state ore insurance firms offer auto discounts >y ini -S.sail i the ^ram J re mil >nsem rnativts she sat. es latest! the At ssiver United Press International lAUSTIN — More insurance com- iies than ever before are offering ^counts on premiums for auto in- ance, an agent spokesman said Monday. he discounts range as high as 25 cent for some types of coverages, homas J. Baker Jr. of Houston, sident of the Independent Insur- Agents of Texas, sent legislators alist of the companies offering poli- s at rates lower than the rates set the State Insurance Board. Baker noted the number of com- jnies offering rate deviations in- iased by 9 percent to a total of 104 is year. J'The clear message of competition provided by this list of rate devia- |ons should be sufficient proof that fexas auto insurance consumers are benefiting from rate competition,” Baker told legislators. Baker also cited findings of a re cent nationwide insurance industry study by the U.S. General Account ing Office which cited Texas as one of only two states that conduct an actua rial analysis of company rate prop osals. The GAO report. Baker said, indi cated the rates set by the State Insur ance Board “more accurately re flected actual loss experience than the rates recommended by insur ance companies.” “In other words, Texas insurance buyers have been paying rates which are lower than rates the companies wanted to charge,” Baker said. Baker told legislators in his letter that another big effort was expected during the next legislative session by some big insurance companies to push for an “open rating” law. “It may sound good, hut what the companies are really talking about is a system that will permit them to file and use any rates they deem approp riate,” Baker said. “We believe such a system would most likely produce rates higher than we presently have in Texas.” Under Texas’ current system, the State Board of Insurance sets auto insurance rates for specific areas of the state but allows companies on an individual basis to deviate from the standard rate if the firm can demons trate the lower charge will not impair its financial stability. Companies also are allowed to de viate upward and charge more than the standard rate for certain types of customers who have difficulty buying insurance. ?uanll uredall )ed I Douglas offered to give up ench for Truman campaign griraffci United Press International rtjHQUSTON — Supreme Court "xtice William O. Douglas, who fean ^ ast mont h, would have res- ied his position 28 years ago to go c ] !, v On the campaign trail if President rojjjj, Harry Truman had decided to run for ,p ore L l-election, according to documents p l)S|tr ^indby aRice University historian. The two-page letter from Douglas, lose 36-year tenure was the n as'ia N est ‘ n Supreme Court history, i stmete r discovered by Rice professor fancis Loewenheim in the files of Truman Library in Independ- dayiiia rizzle Ji iclicop .dsoutsil : tearga over Is. CM ied. Slii ened fin eadikii dies fel ered on critida ca forml ;ey toiK is prom? uprisii! e still they d and t villdo- ctly wb , Andtk ence, Mo. Truman assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945 and was elected in his own right in 1948. He had announced his intention not to seek a second full term in March, 1952, Loewenheim said, but in a letter written in July, 1952, Douglas urged Truman to reconsider. The text of the Douglas letter read, in part: “The world sitiation is desperately critical — as you know better than anyone. My fears would mount greatly if any of the Republicans in the limelight were at the helm. I feel that the situation may develop so that you will have to run again. I do not want anything for myself. But the danger to the country is so great that I would gladly leave the court and stump for you.” Douglas was appointed by Roosevelt in 1939 and became known as a champion of progressive causes. He served until ill health forced his retirement in 1975, and he died last month at 81. LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AVAILABLE The MSC Council and Directorate is accepting applications for the following leadership positions: MSC Council Officers Vice President of Administration Director of Operations Vice President of Finance Director of Projects Vice President of Programs Director of Public Relations Coordinator of Funds Comptroller Officer applications are due by 5:00 p.m. February 8. MSC Committee Chairmen MSC Aggie Cinema MSC Arts MSC Basement MSC Black Awareness MSC Committee for the Awareness of Mexican-American Culture (MSC CAMAC) MSC Cepheid Variable MSC Camera MSC Free University MSC Great Issues MSC Hospitality MSC Opera and Performing Arts Society (MSC CPAS) MSC Outdoor Recreation MSC Political Forum MSC Radio MSC Recreation MSC Student Conference on National Affairs (MSC SCONA) MSC Town Hall MSC Travel MSC Video Tape 3C Chairmen applications are due by 5:00 p.m. February 22. For more information, go by Room 216 MSC (SPO) and ask for Brian Gross. Applications may be picked up in Room 216 MSC at the secretaries’ island. MSC OPAS proudly presents Beaux Arts Trio February 10/3 p.m. Rudder Auditorium/TAMU Tickets available at MSC Box Office or Telephone VISA/MASTERCHARGE orders & pickup at the door 845-2916 Vm-* XTTTWW » M W THE BATTALION Page 7 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1980 Texas won t take riot cons United Press International HUNTSVILLE, Texas — W.J. Estelle, Jr., director of Texas’ over crowded prison system, said Mon day the Texas Department of Cor rections would not house prisoners from New Mexico’s penitentiary, which was virtually destroyed in a weekend riot. However, preliminary indications were that some of the prisoners would be transported to federal pris ons at Bastrop, Texas and Leven- worth, Kan., for classification before being permanently moved to other prisons — most in the southwest. New Mexico Gov. Bruce King had said he would ask other states to house the New Mexico prisoners. Officials estimated 80 percent of the state’s main prison was destroyed in the rioting. Officials had feared that as many as 700 inmates would have to be moved because a weekend inmate riot that made many parts of the New Mexico State Penitentiary uninhabitable. However, a revised estimate on Monday said that only 400 of the 1,136 inmates would have to be so accommodated. However, Capt. Bob Carroll, head of the tactical force that stormed the prison Sunday, said la ter Monday most of the prisoners probably could be housed under makeshift arrangements. “The TDC is not signatory to the interstate compact that refers to in terstate transfer of prisoners, ” Estel le said in explaining the depart ment’s refusal to accept the prisoner- s.“As much as we would like to acco mmodate New Mexico, and we will in any way possible, we can not legal ly accept their prisoners. Estelle'based his refusal on legal grounds, but Texas’ prison popula tion of 26,839, is the highest in the United States. A group of TDC in mates has filed suit against TDC, complaining about overcrowding. DIAMONDS WHY PAY MORE? Full Cut Aggie Ring Diamonds 5 point $20 15 point $90 4 points $15 10 point $60 Other sizes at similar savings Call for Appointment 696-0823 Invest in the future. No Brokerage or Assay Fees. GOLD BULLION 99% Pure Career opportunities available for Petroleum, Mechanical, Electrical and Computer Engineers Recognition of Performance is Key to Success at Natural Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America provides an ideal environment for entry >l\ •Y for entry level engineers. We're big enough to be involved in every facet of our industry. Big enough to have equipment and facilities among the most mod ern available. But not too big to recognize indi vidual achievement. That's why many of our engineers, who started at the entry level, have advanced quickly into management positions. Such opportunities are available to you at field posts throughout our 11-state operating area and at office assignments in Houston ana Chicago. And we'll help you succeed—with on-the-job training and educational assistance. These are but two items in a comprehensive employee benefit package. Natural, with its nearly 12,000- mile transmission system, supplies the natural gas energy needs of 12 million peo ple in Mid-America. Our pipeline network serves 49 utility customers in a 9-state market area. Each year, NGPL transports almost 6% of the total gas pro duction in the United States. Our day-to-day operations include on- and off-shore exploration and production, as well as transmission and storage. Far beyond those traditional op erations, we're planning an 800-mile pipeline, "Trailblazer", to tap into gas reserves in the Overthrust Belt of the Rocky Mountains. We're utilizing biogasification and synthetically- produced gas and are actively pursuing the de velopment of coal gasification and the impor tation of liquefied natural gas. In the future, we hope to tap supplies from the Arctic and Mexico. Whatever avenues of supply or technology open up in our industry, we'll be there—among the frontrunners. If you are a skilled, imaginative, aggressive engineer, who wants to be rewarded for per formance, now's the time to act. Our recruiters will be on your campus next week. Arrange an interview through your placement office today. If you desire Further information, contact: Ms. Jo Ann Lazuka Supervisor of Employment Services puicago 0H r Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America 122 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60603 Headquarters O Gas Supply Office — Principal Pipeline Routes • • Offshore Transmission Lines ■ Underground Storage Fields > — Proposed "Trailblazer" Pipeline O Proposed LNG Receiving Site ▲ Proposed Coal Gasification Sites NGPL Recruiters will be visiting your campus on: February 12, 1980 Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America An equal opportunity employer M/F"