Page 6/The Battalion/Wednesday, February 29, 1984 Bell drops requests for bonded rote hike R.l by Paul Dime 1 United Press International AUSTIN — Southwestern Bell Telephone Tuesday dropped all attempts to imple ment a $280 million bonded rate increase, saying it would wait instead for a final decision on its $1.3 billion rate request. Bell had gone to court Mon- day hoping to have a district judge overturn an order of the Public Utility Commission that prohibited the telephone com pany from collecting the higher rates. Attorney General Jim Mattox also had issued an opinion say ing Bell should not be allowed to Bond higher rates until April. “We don’t believe the law is being interpreted correctly,” said Paul Roth, Bell vice presi dent revenue-public affairs. “However, to pursue the point further would be time con suming and it is highly unlikely the legal issue could be con cluded before the entire rate case is resolved.” Aggieland Subway PRESENTS $ 1.25 Night WEDNESDAYS 5 TO 12 STARRING HAM + CHEESE No. 2 Nn 11 turkey l>HJ. I I + CHEESE Bell had wanted to put a bonded, refundable rate in crease of $280 milion into effect Feb. 23. The increase would have raised residential bills $2.75 a month and business bills $3.85. But that move was blocked by the PUC ruling. 1 HAD ANOTHER NmnAte. AmJT^MVRFS LAST NKrtfT. Not again 1 . 7 . TEAti. THET KEPT CHJJNG- MTTMURFETTE" AA/D T&V&)A^WIaM)AMD.,. ] HEMAjl... yoOKAJOVJ WHMI THINK ? / THINK ywmu off itiB'cmm AW 'BlLEBBUlN M)K f At issue was whether Bell’s overall rate case was governed by the old Public Utility Regula tory Act or revision of the act passed in the last session of the Legislature. The old law allowed utilities to implement bonded rates 125 days after a rate request was filed but the new law — which took effect Sept. 1, said utilities must wait 185 days before put ting bonded rates into effect. Bell had claimed its case was governed by the old law because it filed its case in June. However the PUC and the district judge ruled that Bell’s rate request was not complete until Oct. 19, after the new law was in place. District Judge Mary Pearl Williams said Bell would have to wait until at least April 22 be fore it could implement bond rates under the new law. How ever, the commission is ex pected to have decided Bell’s overall rate case by then. Polls show consumers support family farms Hightower blasts farm policies United Press International WASHINGTON — Testify ing on the 1985 farm bill, Texas agriculture commissioner Jim Hightower Tuesday blasted the Reagan administration for poli cies that are designed to keep farmers’ price low. Hightower told the House Agriculture Committee that in 1983, 65 percent of the U.S. net farm income went to just 1 per cent of America’s farmers. But he said consumers sup port fair prices for agriculture producers. “Poll after poll shows that consumers believe in the family farm system, that they want small and medium sized farm ers to make a profit,” he said. “But they believe, and righdy so, that their food dollars and their tax dollars are going to benefit everyone but that small and medium sized family farmer.” Despite claims that a national recession has ended, Hightower said the farm economy contin ues to contract. production and establiq datory production contni treat small and medium f.ii mers fairly. “The media says the farm cri sis is the sleeper issue of the year, but in the heartland of this country it is already wide awake and demanding attention,” he said. Hightower called for legis lation to set prices on the cost of In addition, heuidofij farm bill, “Trueconserai water and soil rausibepc into the mechanics ()(i we’re not straining the ua newable resources o( n| and water furtherihanih go” Coast Guard crew 'surprised' in sinking of disabled tanker in the Gulf of Mexico United Press International ; NEW ORLEANS — Rescue workers who failed to save at least two crew members of a dis abled tanker that sank in the Gulf of Mexico mistakenly be lieved there was no threat of the ship going under, the Coast Guard said Tuesday. Coast Guard cutters, heli copters and a jet searched Tues day for two other men feared lost in the sinking of the Ameri can Eagle, which broke up in the stormy Gulf and went down unexpectedly Monday about 180 miles south of New Or leans. Three other men had died Sunday in an explosion that ripped through the empty 661- foot tanker, but officials said they believed the ship — which carried a crew of 24 — was in no danger of sinking. “The initial report of the ex- a restaurant & club J Daily Lunch Specials Happy Hour—11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun.-Tues.—No Cover, $1.00 Bar Drinks Thurs.—Ladies, No Cover, $1.00 Bar Drinks Live Entertainment Nightly This Sunday! We will beat any advertised stereo price in the state of Texas! The Store Worth Lookin’ For.. Excellent Food. Live Shows Nightly. Open 11 am. daily. Reservations Accepted. CUSTOM SOUNDS | Old College Road Next To The Triangle BqwlJ 707 Texas Ave. S. College Station plosion was reassuring,” said Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Jim Kosch. “There were no threats of it sinking at the time.” Kosch said a Canadian ship reached the side of the Ameri can Eagle on Monday, but ap parently thought the tanker was in no danger and left two hours before the sinking. The Coast Guard considered evacuating the vessel early Monday, but decided with en couragement from the ship’s owner — the American Foreign Steamship Corp. of New York — to let tne men wait for a tug boat from Port Arthur, Texas. “The Coast Guard has the authority to r take people off a boat if it is deemed to be a life- threatening situation,” a Coast Guard spokesman said. “But it was a surprise to everybody. We thought the vessel was safe.” The tug, which had been commissioned to haul the AC iil IS! Ml SF w TC Aft TONIGHT NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SINCE 1959 For the Summer of Your Life Join Our Top Quality STUDENT TOURS MAIL FOR FREE BROCHURE TO American Eagle to a sw Galveston, Texas, was several hours by highseas Officials of the sw company declined to Fuesday on the sinking evacuation, but earlierf had believed the hole s ship’s side was high above the waterlineto any danger of sinking. Sunday’s explosion tipj* | huge gash in the vessdit killing three crew membesi injuring three. “I started looking! clothes,” survivor Salsbury, 62, of Gold Ore., said of the explosit could only find onesta one sock and then rail f deck.” At least three menies jured — and two killed-* tlie ship sank. “We had tojumporbefd under the ship,” said cup Frank Delgado. ST Un Houston police bred WA televisi man, v Tuesd oilman hat tc seum. The section ing sue Bunkt leather slipper Oz” an Arness I “hi the Sir major auto theft ring L/ United Press International har-ttwofi fottrsm 2428 GUADALUPE • AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705 g ADDRESS I ■ STATE HOUSTON — Law officers Tuesday broke up a major auto theft ring which reportedly stole vehicles in Texas and Louisiana and resold them in Central America, investigators said. Houston Police Captain Bill White said law officers in Hous ton arrested three suspects and police in New Orleans arrested three other suspects who will be formally charged with state auto theft charges and federal charges of interstatetranf lion of stolen motorvehftl lagm; Investigators also w vehicles during the arrest 1 six suspects. White said the vel eluding Ford blazersaudt rolet suburbans, were ^ Houston and then takers Orleans where they"®, tered and then shipped w tral America. The stokers vehicles # were sold for aboulW Central America, Whited MSC Cafeteria Now Better Than Ever. You Will Be Pleased With These Carefully Prepared and Taste Tempting Foods. Each Daily Special Only $2.39 Plus Tax.l “Open Daily” Dining: 11 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. — 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M UT fans may be penalized MONDAY EVENING SPECIAL Salisoury Steak with Mushroom Gravy Whipped Potatoes Your Choice of One Vegetable Roll or. Corn Bread and Butter Coffee or Tea TUESDAY EVENING SPECIAL Mexican Fiesta Dinner Two Cheese and Onion Enchiladas w chili Mexican Rice Patio Style Pinto Beans Tostadas Coffee or Tea One Corn Bread and Butter United Press Interaatio' 1 WEDNESDAY EVENING SPECIAL Chicken Fried Steak w cream Gravy Whipped Potatoes and Choice of one other Vegetable Roll or Corn Bread and Butter Coffee or Tea OFFER ENDS FEB 29 24 HOUR GYMS OF TEXAS 700 UNIVERSITY DR E PHONE 764 8544 FACILITIES VARY WITH MEMBERSHIP THURSDAY EVENING SPECIAL v Italian Candle Light Spaghetti Dinner SERVED WITH SPICED MEAT BALLS AND SAUCE Parmesan Cheese - Tossed Green Salad Choice of Salad Dressing — Hot Garlic Bread Tea or Coffee FOR YOUR PROTtCTHON OUR PERSONNEL HAVE HEALTH CARDS. CEDAR PARK - one of the thousands of! 1 who have an orange 1'®'* of Texas Longhorn your license plate,) want to steer clear of this v suburb. , At least one Cedar fP liceman is enforcing an state law that mandates^ fine for attaching anyth® 1 license plate. “I wasn’t fined, but ^ cer did say the Longhofl 1 was the only reason best me,” said Ned Willis he’d cite me if I didn't off. “I told him he was anti! 1 horn,” added Willis. “1^ erybody’s got them just a stinker,” FRIDAY EVENING SATURDAY SUNDAY SPECIAL SPECIAL NOON and EVENING NOON and EVENING FRIED CATFISH SPECIAL ROAST TURKEY DINNER FILET w TARTAR SAUCE Cole Slaw Hush Puppies Choice of one vegetable Roll or Corn Bread & Butter Tea or Coffee Yankee Pot Roast Texas Style (Tossed Salad) Mashed Potato w gravy Roll or Corn Bread & Butter Tea or Coffee Served with Cranberry Sauce Cornbread Dressing Roll or Corn Bread - Butter - '} Coffee or Tea Giblet Gravy And your choice of any One vegetable But Larry Todd, s| for the Texas Depart®/ Public Safety, said the' was following the law. “It (decal) is illegal, “Comes under the lies an ‘unclean’ license would be rare for * trooper to stop someone though. That’s just not 8 f 1 ity with us.” i .1 ’vj^aj A Cedar Park police/ man said no tickets had ' sued for the offense. rQuality First 7