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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 1975)
Page 2 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, OCT. 23, 1975 'MR. R)RD WAS WONDERING IF MX) WXJLD LIKE TO BUY A PUPPY...' Part 3 of 9 Executive power revised Associated Press AUSTIN, Tex. — The idea of “self destruct state agencies is the most intriguing, and controversial, part of the proposed new constitu tion concerning the executive branch of state government. Proponents say the proposal to recreate state agencies every 10 years would give the governor and the legislature more control over Special News Analysis Series the approximately 200 state agen cies which sometimes in the past have grown so powerful they paid little attention to the elected offi cials. “Can you imagine the turmoil 10 years hence? says Sen. Peyton McKnight, D-Tyler, head of a statewide group opposing the en tire new constitution. “It puts every agency—those with respon sibility for essential services such as mental health and mental retarda tion, law enforcement, rehabilita tion, highways and parks in the pos ition of lobbying for continuing THE PANTRY 3525 TEXAS AVENUE 846-6897 Natural Vitamins & Health Foods. ALLEN Olds mobile Cadillac SALES - SERVICE "Where satisfaction is standard equipment" 2401 Texas Ave. 823-8002 their existence instead of doing their jobs. It would also create an atmosphere for personal vendetta by legislators against various state agencies.” The new constitution briefly provides that statewide agencies with appointed members, except institutions related to higher edu cation, shall have a life of not more than 10 years unless renewed by the legislature. There is no similar provision in the 1876 constitution. Other new provisions of the proposed constitution affecting the executive branch include: — Upgrade the agriculture commissioner to become a member of the executive branch. — Provide for four-year terms for all executive branch officers and limits the governor to two four-year terms. — Allows the governor to desig nate the chairman of state govern ment agencies. — Allows the governor to re move agency members that he ap pointed, if the Senate does not dis approve by a majority vote. — Mandates the legislature to provide funds for a governor-elect prior to inauguration to allow him to get his office in operation. — Designates governor as chief planning officer of the state and al lows the legislature to grant him powers of fiscal controls over state agencies. — Requires the governor to re port to the legislature every two years on the organization and effi ciency of the executive branch and to submit reorganization plans, which must be acted upon by the legislature. The new constitution would re tain the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Railroad Commis sion within the executive branch. Since the executive branch and legislative provisions of the new constitution are lumped together as Proposition No. 1 on the November ballot, voters will have to vote for or against both of them. Former Gov. Allan Shivers has said publicly that he likes the executive article because it would strengthen the governor’s role and “give him the authority which he needs.” However, Shivers said he would vote against Proposition No. 1 be cause he is opposed to a provision in the legislative article that calls for annual sessions of the legisla ture. Former Gov. Price Daniel Sr., now an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court, praised the new executive article and said he would vote for the entire new con stitution. “The governor has needed more say about the budget and the power to do something about seeing that the appropriated funds are spent as they were appropriated for a long time, he said. Former Gov. Preston Smith is against the new constitution. “I see no reason whatever to just junk it and start over,” he said. “It’s not antiquated, like some say, because we’ve amended it and kept it up to date.” District Court Judge Fred Red Harris of Dallas, a former state legislator, said he agreed with Shivers “there is some good in the executive article and that might make it easier for the executive branch. But what we would have to pay for that is too dear. It’s time we tightened our belts and started tak ing a good look at how we can save some money instead of spending it all.” Tomorrow: Changes in the judiciary branch. Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the university administration or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and community newspaper. Edito rial policy is determined by the editor. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guaran tee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verifica tion. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Members of the Student Publications Board are: Bob G. Rogers, Chairman; Dr. Gary Halter; Dr. John Hanna; Roger P. Miller; Dr. Clinton A. Phillips, Jeff Dunn, Tom Dawsey and Jerri Ward. Director of Student Publications: Gael L. Cooper. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is published in College Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods. September through May, and once a week during summer school. Mail subscriptions are $5.00 per semester; $9.50 per school year; $10.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% 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 reproduction of all news dispatched credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein are also reserved. Copyright © 1975, The Battalion. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association Editor James Breedlove Assistant Editor Rosie Hearn Production Manager T. C. GaUncci Cit) Editor Steve Cray Campus Editor Sandy Russo Sports Editor Toil) Callucci Photography Director Jack Holm There’s ALWAYS a Good Selection of BEAUTIFUL FOLIAGE PLANTS At Hardy Gardens! To brighten your room, apartment, or home with na ture’s gifts, visit Hardy Gardens first. We offer your best selection of well groomed, first quality plants in every size. I THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL MINIATURE ORANGE TREE Loaded with small oranges . . . often with blossoms and fruit at the same time. For a bright place in your room! Regular $9.99 SPECIAL $599 In College Station . . . HARDY GARDENS 2301 So. Texas Ave. Phone 693-3336 Health Center PEANUTS Entrances limited 'S\R, WHAT ifA THE WORLD AKE HOV DOIN65ITTIN6 IN A PUMPKIN PATCH? > Editor: I had an accident of a semi emergency nature during the past weekend which required a visit to the University Health Center. As I was on the south side of the campus at the time, I entered the campus by automobile on that side. I soon realized that you cannot get to the Health Center from the south side in a car. I headed for the north side but found the road leading to the Health Center blocked off by the fish pond. It was then that I was enlightened with the knowledge that the Health Center is accessible by car only through the west campus entrance. My trip around the campus was further complicated by the fact that I was driving with one hand and was hurrying. My other hand was still sizzling from my crafty deed of put ting it in a can of acid-hearing sol vent. The one place on campus that should be easily accessible by auto is the Health Center. I realize the University administ ration is trying to restrict traffic flow through the campus, hut it seems priorities have been mixed up somewhere. I could have parked and walked in my case, but a serious emergency involving an unconcious patient would require quick access to the emergency door. Jerry Needham iNiiiiii always a gamble at best. I suspect the slot machines in Las Vegas pay off as often as most of the vending machines on campus. But in all fairness, these machines are equipped with cards stating where refunds are made. Is it an accident they are usually in another building halfway across campus? Actually my real reason for writ ing this is not to complain, hut to make a suggestion. I believe it would be profitable if A&M would invest in vending machines. The profits would he tremendous be cause they seldom give anything for the money. In a few years the tui tion could be reduced to almost no thing. The students would still be paying, (indirectly) and it would he a sporting proposition. Sam Hill greatest 5 p.m. traffic is the interse ction of Spence at University Drive, west of the Zachry Engineering Building. Frustrated motorists sometimes wait 15 minutes to turn left onto University Drive from Spence. This is usually accomplished when a kind-hearted driver stops and lets a few cars cross. Until traffic lights can he instal led, why not have policemen direct traffic at uncontrolled intersections around the edge of the campus? A policeman stationed at an intersec tion for 10 minutes could eliminate almost 30 minutes of traffic conges tion and a great many headaches. Peter Leabo Used bottles HALLOWEEN 15 C0MIN6,MAf?Cl£„ | LINUS TOLP ME THAT ON I HALLOWEEN NI6HT THE W | Pi/mpkin" Rises out of the PUMPKIN PATCH, ANP 5PIN65 6lfT5 TO ALL THE KIPS IN THE WORLD! I £ 405 Un Editor: The clutter of used bottles and Rush hour Cancellation Editor: Well rock music fans, the screws have been put to us again. I just went to obtain tickets for the Nov. 7 Kraftwerk concert and was told that Kraftwerk has cancelled and is being replaced by Jim Stafford and Dave Loggins, two middle-of-the- road, easy listening performers. This makes one easy listening, one country, one jazz and one soul con cert scheduled this semester. But still no rock. I would like to suggest that Town Hall concentrate on American ta lent instead of shooting for the more internationally known groups such as Kraftwerk, a German group which is in greater demand and has a better chance of cancelling out. Maybe next semester, huh? Bob Gibbons Editor: Something needs to he done to wards easing Texas A&M Universi ty’s 5 p.m. traffic problems. Many controlled and uncontrolled exits from the University have motorists waiting in line, sometimes for 15 minutes. Ideally, the problem could be cured by installing traffic lights at the university exits. Four main exits now have traffic lights while six others do not. Motorists who exit onto Jersey Street from Bizzell, especially those waiting to turn left across a lane of traffic, have seen much shorter lines since a traffic signal was installed there during the summer. Perhaps the intersection with cans on our campus is atrocious. The bottles and cans are often scattered several feet from their in tended containers. The clutter only adds to the decor of construction. The bottles break and cut hike tires, pedestrian’s feet and the feet of our pets. But, that inconvenience is minor. It just looks ugly. Several states have already out lawed nonreturnable bottles and cans of any type. Congress will soon consider a hill to outlaw such con tainers in public areas, specifying parks and recreation areas. I like to think that our campus was meant as a sort of recreation area to relax and enjoy between classes and such. I think Texas A&M should step up with the times and do some thing about these containers before they are forced to. Perhaps, if the containers were worth something, people would not just toss them anywhere. Cissy Audair DCWOU II HAVE TO Really believe believe THAT,SIR? J IT,MAKCIE... Hr l'M IN BAP NEQD0FA . NEU) BASEBALL 6L0VE.7 One arm bandit Editor: Gambling, though illegal in Texas, is a commonplace occurr ence on Texas A&M campus. Al most every building has a “one arm bandit” in the guise of a vending machine. Using one of these machines is OMBUDSMAN If you have a question or com plaint regarding news coverage please contact our Ombuds man’s office between 6 and 11 p.m., Monday through Thurs day. We established the office to help you with problems re quiring the attention of any top editorial personnel of The Bat talion. Call 845-2611 or write Ombudsman, The Battalion, Texas A&M Univer sity, College Station, Texas, 77843. Just thinkin’ about those chili dogs makes you hungry. Wiefierschnitegl Texas at 30th Street HOURS: Sun.-Thurs.: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fri. & Sat.: 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. “Kings Point” isn’t a famous brand so they offer you a lot for your money! SC-20—$59.95 SC-33—$39.95 LOUPOT’S University N0RTHGATE—ACROSS FROM THE POST OFFICE ® 1975 Application Calculators Incorporated Calculator Center A s Jai 9:3 the Tl J] 5 Fri KT; 1101 Texas