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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1980)
The Battalion Vol. 73 No. 77 Wednesday, January 9, 1980 USPS 045 360 8 Pages College Station, Texas Phone 845-2611 Tensions mount between superpowers Mondale says Russia lied ibout Afghanistan invasion United Press International SAN ANTONIO — Vice President Wal- :r Mondale said Tuesday the Russians 'ere lying about why they sent SO.tXX) ■oops in Afghanistan and urged Americans (unify to make the Soviet Union pay a rice for what he termed “brutal, totally njustified and naked use of force. ” “Their answers are not to be believed. Mat it is is a brutal invasion and nothing be. And if you can do it once, what’s Tong with doing it again? Mondale, his oice rising angrily, told 1,500 Democrats athered to salute 19-year congressiotal eteranRep. Henry B. Gonzalez, D-Texis. Mondale called on Americans — partitii- rly fanners — to support the administre- on s move to limit grain sales to the Soviet Inion and other economic measures tint light be taken to protest the Russians’ ae ons in Afghanistan. He said the administration was “doint hatever we can to prevent any segment om paying an undue price’’ for the curtail- lent of trade with the Soviets, by purchas- ig the grain that would have gone to Bus- a. He said the administration also would alt the export of technology to the Soviet Union. "We are determined that the Soviet Un ion will pay a price for what they did in Afghanistan. We cannot as a civilized na tion, we cannot as a civilized world let them do what they’re doing there and then say ‘business as usual.’ I plead with all Amer icans to understand and join together to say as a single people, ‘we condemn aggression and we will not stand for it.’” Mondale also won applause from the political gathering when he called for the immediate release of the 50 American hos tages being held by Iranian dissidents. "We demand the return of those hostages un harmed nowl” he said. He called the Soviet troop movements into Afghanistan, “one of the most trouble some developments since World War II” and said “the justification which the Soviets issue is totally contrary to fact.” Mondale’s four-hour visit to San Antonio was billed by local Democrats as the kickoff of the Carter-Mondale campaign in pre dominantly Mexican-American South Texas, an area which national party leaders say is an important part of their plan to carry Texas and the nation next fall. Comptroller expects state budget surplus United Press International AUSTIN — Comptroller Bob Bullock said Tuesday the state can expect a $124 million surplus at the end of the current (iennium, hut said a skittish world eco- lomy could force the state into a tax in crease within a few years. Bullock’s official estimate is in sharp con trast to predictions from Gov. Bill Cle ments last month that the state could have a surplus of up to $1 billion, and that he would ask the Legislature during its special session to return much of that surplus to citizens in the form of tax relief. The comptroller’s updated revenue esti mate predicts the biennium ending Aug. 31, 1981, will have a surplus of $124 mil lion, with perhaps an additional $200 mil lion if state agencies are restrained in spending funds already authorized by the Legislature. Ttinay be little more than wishful think ing to hope the state agencies won’t spend it, Bullock said. He said the agencies in the past some times have not spent all the money autho rized, but said, “This time around they are pinched by inflation and may well spend jCvery dime the Legislature approved.” The comptroller said skyrocketing oil prices are the biggest factor causing a recal culation of state income projections, and varned that increased oil and gas tax re tenues will be offset by declines in other tex sources. ; "Texas will stay afloat, but we ll see the toves lapping at the sides of the ship of fcite,” he said. Bullock said increased oil production Utes, natural gas production taxes and lub ricant sales tax will bring in $641.8 million r»>re than previously estimated, but said illation and troubles in the economy will cut the state about $536.2 million in re- dteed income from eight other tax sources. He estimated inheritance taxes will be $31.6 million lower than previously esti- mlpd, sales taxes $139.6 million lower, hotel and motel taxes $1.6 million lower, teacher retirement reimbursement $50 mifcon lower, motor fuels $55.3 million loxaer, motor vehicle sales taxes $143.3 mil- lionlower and insurance taxes $123.2 mil- lionlower. United Press International KABUL, Afghanistan — Russian forces backed by heavy armor overran the rugged Afghan countryside to wipe out rebel oppo sition and Afghan army defectors. Western diplomatic sources said Wednesday. In the mile-high city of Kabul, the streets and main government buildings are guarded by Afghan soldiers by day. But at night, when an 11 p.m. to 4 a. m. curfew is imposed, the heavily armed Soviets re portedly take up positions at strategic points. After gaining control of all major towns and highways, the Soviet 16th Motorized Rifle Division, supported by air force heli copters, is driving through the snow- covered Hindu Kush mountains in Badakh- shan, Takhar and Pakita provinces, where they have encountered only isolated resist ance, diplomats said Tuesday. The Soviet war machine is far superior to that of the embattled Moslem insurgents, many of whom fjKht with antiquated weapons. But the fierce rebels still carry out terrorist attacks on the narrow dusty streets of the ancient capital. Reports from Pakistan said more than 1,500 Afghan nationals, including army personnel and civilian officials were killed by Soviet troops when they occupied the southern provincial capital and important airport site of Kandahar. In new retaliatory moves against the Soviet invasion. President Carter Tuesday canceled plans for a new consulate in Kiev, ordered 17 Russian diplomats home, cut the number of flights the Soviet airline Aeroflot is allowed into the United States and sent out officials to limit Soviet fishing in American waters. Research funds lacking Miller United Press International SAN FRANCISCO — Federal support of agricultural research is lagging seriously, the president of Texas A&M University has charged. Speaking Monday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Adv ancement of Science, Dr. Jarvis E. Miller said federal funding for research in the food and agricultural sciences has not kept pace with inflation. Miller said the federal government’s role in agricultural research includes planning, funding, coordination and evaluation. While aggreeing that all the functions were important, Miller said the compelling need is for additional funding. “Rather than taking the lead to see the needs are met, the federal government has failed even to maintain its reasonable share of the effort under way, he said. Miller said that while about 40 percent of the nation’s publicly supported food and agricultural research is performed by in- house agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the remaining amount is done by the - various state agricultural experi ment stations (SAES). He said less than 20 percent of the experiment stations’ funds come from federal sources. He said state funding has increased for the SAES. “Federal funding, however, both to the SAES and the US DA in-house research agencies has declined. In fact, it has not even kept pace with increasing costs,” he said. Moslem holy day j brings out Iranians United Press International TEHRAN, Iran — H u n d r e d s of thousands of demonstrators Wednesday poured into the streets of Tehran on an Islamic holy day, answering a call by Iran’s clergy for countrywide protests against American and Soviet imperialism. As the marchers grouped together, the force behind the protests Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini — prepared for 15 days of seclusion. Khomeini is perhaps the only person in Iran who can free the 50 American hos tages, now in their 67 day of captivity. But spokesmen at his headquarters in the Mos lem holy city of Qom, claiming the Islamis strongman was exhausted, said he was going into seclusion for 15 days starting Saturday. His withdrawal all but guaranteed the hostages will spend the rest of January lock ed up in the U.S. Embassy. Generic beer The package is plain, the price low. By DEBBI PIGG Special to The Battalion Many people in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming are giving up their Miller, Michelob or Pearl, and turning to the bot tled beer with the white label and no brand. Generic beer, like other generic pro ducts, is cheaper than its national brand counterparts. A six-pack of Falstaff costs about $2. A six-pack of generic beer, which is also made by Falstaff, sells for $1.69. Dale Peterson, marketing director of the Falstaff Bottling Co. said the quality of the two beers is the same. So, what s the difference? “We sell large quantities of beer in alu minum barrels to Top Co in Illinois,” Peterson said. “Top Co bottles the beer and distributes it. All we do is supply them with a high-quality product. “The marketing staff at Falstaff'made the decision to sell our beer to Top Co about eight months ago,” he said. “It was a tough decision. We could only guess how such a move would affect our corporate profits. “Generic products could be a marketing breakthrough, an idea that appeals to the people who are proud to save money,” Peterson said. But if sales Hop and our name is associated with the product, it could be disaster. Selling Falstaff beer to Top Co has not affected company profits, Peterson said. “Right nowj we re all still holding out breath. This generic idea is so new that the chips could fall either way.” Generic beer has been on the market in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah since Sep tember. It will be marketed in Texas and Oklahoma early in 1980. Top Co president Marcel Lussier said the beer was released in the three states first because the area has a wide acceptance rate to generic products. “People in these areas have responded very well to generic products,” Lussier said. “We though that people would be less intimidated by a generic beer here. They already believe in our other products.” Lussier said there is some difficulty get ting the public to accept generic beer. “People are very personal about their beer,” he explained. “They think different brand imply different personalities. I think people may be having a hard time’relating generic products to their own personali ties. Things are not going as well as hoped, Lussier said. “To be honest, we are dissappointed in sales to date, but hope they will improve,” he said. “VVe are currently researching dif ferent containers and their selling possibili ties. We are looking hard at the idea of selling the beer in kegs. That’s where other beer bottlers sell a large quantity of their product. ” Colorado college students have differing opinions about generic beer. A few were asked if they would serve it at a party. “Hell, no,” Joe Davis, a senior majoring in physical education, said. “I only»serve high-class beer to my friends. The price doesn’t make any difference, but my friends do.” ' Chuck Bailey, a college junior majoring in marketing, disagreed with Davis. “It’s all the same stuff,” he said as he loaded eight six-packs into his shopping cart at a super market in Gunnison, Colo. “Everybody knows that. I’m a college student and I’m on a strict budget. Generic beer helps me live a little easier. Besides, at beer parties most of it gets poured in my roommate’s aquarium or on my plants. Any beer will kill plants and fish.” Lussier agrees with Bailey. “It (the beer) is all the same. “It is bottled by a different company and has a different lable. Because we do buy in large quantities, our contain ers are less expensive, our lables are not printed in color and we do not advertise, we can afford to sell the same product for less than its producer can.” Peterson explained why Falstaff decided to sell its beer to Top Co. “It brings us profits,” Petersons aid. “We can sell more beer to Top Co at a higher profit margin than we can bottle, distribute and advertise the same amount ourselves. “We may have created our own mons ter,” he said. “The nation may see a return to basic products soon, with a de-emphasis on advertising and a slight price decrease. ” Lussier said it could happen, theoretic ally. “Generic foods are based on a different marketing concept than advertising, he said. “We believe Americans are ready to save money. If people will support our pro ducts and our ideals, we believe our pro ducts would drastically influence America’s market system. Companies might adver tise less. Prices might go down. Lussier would not release any specific figures bn total sales of generic beer, total profits or any specific market research, and Peterson would not release Falstaff profit information. Sales of the beer are apparently surpris ing store managers. “I’d like to know what profits Top Co is making,” Sue Allen, assistant manager at City Market in Gunnison, said. “The lower prices seem particularly attractive to col lege students and housewives. A lot of peo ple are buying generic beer. ” Rick Thompson, marketing director. City Market Food Chain in Grand Junc tion, Colo., was also surprised by generic beer sales. “We began carrying all generic products as an experiment. It’s the best decision we could have made. No one could predict how customers would react, but they like generic products. And they like generic beer. It’s one of our best sellers.”