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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1989)
T exas A&M mm V # e Battalion ity WEATHER TOMORROW’S FORECAST: Sunny to partly cloudy HIGH: 84 LOW: 54 /ol. 89 No.21 USPS 045360 12 Pages College Station, Texas Friday, September 29,1989 “The, [the itabil 'g lo been as and iults- use to ueei rej), 'eateni ren u, confide ‘en nig is fire.' he (i! ghis “Noi ig,’ ‘Oi; we d, re. AI iMt that,' Garre, . was® ihital* '-yeaH! te syac iductiit sessii ilk ab iducati nit •er ns woil College Station Officer Phil Brown awaits an amubulance af ter his motorcycle flipped over in a ditch while he and other officers were chasing three robbery suspects. The men were stealing cigarettes from the 7-11 store on University when a clerk approached them. The clerk suffered minor head lacer- Photo by Mike C. Mulvey ations when a suspect pushed him against a microwave oven. The suspects evaded arrest in a blue Buick Regal. However, police said they got the license plate number of the vehicle and recovered the cigarettes. Brown was treated and released from Humana Hospital. J Jersey renamed George Bush Drive Bush gets tax cut after Democrats break party lines WASHINGTON (AP) — Nine Texas Democrats broke ranks with the House leadership Thursday and voted for President Bush’s plan to cut taxes on profits from the sale of stocks, real estate and other invest ments, turning aside claims that only the rich would benefit. “Capital gains tax treatment can be extremely beneficial, a shot in the arm for Texas; our economy is as flat as a pancake,” said Rep. Michael Andrews, a Houston Democrat who fought for the tax cut. “This provi sion will spur business activity in our state at a time when we desperately need it.” In a vote of 239 to 190, the House defeated a Democratic attempt to re place Bush’s tax cut with a plan to raise tax rates for the wealthy and restore deductions for Individual Retirement Accounts. After heavy lobbying by both sides, nine of the state’s 18 Demo cratic congressmen and the eight Texas Republicans voted down the Democratic plan, while nine other Democrats voted for their party’s al ternative. The nine Texas Democrats agreeing with the president were Reps. Andrews, Jack Brooks, Pete Geren, Ralph Hall, Greg Laughlin, Marvin Leath, Solomon Ortiz, J.J. “Jake” Pickle, and Charlie Wilson. The president’s plan would cut by 30 percent the maximum tax rate for earnings from stocks, bonds, real estate, timber and other assets. But Rep. John Bryant says the cut would cost at least $20 billion in rev enue “at a time when we can’t bal ance the budget.” “I don’t think it makes any sense, when we’re running enormous defi cits, to cut taxes for the 275,000 rich est Americans, the top four-tenths of 1 percent of American taxpayers,” Bryant said. “If this were part of a long-term tax proposal related to comprehen sive revenue it would be one thing,” said Bryant, a Dallas Democrat. “But it’s another gimmick designed to last two years. I don’t think it will spur imvestment.” Another Texas Democrat who voted against the tax cut, Rep. Al bert Bustamante of San Antonio, said he did so partly to curry favor with the leadership as he seeks a powerful committee assignment. “I think I will get some degree of consideration, or a higher degree of consideration,” said Bustamante. Bustamante said he likes the idea of slashing capital gains taxes cou pled with restoring deductions for IRAs and hopes such a deal can be worked out in a House-Senate con ference committee. A&M student dies in head-on collision outside Prairie View By Bob Krenek Tarlo'i Of The Battalion Staff On March 1, 1990, Jersey Street, between Texas Avenue and FM 2818, will be renamed eorge Bush Drive, thanks to a 5-1 College Sta tion City Council vote on Thursday. I - The name change is part of a continuing drive by Texas A&M officials to bring the Bush Presi dential Library to Texas A&M. The proposed site for the library is a 40-acre tract of land on Jersey Street south of the A&M Research Park. Before the vote, council members heard the concerns of several citizens, most of whom op posed the name change. Among the concerns voiced were a loss of the city's heritage, an objection to such an honor be ing bestowed on a living person and a fear that the renaming would be considered a purely polit ical action that would reflect badly on the com munity. Councilman Dick Haddox responded to some of the criticism by citing community-wide sup port, saying, “a lot of people have indicated to me that this is a marvelous project and want to help any way they can.” He added that he supported the proposal and that “it would be a tremendous help to youth to grow up in a community with a presidential li brary.” A&M Deputy Chancellor James B. Bond, a former College Station councilman, spoke in support of the proposal, saying the Presidential Library project is very important to the city of College Station as well as A&M and the name change was something the city could easily do to help the project. Bond also said A&M officials w'anted the city of College Station to join in the project, which he said is “off to a tremendous start.” ' Councilman Fred Brown agreed, citing a unique relationship between the city and the uni versity, saying, “we do want to be attentive to your needs.” Bond voiced his opposition to Councilman Jim Gardner’s suggestion that only a portion of the street be renamed. Councilman Dick Birdwell said he had con tacted the College Station Postmaster about the change and had been told that there would be no problems with mail delivery. Birdwell also said he had received calls from two elderly residents of Jersey Street who were concerned about any difficulities they might en counter while trying to change their addresses. Birdwell wanted to know if Texas A&M would be willing to assist anyone who experienced prob lems. Bond said he was certain that help could be ar ranged if necessary. Sliannon Maloney, the Student Government Liaison to the City Council later agreed and said the students who had been working on the li brary project would be more than willing to help anyone who needed it. “I promise we can provide assistance for these people,” Maloney said, “even if I have to do it myself.” The only remaining decision before the vote was the length of time to allow residents of Jersey to change addresses. After consulting Bond, the council members quickly agreed on a six-month grace period. The only dissenting vote was provided by Gardner. “I thought a better alternative would be to re name the street when the facility is built,” Gard ner said after the meeting. A Texas A&M freshman was killed in a head-on collision Saturday near Prarie View. Marion Dwayne Tompkins, a 19- year-old business administration ma jor from La Marque, died Saturday morning from injuries from a head- on collision about two miles north of Prarie View. The accident occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. Tompkins’ car contained three others, one of whom was his brother Roland, 19, who also died in the acci dent. Two 18-year-old women who were with the brothers and the 23- year-old driver of the other vehicle were taken to Tomball Regional Hospital, where they were treated and later released. The driver of the other car was alone. Highway Patrol Sgt. J.R. Allen, who oversees the highway patrol in Washington, Wallard ancf Austin counties, said he believes the acci dent occurred when Tompkins ap proached a curve too quickly and overcompensated on his steering, which threw his car into a lane with oncoming traffic. Allen said the right front of Tompkins’ car struck the front end of the other car. Tompkins’ car burned to the ground, Allen said. Tompkins was a resident of Glyde Wells Hall. Funeral services were Monday afternoon in Galveston. Game-day shuttle bus alleviates parking hassles !l Today last day to Q-drop classes Today is the last day to Q-drop classes without academic penalty. The student must fill out a Q- drop form and have the request authorized by a college dean or adviser. Refunds are not made for courses dropped during the Q-drop period. The Q-drop will show up on the transcript but will not affect the student’s GPR. Students who drop courses af ter the Q-drop deadline will re ceive a grade of F unless other- wisespecified by a dean. Anheuser-Busch announces purchase of Sea World parks ST. LOUIS (AP) — Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. an nounced on Thursday that it had reached an agreement to buy the four Sea World parks around the country, including one in San Antonio, as well as two other theme parks from Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc. The $1.1 billion deal will make Anheuser-Busch the second largest theme park operator in America, behind Walt Disney Co. “We think this acquisition is a very logical move for Anheuser-Busch,” said August A. Busch III, chairman and president of the company. “We have been involved in the family entertainment industry for the last 30 years, and it is a business we know well.” The purchase is expected to be completed in Novem ber. The popular Sea World parks, which feature per forming killer whales, trained dolphins and other tal ented creatures from the sea, are located in San Diego; Orlando, Fla., and Aurora, Ohio as well as San Antonio. The other parks involved in the deal are Boardwalk See Sea World/Page 6 Football fans can avoid parking hassles and towing risks tomorrow by taking buses or trolleys to the game. The bus service, first used during this year’s L.S.U. game, provides round-trip transportation from 15 local hotels and two park-and-ride lots for $2. The drop-off point is Joe Routt Boulevard on the west side of the railroad tracks along Wellborn Road, near the pedestrian crosswalk. Buses will start running at 4 p.m., two hours before the game, and will start return trips at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Fifteen vehicles are scheduled to run and will be marked with point of origin. Local residents and students may use one of the two park-and-ride lots at Brazos Center or Southwood Val ley Athletic Complex. Participating hotels include Best Western, Brazos Inn, Bryan Inn, College Station Hil ton, Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, E-Z Travel Motor Inn, La Quinta Motor Inn, Manor House, Quality Inn, Ramada-Aggie- land, Rodeway Inn, University Tower and Motel 6. Tickets may be purchased at the participating hotels and pick-up points but will not be sold'aboard ve hicles. More than 3,000 tickets were pur chased for the last game. sei Editor: fee slip includes nst of Aggieland photo 3y Julie Myers y. Cf The Battalion Staff d HI Freshmen who had their Aggie- nd pictures taken by AR Photogra- Mjlhy should ignore the $5 fee they re- ’I Beived in the mail from Yearbook I ssociates. Aggieland Editor Paula McKnight id Yearbook Associates is a big iB'tnpany that handles a lot of year- ^UB^sand that the $5 fee is standard .■>r many universities. Texas A&M, ■jfjlowever, does not follow this policy. ^ ■ All Texas A&M students who paid e Sl Aggieland sitting fee as listed n their fee slip will have their pic- r es in the Aggieland by simply showing up at AR Photography on their designated days. The picture days designated for A&M students are as follows: Sopho mores A-M today only; N-Z, Oct. 2- 6. Juniors with last names A-M will be Oct. 16-20; N-Z, Oct. 23-27. Graduate students, veterinary stu dents and medical students will have their pictures taken the week of Nov. 6-10. Seniors’ picture days are to be announced. If any freshman has already paid the $5, contact the Aggieland office at 845-2682 for a refund. Students who have not paid the $1 Aggieland fee can still do so in 230 Reed Mc Donald and get their picture taken. Gramm wants Smith in Senate seat AUSTIN (AP) — U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm said Thursday he considers it a high priority to put a Republican in the state Senate seat be ing vacated by Bryan Democrat Kent Caper- ton. Caperton, a 10-year veteran, said this week he won’t seek re-election. Gramm called state Rep. Richard Smith, R- Bryan, the man to succeed Caperton and said electing Smith w-ould be his top 1990 priority after his own re-election battle. “Richard Smith is a great state representa tive and has the potential to become a great statewide leader,” said Gramm, R-Texas, who represented the Bryan-College Station area as a congressman before his 1984 flection to the Senate. Smith said he will announce a decision within the next two weeks about the Senate race. In the House, he has led negotiations on workers’ compensation reform. “He has done a good enough job in the statehouse that he deserves a promotion,” Gramm said of Smith. On Wednesday, Smith said, “I w r as looking at a district race. With Gramm at the top of the ticket, I felt like we had an excellent chance to w in this seat regardless (of Caper- ton’s decision).” But Democratic Party officials said they will hold onto the seat. Ed Martin, executive direc tor of the Democratic Party, said much of the district is rural and strongly Democratic. He said Gramm’s coattails will have no effect on the down-ballot state Senate race. The Texas Senate currently has eight Re publicans and 23 Democrats. In other political news Thursday: • John Houchins, who resigned this week from the Texas Water Commission, said he will work for a political comeback for ex-Gov. Mark White. “I’m going to w-ork as hard as I can for Mark White,” Houchins told the Houston Chronicle, adding that he believes White is close to deciding to again seek the Governor’s Mansion. “We’ve been meeting with him for several months. It’s up to him to make the announce ment. But I’ll tell you this: It’s as close as damn is to swearing,” Houchins said. White, a Democrat, served as governor from 1983 to 1987 but w r as ousted by Republi can Bill Clements.