Spectral lines: Data load: Wheat vs. chaff

Viewers of the CBS Television News show “60 minutes” were treated recently to a segment describing the U.S. businessman's plight in keeping up with the proliferating paperwork required by Government regulations. Several points were made: Federal agencies often require the same data, presented independently and in different formats; Federal, state, and regional governments require similar data, presented independently; and the time and money required by the businessman to report such data add up to a significant percentage of his business expense, and it is increasing.