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The Battalion Tuesday
Texas A&M University November 21, 1978
A few bad apples in the re-elected crop
House should preserve dignity,
evict felons from its ranks
When the U.S. House of Representatives convenes in January, it will be
faced with the question of what to do, if anything, about two re-elected
members who have run afoul of the law. Rep. Charles Diggs of Michigan has
been convicted in federal court of mail fraud and filing false payroll forms.
Rep. Daniel Flood of Pennsylvania has been indicted on perjury and conspi-
racy charges by federal grand juries in Los Angeles and Washington. (Rep.
Joshua Eilberg of Pennsylvania, also under indictment, was not re-electeo.)
The case of Rep. Diggs is clearest. Mr. Diggs, having been convicted of
crime, is not fit to be a member of the legislative body entrusted with making
the laws, including the ones he has been found to have violated. Since there
may be some doubt about the authority of the House to exclude a duly elected
member who meets the constitutional requirements of age and citizenship,
the House should exercise its undoubted authority to expel a member who has
been convicted of conduct unbefitting the trust and duty of a lawmaker.
Unseemly as it will appear for Rep. Flood to take his seat in the House while
under indictment, he at least enjoys the legal benefit of a presumption of
innocence at this stage. If he should be convicted, however, he, too, should be
promptly expelled. If appeals courts should reverse trial court findings of guilt
in the case of either House member, each should be free, once cleared, to run
again. Despite the possibility of a wrongful conviction, the House should not
use that, however, as an excuse for disregarding the presence of convicted
felons in its midst, thereby failing to uphold the integrity of its membership.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Choice of electorate questionable
By ARNOLD SAWISLAK
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Washington prop
erly takes a lot of heat from the rest of the
country.
The national capital is often described as
the seat of incompetence, confusion and
corruption. The city and its citizens are
pictured as parasites on the body politic,
sucking up the public s hard earned wages
and profits and spewing back red tape,
ridiculous regulations and half-vast ideas.
But Washington has some grievances
too. For example, it has very little to say
about the quality of the crop of senators
and House members that the people send
to Congress every two years. And believe
it, the voters sometimes send some sorry
specimens to represent them in Washing
ton.
Some years ago on the occasion of the
inauguration of a president he did not like,
the cartoonist Herblock drew a picture of a
barber chair in front of a mirror on which
was written “This Shop Gives New Presi
dents One Free Shave.” It was at least a
month before Block began harpooning the
new occupant of the White House, despite
ample provocation.
So it is with the new group of lawmakers
who will be arriving in Washington this
winter. Washington will assume they are
equipped with at least average wisdom
and probity, no matter how wild the ideas
or crude the campaign tactics they used to
win office in November.
And some of them will not be intelli
gent, sober, decent people. Some of them
will run hog wild. Some will hire staffs on
the basis of political favoritism or sexual
attraction. Some will require their em
ployees to kick back part of their salaries.
Some will take bribes and some will cast
their votes in the expectation of bribes
from those who benefit.
How do we know this? Easy. Some of
the members of the last Congress were
convicted or exposed for doing those kinds
of things. Some admitted taking money
from foreign businessmen. Some are
known to be what used to be called “chas
ers.” The voters sent them back to Wash
ington anyway.
If there are more of the same in the new
congressional crop, many eventually will
be found out. Either the news media will
expose them or their political opposition
will blow the whistle. And, heaven help
us, the blame almost surely will be placed
on Washington for corrupting another
good person.
Washington is and ought to be judged
on the quality of the laws that are made
here and the government that is provided
for the rest of the country. Perhaps it also
is time to judge the rest of the country on
the quality of the people it sends to Wash
ington to make the laws and run the gov
ernment.
This week in the Texas Capitol. . .
Comptroller Bullock fires back at critics
By ROLAND LINDSEY
UPI Capitol Reporter
AUSTIN, Texas — Recent allegations of
wrongdoing in the office of Comptroller
Bob Bullock apparently have not caused
Bullock to temper his responses to those
who criticize him.
Texas Railroad Commission employee
Rob Wilds, a former radio newsman, com
plained on election day that changes in the
Texas Election Code prohibited he and his
wife from expressing their opposition to
Bullock by casting a write-in vote for
someone else, unless the write-in candi
date had filed with the secretary of state.
Bullock fired back a letter to Wilds, re
portedly with copies to members of the
Railroad Commission responsible for ad
ministration of the agency, saying, “I can
Tetters to the Editor
assure you that there will be another elec
tion day on which I will again be a candi-
Politics
date for either comptroller or another of
fice.
“So that you will not again suffer the
anguish of seeing me completely unop
posed on the ballot, I invite you or your
wife to run against me. I will gladly raise
your filing fee for you.”
Bill Collier and George Kuempel, two
former Bullock aides who resigned posi
tions in his tax information department
and suggested Bullock resign in the face
of what they called “inevitable scandal,”
are back in the news business.
Both worked for the Houston Chroni
cle’s Capitol bureau before joining Bul
lock’s staff.
Kuempel now is with the Capitol
bureau of the Dallas News, and Collier
will report on city hall activities for the
Austin American-Statesman.
The 10 persons nominated by Sen.
Lloyd Bentsen Jr., D-Texas, for federal
judgeships may have surprised some Texas
state legislators.
At least four senators or former mem
bers were considered prospects for judge-
ships, with Sen. Raul Longoria, D-
Edinburg, generally regarded as the
strongest possibility for such an appoint
ment.
Others mentioned as prospects were
Sens. Oscar Mauzy, D-Dallas, and Tati
Santiesteban, D-El Paso, along with
former Sen. Don Adams, who resigned his
office to join the governor’s staff.
None of the four was included in
Bentsen’s list of nominees, however.
Members of the Legislative Budget
Board are perhaps better prepared than
ever before for that group’s consideration
of staff evaluations of state agencies.
Lt. Gov. William P. Hobby, chairman
of the board, often sits in on staff sessions
during which the reports are drafted.
And Speaker Bill Clayton leads meet
ings of House members on the boards to
discuss the staff recommendations and
prepare questions the night before the
LBB’s formal meetings.
Football team’s game plans up for bids
Editor:
Well, we made fools of ourselves again
on national televison. It was a new book,
but an old story. Incidently Coach Wilson,
is the draw the only running play you
know? Coach Wilson is the only coach I’ve
ever seen who doesn’t try to establish a
running attack until the third quarter
when down 6-12 points!
Of course, that’s what we all wanted,
wasn’t it?! We wanted a wide open of
fense, with passing galore and no running
on third and long. Well, we re throwing all
right, when we have the football (which
isn’t too often against better teams since
they are falling down laughing at such ig
norant tactics).
Our defense should be commended for
their performance Saturday, had they not
stuck in for 60 minutes the score could
have well been far worse.
It has been suggested by some (un
doubtedly some member of the Houston
Aggie Club) that we adopt a tradition of
electing our head coach every two years.
Which being a bad idea or not seems at
least representative of the true situation at
A&M. The university’s administration
seems to have little choice in these mat
ters.
Just think — coaches would come in
from all over and make speeches as to the
S'
Writing the editor
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system they would run. Some would cam
paign on a passing offense platform.
Others would run promising the use of the
Houston Veer. Somebody could even get
elected by saying “I’ll run 30 percent flea
flickers” or “I’ll never run on third and
long.”
Stupid you say — no more than what is
going on now, and certainly more open.
The tragic thing is that after a few years of
“wide open” coaches the cry might be for
“sane football.”
Someone like Emory Bellard could
come in and get elected and stabilize the
situation. He wouldn’t last long though —
the best anyone can hope for is a winning
season and a bowl bid. That has never
been enough for Aggie alumni.
—Scott Lane, ’80
God s the hey
Editor:
I was very happy to read the letter
printed in The Battalion on Nov. 16 by
Steve Upham. He addressed his letter as a
response to D. Valois’ letter of Nov. 13. It is
wonderful and uplifting to read a young
person’s witness of Jesus Christ as Savior.
Not only that, but an actual invitation to
share this witness (to the point of making
time when necessary) on a personal basis.
Certainly, Steve is to be exhorted and
encouraged.
When Jesus was born, about 5 B.C.,
Palestine was a troublesome Roman prov
ince in the backwash of the empire. It was
worn down by poverty, internal strife,
cruelly high taxes, and a tyrannical ruler,
Herod, king of the Jews but a puppet of
Letters to
Dr. Miller
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Questions and answers will be pub
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the Romans. Jesus was not ^ revolutionary
political leader as some people would like
to believe but has was human, and he un
derstood hunger, loneliness, and sorrow.
According to Genesis, Man is God’s
most important creation. God created the
first woman. Eve, because “it is not good
that man should be alone,” Man’s God-
given ability to reason, his science, his art,
his literature, have made him what he is
today.
As for my comments concerning the
issue involving homosexuality, it is a sad
person who looks for saction for a lifestyle
that he himself feels is somehow unaccept
able. Our society makes changes for these
people even though these changes come
ever so slowly. Yet, God’s word has re
mained unchanged in context and will yet
stand even until the end of the world.
—Dennese Jones
Former Tessie, ’73
and wife of Aggie, ’79
Coping with love
Editor:
As I read through the letters to the
editor of Nov. 16, I was a bit distressed at
the approach Mr. Upman used in analyz
ing the gay lifestyle. Gays aren’t the only
people with problems. Everyone is con
fronted with problems of every nature and
coping is a very large part of our lives.
Please consider the concept of love: un
selfish concern is a good way to perceive
it. Can one cope without love? I seriously
doubt it.
I would like everyone to know that God
loves you. Read John 3:16. He sent His
only son to die for you! I can’t help but
love the One who loves me that much.
Rest assured, God shows no partiality: He
loves us one and all.
So show more love, see what you get in
return and remember: God is Love.
—Andy Mattson, ’78
Slouch
NOW, THIS IS WHAT I CALL BONFIRE WEATHER!’
The Silver Taps Ceremony will be conducted in front of the
Academic Building tonight at 10:30 in memory of Paul Harvy Krenzke
and Geina Rena Wall who died last week in an automobile accident.
Police summoned by bomb threat
Some students and staff evacuated the Harrington Education Cen
ter Complex Monday morning after a bomb threat was made on the
buildings to University Police. No bomb was found. Chief Russ
McDonald said the threat was received at the police station on the
emergency line at 9:46 a.m. "A girl, who didn’t identify herself, said
she’d been instructed to pass on the message there was a bomb in the
Harrington Building,” he said. University Police searched every floor
of each building. Police did not order an evacuation, he said, but
some people left anyway. The buildings were checked by 10:20a.m.,
McDonald said.
Help needed to complete flu study
Volunteers between the ages 18-25 are needed for a vaccine study
on Russian Flu that will begin Monday. Participants can earn about
$50-70. Informational meetings are scheduled for today at 3-4 p.m.,
Ill Heldenfels and Wednesday 12-1 p.m., 107 Biological Sciences
Building East; or contact Dr. John M. Quarles at 845-1313.
STATE
Testimony found contradictory
Defense attorney Richard "Racehorse” Haynes and state witness
David McCrory clashed repeatedly Monday in testimony about the
informant’s dealings with Texas millionaire T. Cullen Davis, on trial
in Houston for trying to hire the murder of his divorce court judge.
Haynes paraded back and forth from the lawyers’ table to the witness
chair pointing out to McCrory testimony the witness had given at
Davis’ Fort Worth bond hearing in August that contradicts what he
has said in the Houston trial. At one point the exasperated McCrory
said the testimony was not exactly consistent because Haynes had
“shook up and confused" him in Fort Worth.
Houston utility rate hike granted
The Public Utility Commission in Austin Monday granted Houston
Lighting & Power Co. a §55 million increase in electricity rates. Hie
company had wanted to increase its customers’ bills by $235 million
but the commission ruled the company’s cost of service adjustment
clause was unreasonable. It ordered the utility company to limit the
fluctuating charge in the future to actual fuel costs, and not consider
salaries, depreciation and other operating costs. The commission or
dered the utility to give all customers the benefit of reduced winter
rates — a discount previously extended only to customers using more
than 700 kilowatt hours.
NATION
Carter serious about program
The President’s Council on Wage and Price Stability indicated
Monday in Dallas that the Carter Administration was prepared to
boycott any company failing to voluntarily comply with Carters anti
inflation program. In the first of 11 nationwide briefings on the pro
gram, aides distributed a statement from Carter in which he ordered
federal agencies “to avoid purchasing goods and services from those
firms that do not meet the pay and price standards. ’Robert Russell,
deputy director of the council, said that Carter intended the program
to work and would “use every tool at his disposal” to make sure it did
He said the wage-price council would monitor unions and business
and use pressure on non-complying sectors.
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Actor s son dead of overdose
Scott Newman, 28-year-old son of actor Paul Newman, was found
dead in a Hollywood motel Monday, the victim of an overdose of drugs
and alcohol, according to police. The younger Newman, a sometime
actor and entertainer who worked in nightclubs under the name of
William Scott, was pronounced dead at Los Angeles New Hospital,
Police said a Los Angeles clinic had received a call for help from New
man at 9 o’clock Sunday night and that clinic associate Scott Steinberg
took the stricken Newman to his room at a nearby motel. According
to authorities, Steinberg called paramedics who took him to a hos
pital about midnight. Steinberg told police he thought Newman had
taken vallium, a tranquilizer, and a quantity of alcohol. Newmans
mother was Jackie Witte, the actor’s first wife. A family friend said the
senior Newman was “somewhere in the Midwest involved in an auto
race” and attempts were being made to notify him of his son’s death.
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Indians may file claims to land
Louisiana Attorney General William Guste in New Orleans said he
is concerned that several Louisiana Indian tribes are considering fil
ing claims to state-owned and private land. Guste said the matter will
“not be treated lightly.” Don Juneau, an Indian land claims attorney,
said seven tribes could have legitimate claims for state and privately
owned land. The problem is that none of the seven tribes is recog
nized by the federal government. Three recently appealed to the
Interior Department for formal recognition, and Juneau said that
usually is the first legal step in the land claims process.
NATO-linking satellite launched
A communications satellite that will link the military forces of the
15-country North Atlantic Treaty Organization is on its way toward
stationary orbit above the Atlantic. The NATO 3-C blasted off at 7:46
p.m. EST Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Fla., after a three-day
delay caused by a conflict with a secret Trident missile firing that had
priority.
The Battalion
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