i THE BATTALION Page 7 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1977 louse passes state tax cut 501K, United Press International kUSTIN — The biggest tax re gion in Texas history, a $257.7 lion cut in sale taxes on utility and in inheritance taxes, has ily passed its first test in the islature. fte House tentatively approved h major sections of the bill by ■rwhelming votes yesterday, and [eduled it for a final vote today fore sending it to the Senate. "he tax reductions would become ■ctive July 1 if both the House and the Senate approve the bill by a two-thirds majority. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Joe Wyatt, D-Victoria, repeals the 4 per cent state sales tax on residen tial utility bills and revises the exemptions on inheritance taxes. The repeal of the sales tax on util- ity bills would save consumers $229.3 million in the next two years, and the expansion of the inheritance tax exemptions would reduce those taxes by another $8.3 million. If all cities in Texas decided to go along with the tax reduction idea and repeal the 1 per cent city sales tax on utility bills, consumer bills would be reduced an additional $44.7 million in the next biennium. Wyatt said the tax reduction will force the legislature to limit in creases in state spending to no more than 31 per cent during the next two years. “It was felt by the Ways and Means Committee that if we main tained the increase in spending to 30 to 31 per cent, the growth of the sales tax would keep pace and there would be no need for new taxes in future sessions of the legislature,” Wyatt said. “I think we can cut taxes and provide relief for the people and we can provide the services the people of this state are asking for and in deed demanding.” Attempts to reduce the general sales tax by 1 per cent were de feated, as were efforts to repeal the sales tax on commercial utility bills and to repeal the city sales on utility bills. The Senate yesterday quickly ap proved and sent to the House a pro posed constitutional amendment by Sen. Lindon Williams, D-Houston, authorizing issuance of an additional $200 million in bonds for the Veter ans Land Program. The program, created to provide low interest loans to veterans for the purchase of land, already has au thorized $500 million in bonds, but Williams said only $57 million re main unissued. oppe DL fabric Sk Complete Stock of Fashion Fabrics “In Our 30th Year of Selling Fabrics” DOWNTOWN BRYAN 822-2433 201 MAIN ST. Battalion Classified Call 845-2611 plehration climaxes in New Orleans Record crowds at Mardi Gras ary 21 heat* 30 p mu United Press International NEW ORLEANS — Beer kegs, tinted faces, five-hour parades and istly orderly crowds were among i hallmarks of this year’s Mardi Cras celebration. ■Canal Street was a solid mass of velers last night for the Krewe of tens parade, the last before to- s “Fat Tuesday celebration lich ends Mardi Gras. On Bourbon Street, beer kegs brd says he ould make 980 bid United Press International m YORK — Gerald Ford is a vate citizen now, but he makes it that he still considers himself a tender in the political arena and warns other White House aspir- s to keep their hands off “the ntle of leader” in the Republican a pre-taped interview, slated airing today by ABC’s 'Good irning America, ’ Ford told host vid Hartman he intends to re- politically active, meeting fre- ntly with the Republican leader- p, He added, “I just don't want one person at this stage of the to preempt the next Republi- nomination. It’s possible things might de op where I would have an inter- and the party would want me to so,” he said of his own chances of ining the nomination. “I eer ily don’t want someone today to I’m the only potential nominee fm going to run the show for next four years. ” f ord said he and his wife will be Washington on March 25-26 to with GOP House and Senate ders. A 1 stretched 10 and 20 in a row on sidewalks, waiting to be tapped for the crowds. Police said the crowds were mostly quiet and orderly, though there were more than 800 arrests in the eight-day period preceding Mardi Gras on such charges as pub lic intoxication, selling without a permit and theft. “I wouldn’t want to call it un usually quiet,” said Sgt. George Bourgeois. “It’s relatively quiet, though.” Enterprising artists getting a jump on the day when parade-goers traditionally wear masks, sprinkled glitter on faces — for $2 to $5 — in historic Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter. “The worst thing with our regular life is that everybody is holding in so much,” said Trich Liss, 29, of Springfield, Ill., who painted bright green and blue lines around the full beard of her friend, Ed Hawkes, 23. “With Mardi Gras, everybody is letting go,” she said. “That’s why it’s so much fun.” Cans and bottles clanked under foot with every step, and dozens of people openly violated the city or dinance requiring alcholic bever ages be in paper or plastic cups.. Few in the crowd walked without drinks in their hands. Five parades were planned down town today and several more were set in the suburbs in the final hours before midnight, when police clear the streets and Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Drug arrests were down substan tially from previous years, and French Quarter bar owner Jim Monaghan said, “People are drink ing more this year instead of smok ing dope.” Officials reported all 20,000 hotel rooms in the city were booked months in advance, and Bill Curl of the New Orleans Tourist Commis sion said it was “close to the biggest Mardi Gras ever.” Hankamer School of Business DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON BAYLOR UNIVERSITY HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS A representative of the Hankamer School of Business will be interviewing on campus Friday the 25th of February, stu dents that are interested in attending Baylor University for the following degree programs: Master of Business Administration Master of International Management Master of Professional Accountancy Master of Science in Economics See the A&M Placement Office for information HEAR YE, HEAR YE READ ALL ABOUT IT BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION S LEADING AUDIO DEALER SUPPLY" CUSTOM SOUNDS HAS FLICKED THEIR ©O©* IS HAVING A *10? 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