The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Viewpoint
Monday
November 7, 1977
Carter energy program has hidden flaw
Bv DAVID S. BRODER
WASHINGTON—The best cos
tume award at one Washington Hal
loween party went to the fellow who
opened up some more seams and
tore some new holes in an old suit
and came as the Carter Energy
Plan. This is late* in a session of Con
gress, a sight gag like* that can seem
funny.
The wearer w as an old Democrat
who knows that many of the impor
tant parts of the Carter plan are in
far le\ss trouble than the press ac
counts of the last tw o wet»ks would
suggest. He’s also a fellow who has
defended most of the plan from the
* start and who has no doubt that
there* is a worlel e*ne*rgy crisis.
What we* had, in short, was a de-
feetor who still takes the energy
crisis seriously' but who is beginning
to have trouble eloing the same with
the* administration s efforts to eleal
with it. Anel for those who cared, he
hael an interesting explanatiem of his
urge* to ele-fect.
"It seems "fliST a 7 T,ilf Tleli^eerTr)^^
streamline the licensing process for
nuclear power plants has been cir
culating in town for senne weeks. It
is now in its fourth draft, and is
scheduled to be taken up in hear
ings ne*.\t wt*e*k bv Sen. Gary Hart
(D-Colo.)
There is some ejuestion whether
the bill ge*ts to the heart of the prob
lem. People who w'ant many more
nuclear power plants-and, obvi
ously, not all supporters of the Car
tel - program do-tend to doubt that
construction delays can be cut down
simply by changing the licensing
process. Slow deliveries of parts, er
ratic demand, high construction
costs and high interest rates are also
part of the problem.
Licensing delays are serious, but
people at the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, who deal with licens
ing every day, say the new process
might only cut six months out of a
lead-time for nuclear plants that
now averages about 12 years.
A much more puzzling aspect of
the bill is that it blunders headlong
into a delicately negotiated agree
ment between the states and W ash
ington about how and where to
build power plants, refineries and
other energy-related facilities along
the U.S. coastline.
The last page of the draft hill
proposes to amend the Coastal Zone
Management Act, which sets the
terms of federal-state decisions on
coastal energy facilities in 31 Sea
board and Great Lake states.
Neither the act nor its regulations
are matters of front-page news, but
that does not mean they are unim
portant. The basic premise of the
coastal act is that beaches and wet
lands and estuaries are national re
sources that can be destroyed for
generations if developers are care
less about where they put their con
dominiums and harbor facilities and
power plants.
The coastal act creates a partner
ship arrangement between Wash
ington and the states for these deci
sions. There are giants from Wash
ington to the states to help them
zone their coastlines, to select sites
for development and to protect
areas that should be preserved.
Once the federal government ap
proves a state’s zoning plan, it also
binds itself to abide by its terms in
any development involving federal
money or licenses. That’s where the
energy problem enters.
Under the present law, the Secre-
tary of Commerce can grant an ex
ception to the state zoning law for a
federal project only if it is found to
be in the national interest or
necessary for “national security.
Now “national interest is a slippery
concept. It means one thing to an oil
company trying to bring a pipeline
ashore in California, and it means
something else to an environmental
protection agency. But, so far, the
negotiations between the states and
the Commerce Department have
been civil and muted and have not
done violence to federal-state regu
lations.
But the administration draft hill
would change all of this by giving
Secretary of Energy James
Schlesinger sole authority to decide
whether a state plan should be ac
cepted or rejected. He-not Com
merce s Juanita Kreps-would review
all proposed coastal plans, compare
their provisions with his blueprint
for the national energy blitz and,
presumably, send them back if they
threatened to interfere with any
part of his department s program.
During his campaign. President
Carter seemed to understand quite
clearly that the mood of the people
was resentful of Washington’s in
stinct for dictatorial bureaucracy.
But now, the energy plan is all-
important to him and Schlesinger.
Certainly, it is important. But to
the people who live there or earn
their living there, so is a beach in
upper Michigan or port in lower
Florida. Those conflicts deserve to
be negotiated-not ruled on arbitrar
ily by the bureaucrats in the energy
agency.
That, said the party guest, is the
abstract problem with the draft bill.
The concrete problem is this: The
drafter and protectors of the Coastal
Zone Act are Sens. Warren G.
Magnuson (D-Wash.) and Ernest F.
Hollings (D-S.C.) Neither is the
kind of fellow Carter needs to be
picking a fight with at this moment.
Not if he’s smart.
It was enough to make a good
Democrat go tear holes in his suit.
MLE TVfc tetOJE NEGOTIATION 1 ? CONTINUE. A CRACK TEAM of INTERNAToNAC TROuetESNOOTE^ ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.
(c) 1977, Washington Post
New life — animal, mineral or political?
By DICK WEST
Ini ted Press Intel national
WASHINGTON — Scientists almost
always have trouble making their work
understandable to laymen.
The problem is that most research now
adays is so esoteric it can t be reduced to
terms a layman can fully comprehend.
thus far, if you don’t count sex change op
erations.
I found the story so fascinating I read
part of it aloud. I quoted one of the scien
tists as saying the organism came out of the
primordial ooze, produces methane gas
and thrives on simple, inorganic chemi
cals.
Therefore, whenever there is an impor
tant scientific development, we laymen
tend to relate it to something in our own
experience, and usually the analogy self-
destructs.
At the breakfast table the other morning
I came across a piece in the paper about
the team of University of Illinois re
searchers who reported the discovery of a
new form of life on earth.
It was the third life form to be identified
The Tighter Side
“That s not new,” my teenage son com
mented. "It sounds like Uncle Albert to
me.
I acknowledged the similarity but
pointed out that “this organism is so small
you need a microscope to see it.
My son was not convinced. “Maybe
Uncle Albert is an overweight version of
it,” he suggested.
My son had never before exhibited
much interest in science, or any other
academic subject for that matter, so I was
reluctant to dampen his newly awakened
intellectual curiosity.
“Let’s leave your Uncle Albert out of
this,’ I said. “However, scientists say
there may be still other forms of life that
haven t been found yet. Perhaps one of
the m will turn out to be a relative — on
your mother’s side, of course. ’
Later on, I was talking with a colleague,
a political reporter, about the discovery.
He said he was wondering if the third life
form might have been the nucleus of one
of the third party movements that had
sprung up from time to time.
"Some of those third party movements
never developed beyond the microscopic
stage, he said. “It could be that nobodv
noticed this one at all.
I said, “I have read several accounts of
the discovery and saw nothing to indicate
the third life form was ever a political or
ganism. What gave you that impression?”
“Three things," he said. “First off, the*
organisms are called archaebacteria or
methanogens. That sounds suspiciously
like the name of a third party movement.
“Number two, the organisms exist in
muddy places, such as the bottom of San
Francisco Bay. I hardly need add that mud
and politics go together like apple pie and
motherhood.
“But the real tipoff is that business
about tl le third life form thriving where
there is no oxygen. That’s exactly the kind
of atmosphere you get in a smoke-filled
room.
Tetters to the editor
Bakke
Editor:
1 would like to comment on the Bakke
case which is presentb making the major
headlines around the country.
Mr. Bakke is ver\ willing to point out
that he is superior (grade-wise! to the six
teen minorities selected for the class of
must pay for past discrimination
1 ..,1 i i.i i, i i i . i .
CTs not just dumb
one hundred at the UC medical school at
Davis. Also he is very willing to point out
that he is a victim of reverse discrimina
tion.
Mr. Bakke must realize that minorities
have been discriminated against for mam ,
many years, especially in the academic
Slouch
by Jim Earle
world. It has been only in recent y ears that
minorities have ov ercome many of the tra
ditional, raseist views that have infested
our “land of the free. Something must be
done to make up for the injustices pre-
v iously imposed upon minorities, and spe
cial minority educational programs pres
ent in many schools are a way in which
minorities are given compensation for
years of wrong-doing!
As for Mr. Bakke,why must he make
such a fuss about the sixteen spots out of
one hundred unavailable to him? He
should look at the 84 spots out of one
hundred which were available to him: I
might add, 84 spots, one of which Mr.
Bakke was not able to secure regardless of
the color of his skin!
—George Rooney
Aggie postal service
Editor:
People are always complaining about
someone or something they dislike. You
read about it every day*. We are all quick
to condemn. We should find something
positive in our fellow Ags.
I recently lost a couple of letters while
walking across campus to mail them at the
MSG. They were already addressed and
stamped. Although their written contents
were not important they contained some
iireplaceable items that I feared were
forever lost.
I was relieved to find out several days
later that each letter had reached its desti
nation. I owe this to some considerate Ag.
I thank whoever went out of his way to
mail less than fifty* cents of paper when he
could just as easily have torn them up,
opened them to read or just leave them
lying on the ground.
Bryan Grimes
Editor:
Since starting college at Texas A&M,
many “non-regs have said to me “CT’s are
just plain dumb. That’s why they are in the
Corps. I have to honestly say that I did
believe this until two weeks ago.
I was walking through the Quad when 1
saw three women carrying another woman
out of one of the dorms. She was having a
serious asthma attack and could hardly
breathe. Before I could even react to this
situation, a cadet ran to the women to as
sist them. While helping carry the woman,
he tried to calm her down and told her to
“take nice, slow, deep breaths. After the
woman was put in a waiting car to take her
to the hospital, the cadet walked off as if
nothing had happened.
I have come to realize that the Corps is
not a bunch of non-intellectual misfits of
college, but a proud group of men who
care about others and do not expect any
praise in return.
Dirk D. Hughes, ’81
A reformed Aggie!
Keep off the cement
New household word
T CAN’T UNDERSTAND IT—NO ONE TAKES
ME SERIOUSLY ANY MORE!”
Editor:
One used to hear household names like
George Carlin, Billy Carter or Richard
Nixon. But now it’s David Kotara. He’s
really* shaking them up. Way to go David!
—Michael Fred
Editor:
As a freshman here at Texas A&M I
have grown to honor its traditions and to
take pride in being an Aggie. That is why I
was disturbed so much by the fact that
some Aggies do not seem to take pride in
their campus. Some Aggie or Aggies de
cided to walk the entire length of a new
sidewalk in Spence Park while it was wet
and proceeded to carve their names in it as
childish expression of love. Aggies with
the respect this university deserves should
know better than to do this.
We have a beautiful campus, and tacky
markings such as these detract from that
beauty. We would like to make the best
impression possible on visitors to A&M.
A&M’s traditions go beyond midnight yell
practice and “Howdy. They include the
pride that every Aggie should have for his
campus. This campus is ours and we re the
ones who have to take care of it.
Tad Jarrett, ’81
Put in your two cents’ worth
Vote in tomorrow s State constitutional election
Top of the News
Campus
Swimming hours switched
Evening swimming hours at Texas A&M University have been
switched from the outdoors Cain Pool to the indoors Downs
Natatorium, announced Dr. Carl Landiss, head of the Health and
Physical Education Department. Noon to 1:30 p.m. lunchtime swim
periods, at Cain Pool will not be disturbed. Recreational swimmers
may now indulge at the indoor facilities on a schedule of 6 to 7 p.m.
Mondays and Wednesdays; 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and
1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Announcements arrive soon
Texas A&M students who graduate in December may begin pick
ing up graduation announcements Monday, Nov. 21. Orders placed
earlier will be available in room 216A and B of the Memorial Student
Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Extra gradua
tion announcements will go on sale Monday, Nov. 28. They will be
sold on a first come, first served basis, according to Marilyn Abbateof
the Student Finance Center staff. The extra announcements will be
disbursed at the center, MSG 217.
Local
Polls open tomorrow
Texas voters will consider seven amendments to the state’s con
stitution Tuesday. Polls in Brazos County will be open from 7 a.m. to
7 p.m. A light voter turnout is expected. When absentee balloting
closed Friday afternoon, 31 votes had been cast. Amendment one
would expand the Court of Criminal Appeals to nine judges and allow
the court to sit in panels of three. Amendment two would provide an
additional $200 million in bonds for the Veteran’s Land Fund.
Amendment three allows a judge to refuse bail to a defendant under
prescribed circumstances. Amendment four would provide tax relief
for cultural, historical or natural history resources. Amendment five
gives the Legislature power to authorize farmer groups for assess
ment to be used in marketing their products. Amendment six permits
the Legislature to approved the use of electronic banking services by
state and national banks. Amendment seven would change the name
of the Judicial Qualifications Commission to the Commission on Judi
cial Conduct, as well as broaden its power and membership.
State
Guy Lombardo dies
Bandleader Guy Lombardo, whose “sweetest music this side of
heaven” became a New Year’s Eve tradition, died Saturday in Hous
ton of a lung ailment complicated by heart and kidney failure. He was
75. Lombardo s death was confirmed by Frank J. Weaver, a spokes
man for Lombardo s physician. Dr. Michael E. Debakey*. Weaver
said Lombardo died Saturday at 9:45 p.m. apparently from respira
tory insufficiency*.
Defense turns to Priscilla
Nation
Prisoners fear "no return
Seven American prisoners trying desperately to go home under the
Mexico-U.S. prisoner exchange treaty fear they will be left behind in
Mexican jails because of inaction by the Mexican and American gov
ernments, a spokesman for the prisoners said Sunday in Mexico City.
Robert Lee Jackson, of San Diego and Felix Merendez Gourtier,
serving their terms in Santa Marta Acatitla Prison, said efforts by the
seven to withdraw appeals of their cases in Mexico’s Supreme Court
have been unsuccessful. “We are afraid there will be only one group
of exchanged prisoners and if we miss that December flight there will
be no other, Merendez said.
Weather
Partly cloudy and mild today with southerly winds 7-14 mph.
High today low 80s. Low tonight upper 50s. High tomorrow
low 70s. 20 per cent chance of rain tonight increasing to 40
per cent tomorrow.
The Battalion
“Bink"
with a I
Sel
Texas vc
unstitutii
and <>n<
ertains t<
is inten
ort to agi
want
rams in
rarket dc
“No tar
upport tl
Sn
recialist
' Ext<
ram ev
meirdin
roduerr:
roup. F
ticer pa
tat prod
linds of <
Under
liral pr<
birds vo
irogram
idual ec
Two weeks into their case, defense lawyers for Fort Worth ini\-
lionaire T. Cullen Davis have changed their approach in Amarillo,
Texas. Having presented an alibi for their client — regarded as the
wealthiest ever to stand trial for murder in Texas — defense attorneys
have switched their target to Priscilla Davis, the defendant s es
tranged wife and chief accuser in the shooting death of her 12-year-
old daughter. Jurors have heard defense witnesses’ allegations ofdrug
use ai id sex involving two generations of Fort Worth society and
subculture. Prosecutors, however, prefer to describe the testimony
as irrelevant, immaterial character assassinations.
Opinions expressed in llu’ Battalion are those of the
editor or oj the writer of the article and are not necessarih/
those of the University administration or the Board of Re
gents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting
enterprise operated by students as a university and eom-
munity neivspaper. Editorial policy is determined by the
editor.
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are
subject to beiuf' cut to that length or less if longer. The
editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and docs
not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must In
signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephom
number for verification.
Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The
Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building. College
Station, Texas 77H43.
Rcpri-sfiited nationally by National Kducntional Adver-
. Using Services. Ine., New York City. Chicago and Ia>s
Angeles.
nished on request. Address. The Battalion, Riidfi
Heed McDonald Building. Colic gc Station. Texas *
U nited Press International is entitled rwlusivdyS^F
use lor rep rod net ion o! idl news dispatclus cntlitril ^
Bights oi reproduction oi all other matter lu u inn^ 1 *
Second-Class jKistage p.iid at College Station. T\ Tbk
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Editor
Managing Editor .
Editorial Director
Sports Editor . . .
News Editors . . .
City Editor
Campus Editor .
Copy Editor . . . .
Reporters
Photography
Cartoonist .
jamie ^
Mary Alkv W\nM
. Lee Roy Lrxhp^
Paul
Homeycr. Carol Mi*
Rusty (
Kim
Beth <>*
(.Inina NVMjf
Dnvkl B«U*
Mark Patl^
Ken lid"*
DongGi^
The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from
September through May except during exam and holiday
periods and the summer, when it is published on Mondays.
Wednesdays and Fridays.
Mail subscriptions arc $10.75 [XT semester; $33.25 per
school year; $35.(X) per lull year Advertising rates hir-
Stmlent Publications Board Bob (l. Ragrrs. (/wirt*
Jor Airctlondo; Dr (■•ary Halter. Dr. Joint W ilt**
Robe it llatrcy. Dr. (. harlcs Mi (antllrss. Dr. ( hul>
Phillips Rebel Bin Director of Student I'iiUhiN*
Donald (’. Johnson. Product ion C ‘oordiiniint \\
Sberpian