohman Avenue and Rimbach streets will be auctioned at a.m. on Sept. 10. Lake County commissioners approved the sale date on Monday after receiving an appraisal report on the projMTty. The report set the value of the site at $30,250.

The appraisal was made by Joseph J. Kotso, a Hammond real estate man, and Tony Zalcski Jr. an East Chicago appraiser. The wreckers turned the courthouse landmark into rubble in mid-April. Hammond Historical Society 0M'tied special sealed boxes place in the courthouse's corner stones by dignitaries in 1002, (he year they build it.

Offices find courts have moved to new courthouse building along Russell Street east of Ilohman. A variety of uses, from mini park to high-rise offices, has been suggested for the old courthouse site. Alexander Porter U.S. dollar FALLS AGAIN LONDON (AP)-The U.S. dollar dropped sharply on European exchanges today.

The dollar lost centimes in early trading in Paris, dropping to 4.02 francs. Diver Dies In Lake EAST CHICAGO-A diver drowned in Lake Michigan east of Jeorse Park on Monday. Anthony J. Ilrysik, 32, of 3825 Par-rish died while scuba diving with friends. Hryzik, police said, was last seen alive by his friends about 2 p.m.

David Romanak, of Lake of the Four Seasons, was under water with Hryzik. Romanak surfaced when he ran out of oxygen. Police said Romanak told them Hryzik should have had 30 minutes of oxygen left in his tank. Romanak joined boat operator Bill Turkcvich, of 3823 Parrish and waited for Hryzik. They told police they became concerned when only 10 minutes of oxygen time were left to Hryzik and he did not surface.

Guests? John Lynch of Ireland, Keith Holyoakc of New Zealind, Souvanna Phouma of Laos, William McMahon of Australia, Peirre Trudeau of Canada, Presidents Emilio Medici of Brazil, Luis Echever-ria of Mexico, Emperor Haile Selasie of Ethopia and then prime minister Giulio Andreotti of Italy, among others. Asked whether the conversations of foreign leaders who conferred with the President had been recorded, and whether they had been advised of it, White Htxise Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler would not comment. Nixon Tapes Top WASHINGTON (AP-Soviet Communist party chief Leonid I. Brezhnev, Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany and Prime Minister Indira Ghan-dlii of India are among the world leaders who conferred with President Nixon at a time when listening devices were in use in his office.

Others included Prime Minister Edward Heath of Britain, King Hussein of Jordan, Kins Faisal of Suadl Arabia, Prime Minister Golda Mcir of Israel and President Tito of Yugoslavia..