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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1969)
| Tax Revenue Philosophy:\ | ‘Squeeze Those Sinners 9 | Governor Preston Smith’s budget message last week proved he has the age-old savvy for in creasing tax revenues. In short, the formula is squeeze the sin ners. Using a philosophy somewhat reminiscent of a medieval medic drawing a quart of blood to cure a cold, the governor has elected to bleed the state’s users of to bacco and alcoholic beverages for some $91 million extra. The official reasoning behind squeezing these sinners stems from the Puritan viewpoint that tobacco. and alcohol are devices of the devil. In accepting the responsibility of carring the Lord’s banner, the government uses the tax bite to punish these transgressors while using the rake-off to enhance the pure so ciety. THE FUNNY part is, these evil-doers go along with the idea. From birth, the populace is ha rangued from pulpit and plat form with the evils of wood and drink. And the followers of Sat an, while being in a majority, meekly submit to the monetary rack, apparently harboring the belief that they are receiving their just due for their acts. If the collectors of Little Orphan Annie codebooks (of which there may be five in the world, or none) were threatened with special taxing, they would \immediately form a lobby to fight, tooth and nail, this “un- American” concept. But nary a word of protest is ever heard from the maligned and perse cuted group of smokers and drinkers. ONE OF the more interesting arguments suggested by the pro ponents of increased taxing of tobacco and liquor follows the line that higher prices will help curtail these habits, which are admittedly non-essential to per fect health. Then, in the same breath, these people are able to forecast almost to the dollar how much revenue these taxes will raise. (The estimates are based on a normal projected increase in sales — that’s curtailment.) Meanwhile, Texas remains one of the few states that still ex empts food products from sales taxes. The reasoning here is that a food tax hurts the poor much more than the affluent (which is probably true), but this reasoning seems to forget that poor people also have been known to take a drag or swill a drink. IN FACT, if anyone bothered to look, they would find that smoking and/or drinking is prac ticed by the poor in higher pro portions than food consumption. The rich drink, but the rich eat more. The idea that smoking and drinking are not necessities of life is false. To their users, these items are just as necessary as having a mattress to sleep on is to most elements of society. Therefore, why doesn’t the gov ernment opt for special taxes on bedsteads, television sets or hat- racks? In fact, why doesn’t the government get out of the phony monetary regulation of morals completely. “Sinners,” you don’t really have to be the scapegoat for the ills of society and the fiscal practices of government. CADET SLOUCH by Jim Earle “We may bust chemistry, but we’ll corner th’ shaving lather market!” At The Movies byMikePlake “Hang ’Em High” Clint Eastwood has come a long way since the dusty days of the “Rawhide” television series. He is the biggest and hottest property since Steve McQueen and/or Paul Newman. His tough guy western-typed characters are his ponies; eventually, he will ride them to an Oscar. Chronologically, “Hang ’Em High” is the first American western Eastwood has made; that famous Italian-Spanish trio, “A Fistful of Dollars,” “For a Few Dollars More” and “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly,” started him on his way. Since he com pleted “Hang ’Em High,” East- wood starred in “Coogan’s Bluff.” His latest venture is a big- budget World War II flick with a role opposite Richard Burton. SO THE TALE goes for East- wood. A successful metamorpho sis from the boob tube to the flicks. "Hang ’Em High” ’s principal support comes from its capable character actors, who play pivotal pegple. Pat Hingle is the Hang ing Judge, whose passion sup posedly is justice. Practically, his thing is hanging people, by the neck until dead. Ed Begley is a ranch owner leading the group of nine men who mistake Jedediah Cooper (Eastwood) for a murdering cat tle thief. They lynch him. Inger Stevens is a doctor’s wid ow, whose bag is searching out the pair who murdered her hus band and raped her. MORE OR LESS, the plot con cerns Eastwood’s journey of re venge for the nine men who lynched him. Along the way, he is sidetracked by an appearance at the Hanging Court and a love scene with Miss Stevens. Poor Miss Stevens seems to be sidetracked since she left tele vision’s “Farmer's Daughter.” She continually plays the role of the beautiful, lonely widow whose history has been spotted with raping bad guys. Not until the “House of Cards,” opposite George Peppard, has she seen a role to fit her abilities. Her performances seem to get better each time, though, despite the limited roles issued her. THE SOUNDTRACK of “Hang ’Em High” is two shades below that of any of the three Italian movies by Eastwood. All three of those themes, similar though they be, have hit the million record mark in arrangements by Nelson Riddle and Leroy Holmes and their respective orchestras. In fact, the soundtrack and the close-ups are the only glaring misgivings in this highly enter taining, mythical western. It seems an important feature or technique by photographers these days is the close-up. The only thing worse is, when you get four or five main characters, and give them all 50 or 60 close-ups during a film, the old eyes get kind of tired of it all. Total: an entertaining west ern with a tough guy in the top role who can hold his own against anybody. THE BATTALION Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the student writers only. The Battalion is a non-tax- supported, non-profit, self-supporting educational enter prise edited and operated by students as a university and community newspaper. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should be typed, double-spaced, and must be no more than 300 words in length. They must be signed, although the writer’s name will be with held by arrangement with the editor. Address corre spondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school year; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 4% sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all new dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Rights of republication of all other matter herein are also reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim Lindsey, chairman ; Dr. David Bowers, College of Liberal Arts ; F. S. White, College of Engineering; Dr. Donald R. Clark, College of Veterinary Medicine; and Hal Taylor, Col lege of Agriculture. The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M is published in College Station, Texas daily except Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and holiday periods, September through May, and once a week during summer school. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Service*, Inc., New York City, Chicago, Dos Angeles and San Francisco. EDITOR JOHN W. FULLER Managing Editor Dave Mayes Sports Editor John Platzer News Editor Bob Palmer Staff Columnists John McCarroll, Mike Plake, Monty Stanley, Jan Moulden Staff Writers Tom Curl, Janie Wallace, Tony Huddleston, David Middlebrooke Assistant Sports Editor Richard Campbell Photographer W. R. Wright ATTENTION New Barbershop hours at College Station Beginning March 1, 1969 MSC Barbershop Don’s Barbershop Northgate Barbershop Will be open Monday thru Friday 8:00 to 6:30 Closed Saturday and Sunday Aggieland Barbershop Varsity Barbershop Will be open Tuesday thru Saturday 8:00 to 5:30 Closed Sunday and Monday Bulletin Board TONIGHT A&M Parachute Club will meet at 7:15 p.m. in the MSC Coffee Shop. Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4692, will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Post home. Monthly busi ness meeting for members. The Gavel Club will meet at 7 p.m. in the YMCA basement meeting room. Tyler-Smith County Hometown Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the MSC Social Room. Brazoria County Hometown Club will meet at 8 p.m. on the steps of the MSC. Picture for Aggieland will be taken. Texas A&M Sports Car Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. in room 107 of the Military Science Building. No business session, just program consisting of three sound and color films. Visitors invited. president, will be guest speaker. Division 3 Chairman Dan Lucas will present the charter. Industrial Education Wives Club will meet at 8 p.m. at Bryan Building and Loan. Mary Beth Gandy of Merle Norman will present a program on “Cosmetics and Their Use.” Jerusalem has suffered as a battleground almost since it was founded 4,000 years ago. THE BATTALION Page 2 College Station, Texas Thursday, February 27, IS HE Bi Would You Believe? Fresh From The Gulf OYSTERS on the half-shell or fried to order Served Right Here on the Campus 5 to 7 each evening at the famous Oyster Room MSC Cafcterij MONDAY Texas A&M Chapter of DPMA will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Holiday Inn Banquet Room for a get-acquainted session, to be fol lowed by a meal at 7:30. Charles L. Davis, DPMA International Tonight On KBTX 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 10:00 10:30 11:30 The Queen and I That Girl Bewitched Thursday Night Movie — “Sex and the Single Girl” News, Weather and Sports The Avengers Alfred Hitchcock r\ loi EUROPE Special Group Flight for University Students and Faculty NEW YORK ... AMSTERDAM 267.00 NEW YORK ... FRANKFURT 283.00 .%%\N\V.V.^V.V.\VANV.%V.V.\V.V.V.V .NNN\%N\\V.NV.V.V//.V.V.V.\V.V.\V.V STUDENT SUMMER JOBS 1969 IN GERMANY v.v.v.v,v,7, ,, l DEPART JUNE 3 RETURN SEPT. 2 Contact David Anson 1516 Harrell Austin, Texas 78703 Phone 512 — 477-5951 Lufthansa German Airlines A three- .nd Const iere Mar mnounced Scott, h ng Divisi nar-typei ill judges n the spe >e presen It is s Ingineeri Sessions’ ial Stud o 5:30 p Scott ] chool w )ersonalil Speakers Carol listrict snd felon John SPECIALS FOR: THURS - FRI - SAT .| tOfiftCH !, /f6?| J * I II i ^ UI MBJ I WW All QMti/nm Rights Rcsexm GOLDEN “AGE 11^CRACKER^ ciFSUGAPir 39 mm DUNCAN HINCS LMER. CAKE M I *4 Ofi bones 1 MAS ■* 9 *04.G£X'S lb. C4 N OTHER PURCHASES 49 )>jEs WJ19 10E r&YERS2 7 Cut up: lb. 33 ? BROOKSHuee egew REDEEM AT BROOKSHIRE BROS. Fems'-w SO FREE With Purchase of 14-Oz. Can Johnson’s Reg. or Lemon Pledge Wax Coupon Expires March 1, 1969. ^ REDEEM AT BROOKSHIRE BROS. 50 FREE TOP VALUE STAMPS REDEEM AT BROOKSHIRE BROS. 25 FREE TOP VALUE STAMPS With Purchase of Qt. Bottle Heinz Vinegar Coupon Expires March 1, 1969. With Purchase of 6 Cans Heinz Soups Coupon Expires March 1, 1969. T\ REDEEM AT BROOKSHIRE BROS. 100 EXTRA TOP VALUE STAMPS With Purchase of $10.00 or More (Excluding Cigarettes) • One Per Family Coupon Expires March 1, 1969. REDEEM AT BROOKSHIRE BROS. 100 FREE TOP VALUE STAMPS With Purchase of 3 Pkgs. Land O’ Frost Meats Coupon Expires March 1, 1969. PEANUTS By Charles M. Scb fl PEANUTS " A 5MALL BOV RAN ACROSS THE STREET AMP PlCKEP l/P THE SI6N THAT THE EXHAOSTEP TEACHER HAP 8EEM CARRVfNS" THE V0UN6STER U)AS LATER iPENT!REP AS A PUPIL OF THE STRIKING TEACHER " DIP VOU EVER HAVE THE FEELING OF IMPENPIN6 DOOM?