Carter proposals waver
United Press International
WASHINGTON — The Senate Finance
Committee voted 10 to 6 Tuesday to kill
another major part of President Carter s
energy legislation: the tax on crude oil.
H owever. Chairman Russell Long,
D-La., warned the panel it would have to
revive the proposal if it is to have any
energy program at all.
As the committee acted, opponents of
natural gas deregulation on the Senate
floor were predicting victory in the fight to
keep the lid on prices.
Long urged his committee to w ithhold
judgment on the crude oil tax until after
deciding how to phase it out and how to
use the money. But Sen. William Roth,
R-Del., who offered the motion to strike
the tax, said it would be better to decide
first if the funds from the tax are needed
and then to decide whether to revive the
tax.
The levy was designed to raise the price
of price-controlled oil to the world level,
thereby discouraging eonsumpti on
through higher prices but w ithout giving
windfall profits to oil companies.
Carter wanted to rebate the tax to the
public, but various other proposals have
been made to spend the funds on in
creased production of oil and other energy
sources.
The defeat was the second major one
handed to Carter by the committee. The
panel voted earlier to kill his tax on gas-
guzzling automobiles.
On the Senate floor, meanw hile, oppo
nents of natural gas deregulation said Car
ter’s threat to veto proposals to lift price
controls and like-minded sentiment
among House leaders, means deregulation
“is not going anywhere.
Pushing a filibuster against the price de
regulation that could drag on into next
week. Sen. James Abourezk, D-S.D., said
Carter s Saturday announcement against
deregulation “gives us more votes to kill
proposals for lifting the controls.
The Senate set a vote for today on limit*
ing debate, but w ith deregulation oppo
nents filing 240 amendments — up KM)
from Saturday — progress on the measure
was slowed considerablv.
Abourezk said the veto threat could
conceivably shift the filibuster from his
hands to those who favor deregulation.
“But I cannot see how' they could
realistically hold the Senate hostage to
(deregulation),’ he told a reporter. "This
bill is not going anywhere (with deregula
tion). They are essentiallv faced with this
choice: no bill at all, or the Carter bill.
Abourezk said the filibuster, also led by
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio. “is
the first pro-consumer filibuster that has
been carried on in years and years. He
and Metzenbaum feel Carter s proposals
for somewhat higher prices, but Under
continuing regulation, is as generous as
any natural gas bill should get.
Easterwood tower ‘justified’
By GARY WELCH
The Federal Aviation Administration
may close Easterwood Airport’s control
tower for financial reasons. But Ed Davis,
Texas AikM University’s Director of Man
agement Services, says the money spent
on the tower is justified by the safe air
traffic the tower provides.
Davis spoke of a study released recently
by the FAA that suggests the Easterwood
tower is one of 73 in the nation whose costs
will outweigh its benefits from 1978-1992.
“I don’t think the study is practical in
any sense of the word, through 1992 or
through tomorrow,” Davis said. About
$300,000 was spent to build a tower at
Easterwood because of increased air traf
fic, he said, and now it might be closed.
There is no real proposal to close the
tower, said Henry Christiansen of the
FAA district office in Waco. The FAA has
presented five courses of action and asked
for public comment before making a deci
sion, he said.
Mideast cease-fire:
crucial test for peace
iii k
Battalion photo by Ken Herrera
Let the sun shine in
unlight shines through a spray of water at the fountain in front of the
chemistry Building on the Texas A&M campus.
United Press International
BEIRUT, Lebanon — The battlefields of
south Lebanon lapsed back into farmland
Tuesday in the second day of a U.S.-
mediated cease-fire. A senior Western
diplomat calls it a “crucial test for Mideast
peace.”
Lebanese rightists, backed by Israeli
troops and tanks inside Lebanon and joint
Palestinian-Lebanese leftist forces, ceased
most firing at 10 a.m. Monday (4 a.m.
EDT), though some scattered exchanges
occurred after the deadline.
“It will take at least 36 to 48 hours to see
whether it (the cease-fire) is for keeps,”
the Western diplomat said in Beirut. “This
is a crucial test for Mideast peace.
"It’s a test for the Carter administration,
for the Palestinians, but mostly for Israel.
It would be the first real proof for Wash
ington the Israelis want peace.’’
American and Israeli officials also said
the cease-fire — ending 10 months of
fighting that had intensified in the past 10
days — had taken hold except for a Pales
tinian salvo of Soviet-made rockets that
wounded eight persons in two Israeli
towns.
An Israeli military spokesman said Israel
pulled back all its troops that had crossed
into Lebanon, but a Lebanese reporter in
the area said some Israelis remained in a
few hill positions just inside Lebanon.
When the dust-covered Israeli soldiers
clanked back across the border in U.S.-
built armored vehicles, a Christian com
mander put his arm around an Israeli offi
cer and said:
“We have the assurance the Palestinians
will respect the cease-fire. . . if not, we
have the assurance that the Israeli army
will interfere and fight.
A Lebanese reporter in the south said
only scattered rocket, shell, and
machine-gun exchanges had marred the
cease-fire Monday, and that the rocky
farmland seemed to be at peace again.
Largely the product of intensive U.S.
contacts in Jerusalem, Beirut and with
Middle East diplomats in W ashington, the
cease-fire is reportedly based on a peace
accord endorsed by the Lebanese gov
ernment and the Palestine Liberation Or
ganization in late July.
The plan, due to have begun taking hold
in mid-August, was undermined by a
sharp escalation of the fighting in the south
that culminated in a major Israeli-rightist
offensive 11 days ago.
Under the plan, up to 1,200 Lebanese
army regulars will enter Palestinian and
rightist positions and all but some 300
Palestinians will pull back from the border
to allow creation of a demilitarized zone,
diplomatic sources said.
The first option would continue federal
operation of all existing towers.
The second uses a 1975 cost-benefit
formula under which the tow er would re
main open, but under the criteria used in
the new study, which is the third option,
Easterwood s tower would lose its federal
funds.
Under the fourth option, which would
halt federal money to the 35 least eco
nomical control towers in the* country,
Easterwood would also remain open.
The fifth option would continue federal
support of all uneconomical towers until
1980 to give state and local sources time* to
organize financial support for their respec
tive towers.
Davis, as Director of Management Serv
ices, has responsibility for overall man
agement of auxiliary enterprises for ANM,
one of which is the airport.
Davis said he was “surprised, to put it
mildly when he learned of the FAA study
shortly after its findings were announced
last Sept. 1 in the Federal Register.
“Bryan-C College Station is one of the top
20 statistical grow th areas in the United
States,” he said. "I don’t believe the study
took our growth rate into consideration.”
Although ANY! has a terrific influence
on the commercial and economic status of
Brazos County, Davis said, he does not
know whether the University s influence
alone would be enough to keep the tow er
open. If A&M shows its growth and impor
tance to the FAA, he said, then the tower
should remain in operation.
According to Bobby (.’lay, who runs
Eastcrw ood’s tower, about $200,000 is
needed annually to pay the salaries of the
11 people who operate the tower.
If Easterwood loses federal funds,
money needed to keep it open would have
to come* from state or local sources, or
even from A&M.
Davis said he does not know if A&M
could provide the necessary support.
"I d sure like to think so. he* said, “but
I’m not sure the University can sustain the
expense.”
Davis said the Bryan and College Sta
tion city governments as well as the*
Chamber of Commerce* and the Brazos
Valley Development Council are active ly
pursuing the matter with the FAA.
“There will be a public hearing (con
cerning the possible* closure's) in Kansas
City on Oct. 7,” Davis said. "I anticipate-
the University will have re*prese*ntative*s at
th e meeting.”
Administrator questioned
on charges of misconduct
United Press International
DALLAS — The Labor Department is
investigating allegations of official miseon-
eluct against the* regional administrator of
the Occupational Safety and Health Ad
ministration who blames the complaints
on an unhappy labor union.
The investigation by the Labor De
partment involves misuse of government
funds during 25 pleasure trips Robert Tice
all egedly took to Little Roek between
January and September 1976. However,
Tiee said OS HA records show he only
traveled to Arkansas on four occasions dur
ing that time.
Tice Monday denied the allegations and
said thev were connected to criticism of
his administration by a labor union which
claims he has not conducted propel' inves
tigations of safety violations.
The OSHA administrator has been
criticized by the leaders of the* 2(M).(M)0-
member Oil, Chemical and Atomic Work
ers union for alleged inadequate safety and
health investigations in southeast Texas re
fineries.
A letter, dated Sept. 12, to OSHA offi
cials from a union vice president asked for
Tice s removal and that his region be
placed under the direct supervision of
OSHA s national offical.
Tice said he knew nothing about the in
vestigation into his alleged misconduct.
Twin City Mission provides shelter, religion
By TOUMONOVA MULLINS
in old man wearing a gray felt hat roamed from dumpster to
Tipster, retrieving needed items. A black youth stood on the
et corner with his cup of coffee.
(cross the street, workers at the clothing and furniture
res opened boxes. Another worker discarded supplies into
dumpster.
(n old Ford pulled in, its engine backfiring three or four
les, breaking the early morning quiet.
Twin City Mission was beginning another day.
located at 5(X) N. Main St. in Bryan, the mission has been in
ration for the 14 and a half years.
The reason the mission is here is to bring to the people’s
ration that come here for help, their need of the gospel.
Rev. Warren H. Barnes, director. Barnes and his wife
:hryn have been with the mission since January 1976.
Some come in for food, a refrigerator or furniture, Barnes
id. "Sometimes when they try to go on welfare it takes time
check them out. This is the time they’re in need of food. If
y can t afford it, we give it to them.
Barnes explained that if a person has a fixed income, through
ability or welfare, then food, clothing and a place to stay are
nished for about $125 per month.
He said his six-member staff does not check out each per
is financial situation; they leave that up to the welfare de-
rtment.
People need help who don t necessarily qualify for welfare,
added.
In this work, we have people that go from town to town, he
id. “They work the churches first. We meet with the
arches and let them know we re here for those needs.
The Twin City Mission serves the people of Brazos County
rough its chapel, clothing and furniture stores, boarding
>ms, dining hall, detoxification ward and through Sheltering
ms, a children’s emergency shelter.
'll the welfare agency takes a child away from a home be-
juse of abuse or neglect, we take him until the court finds a
mie,” Mrs. Barnes explained. Sheltering Arms is financed by
•nations and a government grant, she added.
‘Our de-tox ward is for those who have drunk so long they
live passed out, she said. “We dry them out. If they stay off
booze, they can stay. She said the de-tox ward is also
^ hanced by a government grant.
The mission also has a registered nurse available three hours
a day and on call 24 hours.
Currently, about 28 men are staying in the 11 boarding
rooms, and two rooms are set aside for families.
One regular boarder,is Cecil Ledford, who came to Bryan
from North Carolina seven months ago.
“I help out when I can with the store,” he said.
Another regular, from Caldwell, has no real home, said Mrs.
Barnes.
“He leaves occasionally, drinks, sobers up, and then comes
back, she said.
In the old, dark dining hall, a breakfast of sausage, eggs, grits
and toast has just been served. Cabbage and wieners were on
the menu for the evening meal, said Earl Ratliff, the cook.
“Ratliff doesn’t board here now, said Barnes. “He was on
our program and responded to counseling. We feel he's a part
of our staff.
Next door to the dining hall is a small chapel with 40 folding
chairs. “We have a service Sunday morning at 8:30 and Thurs
day night at 7:30, Mrs. Barnes explained. “We also have Bible
study every morning at 7 after breakfast. If they eat or sleep
here, they have to come to the non-denominational service.
How receptive are the people to the mission’s witnessing?
“Some respond, Barnes said. “Others could really care less.
We re available for counseling. This is the most important part
of life. It’s there for their choice, and this is as far as we go.
All merchandise in the clothing and furniture stores came
from donations, Mrs. Barnes said. This includes sofas, toasters,
radios, books, toys, rugs, drinking glasses, pots and pans,
dresses, pants and racks of shoes.
“We don’t wash and iron the clothes,” she said. “We just put
the best out and sell the rags to a place in Dallas. A shirt here
sells for 75 cents. A lot of people dress their family here.
“It s all given to us, she said. If you call the Mission, we ll
pick up the stuff.
Another source of income for the mission is recycled paper.
“The A&M Printing Press saves excess paper,” Barnes said.
“Our problem is sometimes that we don’t have a driver to pick
up the paper, but we work it out and they cooperate with us
really well.
“And some of the churches support our work. Some have us
in their budgets.”
Men prepare to pack old newspapers into bales
at Bryan’s Twin City Mission, located at 500 N.
Main. The mission’s income comes from dona
tions, from used clothing and furniture store
sales and from recycling paper.
Battalion photo by Kathy Curtis