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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1980)
I ' ni - 'n 01, ^ in 01, P.ni; welo n ' in Hu^ >W. 11 ^ Ul !l) nsW The Battalion Vol. 73 No. 133 10 Pages Monday, March 6, 1980 College Station, Texas USPS 045 360 Phone 845-2611 pentagon budget may tax U. S. families Local families will pay $14,000 each over next 5 years in Carter's plan United Press International -hinColJ WASHINGTON — A non-profit con- buditojwig firm figures President Carter’s promsals to expand military spending over jj | Shenext five years will compound the prob- ‘ s fMj of the cities and cost most families lands of dollars in a so-called “Penta- ,)ur’ an-: nontax. The " tax” will cost the state of Texas than $58 million over the next five . (See list at end of story) Carter’s defense budget will push milit- IrySpending to a total $1,016 trillion from 1981 to 1986, according to “The Tax Cost of the Military Budget for the Next ^ Years,” a study prepared by Employ- ient Research Associates, a nonprofit con sultant firm based in Lansing, Mich. The study said the defense budget would cost an average family in Laredo, Texas, $9,000 over the five years. The cost to a family in Bridgeport, Conn., would be $29,000. And in Chicago, the cost would be $24,000. “These figures tell us starkly and simply that for the next five years the business of America is no longer business,” said James Anderson, who prepared the study. “The business of America is getting ready for war, or possibly getting into war.” “For the metropolitan areas of the Un ited States, the five-year military budget has bad news, Anderson said. “Many of the 260 metropolitan areas of the U. S. have either existing or developing financial problems or outright crises.” Using information from the Census Bureau and the Tax Foundation, Anderson and the consulting firm figured what they call the “Pentagon tax” for each of the 50 states and 266 Standard Metropolitan Sta tistical Areas. The family figures were arrived at by determining an area’s share of total federal taxes, calculating the Pentagon’s share of the total budget, and dividing by the num ber of “families’ using four as a base figure, a spokeswoman said. The variation reflects a difference in wealth, not a difference in tax rates. “For example,” Anderson said, “during fiscal 1981, California taxpayers will be asked to provide more than $18 billion for the Pentagon. By 1985, California’s annual military tax burden will be almost $28 bil lion” and the five-year total for the state “will be almost $114 billion.” He said in 1981 the New York city area will send the Pentagon $9 billion and its five-year total will be “an almost incredible $55.5 billion,” with each family making an average $23,000 contribution to the Penta gon over five years. Anderson said Chicago, “whose central city is presently struggling to find enough money to pay vitally needed firemen and school teachers, ” will deliver $6.7 billion to the Pentagon in fiscal 1981 and $42 billion over the five-year period with each family contributing an average of $24,000. Here is a list of how much the Pentagon’s budget will cost Texas cities and families over the next five years. It was compiled by Employment Research Assoicates of Lans ing Mich. Amounts for each city are listed in mil lions of dollars. The figures for families are listed in dollars: TEXAS: $58,340. Abilene, $571.2 and $17,000;Amarillo, $795.8 and $20,000; Au stin, $1,812.2 and $18,000; Beaumont, $1,707.6 and $19,000; Brownsville, $458.4 and $10,000; Bryan, $250.0 and $14,000; Corpus Christi, $1,208.5 and $16,(XX); Dal las, $13,931.8 and $22,000; El Paso, shby blends facts with humor 3 H0US1 1HWYIJ By PETE HALE Campus Reporter Mixing humor with facts and truth nth fiction, Houston Post columnist JLynn Ashby delighted a Rudder Thea- Ber crowd of about 300 Friday afternoon, the first John Miles Rowlett Lecture Series came to a close. Ashby, known for his newspaper Columns, spoke on the future of Texas, Ind asked the question, "What hap pens now?” A graduate of the University of Texas, [Ashby said, “It’s always fun to come to Aggieland, the states’ second greatest university,” drawing a laugh and a half hearted hiss from the largely student browd. Getting down to business, Ashby de scribed Texas as a big and bountiful state pth a lot to offer everyone. He noted the large influx of people, largely from the north, as a major problem. Many people feel the Border Patrol |is watching the wrong river, he said. Citing population figures, industrial output figures and economic trends, Uhby summarized the role that Texas plays in the national economic picture. “We are the third most populous state fn the nation, he stated, adding that Texas will soon be number two. Ashby said his home, Houston, increased by |1442 people every week last year, and 39 cars every day. “If Texas were an independent re public again, our gross national product vould rank ninth in the free world, lahead of Australia and Brazil. ” Adding some not-so-pretty facts, Ashby noted that among the other states, Texas is in the bottom half in per capita income, and last in state dollars appropriated for the arts. Ashby said his main concern is that the large amount of newcomers to the state “will recreate the very things that made them leave their own home. So many people are moving to Texas to get away from problems in Chicago and New York, “that soon, the small towns of Texas will be gone,” he said. Considering these coming problems, he asked, “Where do we go from here? Ashby said one major change will be the flight from the big cities to the less populated areas. “We’ve got to put all these people somewhere, he said, adding that places like Waco, El Paso, San Antonio and others are prime areas for tremendous growth. A key point of his speech, he urged Texans to band together, to stand up and not let the rest of the nation take advantage of them. He said to do this we need to close the gap between the rich and poor in the state. “We all need to share the goodies,” he explained. The lack of water in some areas, edu cation expenses, the fight against in creasing government control, and en ergy costs will all have to be dealt with, he explained. But Texas has always stood strong, and “we are in the right place at the right time to implement excellence, ” he concluded. Houston Post columnist Lynn Ashby spoke to a Rudder Theater crowd of about 300 Friday after noon. He discussed the future of Texas, and asked the question, “What happens now?” Staff photo by Lynn Blanco ord: Reagan Hopes crushed $1,369.1 and $13,000; Galveston, $939.2 and $21,000; Houston, $13,948.1 and $24,000; Killeen, $817.2 and $16,000; Laredo, $190.1 and $9,000; Longview, $571.2 and $18,000; Lubbock, $825.3 and $17,000; McAllen, $506.2 and $9,000; Mid land, $444.2 and $26,000; Odessa, $480.8 and $20,000; San Angelo, $343.5 and $18,000; San Antonio, $3,982.3 and $16,000; Sherman, $337.4 and $17,000; Texarkana, $437.1 and $15,000; Tyler, $517.4 and $19,000; Waco, $672.9 and $17,000; Wichita Falls, $650.5 and $20,000. Soviets take 4 former U.S installations United Press International LONDON — Soviet troops have occu pied four former U.S. military bases in South Vietnam and dispatched more than 3,000 officers and soldiers to operate them, a London newspaper reported today. The Daily Telegraph, in a story by its defense correspondent, said the most im portant base taken over by the Soviets was Cam Ranh Bay, a giant air and naval instal lation built during the 1960s by U.S. troops. Other bases taken over recently by the Russians were Danang and two near Saigon — Sien Hoa and Tan Son Nhut, the former U.S. Air Force base. “Between March and November last year, 200 Russian freighters, 120 small arms-carrying vessels amd more than 70 oil tankers discharged their loads in Viet namese ports,” The Daily Telegraph said. “There can be little doubt that the long term plan is not only to secure Russia’s hold on South Vietnam, but to extend Soviet influence in Southeast Asia when Cambodia has been finally subdued.” All totaled, the newspaper said, between 3,000 and 4,000 Soviet officers and troops man the four bases. The Soviet moves have drawn some cri ticism in South Vietnam, the newspaper said. “The Russians are now being compared with the ‘American imperialists,’ according to refugees arriving in Hong Kong,” the article said. an beat Carter » United Press International WCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Former bsident Gerald Ford says Ronald Reagan post surely will be the 1980 Republican hdidate and, in time, polls will show the Uifornian can defeat President Carter in j November. >rtatllBnan interview with UPI, Ford also said and his former GOP rival should meet n. Arrangements for the Republican suinmit meeting are under way, he said. M^PI'Ronald Reagan is certainly a heavy, heavy favorite to win the Republican nomi- nation. I think the odds are he’ll be the f r nominee,” Ford said, adding the April 22 Pennsylvania primary will be crucial in the process. jWhen he was Considering entering the GOP race last month, Ford said in a New T York Times interview he doubted Reagan i could defeat Carter. “There have been major changes” since </ thfcn, the former president said this past week, seated at a desk laden with letters and telegrams urging him to reconsider his March 15 decision against seeking the GOP nomination. . £ "Economic conditions in the country ^ have worsened in the past month more k than I thought they would. That, plus such matters as the American hostages in Teher- ^ an, are making President Carter more vul- nerable,” Ford said. y “And I think the polls will show that ^ agan can beat Carter. ” Ford said it would be “productive” if he and Reagan were to “sit down and discuss rtain things — productive and construc- je.” [Of arrangements for a Ford-Reagan peting, he said, “We’ve had telephone Jls that indicate Reagan would like to leet. There have been preliminary meet- js between the two staffs. (“The sooner we have a strong, united Onsensus the better it would be,” said Ford, whose narrow loss to Carter in November 1976 was blamed partly on a lack of unity between his and Reagan’s forces. This was the most favorable view given yet by Ford toward Reagan’s 1980 nomina tion drive. But the former president also said he has long pledged not to endorse anyone for the nomination before the Republican National Convention in July — and he is sticking by his word. Would Ford accept the nomination if drafted at the convention? “It’s such a remote speculation. It is not a realistic thing to be contemplating, ” he re plied. “Of course,’ Ford said, pausing to light his pipe, “I’ve never ducked a responsi bility.” He stressed he does not regret his deci sion last month against seeking the nomina tion. He gestured toward some of the mes sages asking him to reconsider, saying: “I just hope they understand.” Is he at peace with himself over the deci sion? “Yes, I have not regretted having made it. As a matter of fact, the more I’ve thought about it, the more I am certain it was the right decision.” Ford stood and looked through a glass wall of his office, surveying the arid moun tains in the distance, the golf green lawns in the foreground and the three-story palm trees in the middle distance. His red sweater hung somewhat loose, as if designed for a stouter fellow. In a year he has lost 10 pounds and now weighs 190 — “the least any time since I played football” for the University of Michigan decades ago. Ford said his weight loss is due mostly to giving up alcohol 10 months ago, including the pre-dinner Martini that had been a longtime habit. Ford sat down, his mind back on politics. He predicted Carter will defeat Sen. Ed ward Kennedy for the Democratic nomina tion. “But the president has got to wrap it up quickly,” he added. Iran hostages will remain with militants United Press International Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini said today the 50 American hostages should remain in the hands of their militant captors until Iran’s new parliament convenes, crushing hopes the government would assume cus tody of the captives, French radio networks said. The statement followed reports that, un less favorable developments emerged soon in Iran, President Carter might impose sanctions against Iran much tougher than the measures taken earlier in the crisis, now in its 156th day. There was no immediate reaction from the White House on the reports of Khomeini’s remarks. The U.S. sanctions, which were delayed last week when the ruling Revolutionary Council appeared ready to assume custody of the hostages, may be imposed as early as today, a White House official said. Radio Europe network asserted Khomeini’s decision means a delay of about two months in resolving the 5-month-old crisis because the Iranian parliament is not expected to convene until then. The official Pars news agency said the Revolutionary Council met Sunday night and made a decision on the possible trans fer of the hostages from militants occupying the besieged U.S. Embassy in Tehran, but it offered no details of what decision was reached. The key element, as it has been since the 50 Americans were seized Nov. 4, is Khomeini. Tehran Radio, in a broadcast monitored by the BBC, said Iranian President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, Foreign Minister Sadegh Ghotbzadeh, and other members of the council met with Khomeini today, apparently to be told of the council’s trans fer proposal and to act as final arbitrator of the plan. Plane crash kills four United Press International TOM BALL — Four people died in the crash of a private plane that missed on its second attempt to land at the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport. Names of the victims of the Sunday evening crash were not available, the Harris County Sheriffs Department said early today. Officials said the plane apparently missed its first approach and then crashed five miles north of the airport on its second approach. There had been reports the weather was bad, but au thorities were unsure if that was a factor in the accident. Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board officials planned to investigate the crash today. Officials said the Cessna 172 was traveling from College Station to Tom- ball, which is about 30 miles north of Houston. Secret messages to Iran just a confusion of words United Press International From the day the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was seized, it has been difficult to work out who among Iran’s revolutionary leaders speaks with authority and what un spoken implications any pronouncement may hold for the 50 American hostages. As the crisis dragged into its 154th day Saturday, a new layer of confusion has been added, this time involving Washington. The latest flurry of secret messages be tween the two capitals — and the denials and “clarifications” accompanying them — has made it difficult to know even what is being said and who is saying it. Confusion began creeping into White House news briefings and Tehran speeches when Iran asserted that President Carter sent Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini an apo logetic message expressing “understand ing” for the militants who seized the Embassy last Nov. 4. The president’s spokesman, Jody Powell, denied this in language that at the time sounded categorical. “I can say that the President sent no such message to Khomeini or anyone else, ” Powell told re porters. When it was revealed there had indeed been a secret exchange of messages, Powell said that by “no such message” he meant there had been no apology. And there were more messages, Powell admitted, messages that adminstration offi- Analysis cials stressed said nothing that had not been said already in public, even though their texts were deemed sensitive enough to be kept secret. Then last Wednesday, Iranian President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr said Carter, in one such message, had accepted Iran’s demand to refrain from “provocation or propagan da” in exchange for delivering the hostages from the militants to the government’s con trol. Again, Powell rejected suggestions that the United States was bowing to Iranian demands. But responding to requests for clarification, he added that the administra tion intended “to continue to be restrained in our words and actions so long as real progress is made in resolving this crisis.” “A game of words” is how one Washing ton official described the confusion. What the administration is saying may not always be what Iran is hearing and for the moment Carter does not want to deny interpretations that could help Bani-Sadr and bis moderate supporters gain custody of the hostages, the official said. At the same time. Carter does not want to leave any domestic impression that he is caving in to Iranian demands, which could hurt him politically in the primaries. Another reason for the diplomatic doub lespeak appears to be rooted in caution. Whether they are held captive by the mili tants or by Iran’s Revolutionary Council, the Americans are still prisoners. And doublespeak or not, the only person in Iran who speaks with real authority is Khomeini. And the only time he has spoken on the issue has been to support the militants and to denounce the United States.