J
Page 2 THE BATTALION
FRIDAY, OCT. 31, 1975
Part 8 of 9
New charter empowers local government
Associated Press
AUSTIN —Texas voters will say
Nov. 4 whether a special separate
article on local government should
be added to the Texas constitution.
In the current much-amended
constitution provisions concerning
cities, counties and the hundreds of
special governmental districts are
scattered throughout the 63,000
word document.
The proposed new constitution
gathers everything together in one
article called “Local Government. ”
Supporters say the proposed ar
ticle is perhaps the most far-
reaching of the entire constitution.
The most important section on
Special News
Analysis Series
local government in the present
constitution, on home rule for
cities, was added in 1912. Since
then Texas has changed from a
primarily agricultural state to a
major urban state.
Opponents say leave the con
stitution the way it is, any move
will cost money.
Feelings on the local govern
ment article are widely separated,
with a number of urban groups
favoring adoption while many rural
groups want to keep what they
have now.
The Texas Municipal League,
the statewide organization of city
governments, has endorsed the ar
ticle, along with the rest of the new
constitution.
The Texas AFL-CIO says it can
not accept the local government ar
ticle, along with the judiciary arti
cle, but will endorse the rest.
Organizations passing resolu
tions against the local government
article include the Texas Associa
tion of counties, the Panhandle
Judges and Commissioners Associ-
ation, the Gulf Coast Judges and
Prosecutors Association and the
Dallas County Democratic Execu
tive Committee.
“It removes too much authority
from the people and puts it in the
hands of the legislature, ” said the
resolution passed by the Panhandle
officials.
“The many groups for the local
government article are happy and
excited because of the limited
home rule provisions for counties, ”
said a spokesman for the Citizens
for a Texas Constitution. “They like
the ordinance making powers for
counties, and the idea that voters
can restructure the makeup of
county officials.”
Local government provisions in
the new constitution that are not in
the 1876 version include:
— Allow county voters to create
additional offices, combine the
duties and functions of present of
fices, or eliminate officess.
— Enable county voters to grant
ordinance-making power to the
county commissioners court or
governing body of the county.
— Lower the required popula
tion for home-rule cities from 5,000
to 1,500.
— Establishes a $2 maximum
property tax rate per $100 assessed
valuation for cities, not including
taxes for debt service. Counties
would have a $1.25 per $100 valua
tion ceiling. The legislature would
be required to fix debt limits for
cities, counties and school and
community junior college districts.
The new constitution would re
tain the present elected county of
ficials as set out in the 1876 con
stitution and provides for four-year
terms. It also contains a general
statement of authority for the legis
lature to provide for special dis
tricts and authorities by general or
local law. Cities and counties also
could establish special districts
within their boundaries if au
thorized by the legislature. Politi-
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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 Battal
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dents as a university and community newspaper. Editorial
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tion.
Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room
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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
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The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is published in College
Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods. Sep
tember 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
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Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station,
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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 lames Breedlove
Assistant Editor Roxie Hearn
Production Manager T. C. Gallucci
City Editor Steve Gray
Campus Editor Sandy Russo
Sports Editor Paul McGrath
Photography Director Jack Holm
Organization of Arab Students in the U.S.A. & Canada
Texas A&M Chapter
Subject: DAY OF SHAME
Participants: STUDENTS FOR RESPONSIBLE EXPRESSION.
The Organization of Arab Students wishes to inform the student body
at Texas A&M University that the recent pamphlet handed out by
S.R.E. is incorrect and lacking in the following areas:
Yasir Arafat is not pro-communist as stated. He is neither pro
communist nor pro-capitalist. HE IS PRO-LIBERATION.
While S.R.E. mentions P.L.O. terrorist activities it fails to nots the
continuous slaughter of Palestinian refugees by Israeli bombers in
Southern Lebanon.
cal subdivisions would be able to
contract with other government
units from various services and
functions.
San Antonio Major Lila Coc
krell, president of the Texas
Municipal League, said that “cities
have much to gain fiscally through
passage of the new charter, as a
consequence of its repeal of pre
sent constitutional limits on munic
ipal debt. . . because it removes
the ‘tax-limited bond stigma from
the general obligations of munici
pal governments it will save Texas
cities $30 to $40 million in un
necessary interest costs.”
The Texas AFL-CIO said it op
posed the local government article
because it would allow continued
“proliferation” of special tax dis
tricts.
Jim Brigance, Brazoria County
commissioner and incoming presi
dent of the Texas County Judge and
Commissioners Association, said
the document would "give the
legislature almost unlimited au
thority over nearly every phase of
our lives not already regulated by
the federal government.”
Speaker Bill Clayton told the
Texas Association of Counties it
was making a mistake by opposing
county home rule provisions which
would allow voters to change the
structure of county govemmen
“Are you afraid to let the peg
do something for themselves?’
told the association.
Clayton warned if counts
cials help kill this new constiti
they risk future adoptionofa“in
liberal” one as Texas grows®
urban.
Tuesday: Proposed chaiii
in the general provisions,
THIS HONE
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vBothers ne.
The
SILVER FAWN
0/ft ^skop
TURQUOISE & STERLING SILVER
DO-IT-YOURSELF:
Sterling Silver Beads
Turquoise Nuggets
Cones
Hooks & Eyes
Shell Heshei
Liquid Silver
Tiger Tail Cord
FED MART SHOPPING CENTER - SUITE 404
COLLEGE STATION 846-7877
AGGIE CINEMA
Popular Film Series
presents
AGGIES!
Douglas
Jewelry
offers
Student ID Discounts!
15% off of $ 50 o ° or more
10% off of under $ 50 00
CASH PURCHASE ONLY
212 N. MAIN 822-3119
DOWNTOWN BRYAN
THE GREATEST
SANDWICH
The greatest sandwiches in the Southwest are served from
11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day Monday through Friday on
floor 11M, Conference Tower. The greatness of these sand
wiches is no accident. There are several types of meats and
you can select your choice and mix or match any three pieces
for your sandwich on the bread of your choice.
Two of the several types of bread are sour dough and baked
fresh daily in our Duncan bakery. Further, these breads are
prepared without shortening for the diet conscious guest. For
the greatest taste tempting delight just make your sandwich
exactly like you want it and pop it into one of the handy
micro-wave ovens. This wonderful sandwich and a bowl of
soup for only $1.50 plus tax will place you on cloud 11M.
We agree this is a bit of a long story, but it is difficult to stop
talking about our tasty sandwiches.
Open Sunday 11:00 A.M*. -1:30 P.M. for regular meal only.
“QUALITY FIRST”
the 4l /U4JE^orcs,
The Original, Uncensored, Unrivaled,
Classic of Comedii Classics!
f5. cKutu*
(^Sc|
E
Nov. 1
Rudder Theater
k Advance Tickets Available at Box Office
2 P.M. &8P^
$1.00
McLaughlin’s
of corpus christi
THE BEST HAIRCUT OF YOUR LIFE
OR YOUR MONEY BACK
We truly believe that no other men’s or ladies’ haif
stylist in College Station is so dedicated to the artof beauti
ful hair sculpture as McLaughlin’s.
We cost a little more (Artists don’t come cheap.) But
we are very good.
For proof we make this offer: Let us cut your hair. Wear
it for 10 days. If you’re not showered with compliments we ll
happily refund your money.
CALL 846-5764 FOR APPOINTMENT
1403 UNIVERSITY DR. COLLEGE STATION
1
WHO’S WHO
RECIPIENTS
THE FOLLOWING TIME PERIODS ARE ES
TABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING!
THE PHOTOGRAPH FOR THE WHO'S WHO
SECTION OF THE AGGIELAND ’76. THE
DEADLINE FOR ALL WHO'S WHO PHOTOS IS
NOVEMBER 14, 1975, AND THERE WILL BE
NO EXTENSIONS. ANITA WILLIAMS, SECTION
EDITOR OF WHO’S WHO, WILL CONTACt
EACH RECIPIENT FOR A SCHEDULED TIME
SLOT.
IF ANY QUESTIONS CALL 845-2611
MONDAY 9-11:30am 4-8:00 pi
TUESDAY 10- 5:00pm 6-8:00 pi
WEDNESDAY 9-11:30am 4-8:00 pi
THURSDAY 9-12:30pm 6:30-8:00pi
FRIDAY 9-12:00 noon
DATES OPEN FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHY ARE
OCTOBER 30
OCTOBER 31
NOVEMBER 3-7
NOVEMBER 10-K