TP Tfc
[The Battalion
r Vol. 75 No. 13
1 34 Pages in 2 Sections
Serving the Texas A&M University community
Thursday, September 17, 1981
College Station, Texas
USPS 045 360
Phone 845-2611
The
Weather
Today
Tomorrow
High .
. . 73
High
.. .82
Low. .
. . 58
Low
.. .65
Chance of rain
10%
Chance of rain
20%
Reagan considers
deeper cuts in
federal spending
11“
United Press International
WASHINGTON — President
eagan is considering proposals to close
[the Energy and Education depart-
jnents, fire 75,000 government workers
ind delay cost-of-living increases to all
federal benefit recipients.
Reagan is studying the package as
art of his efforts to cut deeper into
deral spending and, sources said
Wednesday, it has the approval of the
epublican congressional leadership.
White House officials said the prop-
isal, which includes Reagan’s previous
ly announced plans to trim defense
ending by $2 billion next year, would
ean a $16.3 billion cutback for the
iscal 1982 budget.
Officials said the proposed 1982 cut-
lacks were drafted at a meeting
fVednesday on Capitol Hill of budget
irector David Stockman, Senate Re-
blican Leader L oward Baker and
hite House chief of staff James Baker.
Reagan was to meet with his Cabinet
Joday and the proposed cuts were ex-
cted to be the major topic of discus-
He also planned to confer with
jepublican and Democratic congres-
jonal leaders.
The recommended three-month de
ment of 1982 cost-of-living increases
jould apply to all federal benefit prog
rams, such as Social Security, military
f retirement, food stamps and black lung.
For the past several weeks, Reagan
has sought additional spending reduc
tions to get back on track for a budget
deficit of $42.5 billion next year and a
balanced budget by 1984.
During the presidential campaign,
Reagan promised to abolish the Energy
and Education departments. And now
he is actively examining the possiblity of
taking such action.
Functions of the two departments
would be shifted to other agencies.
Officials said dismissal of 75,000
workers would save $300 million in 1982
and $3.3 billion over a three-year
period. They would apply to all agencies
and reduce the federal payroll by 6.5
percent.
The three-month deferral of the cost-
of-living increases would result in a $5
billion saying, officials said.
But they insisted the postponement
would not represent a retreat on
Reagan’s promise Tuesday he would not
seek to balance the budget “at the ex
pense of those on Social Security.”
The cost-of-living increases in Social
Security would be deferred from July to
Oct. 1, 1982. Other programs would be
affected on different dates next year.
In addition to the whopping budget
cuts he has in the works, Reagan is put
ting the pressure on to hold the approp
riations bills now before Congress with
in limits.
He has threatened to veto any mea
sure he considers in excess of the
budget authorization.
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Production drops,
[economy weakens
■
Los Crystales
Staff photo by Greg Gammon
United Press International
! ' WASHINGTON — Latest govern
ment figures show the economy
weakening as the third quarter draws to
■ a close, with a decrease in industrial
j production threatening to add to the
unemployment rolls.
But Federal Reserve Board Chair
man Paul Volcker said despite the prob
lems, the economy’s long-range health
depends on continuing a tight money
; policy.
; The Federal Reserve Wednesday re-
|: ported industrial production in August
dropped by the largest amount since the
! end of last year’s recession, 0.4 percent
| after seasonal adjustment. Economists
; immediately forecast a rising unem-
jj-l j ployment rate as a result of the factory
cutbacks.
i The Commerce Department today
[ prepared to issue its latest measure-
^,i ment of changes in personal income, a
I figure closely watched by economists
[ since spending levels largely determine
5 the future of production and employ-
nent.
In July the personal income of Amer
icans was up 1.6 percent, the highest
rate of increase in a year, mostly be-
ause Social Security recipients re-
ieived a cost-of-living hike in July’s
Ihecks.
In testimony before the Senate
Budget Committee Wednesday, Volc
ker said, “We have been at critical junc
tures before in the fight on inflation and
the bleak reality is we have not had the
foresight and the courage to stay on the
course.”
Volcker told the committee if Con
gress wants the nation to have lower
interest rates, it must either make furth
er deep cuts in federal spending or raise
taxes. Volcker thus handed back to Con
gress much of the responsibility for high
interest rates many in Congress have
been trying to blame on the Federal
Reserve.
As for the August decline in produc
tion, senior Commerce Department
economist Theodore Torda said, “I
think we’re starting to see prompt re
sponse by business to the earlier in
crease in inventories.”
Monday, the department reported a
2.1 percent climb in retail stock back
logs — the biggest increase in more
than ten years. Inventories overall were
up 1.1 percent.
“They’re cutting back production and
getting inventory in line with sales,
which is a good thing, but it’s coming
quickly,” Torda said. As a result, he
said, “When September data is released
I think we’ll see unemployment catch
ing up with the decline in production.”
Los Crystales, a Houston-based mariachi band,
treats Texas A&M faculty and students to an
afternoon concert by Rudder Fountain. The
concert was presented Wednesday by the
Iranian elections Oct. 2
MSC Committee for Awareness of Mexican-
American Culture (CAMAC) in celebration of
Mexican Independence Day, the beginning
of its fight against Spain for freedom in 1810.
Two leaders vie for presidency
United Press International
Two key leaders in Ayatollah Ruhol-
lah Khomeini’s regime say they both
want to be Iran’s next president, reveal
ing an unexpected split within the ranks
of the ruling religious fundamentalists.
Iranian Prime Minister Mahdavi
Kani — appointed after the assassina
tion of the previous prime minister and
president last month — announced
Wednesday he will contest the same
election as Hojatoleslam Seyyed Ali
Khamenei, leader of the ruling Islamic
Republican Party.
Reached by telephone, Kani’s office
confirmed he had registered with the
Interior Ministry as a candidate in the
Oct. 2 elections and was expected to be
on the ballot opposing Khamenei.
odel plane capable of aerial photography
All 44 men registered as candidates
must be approved by the Guardian
Council, composed of leading clergy
men who rule on their eligibility. In
the last election, many were rejected.
The terror campaign that forced the
election continued with a failed assassi
nation attempt on a clergyman identi
fied as Hojatoleslam Abid in the city of
Shiraz, the official Pars news agency re
ported. Another person was killed by
“counter-revolutionaries” in Mashad,
Pars said.
Two commandos of the Mojahideen
Khalq, which is accused of the string of
assassinations, were executed in the
cities of Sanandaj in Kurdestan province
and Mahalat in the Central province,
the agency said.
Kani’s candidacy was a clear sign cler
gymen close to Khomeini are vying for
his backing, observers said. Both lead
ing candidates have close ties to the
religious patriarch, but so far Khomeini
has not said who he favors.
Khamenei, who was seriously
wounded in a bomb blast June 27, is a
defense adviser to Khomeini and now is
in the strategic position of heading the
ruling party.
The election will be the third since
the February 1979 overthrow of the late
Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Bani-
Sadr won the presidency in 1980, but
was ousted from office last June by the
clerics. Rajai succeeded Bani-Sadr in
July.
Professor, student build plane
By GRETCHEN RATLIFF
Battalion Reporter
When he became a model airplane enthusiast seven years ago, Carlton Schlo-
mach says he had no idea his hobby would someday evolve into a university
research project.
Schlomach, a senior aerospace engineering major from Archer City, and Texas
A&M Professor Howard Chevalier, designed and built a radio-controlled airplane
that can carry a camera for use in aerial photography.
Dr. Richard Newton, director of the Remote Sensing Center at Texas A&M
University, said the model is an economical means for farmers with small acreage to
take infrared shots to check on crop conditions.
Infrared photography allows a farmer to distinguish diseased crops from healthy
crops by evaluating the differing shades of the vegetation’s color in a photograph.
In most cases infrared systems of this type are installed in planes, but, Newton
said, Schlomach’s radio-controlled model eliminates the need for an expensive
plane, a photographer and fuel.
Commercial irrigation companies might also be interested in the project for
checking mobile sprinkler systems for breakdowns as well as for progress, he said.
The model, with its six-foot wingspan, weighs 21 pounds at takeoff with a full tank
and camera. It can fly for about 30 minutes on a dollar’s worth of a methane castor
oil-fuel mixture and can take as many as 20 pictures during that time.
Schlomach, who works the remote controls, said that the plane can fly at
altitudes up to 5,000 feet and go as fast as 45 mph. He is able to pilot the plane for
two or three miles.
Chevalier plans to use the model as a teaching tool for his classes. “It is one thing
to sit in a classroom and describe something like a feedback control system, but the
model gives the students the chance to see firsthand how it works,” he said.
“We’re also using it for more sophisticated research purposes to do detailed
studies of different plane designs,” Schlomach said.
Chevalier said he hopes to get more students working on the project as soon as
the funds and shop space become available. The model they built costs $600.
He said the model is not only more economical than a jet airplane, but also safer;
he said it would be too risky and expensive to let students fly a large scale plane. “If
the model crashes, the damage would be minimal compared to what could happen if
a big plane crashes,” Chevalier said.
Yell practice
at Kyle Field
tonight
Yell Practice tonight for Saturday’s
Texas Aggie football game against Bos
ton College will be held in Kyle Field,
instead of in the Grove.
Thursday night yell practices for
away games usually are held in the
Grove. But, Head Yell Leader Mike
Thatcher said all future yell practices, as
well as the one tonight, will be held in
Kyle Field to avoid the crowding in the
Grove outdoor theater area.
“It’s just too crowded in the Grove, ”
Thatcher said. “There were probably
4,000 people crammed in there last
time. This way nobody will be miser
able or fighting for a spot to stand.”
Thatcher said he expects a bigger
turnout Thursday night, bigger than the
usual turnout for non-midnight yell
practices. Yell practices for home foot
ball games are held in Kyle Field at
midnight the night before.
“A lot of people don’t come to the
Grove because it’s j ust too crowded, he
said. “I had thought of it (using Kyle
Field) last year, but it was too late in the
season to do anything about it.
“After one time this year, it was ob
vious we needed Kyle ... and Mr. (Mar
vin) Tate (Texas A&M sports director)
was very happy to cooperate,” Thatcher
said.
Yell practice will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Parole board
denies Atkins
prison release
United Press International
CHINO, Calif. — Susan Atkins, a
former Manson Family member sent
enced to life in prison for the shocking
Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969, was
denied a fourth request for parole be
cause her crimes were so gruesome.
“The callousness of her participation
in the murders is almost unparalleled in
American crime,” said Stephen Kay,
the Los Angeles deputy district attor
ney who helped prosecute the Manson
killers.
Following a 3 Vi-hour hearing
Wednesday, in which Miss Atkins in
sisted she had lied when she confessed
to the killings more than a decade ago, a
three-member parole board ruled
unanimously she must remain behind
bars.
“The totality of the offenses almost
defy description,” the board said,
adding the crimes showed “a total disre
gard of human suffering.”
Miss Atkins was convicted in 1971 of
murdering actress Sharon Tate and four
others in August 1969 at Miss Tate’s
Hollywood Hills home, and killing
Leno and Rosemary LaBianca the fol
lowing night.
Barbecue
fund -raiser
for bonfire
The Texas A&M Bonfire Committee
Red Pots will soon sponsor a barbecue
to raise funds for the annual bonfire to
be ignited prior to the rivalrous Texas
A&M-University of Texas football
game.
Red Pots are members of the Univer
sity Corps of Cadets who are in charge of
supervising construction of the bonfire.
The barbecue will be held Oct. 10
immediately after the Texas A&M-
University of Houston football game on
the main drill field.
At a meeting Wednesday to plan the
event, members of the committee said
they hope the barbecue will raise
enough money to cover all costs for the
bonfire.
“We hope to raise as much money as
we can from the barbecue so people’s
efforts can be spent on building bonfire
instead of raising money,” David Red
ding, senior finance representative of
the committee, said.
The committee has already raised
over $1500 in ticket sales, Duke Bonilla
said. Bonilla is coordinator of the barbe
cue and the committee’s junior finance
representative.
Redding said that last year the bonfire
committee solicited about $10,000 from
local businesses and private citizens to
finance bonfire.
Tickets for the barbecue, which will
be catered by Farmer’s Market, will be
$5 for students and children under 16
and $7.50 for adults. They will be on
sale in the MSCSept. 21 to Oct. 2 from 9
a.m.- 3 p.m., and at the main drill field
the day of the barbecue.