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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 1979)
Page 6 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1979 Houston chief s try fails Cops still misbehaving United Press International HOUSTON — The police chiefs efforts to stop police abuse of civil rights has had little impact on indi vidual officers and local prosecutors do not back him up, witnesses told the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Tuesday. “Much of what is frightening is not at the level of administration. It’s on the street,” the Rev. Jack McGinnis of Our Lady of Saint Johns Catholic Church said during the first day of a two-day inquiry into police practices. “If a police officer decided he wanted to execute me, he probably could and be exonerated in the present process because they’ve done that. ” Daniel Bustamante, a Mexican- American political activist who runs a drug abuse program, praised Chief Harry Caldwell but said the attitude of officers still was a problem. “I feel that the chief, in doing what he can, is doing a good, job, ” Bustamante said. “I feel many offi cers on the street, once they get on the street, are on their own. I feel many of these officers resent the chief of police and disregard orders. There’s still people on the force who are sick individuals.” Lawyer Dick DeGuerin said the Harris County district attorney’s of fice has been slow to prosecute police misconduct. Former judge Andrew Jefferson said the local grand jury system works against in dictments against police. “That’s the reason that in most in stances where police officers have been indicted you see the indict ment coming from the federal grand jury,” said Jefferson, now a private attorney. “It’s been my experience that prosecution of police officers charged with offenses is reluctant at best,” DeGuerin said. “Police violations of civil rights go poorly investigated and poorly prose cuted. Jefferson said the average grand jury is more representative of the city’s racial mix than in years past, but he said the average panelist still represents the community elite and tends to identify with police. Dr. Robert A. Carp, a political science professor at the University of Houston, said grand juries are “dependent on prosecutors, sel dom hear witnesses and seldom delve into cases unless urged to do so by prosecutors. The commission, which held a police practices hearing in Houston June 12, has no enforcement author ity, but has exerted considerable in fluence and its actions in the past have foreshadowed official federal programs. The commission staff has been in vestigating police practices in Hous ton and other cities, including Philadelphia, for several months. twee* ^ any pair of jeans... AT WITH THIS COUPON ' Cltfe ifor^e * 3901 "Town ■ State briefs United Press International AUSTIN — About 30 residential tenants were forced out of the Texas Commodore Hotel — once the city’s grandest — because own ers failed to pay the utility bill and electric service was cut off . Among those forced to leave Monday was Hackberry Johnson, 91, a former cowboy and Wild West show performer. “It’s tough to be old and without a home,” Johnson said. “It’s a little rough on me right now. ” Johnson’s wife died three weeks ago. City officials cut off power to the hotel about 2 p.m. because it became apparent owners could not pay the $24,000 in overdue utility bills. The building was known as the Commodore Perry Hotel when it was built in 1948, and ended operation as a hotel in 1974 and was converted to an office and residential complex. HOUSTON — Resigning U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Commissioner Leonel Castillo has disclosed he will run this November for a local office, likely city council but possibly mayor. Castillo, 39, city controller before taking the federal post, disclosed his plans Monday while attending a Fiestas Patrias ceremony. Cas tillo, immigration commissioner for two and a half years, leaves the post Oct. 1. NORFOLK, Va. — A local woman who said her name and phone number were placed in a national swingers magazine without her knowledge or consent has filed a $100,000 damage suit and asked a court to block the magazine’s distribution. The woman, listed as Jane Doe to spare her further embarrass ment, has filed suit against Sam Luvin, who she claims is a Houston- based publisher who is also head of See & Tell Swinger’s Club. The suit alleges mental anguish, invasion of privacy and humiliation. Last April the woman said she started receiving telephone calls from kinds said Monday. The lawyer claimed that a picture of a nude woman published in the magazme with the woman’s name is not her and her telephone number was published without her consent. He described the magazine as a “swinger’s directory offering a veritable buffet for sex ual appetites.” i people offering startling propositions. “The callers proposed all is of rendezvouses for kinky sex,” her attorney, Jon P. Eichler, State asked to void phone rate hike Countin' 84k,~2^o: Fort I STEAKHOUSE « * A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN GOOD FOOD FUN AND FRIENDS. 2528 S. Texas College Station United Press International AUSTIN — Critics Tuesday de manded the Public Utility Commis sion dismiss a $145 million rate in crease request from Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., complaining the phone company has failed to prove it needs any additional reve nue. Bell’s attorney, Jon Dee Lawr ence of Dallas, called the motion by Microwave Communications Inc. a grandstand play by a competitor. Association of Community Or- granization for Reform Now (ACORN) joined in the MCI effort to cut off the two-week-old hearing. Phil Ricketts, PUC hearing exam iner, rejected the motion without comment. “The record in this case has estab lished all-time high revenue and record income,” MCI attorney Ray Besing said. “Southwestern Bell has ignored its real numbers in favor of a concoction of hearsay, conclusions and rank speculation. Besing said Bell used contradic tory mathamatics and illusory risks to argue for the company’s third rate increase in three years. “If any company in this country is bulletproof against risks, it is the Bell System, Besing said. Lawrence countered, “We have proven our case. We have a documented revenue deficiency of $243 mifiion. Lawrence said the phone com pany is requesting only a $145 mil lion increase in rates instead of the $243 million deficiency in order to comply with the president’s price guidelines. If the PUC commission accepts the recommendation of its economic analyst, basic rates for telepl] 0Ile service may increase no more than 80 cents a month for residentialo4 tomers and $2.40 for businesses. Bell wants to raise basic charges to residential customers $1.55 a month and increase basic business rates $4.65 per month to cover most of a $145 million proposed increase in statewide rates. An exhibit filed Tuesday by economic analyst Julie J. Pa rsons said the phone company could i crease its revenues $136 million year without raising residential cus tomers rates more than 80 cents to $1.10 a month or increasing basj c business rates more than $2.40 ti $3.30 a month. Actual charges to customers ii different areas of the state vary ae cording to the number of telephones served by their local exchange. Cur rently rates for one-party residential service vary from $4.75 to month and for business service range from $9.75 to $25 a month. Parsons said charges specialized business services should be raised to actual cost or above cost to meet the phone company’s for additional revenue. Bell’s economic analyst, mean while, testified that residential cus tomers cost far more to serve thai they pay in revenue. Larry W. Walter of St.Louis, Bell’s supervisor of economic, analysis, presented voluminous cost faander studies indicating it costs the phone company $19.30 a month to proside residential phone service while cus tomers pay an average of $6.88s month. Pro-nukes urge state to intervene in debate United Press International HOUSTON — A pro-nuclear power spokesman has urged the State of Texas to make an un equivocal decision to go ahead with development of the energy alterna tive opposed by many environmentalists and other groups. Dr. Donald R. Beeth, south Texas spokesman for the American Nuclear Society, said the important nuclear decision is now being dic tated by “small groups” blocking new nuclear plants with “procedural assassination. ” Beeth : — and several groups op posing nuclear power — spoke Monday at one of four hearings scheduled in Texas by the Advisory licenl Committee on Nuclear Energy^ the Texas Energy Advisory Council The council is considering! policies on transport and disposal nuclear wastes, uranium miningai milling, financing nuclear plant struction and decommissioning d funct plants. Beeth, a Brown & Root Inc. nl clear engineer, said there are tervenors in proceedings to the Houston Lighting & Power Allens Creek nuclear plant. “I can think of no better definitii of chaos than 60 teams of lawyers one room,” Beeth said. John F. Doherty, representing) intervenors opposing the Creek plant, said his group believe “it is the state’s duty to stop nuclei development until controversie| about public health are resolved Sfrij I Unit DALLA! ipecial woi if feet higl ilain old p Braniff 'rounded irtwork — and rec ng colors c inspectic ling its gac Calder, 1 ary art, e nobiles, Pre COURTS UNIVERSITY SHOE SERVICE “Expert boot and shoe repair” 104 College Main Northgate 846-6785 (formerly Holiks) Gig 'em music Mi as shown, plays 'f* Aggie War Hymn' ’ $24.95 ea. Chicken ’n rolls Gig 'em on so1«J*v nut base with nan* plate @J9.95ea Gig 'em paperwe^ @ $4.95 ea. 705 N. Texas & 502 Villa Maria AGGIE GIG ’EM Add $2 for tax & postage No C.O.D. s please. Specify name & class year. 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