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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 1973)
Page 2 THE BATTALION , r . College Station, Texas Friday, October 26, 1973 JLjQGLSQ # CADET SLOUCH by Jim Earle Housing Commission Answers Querie By BARB SEARS These questions come from cur rent cases being handled by mem bers of the Fair Housing Commis- Question: I signed a nine-month lease at the end of August, but I want to move out of my apart ment in December. What can I do? “Next time we get that bear, we’ll use your car!” If you cannot find a replace ment, you will probably not get your deposit back. The landlord would be justified in keeping it to cover the next month’s rent while he tries to find a new ten- Batt Commentary Concerned Voting To some, the upcoming November 6th constitutional amendments election may seem like an exercise in futility. The Texas Constitutional Convention is scheduled to begin January 8. Any amendments ratified in November will be rendered null and void when the new constitution is accept- anyway, so why bother to vote on amendments destined for elimination ? The Constitutional Revision Commission, headed by Robert W. Calvert, has completed its work and submitted a modified version of our state constitution. The new draft, about 13,000 words long, is probably an improvement over the 50,000 word monster we now have. But all is not rosy. Most agree the draft represents an improvement, but many controversial portions of the document were forged out only after heated and sometimes bitter debate. Wordings were approved, then revised after more discussion. Narrow de cisions existed in many instances. The list of controversial items provided in the new con stitution includes prohibiting garnishment of wages for personal service, prohibiting the state and its political sub division from “sponsoring or operating lotteries or other gambling enterprises,” and the deletion of the “right-to- work” guarantee. A group of Republican legislators, has said it will op pose any candidate for the constitutional convention who does not support a right-to-work clause. Some members of the revision commission, dissatisfied with the results of the commission’s work, are openly lobbying for rejection of the new draft. In short, the new constitution may not get finished next year, meaning we are stuck with our present constitution and its amendments. Secondly, since the convention will be composed of legislators who are subject to the pressures of the power ful and ever-present Texas lobbies, the final document may just be unacceptable to enough Texans that it does not get ratified in the general election next fall, in which case we are once again left with the 1876 model and amendments. Either event would justify voting in the next election. Finally, even if a new constitution is adopted, the out come of next month’s election is important. The election will, if enough people vote, give the legislators a show of public opinion on the issues with which the amendments are concerned. Vote, the effort won’t be wasted. —Rick Brown JlSlO&Stf' HE XAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHO THE WINNERS ARE?' Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is the editor or of the writer of the artiele and are no, necessarily those of the University administration or May, and once a week during summer school. the Board of Directors. The Battalion is a non-profit, -— self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a MEMBER University and Community newspaper. The Associated Press, Texas Press Association LETTERS POLICY 777. T T7 7771 7 77 — , i ,, . , . Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words year; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% and are subject to being cut to that length or less if sales tax - Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: • rj.i ,.. • , , ., . , . , ... The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit Texas 77843. such letters and does not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed and show the address The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for of the writer. reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it or not 1 ... ' . , . otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all other Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas matter herein are also reserved. 77843 Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. —— riv, Kr ^—"a T” EDITOR MIKE RICE Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim Lindsey, chairman ; Dr. Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Albanese, Dr. Managing ilidltor Greg Moses H. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, J. W. Griffith, L. E. Kruse and News Editor T. C. Gallucci B. B. Sears. Photo Editor Rodger Mallison Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Sports Editor Kevin Coffey Services. Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. Ass t. Sports Editor Ted Bonskie ant. Because students’ plans change so much, the FHC strongly rec ommends that student tenants de mand three-month or semester leases unless they have lived in the apartment complex previous ly and are famiilar with the man ager and the rules. soon? Answer: If you moved out in August, that was before the new rental law came into effect which states that deposits must be re turned within 30 days. The old law which it replaced just said that deposit refunds should be made within a “reasonable amount of time.” However, if you have waited more than 45 days, there should have been plenty of time for the landlord to check his records and issue you a refund. You should personally contact your manager again, and the Fair Housing Commission will contact him also. Usually a few well-plac ed reminders will work. If i not get a response within a ^ then we can write to the WANT A >ne day .... 4c per word eai Minimum Classifie $1.00 per < each i WAI and state in definite terms, th [t°Viija^e Tp"^' 1, amount of tiirMi- “reasonable has now elapsed and if he return your deposit, you to obtain it through the Claims Court. Legally, if you are 18 years of age or older, you are bound to fulfill your lease, If you absolute ly must move out, however, you should tell your landlord as soon as possible (at least 30 days be fore the date you wish to leave) and you should both try to work something out. Most landlords are agreeable to such action if a replacement tenant can be found, so you would probably not get any hassle at all if you could find someone to move in when you leave. Question: I paid a deposit for a college Main Apartment in the summer, but the apartments were not completed at the beginning of school this fall. The manage ment put up many of the tenants in a hotel, but then had us move in, although the apartments were not completely finished. In my case, there was not an apartment available and so they offered me a storage room for temporary ac comodation. I reluctantly agreed, but when I came to move in. the door of the room was locked and the manager was nowhere to be found. I want out now. I am sick of the whole thing. How should I proceed? Can I sue them? Alert Effects Broad Lny instrumentalii Jan-College Statioi call 822-3662 p. m. Monday for o lion Answer: If you were promised a place to live for September in your lease, then the landlord is clearly in violation of that con tract. The wrong done you is ob vious, and because you have such a good case, I don’t think you will even need to sue. The FHC will assist you in writing the own er and demanding your deposit and rent back. If the landlord will not cooperate, then the next stop would be the courts. If the sum is under $150, the Small Claims Court will help. You can file your claim at the office of the Justice of the Peace, in the third floor of the Brazos County Court House. If the total is over $150, you will need a lawyer to represent you in county court. If you should win in county court, your attor ney’s fees would be paid by the landlord. As a rule, however, the Small Claims Court is much fast er and I6ss trouble, and there is less danger of being stuck with attorney’s fees. Question: I moved out of my apartment in August and still haven’t gotten my deposit back. I need the money pretty badly right now. How can I get it back (Continued from Page 1) to report there. The fort is on an alert. All forts in Texas are on alert and all people assigned to military bases in Texas report immediately.” Many scheduled activities at the bases were cancelled Thurs day, but not affected were the mock warfare maneuvers at Ft. Bliss near El Paso, with units from Ft. Bliss, Ft. Hood and some military units from New Mexico taking part. Air Force Maj. Bill Duerre, information officer for the ma neuvers, called Brave Shield VI, said, “We haven’t changed our plans. As far as exercises are concerned, it is ‘go.’ I cannot comment on the alert or beyond the scope of this maneuver.” At 2 a.m., the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and Austin 2nd Tactical Co., Bergstrom AFB, Austin were put on alert and all personnel ordered on duty. Wives of officers at Goodfellow AFB at San Angelo were quoted as saying their husbands were called to duty “in the middle of the night.” Maj. Morrow S. Crum of Sheppard AFB at Wichita Falls, would not comment on the alert but other sources confirmed the base was on alert status. Kelly AFB and Ft. Sam Hous ton at San Antonio reported they had issued “certain alert pro cedures.” “We are in a state of readi ness now,” said Col. Harry Huff of 433rd Troop Carrier Wing, which was assembled for an early morning briefing. He added, “We are sitting and waiting for in structions from headquarters for any possible future action.” Lt. Larry Burriss, public in formation officer at Dyess Air Force base at Abilene, confirmed that security procedures for get ting on the base were tightened. Two retirement ceremonies, medal presentations and a parade sched uled for Thursday were canceled. BUtention !! Persi Ujiversity. See us b In Dallas, Air rorce Gjpawl furniture, * “Chappie” James, a former ^e!' ing ace and now a public rdiP 1 *" Free delivers ID'S FURN1TU tions officer for the PentagrH avenur 823-o was scheduled to speak t« dent leaders, teachers and Dalj WORK school administrators Friday,istt^nd^cUss the speech was canceled. H' 4483 - (Continued from Page 1) also be considered when voting. Those favoring the amendment cite the present pay scale, $4,800 per year (the national average is $16,000) as evidence enough for change. Basically there are three kinds of people who can suitably live on the $4,800 salary: those who are wealthy; those who have businesses which do not demand constant attention, and those who receive assistance from various patrons. An adequate salary for legislators would mean more in dependence from special interest lobbying and fewer pressures from having to have outside em ployment. The corruption in Tex as government, say proponents of the amendment, the willingness of Texas state legislators to en gage in illegal activities for per sonal gain, in part stems from a need by our elected officials to supplement their meager $4,800 salary. “You get what you pay for” say proponents of the amend- Texas Legislature Hyping - fast, exp JM6-6196 after 5 :30 ments and if we want qualityj[ ficials we are going to have pay for them. Opponents question the ard ment that higher salaries woa necessarily attract better offied to state office. Since state otf# Range and Forest is an honor as wdl as a j* ifeT type person who runs will ! Spring Lane, Bryai # . - ■pliances, sofa, < for the position anyway, regari^rvice, and much i less of the pay scale. Also,« . MJarage Sale Sat opponents, Texans do not ws'Mtove, suits, books, c expensive nnlitl/ueuBb^icnt condition. —EVE! PREMIUM D F60 x 15 Gla G60 x 15 Gla Include Read Classifieds Daft PEN 7:30 j Mor full-time politicia running the show. Part-timedi zens—part-time legislators u better judges of the needs of th citizens of Texas. Presently th legislator receives $4,800 for Hi) days work every two years. Tn $4,800 is adequate compensutk for 140 days work, say opponesti and the 140-day sessions leave the legislator 590 days to any ment his income in his privates : s cupation. Increasing the salarie Ml tires me would just be a waste of taxpaj ers money, they continued. peed balancei HARGE. 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