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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1974)
w 'th a 3i.( school m, Aggies eam . Ha ftt captain By The Associated Press LONDON (A?) — What do you do with 19 masterpieces worth about $20.4 million, that you stole an the world’s greatest art rob bery? One thing’s for sure—you can’t sell them for anything like their market value. At lease not openly Right now, those 19 paintings are possibly the hottest chunk of stolen property in the world. Art dealers and police around the globe have been alerted to watch out for them. It poses a problem for police in Ireland investigating the raid last weekend by an armed gang on the collection of gold and diamond millionaire Sir Alfred Beit. So far, the gang that pillaged 1 26[87 n! $2.95 $3.05 $3.26 $3.60 No ransom demands made on 19 masterpieces worth $20.4 million Beit’s mansion near Dublin April 26 has made no ransom demands of any kind. But some art experts and some police officers believe the robbery was politically motivated. Beit himself thinks the gang was out to make a killing by ransoming off the paintings for hard cash. And he’s also said firmly he won’t pay a cent if that is correct. Stealing are treasures has been a lucrative business for centuries. But in these days of terrorism and revolutionary politics it has assumed a more sinister aspect. Hugh Leggatt, a respected Lon don art dealer and international art historian, said: “There are new motives behind these art thefts. In the old days, thefts were often insurance frauds. Now sociopolitical reasons form of blackmail is there are and some likely.” There has been speculation the gang that raided Beit’s County Wicklow mansion at Blessington, near Dublin, may be linked with the Irish Republican Army, an underground guerrilla movement fighting to unite the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland with the Irish republic to the south. The gang of five, led by a French speaking brunette screamed revolutionary slogans, such as “capitalist pigs” at Beit, and accused him of exploiting the working class. This, the experts believe, indi cated the raiders were probably motivated by something more than just personal gain. In the last three or four years, according to police estimates, art treasures worth $3 billion have been stolen. Most law enforcement agencies agree the thieves these days are far more organized internation ally and more knowledgeable about art than ever before. And they are convinced that a lot of major works that vanish after they are stolen are sold to wealthy collectors who in the words of one dealer “lust” after paintings their riches can never buy legitimately. However, some detectives sus pect, no thief would be able to dispose of 19 famous master pieces even to shady collectors. This reasoning tends to back up the theory the Irish robbery was politically motivated. Che Battalion Vol. 67 No. 390 College Station, Texas Friday, May 3, 1974 Hardee’s platform for people’s rights 7w«y 1 Co U rt affirms "When elected, everyone will know how to reach me and talk to me. My opponents underesti mate the spirit of Sparkey Har dee,” state representative hope ful Sparkey Hardee told The Bat talion Thursday night. Hardee showed this reporter a TAMU memorandum written by a department dean to his staff, requiring each of them to report any legislative communications they receive to him. Hardee said this was a direct violation of the people’s trust and civil rights. V I have more of these memos,” Hardee said. “I can hang the man who wrote this but he’s just one part of a political pyramid that’s set up between the top and bot tom in the university community. "I’ve talked to over 100 people on campus about these things, and I’ll say this, I’m conservative on spending money in govern ment, but I’m liberal when it comes to civil rights for all peo ple, not just deans and depart ment heads. I mean for the lab technician, the cooks and custo dians and others,” Hardee said. Confident of victory in Satur day’s Democratic primary, Hardee said he will work for a corporate tax on Texas-based oil compa nies. Citing his past work expe rience with Texaco, Inc., Hardee claims the large oil companies are “ripping us off” in the ener gy crisis. He advocates the state building an offshore superport in stead of allowing the petroleum interests to do so, believing they will again try to “rip off” the people. He favors parimutual betting as a revenue source along with a tax or service charge on all oil leaving the state. He is opposed to taxing any of the “necessities of life,” such as food or income. “The right-to-work issue is a blind one,” he said. “We don’t have it in the United States Con stitution, so why write it into our state charter? It should be a statutory law. “I believe it is the right of ev ery individual to assemble and discuss business or unions. I pro tested that Food Services’ memo last month because certain peo ple were and still are trying to suppress people voluntarily seek- (See SPARKEY, p. 4) Mysteries written p. 3 Track meet p. 5 Weather Mostly cloudy becoming partly cloudy in the af ternoon Friday and Sat urday. 20% chance of showers Friday increas ing to 30% chance tomor row. High today 89°. Low tonight 71°. High Satur day 83°. prior decision, disbars Agnew By DAVID GOELLER Associated Press Writer ANNAPOLIS (AP)-Describing Spiro T. Agnew as a man who consciously cheated the federal government, the Maryland Court of Appeals disbarred the former vice president Thursday. In a unanimous 13-page ruling which took away Agnew’s right to practice law, the seven-judge court, Maryland’s highest, termed Agnew “so morally obtuse that he consciously cheats for his own pecuniary gain.” Agnew pleaded no contest last October to federal income tax evasion charges, an action tantamount to conviction. The court’s decision affirmed a recommendation made in January by a three-judge Circuit Court panel. Agnew was not available for comment on the decision in the disciplinary action brought by the state bar association. The Court of Appeals ruling is not subject to appeal, although Agnew could petition the court at any time for reinstatement as a lawyer, his profession before entering politics full time in 1962. Agnew was not a member of the federal bar, and his disbarment in Maryland prevents his practicing law elsewhere. His lawyer, Leon H. A. Pierson, argued before the court in April that the former Maryland governor should only be suspended from the practice of law. Previously, Agnew personally pleaded with the Circuit Court judges not to deprive him of a means of earning a living. Agnew since has announced he is writing a political novel, which publishing experts have predicted will earn him $100,000 or more. The high court said it considered tax evasion a crime involving moral turpitude, fraud and deceit and, as such, required disbarment under state law, previous court decisions and the ethical rules of the American Bar Association. “It is difficult to feel compassion for an attorney who” cheats the government “he has sworn to serve, completely disregards the words of the oath he uttered when first admitted to the bar and absolutely fails to perceive his professional duty to act honestly in all matters,” the ruling said. “To do other than disbar the respondent in this case, therefore, would constitute a travesty of our respon sibility,” said the ruling, written by Associate Judge J. Dudley Digges. SOFT BALLADS and foot stomping: music could be heard coming from the Forum Theater Thursday night. The music was for Prof. Sid Cox’s English class as part of its research on folklore and folksongs. ( Photo by Kathy Young) >air Size STY >SE stretch er wear ;ter fit opular des ES )N 'EAR tyles rs J- 8 Cranberry, Republican in McBrayer meet primary Saturday The Republican party will con duct its state-wide primary Sat urday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Precinct conventions in College Station will begin at 7:30 p.m. at all polling places. Some precincts have had to be combined in anticipation of a small turn out by Republican vot ers. Precincts consolidated include Precincts 1, 2 and 9 which will vote at the A&M Consolidated Superintendent’s Office bn Jersey Street. Precinct 8 will vote at South Knoll School, Precinct 10 at Col lege Hills School, Precinct 11 at Crockett School, Precinct 12 at Sul Ross School and Precinct 13 at Henderson School. Precincts 21 and 22 will vote at the Memorial Student Center. Pre cincts 3 through 7 and 14 through 19 will vote at Travis School. The candidates and positions on the ballots are, for U. S. Repre sentative from District 6, Carl Nigliazzo; in the gubenatorial race, Odell McBrayer and Jim Gran- berry and in the race for lieuten ant governor, Troy Skates. Tom Cole is running for Attorney Gen eral. Nick Rowe is running unop posed for Comptroller of Public Accounts. Robert G. Holt is un opposed for State Treasurer. The Democratic Primary will al so be Saturday. College Station precincts are: South Knoll, all area within city limits south of Holleman Street; A&M Consoli dated Middle School, the area be tween Jersey and Holleman streets; College Station Fire Sta tion, the city east of Texas Avenue and College Station Municipal Building, the area north of cam pus to the city line. Applications available for two positions Applications are now avail able for one student position on the Athletic Council and the Student Publications Board. Seven student positions are also open on the Athletic Ad visory Council, a non-university committee and there is a va cant seat in the Senate in the under-graduate off-campus po sition. All senator applicants must have a 2.25 GPR. Student Body President Steve Eberhard pre sents nominees to the Senate for all positions where a two- hirds approval by those present and voting is required. Applications will be available in the Student Government of fice until noon on Tuesday. Opening of lounge delayed until fall The Old Exchange Store build ing, presently serving as Registra tion Headquarters, was planned to be the largest student lounge for the 1974 Spring semester. A number of conditions have kept the hope of a lounge from being realized. The most recent problem was the radiator-type heating of the building. A main pipe broke, flooding the entire first floor of the building. The Physical Plant replaced not only this pipe, but the structure’s whole plumbing system. Before this, delay of the arrival of furniture and a transformer-circuit breaker failure were preventing the opening. Plans for the lounge’s opening af fected students from Milner Hall, who were deprived soft drink and candy machines because they could be available “across the street. ” The Nixon’s lawyer gets ‘broad privileges’ WASHINGTON (A*) — The House Judiciary Committee Thurs day granted President Nixon’s lawyer broad privileges to par ticipate in its impeachment pro ceedings. The rules of procedure permit ting Nixon’s lawyer, James D. St. Clair, to see impeachment evidence, suggest additional wit nesses and evidence and even question witnesses was approved by the committee by voice vote. The live television coverage of the meeting was approved by the committee earlier but they won’t start with initial presentation of assembled impeachment evidence scheduled to begin next week. On a partyline vote, the com mittee rejected by a 22 to 15 vote a motion by Rep. David W. Den nis, R-Ind., giving St. Clair the right to cross-examine witnesses. The only Republicans voting against cross-examination were Reps. Tom Railsback of Illinois and Hamilton Fish Jr. of New York. But the committee ap proved rules giving St. Clair the right to question witnesses and Dennis said later he believed that would allow the lawyer to cross- examine them anyway. Opponents of the cross-exam ination right contended St. Clair could use it constantly to disrupt the impeachment proceedings but chairman Peter W. Rodino Jr. said in response to a question during the meeting that he would not tolerate any obstruction. Procedures for the impeach ment proceedings also provide: —All members and St. Clair will be given a written summary of evidence with reference to spe cific tapes and documents assem bled by the staff at the initial presentation scheduled next week. —Each member will then have access to all evidence in com mittee hands, including evidence the staff does not consider signi ficant enough to include in the summary. —After that any member may suggest seeking additional evi dence or witnesses and St. Clair will be invited to do the same. —St. Clair also would be in vited to supply a response to the committee staff’s initial sum mary of impeachment evidence. —Rulings on St. Clair’s spe- (See NIXON, p. 4) Memorial Student Center Base ment Committee was also affected because it had intended to present performances there. It now uses outdoor appearances. The lounge won’t be operational for summer school students either. Registration for summer school and for incoming freshman and transfer students will occupy the building throughout the summer. “The building could be opened as a lounge in the evenings if Dr. Kol- dus, vice-president of Student Ser-^ vices, request it,” said Don Carter, director of Registration. “But, we prefer that it remain closed for pro tection of the equipment used for registration.” When the building does open as a lounge, it will be carpeted, fur nished with molded plastic modern furniture and assorted vending machines complete with microwave heating ovens. Parking fee: 100% increase gains support Dr. John Koldus, vice president for student services, approved the traffic panel’s recommendation of a 100 percent increase in parking fees and proposed free bicycle registra tion Thursday. The doubling of parking fees, if approved by the Board of Directors, will affect all campus parking (including carpool rates) except the College View and Hensel areas. Also, bike registration will be free next semester, pending approval of the Board. But failure to register a bike within two weeks from the be ginning of the fall semester will cost $5 in fines. Koldus said the free re gistration may encourage students to use bikes instead of cars. TIRED, SORE FEET? Dan Garey and Barbara Gibbs followed a friend, Inga, to the Rud der fountain to indulge in a refreshing pasttime. (Photo by Kathy Young) University National Bank “On the side of Texas A&M.” Adv. Remember Saturday’s primaries; get out and vote