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The Battalion
Vol. 70 No. 105
16 Pages 2 Sections
Wednesday, April 13, 1977
College Station, Texas
News Dept. 845-2611
Business Dept. 845-2611
top state leaders
oppose ERA rescission
United Press International
nvever, stri
>ped out oiKi
got no hits in
rer gutting so
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made up for
blowing nop
nd throwing—
I steal by tli AUSTIN — Contending an effort to re-
j wil] nM cind the Equal Rights Amendment
neeting Or would set Texas back five years,
a non-co ^ ree state’s top leaders have
| Saturday ( ^ey w iH work to block the plan.
he in Housli Lt. Gov. William P. Hobby, Atty. Gen.
■rsity of Hoiilohn L. Hill and Land Commissioner Bob
action. irmstrong told reporters Tuesday they
i’s Houstouppose legislation to rescind the state’s
cstin and lata'atjfication of the ERA.
. Hill said efforts by Sen. Walter M.
•^■^"^fetlengden, R-Houston, and Rep. Clay
(mothers, D-Dallas, to repeal the ERA
rOBACC( ire more symbolic than realistic. He said
he Texas Constitution is committed to
PORTEDxjual rights for everyone.
IgThis is no time to turn back. Hill said.
referring to the state’s ratification of the
ERA. “We took our stand. We did it
thought hilly and through our elected rep
resentatives and we did it strongly and
did it early.
“I think it’s important to remember
where we are and from where we come
on this issue,” Hill said. “It seems like our
state should not turn back from a course
that it set five years ago.”
Hobby said Texas historically has been
a leader in granting and securing equal
rights to women. He said his father, the
late Gov. William P. Hobby Sr., was
proud of the fact he helped women obtain
voting rights.
“It’s not a women’s issue. It’s an issue of
basic rights for all persons in the state,”
Hobby said.
Armstrong said he has no trouble sup
porting the ERA because it symbolizes
progress, equality and freedom for all
persons.
“I just don’t see why anybody should be
denied freedom for any reason, particu
larly because of reasons of sex,”
Armstrong said.
Hill disagreed with opponents who con
tend the ERA will cause social and moral
problems, for instance, induction of
women for combat in the service, banning
separate public toilet facilities for the
sexes and permitting homosexual mar
riages.
“Broadly speaking, the points I’ve seen
that would urge changes in the law are
simply not supportive of this,” Hill said.
“There’s no legal basis for that.”
/ importeii
tes:
BALKAN
SHER
income tax forms change
any
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pies,
iize
By GARY WELCH
jThisyear taxpayers noticed a change in
their Federal Income Tax forms. The
miputations that most had grown used
lowere different and became harder to
■ire out. Still, most people do not know
why the forms have been changed.
■The change reflects the recent 1976
Tax Reform Act,” explained Marlene
Baysek of the Internal Revenue Service’s
Public Affairs Division. The new tax
Structure closes many loopholes and re
stricts some tax shelters, she said.
■Many taxpayers can expect benefits
pm the 1977 forms. For example, credit
:an be received for child care expenses.
Mso, a general tax credit of $35 per per-
ioti has been added to the forms.
i Although the new forms are more com
plicated, most people are handling the
[fansition well, Gaysek said.
R'The error rate is not much higher
pan last year’s. Taxpayers are becoming
Bore sophisticated along with the sys
tem. she said. One area of confusion is
Bat the 12 optional tables on previous tax
schedules has been reduced to one table
and three schedules, Gaysek added.
■ ‘The general public response is hard to
gauge, though,” she said. “Face it, it’s
never very favorable when people have to
l'”
r The IRS is utilizing instructions
packages, television commercials and
news releases to simplify filling out the
new forms, Gaysek said, but there are
still complaints from taxpayers.
“The major complaint is that the forms
are still very complex,” she remarked.
“People found out that for some lines on
the long form you have to fill out extra
forms. Still, most people are accepting
the situation.”
In January the IRS received 15 per
cent less tax returns than usual, she said.
The more complicated forms were
thought to be causing the delay, she
added, but the returns caught up in Feb
ruary and are about normal now.
“Usually about 20 per cent of taxpayers
wait until the last seven or eight days to
file their returns,” Gaysek said. She said
it should be about the same this year.
“Anyone who files a return around the
deadline can expect to receive his return
in 10 to 12 weeks,” she explained.
Those who make mathematical mis
takes can rest assured that the IRS will
catch the errors.
“Some mistakes can be corrected at the
IRS Service Center,” she said. “Very
often the taxpayer will receive more
money than he thought because of his er
ror.”
Gaysek did not predict whether there
would be a federal tax rebate. The matter
rests with Congress, she said.
“The IRS has nothing to do with mak
ing the laws,” she emphasized. “We only
administer the laws.”
Gaysek warned that taxes could rise in
the future because of incomes raised by
inflation and the relatively inflexible tax
structure.
A sliding scale would be impossible to
update every year, she said.
Spokes of sunshine
Terri Pylant, a freshman accounting major, soaks up the sun in front of the Academic Building.
Battalion photo by Kim Tyson
Corps plans freshman orientation
epresentatives study
no frills’ school bill
as
United Press International
|AUSTIN — A proposal to give public
fiool teachers an across the board 25 per
nt pay raise may not reach a vote during
Ouse consideration of a $708 million school
ance bill, speaker Bill Clayton says.
[Texas school teachers, who packed the
Ouse gallery yesterday for the first day
debate on the complex school finance
are supporting the amendment by
ep. Dewitt Hale, D-Corpus Christi,
hich has a price tag of more than $800
lillion.
I But Clayton said any attempt to inject a
[acher pay raise in the school finance
pate may be killed on a technicafity —
at it is not germane to the bill because the
hool finance bill did not originally deal with
-ies.
In the opening round of debate, repre-
tntatives indicated they want a no-frills
pool finance bill that will leave some
loney in the state treasury to finance
pearate legislation giving teachers a sal-
py increase.
An amendment deleting a $5.2 million
crease in funding for regional education
rvice centers was overwhelmingly
bpted yesterday, leaving the lawmak-
s with 79 remaining amendments for
'nsideration today.
The school finance bill, considered the
ost complex and one of the most impor-
int issues of the session, would mandate
freeze on local school district taxes next
sar, and require local districts to reduce
C.S. to consider
er bar hours
property taxes by about $74 million the
following year.
It would increase the share of the basic
school costs paid by the state from the
present average of77 per cent to about 85
per cent, leaving local districts to finance
the remaining 15 per cent.
By STEVE MAYER
Mike Gentry of Huntsville, named
Corps Commander for 1977-78, says the
Corps is already planning activities for
the next school year.
“To some degree, we have already
started taking over some of the work and
learning it while the seniors are still
here,” Gentry said.
New for this fall will he an optional
week-long orientation for freshmen
entering the Corps, Gentry said.
The program should help scholastic
proficiency and retention of Corps mem
bers, Gentry said.
“It’s trying to spread out over a week
what we attempt to do in two days,” he
said.
“Well take them on tours of the library
andG. Rollie White. We ll also take each
one with his schedule and show him
where his classes are. Professors will
speak on how to study.”
An orientation on the Corps for all n^w
faculty members will also be initiated this
fall. Gentry said.
“People sometimes don’t understand
the Corps. We ll be trying to explain to
them what all these people are doing
running around in uniforms,” he said.
In order to help Corps recruitment
next year. Gentry said a survey of 500
on-campus males was taken regarding
their views about the Corps.
“Most said they didn’t join the Corps
because of military regimentation,” he
said. “Quite a few said they thought their
grades would suffer. And a lesser number
said it would take up too much of their
time.”
“We continuously work on that,” he
added. “Obviously, that’s something that
we’ve got to work on.”
The survey revealed that although the
class system seemed to be a negative as
pect about the Corps comradeship, unity
and high morale rated high in positive
remarks.
Ninety-five per cent felt there was still
a place for the Corps in A&M’s present
environment.
“The environment at A&M is changing
so much — we have to learn to get along
with the student body. We cannot survive
if we take this separatist attitude.
“We re very aware of this fact,” he
added. “We don’t want to hide away and
die.”
Gentry said many of the activities this
year will be held again next year, such as
the march to the Brazos, in which $8,300
was pledged to the March of Dimes.
People will be invited to eat with the
Corps on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Val
entine’s Day and other special occasions.
Carter cuts Liddy’s jail term;
others’ Watergate terms to stand
long*
Extending late drinking hours in Col-
ge Station will be discussed during the
egular City Council meeting tomorrow.
Consideration of changing the hours
omes at request by the Texas A&M Uni-
ersity Student Government.
Also on the agenda are:
V Consideration of a resolution on the
lillican Dam Project.
V A public hearing on a proposed re
gion to the Comprehensive Plan.
V A public hearing on rezoning parts
fthe Oakwood Addition from apartment
Strict to single family residential.
y Consideration of the Community
levelopment Planner’s report on South-
ind Street.
y A presentation on the proposed
lolik Tract.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the
buncil chamber at City Hall, 1101 Texas
ve.
United Press International
WASHINGTON — President Carter,
while commuting the sentence of Water
gate burglar G. Gordon Liddy “in the
interest of equity and fairness,” has no
plans to act on other Watergate convic
tions.
“As far as the White House is con
cerned, this ruling has no bearing on other
cases,” deputy White House Press Secre
tary Rex Granum said yesterday after an
nouncing Carter’s decision to reduce Lid-
dy’s sentence. The sentence was set by
federal Judge John J. Sirica at from six
years and eight months to 20 years.
Liddy, his sentence reduced to eight
years, will be eligible for parole July 9
from the federal prison in Allenwood, Pa.
He has been imprisoned four years on
charges stemming from the June 17, 1972,
burglary of the Democratic National
Committee headquarters.
Sirica, referring to the President, told
UPI, “He did, apparently, what he
thought was right and I did what I thought
was right when I imposed the original sen
tence. ...”
Granum said the President “took this ac
tion in the interest of equity and fairness
based on a comparison of Mr. Liddy’s sen
tence with those of all others convicted in
Watergate-related prosecutions;’’
Former Atty. Gen. John Mitchell and
former White House aides H. R. Halde-
man and John Ehrliehman received
eight-year sentences for their parts in the
Watergate scandal that forced President
Nixon from office.
Under Carter’s action, a $40,000 fine
remains in effect for Liddy. He “would still
be required to pay the fine or a portion of
it,” Granum said.
Liddy has served more time in jail than
any other Watergate figure.
The only one of the seven original
Watergate burglar-conspirators still be
hind bars, Liddy also was given a three-
year sentence for leading the White House
“plumbers” into the office of Dr. Lewis
Fielding, Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist.
He also received 18 months for con
tempt when he refosed to testify before
the Watergate grand jury.
Vote tomorrow
Student election runoffs will be
held tomorrow from 8a.m. to 6 p.m.
Polling sites for the elections will
be the Memorial Student Center
Lounge, the Corps Guardroom,
Sbisa, the Krueger-Dunn Com
mons, Zaehry, and (weather permit
ting) the shuttle bus stops at Reed
McDonald Bldg, Krueger-Dunn and
Throckmorton.
Workers to man polling sites at the
bus stops are still needed and in
terested students should go by the
Student Government office (MSC
216).
Sirica was angered by Liddy’s refusal to
talk about the affair during the early at
tempts to unravel it, and handed him a
more severe sentence than others who
participated in the break in.
During the Senate Watergate hearings,
there was testimony that Liddy, a mus
tachioed former FBI agent, went to
Mitchell with a $1 million plan for “dirty
tricks” against Nixon’s “enemies.’
The plan was trimmed to $250,000 and,
according to a jury, was approved by
Mitchell. It included wiretapping, surveil
lance and photographing documents — all
crimes uncovered in the Watergate probe.
His more bizarre proposals — abducting
radical demonstrators who might disrupt
the 1972 GOP convention and providing
call girls for Democrats — apparently
were never carried out.
Carter signed the order on the recom
mendation of Attorney General Griffin
Bell. Liddy had petitioned for commuta
tion on Sept. 6, 1976, but President Ford
did not act.
Beer before exam can aid
‘drink-and-study’ students
United Press International
CHICAGO — The college student who
drinks beer while studying should have a
few more before examination time, a sci
entist says.
Dr. Ronald C. Petersen told a Federa
tion of American Societies for Experi
mental Biology meeting that tests con
ducted on army volunteers indicate in
formation learned under the influence of
some drugs is best remembered under
the influence of the same drugs.
Petersen said tests indicate alcohol
produces this memory phenomenon.
According to Petersen, the volunteers
City approves new tennis courts
studied material after being given
scopolamine, a drug included in several
pharmaceutical preparations, including
Contac and Sominex.
They were then tested for memory, once
without using the drug and then with and
without the drug.
Petersen said he found the men tended
to remember better when they were
tested under the same drug conditions
that existed when they studied.
He speculated that when a person
studies specific information, his memory
may store additional information, includ
ing his state of mind and any drugs in his
body. It is easier for the person to recall
the information if his mental state and
drug condition are the same as when he
learned it, he said.
Battalion photo by Diane Christilles
Casino girls
These girls and others like them will provide part of the entertainment
at the Residence Hall Association’s annual Casino this Friday night.
Casino gambling will last from 8 p.m. to ll p.m., then the auction will
begin at 11 p.m. Pictured here are (left to right) Randi Mays, Kathy
Boyd, Ursula Schorn, Lisa Castenson, Sheri Chapman and Susie Maas.
The College Station City Council yes
terday agreed to spend $8,432 to surface
four tennis courts at Bee Creek Park.
Court Systems, Inc. submitted the low
bid, and will supply materials and labor
to do the surfacing.
Bids for repairing two courts at
Thomas Park were rejected because the
two bidders did not recommend surfacing
the courts as the city specified.
The council approved purchase of a
30-by-60 foot park shelter for Bee Creek
Park. The pre-fabricated picnic shelter
will cost $6,099.
The council also approved purchase of
a used $58,000 landfill loader from Mus
tang Equipment of Houston. A new
model would have cost $72,143.
Thursday night the council will con
sider extending drinking hours until 2:15
a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The re
quest was made by the Texas A&M Stu
dent Government.
There will also be a public hearing
Thursday on a proposed revision of the
Comprehensive Plan. The plan, which is
used for planning and zoning land within
city limits, is being revised because of
College Station’s rapid growth.
1 "" \
Weather
| Mostly cloudy and mild with a 50
par cent chance of showers and
thundershowers today and tomor
row, Winds will be southeasterly at
15 to 20 mph dfminishtng tonight.
High today In the upper 70s, Low
tonight in the low 60s. Continued
mostly cloudy tomorrow with a 70
iper cent chance of showers and
: 'thundershowers both tomorrow af-
J ter noon and evening, -i ^