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Viewpoint
The Battalion Thursday
Texas A&M University October 20, 1977
Gas compromise best
United Press International
Natural gas plays a vital role in the daily lives of millions of Americans. Its
most important basic function is providing heat for millions of homes across
the land.
And so, while we usually are opposed to governmental intervention in the
free enterprise system, something which has literally life and death conse
quences for consumers should not be without some controls.
It was then with considerable sadness that we learned of the U.S. Senate s
vote in favor of legislation which would completely phase out federal controls
on natural gas.
We lean to the president’s proposal, which would allow natural gas prices
to rise but retain controls. As Carter said, what we need is “legislation that
provides adequate production incentives while protecting the interests of
American consumers.
Propositions affect judiciary, banks, veterans
Seven amendments before Texas voters
By JOHN W. TYNES
Battalion Staff
Editor’s note: Texas voters will con
sider seven amendments to the State
Constitution in a special election Nov. 8.
The following are brief descriptions of
each proposed amendment, plus major
arguments for and against each.
AMENDMENT ONE would increase the
size of the Court of Criminal Appeals from
its present size of five judges to nine
judges. It would also allow the court to sit
in panels of three judges.
Arguments for point out that an en
larged court would allow a faster administ
ration of justice. Tlie court could hear
more cases faster with three smaller panels
instead of one large panel.
Arguments against say that this en
largement of the court would still fail to
solve the present delay in the court sys
tem. A more effective solution would be to
add a no th er level of criminal review
courts. Sentiment also exists to change the
present system of dual courts for criminal
and civil cases to a system of one single
court of last resort.
AMENDMENT TWO would allow the
Veteran’s Land Board to issue and sell an
additional $200 millon in bonds or obliga
tions and to deposit the proceeds in the
Veterans’ Land Fund. Surviving widows of
veterans could also purchase tracts under
certain circumstances.
Arguments for claim that the extra
funds are necessary to continue providing
benefits of the Veterans’ Land Program to
Texans. Surviving spouses of Texans who
forfeited their lives in the service of the
country should also be able to benefit from
this program.
Arguments against assert that compen
sation of veterans is a federal rather than a
state responsibility. There has been suffi
cient time since the Vietnamese conflict
for veterans to take advantage of the land
programs and extension of the programs
should be unnecessary. Also, the original
program was intended in gratitude to vet
erans for service and not as a benefit for
their families, so including spouses in the
program is not necessary.
AMENDMENT THREE would allow a
district court to deny bail to a person ac
cused of a felony if he or she 1) was on bail
for a prior felony indictment or 2) has been
previously convicted of a felony and is ac
cused of using a deadly weapon in the
commission of a second felony. Under pre
sent law, the right of bail is guaranteed for
all offenses except capital felonies when
the proof is evident or to a person who has
two previous felony convictions.
Arguments for claim the change would
prevent career criminals who are arrested
for one felony from taking advantage of the
time between indictment and trial to
commit one or more additional offenses
while on bail. It would also eliminate the
danger to the public when a person with a
felony record is released on bail while ac
cused of another felony.
Arguments against point out that the
purpose of releasing a defendent on bail is
to preserve the presumption of innocence
while ensuring an appearance for trial.
This amendment would allow incarcera
tion of persons who have not been con
victed or tried.
AMENDMENT FOUR would authorize
tax relief to preserve certain culturab his
torical, or natural history resources. Relief
would be granted by one of two methods.
First, the legislature could grant exemp
tions or relief on appropriate property.
Second, the legislature could authorize a
political subdivision to designate property
which would receive relief or exemptions.
Arguments for say that property tax re
lief in certain circumstances would contri
bute significantly to preservation of the
many cultural, historical, and natural his
tory resources which Texas holds. The
proposed amendment is permisssive
enough to allow the legislature to spell out
the necessary administration, or to revoke
it if necessary.
Arguments against point out that grant
ing tax relief to certain historical and cul
tural properties would erode the tax base
which many school districts and local gov
ernments depend upon for their revenue.
The amendment might shift the burden of
taxes to individuals who are not granted
tax relief.
AMENDMENT FIVE authorizes the
formation of associations authorized to col
lect certain refundable assessments from
producers of poultry, livestock, and other
raw agricultural or marine products. It also
validates the 1967 law regarding the for
mation of such associations.
Arguments for claim the amendment
would benefit all producers of a particular
commodity who decide to establish a
board and levy the assessment. A pro
ducer who is strongly opposed to the prog
ram or feels that they are receiving no ben
efit from the program could demand and
receive a refund of all assessments paid.
Arguments against say the proposed
program is only another (juasi-government
program supported by what amounts to a
tax. As with all programs of this type, the
cost is eventually borne by the consumer
in higher prices.
AMENDMENT SIX would authorize
state and national banks to exercise bank
ing privilieges by use of electronic devices
or machines located at such places as may
be provided by law. Banks could also share
such devices or machines on a reasonable,
non-discriminatory basis. Banks could be
allowed to set up electronic fund transfer
terminals at various remote locations.
Such a terminal at a retail store, for exam
ple would allow a customer to pay for mer
chandise by instantly transferring money
from a personal account to the store’s ac
count instead of paying with cash, check,
or credit card.
Arguments for point out that electronic
fund transfer terminals would give the
consumer a convenient optional method of
payment. The system would also speed up
routine business and retail transactions
and reduce paperwork and mailing costs.
Arguments against claim that the use
electronic fund tranfers could result in the
loss of privacy by making an individual’s
records accessible on computer data. In
addition, mixing the two systems of instan
taneous electronics and slower written
checks would complicate the balancing of
checkbooks.
AMENDMENT SEVEN would change
the name of the State Judicial Qualifica
tions Commission to the State Commis
sion on Judicial Conduct.The membership
of the eommisssion would be changed to
include four citizen members instead of
three and to add one justice of the peace.
The commission would also be granted the
power to suspend a judge from office, with
or without pay, pending final disposition of
charges against the judge.
Arguments for say that discipline of
judges by the commission and removal
from office by the supreme court on re
commendation of the commission is more
economical and a better use of personnel
than impeachment and other methods*of
removal. Although a method of disciplin
ing judges does exist .under present km ,
recent events have shown a need for addi
tional powers to make this method quicker
and more effective.
Arguments against point out that judges
elected by the public and the will of the
electorate would be undermined if the
power to discipline and remove judges is
expanded to the commission and the su
preme court. The expansion is unwarranted
because other methods for the removal of
judges are provided by the constitution.
Letters to the editor
At last — the truly ‘untouchable’ faction
Editor:
Amidst all the arguing and bickering
over who is to be considered a “good Ag ”,
it has come to my attention that someone
has cut down every faction on the campus
with but one exception. Thus, I feel obli
gated to take the initiative and ridicule this
previously unharrassed group: Left-
Handed People.
I am an open minded person; however,
I cannot tolerate these disgusting radicals.
They are not true Aggies. If we do nothing
in regards to discouraging the attendence
of these mutants at Texas A&M, there will
no doubt be a growth in the Leftist move
ment here and the situation will be ir-
reversable.
One time, I stumbled into a left-handed
people party on accident. At first, these
people seemed nice enough. Then they
started pressuring me to change my hand
priority and join their nasty clique. They
even hinted at such kinky notions as be
coming ambidextrous. I was enraged!
Don’t these people realize that no real
Aggie who cared about the honor of A&M
would ever submit to becoming a two per
center left-hander? These people call
themselves Aggies, but they are under
mining the precious traditions that loyal
Ags have been building for 100 years with
their dominant right hands. The next thing
you know, they’ll want to further disgrace
this institution and demand recognition.
Well, all I have to say is that we don’t need
their kind here! If any of them want to
extend their hand in friendship to me. I’m
going to take it and point it toward Austin,
where left-handed people and their de
mented kind belong
—Byron the Good Aggie
Other side of coin
Editor:
This is in response to H. C. Hering’s
letter that appeared in the Tuesday, Oc
tober 18th edition of the Battalion. In the
first place, the library staff and the “Head
Honchos aren t responsible for the coin
and bill changer. Had you been properly
informed, you would realize that the
change machine is not “permanently bro
ken , either. Occasionally, it runs out of
coins, or gets too full of bills. When this
happens, during the day, go to the Copy
Center in room 123 of the library and in
form the staff. It will be attended to as
soon as possible. The main desk, or circu
lation desk, does not have change. It is not
their job to give out change. If the bill
changer is out, you can get change during
business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) in room
123, located on the first floor, in the corner
behind the card catalog. At night, and on
weekends, perhaps you should bring
change with you, since you are planning to
copy material. Please, Mr. Hering, don’t
criticize A&M ’s staff policies until you are
a little better informed.
—C. Bradford ‘79
—Copy Center satellite receptionist
Thanks for Kay
Editor:
The love and respect generated by stu
dents attending Silver Taps can be over
whelming. Once again Silver Taps was a
beautiful service. These expressions were
a tremendous lift to those of us who loved
Kay Cunningham '81.
Thank you Aggies.
—Kay’s Friends
Lord have mercy
Dear Lord:
I know its been a long time since I’ve
written, too. Probably longer than Lee
Roy Leschper, Jr. (see Mon., Oct. 17 Bat
talion) I’m sorry, too. But you have to un
derstand that a poor student like me can’t
afford today’s airmail rates. Don’t worry,
though. I’ll give at the collection. I never
met Bing Crosby, either. I, too, have
heard that he was a nice as hell (sorry) guy.
My mother has a copy of “White Christ
mas” she plays every Christmas Eve. I’ve
seen most of the “Road” pictures on the
Late Show. (By the way, will you do a
“Road to Nirvana” when Bob Hope and
Dorothy Lamour croak? I mean, after all,
you do have Cecil B. DeMile, don’t you?)
Anyway, there’s no doubt Bing was a great
guy. His orange juice wasn’t bad either.
But don’t you think Mr. Lesehper’s taking
the time to write a memo drawing your
attention to Bing’s sainthood was a little
much? Perhaps L.R.L. has an inside track,
I don’t know. Please write soon, and send
money.
—Arthur Pilgrim
Editor’s note: We’ll see who’s the first to
talk to him in person and find out.
More thanks
Editor:
Thank you for the publicity you have
given to Mrs. Robinette’s project for Aus
tin State School residents. We hope that
some of your student groups may want to
become a part of that project and collect
treats and/or funds to add to the large do
nation from College Station and Bryan.
Your combined efforts have helped
bring much joy to many of our residents.
—Mrs. Alberta Elliott, CAVS
Coordinator
Volunteer Services
Slouch by Jim Earle
“I’M NOT VERY WORRIED ABOUT RICE, BUT I THOUGHT I’D
START EARLY GETTING READY FOR SMU!”
Top of the Newsip
Campus
ma
Midnight yell to be at Checkers
Texas A&M University’s midnight yell practice, Friday Oct, 21, for
the Rice game will not be held at Hermann Park this year in Houston.
Instead, yell practice will be held at Checkers, a club on the corner of
Woodway and Voss in Houston. Beginning at 7 p.m. Checkers will
cater strictly to Texas A&M students’ the club manager told Joe
Reagan, head yell leader. Beer will be $1.(X) per pitcher. Take In-
terstate 10 east to the Voss exit, turn south on Voss to Woodway.
Maps w ill be posted on campus and around the Bryan -College Sta
tion area.
Bus to transport football fans
Texas A&M University football followers with tickets to the Rice
game in Houston Saturday can avoid fighting the traffic snarls and
parking problems at Rice Stadium. A charter bus, sponsored by the
Brazos County A&M Club, will leave Parking Lot 60 near Rudder
Center at 2:45 p.m. and return immediately after the 7:30 p.m.
game. Seats are available at $9 per person. Seat reservations should
be made at the Association of Former Students, 845-7514. The bus is
expected to arrive at the stadium at 5 p.m., allowing ample time for
eating at nearby establishments. A club charter also is planned to
Fort Worth Nov. 19, for the TCU game, at $13 per person. Reser
vations may be mailed to the club at Box 4, College Station, 77840.
State
Houston jury still undecided
The jury trying to decide if oil millionaire Ash Robinson was re
sponsible for the death of his son-in-law deliberated more than seven
hours Wednesday without reaching a verdict. The jury told State
District Judge Arthur Lesher they disagreed on the testimony of an
unnamed w itness, but it w iis not repeated before they quit for the
day. Lesher has not ordered the jury sequestered during delibera
tions and has told them they may deliberate during general working
hours, which for the trial has been between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Ten
votes are needed to render a decision. The jury must also decide
elements of false imprisonment, pain and suffering, and whether
assault and battery occurred during the night of the shooting existed,
If they agree Robinson was responsible, punitive and exemplary
damages w ill be decided.
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Executions with legal injections
fexas prison officials can execute condemned criminals with lethal
injections of antifreeze or other painful substances under a new death
penalty law', attorneys for two Fort Worth defendants complained
Wednesday. Although legislators who pushed the' new' procedure for
executing condemned criminals said drug injections would be more
humane than electrocution, the attorneys complained that a specific
drug shoifld be used. Under the present statute the director of the
fexas Department of Corrections can use antifreeze if he wants to,
On questioning by appeals court judges, both attorneys acknowl
edged that a riding striking down the drug injection law' would leave
theii clients facing the electric chair. Howard Fender, assistant Tar-
rant County district attorney, said as long as the director of the De
partment of Corrections chooses a substance that will not cause suf
fering, w ill not cause lingering or disfiguring death, he 1 has the leeway
to choose for himself the precise method of execution.
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Concorde lands at Kennedy
V \ 'ngym
The supersonic Concorde landed at Kennedy International Airport
•clav tor the Hixt Hm*. .. i i i i. i battle
i r i ).. '^oucoiuc ranciea at Kemnedy International A
today tor the first time, ending a two-year legal and diplomatic battle
by the British and French for test flights into New York’s trails-
A r m .ne markc ’ t i ; Jhe jethner touched down on runway 4-Left at JFK
1 ,i ' ? d ^ ' 1 plane emitted little' more noise than any
ot ler aircraft that lands at Kennedy, except for a high-pitched whine,
winch could be heard as it began its landing at a speed of 160 m.p h
Around the airport, hundreds of motorists pulled their cars off road 2
ways anc stood on the grassy knolls overlooking the landing fieW
:: d T ls n lu re mL OOC L <)n T arb y rooftops. Some cheered as the plane
came to earth. The British and French obtained landing rights for
then supersonic transport Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court
i ted a temporary stay on flights granted Oct. 7 by the court.
Drugs contributed to Elvis’ death
Sour
ten
ourcis quoted by the Commercial Appeal say a combination
rces 8 s iid l V haVe su P e,star E >vjs Presley’s death Aug. 1
Sources Lirlv C “ USe ? su Porstar Elvis Presley’s death Aug. Ib
shmer v.cU V< ; rnon P, ^ sl ey, the singer’s father/ was told the late
smgei had ten drmrs in his hl„<„i..c ” __ i_ i V i i.-,u ,„. () ba-
sincr^rh 1 . - y >vMcy, rne singers tather, was told tne
blv con/ 1 V 1 r ! Ug u S ln bis bloodstream when he died, which piw
Id 1 e M l t0 hlS dea , th at hi * Graccland mansion. The source!
but the in^i " t le drugs were all within prescribed levels
■ifl’ect on Hi . • C lon . ° tbe dings in Presley’s body may have had an
■iff’ect on th b ■ i , lgs 111 Presley’s body may have had
was com ern TT ' f nla !' g ? d ht ’ar t. Vernon Presley said Tuesday nc
nartieul Tv CC a * )ut public interpretation of the autopsy reports,
paiticulaily reEardim? drncrv Im...... i- .i i i. i ju,w.|(|w
he
mu tie 'n4 / public interpretation of the autopsy report
three forme.- C because of a recently published book I
heavy drug user ^ ,od yS uar ds which claimed the entertainer was a
Weather
Partly cloudy and mild today and tomorrow with southeasterly
W, H d |rx 8 ' 12 mph ’ High both days upper 80s. Low tonight
mid-60s. 10 percent chance of isolated afternoon showers.
The Battalion
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Address eonespondenee to U tters to //»,. i/,/;, (:it y Editor w
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Phot o^t
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Inc Battalion is published Mond iv iL,- i . ('In
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