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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1991)
f Thursday, September 19,1Si Attention Springboard Divers 12 th Man Diving Squad Men's & Women's Tryouts Anyone with diving or gymnastics experience is invited to try out for the Texas A&M Varsity Diving Team. Come to the outdoor pool Friday September 20 th at 2:00 p.m. prepared to dive for Coach Mel Nash. You must be a full time student and meet NCAA eligibility requirements. For further information call 845-5545 or 693-6761. PUBLIC NOTICE BRIEF EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS SPECIAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 5. 1991 PROPOSITION NO. 1 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 114 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would authorize home rule cities having a population of 5,000 or fewer inhabitants to amend their city charters by a majority vote of a city’s qualified voters at an elec tion held for that purpose. The amendment makes clear that home rule cities that have declined in population below the population re quired to initially adopt a charter may nevertheless continue to amend their charters. The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment al lowing home-rule cities with a population of 5,000 or less to amend their charters by popular vote.” PROPOSITION NO. 2 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 10 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to authorize the Texas Department of Transportation to expend money, from any source available, for the costs of the turnpikes, toll roads, or toll bridges of the Texas Turnpike Authority, provided that any monies expended from the state highway fund shall be repaid to the fund from tolls or other turnpike rev enue. The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment mandating the repayment to the Department of Transportation of monies expended to assist the Texas Turnpike Authority in the construction, maintenance, and op eration of turnpikes, toll roads and toll bridges.” PROPOSITION NO. 3 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 26 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would authorize the Veterans’ Land Board to invest, as authorized by law, moneys of the Veterans’ Land Fund which are not immedi ately committed to the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by the Veterans’ Land Board, the purchase of lands, or the pay ment of expenses. Investment of such moneys would no longer be re stricted to investments in bonds or obligations of the United States. The proposed amendment would also authorize the Veterans’ Land Board to invest, as authorized by law, moneys of the Veterans’ Housing Assistance Fund which are not im mediately committed to the payment of principal and interest on general obligation bonds issued by the Vet erans’ Land Board for the benefit of the Veterans’ Housing Assistance Fund, the making of home mor tgage loans, or the payment of ex penses. Investment of such moneys would no longer be restricted to in vestments in bonds or obligations of the United States. The proposed amendment gives the legislature power to implement the amendment and to delegate such duties and au thority to the Veterans’ Land Board as it deems necessary. The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to further implement and enhance the ad ministration of the veterans’ housing assistance and land pro grams and to expand the invest ment authority of the Veterans’ Land Board.” PROPOSITION NO. 4 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 4 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to au thorize the issuance of a maximum of $1.1 billion in general obligation bonds. The proceeds of the bonds are to be used to acquire, construct, or equip new prisons and substance abuse felony punishment facilities, mental health and mental retarda tion institutions, and youth correc tions institutions, to repair and reno vate existing facilities of those institutions and to acquire, repair, or renovate other facilities for use as state prisons or substance abuse felony punishment facilities. The $1.1 billion is in addition to the $900 million currently authorized by the constitution to be expended on bond issues for facilities of correctional and mental health and mental re tardation institutions. The bonds would constitute a general obligation of the state. The bonds and interest on the bonds would be paid from the first money coming into the state treasury that is not otherwise ap propriated by the constitution, less any amount in a sinking fund at the end of the preceding fiscal year that is pledged to payment of the bonds or interest. The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of up to $1.1 billion in general obligation bonds for acquiring, constructing, or equipping new prisons or other punishment facilities to confine criminals, mental health and men tal retardation institutions, and youth corrections institutions, for major repair or renovation of existing facilities of those institu tions, and for the acquisition of, major repair to, or renovation of other facilities for use as state prisons or other punishment fa cilities.” PROPOSITION NO. 5 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 39 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would allow a county, junior college district, or municipality to exempt tangible personal property from ad valorem taxation if: (1) the property is acquired or brought into the state in an enterprise zone to be forwarded outside the state, (2) the property is assembled, stored, repaired, maintained, manu factured, processed, or fabricated in the enterprise zone, (3) the prop erty is transported outside the state not later than 175 days after being acquired or brought into an enter- prize zone, and (4) the person who acquired or brought the property into an enterprise zone is a qualified business. A county, junior college district, or municipality may exempt such property by entering into a written agreement with a qualified business that states the duration of the exemption and the terms on which the exemption is granted. Any action to exempt property must be taken before April 1 of the first year in which the property would otherwise be taxed. The term “enter- prize zone” means an area that (1) has been designated as such by a state agency responsible for econom ic development, and (2) has per vasive poverty, unemployment, and economic distress. The term “quali fied business” means a business that meets the qualification established by general law. and requires that the qualified business is actively en gaged in a new business in the enter- prize zone or is expanding a business that is already active in the enter prise zone. An enterprise zone is created to foster economic develop ment in an area of pervasive pov erty and unemployment. The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the exemption for ad valorem taxes of certain property in an enterprise zone.” PROPOSITION NO. 6 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 8 proposes a constitutional amendment that would establish a Texas Ethics Commission with the powers and duties provided by law. The com mission would consist of eight ap pointed members selected as fol lows: two members of different political parties appointed by the governor from a list of at least ten names submitted by the members of the house of representatives from each major political party; two Page 4 The Battalion Croatian fighting breaks EC cease-fire ZAGREB, Yugoslavia (AP) — Combatants in Croatia on Wednesday inaugurated the lat est cease-fire agreement with gunfire, bombs and shelling, and key mediators expressed pes simism about peace prospects in the secession ist republic. The European Community-brokered truce, signed Tuesday, was already in tatters mo ments after the cease-fire deadline passed. More than 450 people have died in fighting in Croatia since the republic declared its indepen dence on June 25. Lord Carrington — the European Commu nity mediator who signed the cease-fire agree ment Tuesday with the Croatian and Serbian presidents and the federal defense minster, said he would not return to Yugoslavia if it failed. "I don't think there's anything else if this doesn't work,'' he said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. "I mean, how can you hold a peace conference when everyone is killing each other?" On Wednesday, people standing in front of the railway station in downtown Zagieo, Croatian capital, threw themselves unde: as gunfire and explosions were heard ne> Sniper fire and machine gun blasts rattlec city. Heavy fighting was reported in VaraJp northeast or Zagreb; Sibenik, south o- Adriatic coast; and Vukovar in thefarec part of Croatia. Three air raid alarms sot: in the span of a few hours before and afte truce deadline, sending people in aboc Croatian towns scurrying for shelters. hurst B Federal Reserve calls economic recovery 'uneven WASHINGTON (AP) - The national economy, rather than bouncing strongly out of the re cession, is beset with a host of problems from sluggish con sumer spending to a virtual standstill in commercial construc tion, the Federal Reserve report ed Wednesday. The Fed's latest survey of na tional business conditions said that the recovery "continues to be uneven across the country" with a rebound in manufacturing one of the few bright spots. Some private economists were more blunt, saying the Fed report depicted a moribund econ omy that could easily slip back into recession. Even economists who are not forecasting a so-called "double dip" recession are predicting that the recovery will be one of the weakest on record. The Commerce Department reported that construction of new homes and apartments edged up only a slight 0.6 percent in Au gust. Georgian filmmaker detained for questioning TBILISI, U.S.S.R. (AP) - ( gian authorities arrested ano: members of different political par ties appointed by the governor from a list of at least ten names sub mitted by the members of the senate from each major political party; two members of different political parties appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives from a list of at least ten names submitted by the members of the house from each major political party; and two members of different political par ties appointed by the lieutenant governor from a list of at least ten names submitted by the members of the senate from each major political, party. A major political party is a political party required by law to hold a primary. With the exception of the initial appointees, commission members would serve for four-year terms. A member who has served for one term and any part of a second term would not be eligible for reap pointment. The commission would be authorized to recommend the salary of the members of the legis lature and may recommend that the salary of the speaker of the house of representatives and the lieutenant governor be set at an amount higher than that of other members. If the commission recommends a change in salary, the voters would be autho rized to accept or reject the salary change at the next general election for state and county officers. If the voters approve the recommended salary, that salary would take effect January 1 of the next odd-numbered year; if the voters reject the recom mended salary, no change in salary would occur. The commission would set the per diem of the members of the legislature and of the lieutenant governor. The per diem could be raised or lowered biennially as necessary to pay members’ costs, but could not exceed the amount al lowed as of January 1 that year as a federal income tax deduction for living expenses incurred in a legis lative day in connection with a mem ber’s business as a legislator, disre garding any federal income tax ex ception for legislators residing near the Capitol. The commission would have other powers and duties pro vided by the commission’s enabling act (Senate Bill 1, 72nd Legislature, Regular Session). The amendment would also provide that an increase in the emoluments of the office of Lieutenant Governor would not make a legislator ineligible to serve in the office of Lieutenant Governor. The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment creating the Texas Ethics Com mission and authorizing the com mission to recommend the salary for members of the legislature and the lieutenant governor, sub ject to voter approval, and to set the per diem for those officials, subject to a limit.” PROPOSITION NO. 7 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 6 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow the board of trustees of each statewide public retirement system to invest the funds of the system in such manner as the board considers prudent. The board would no longer be limited to investing the funds of the system in securities. The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to allow the board of trustees of a statewide public retirement sys tem to invest the funds of the system in a manner that the board considers prudent.” PROPOSITION NO. 8 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 21 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would permit the legislature to create debt by or on behalf of the state if the legislature submitted the debt question to the voters of the state in the form of a proposi tion and a majority of those voting approved the proposition. The legis lature may call the election, by joint resolution approved by at least two- thirds of the members of each house, during any regular session or dur ing any special session if the subject of the proposition is included in the Governor’s proclamation for that special session. A proposition must clearly describe the amount and pur pose for which debt is to be created and must describe the source of pay ment for the debt. The amount of debt stated in the proposition may not be exceeded and may not he re newed unless the right to exceed or renew is stated in the proposition. The legislature may enact laws necessary to implement the authority granted by a proposition. A law en acted in anticipation of the election on a proposition is valid if, by its terms, it is enacted subject to ap proval of the related proposition. State debt that is created following voter approval of a proposition and that is approved by the Attorney General is incontestable for any reason. PROPOSITION NO. 9 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 11 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would authorize the commis sioner of the General Land Office to issue patents for certain public free school fund land for which there is not a valid transfer of title from either the State or the Republic of Texas to a private party. A patent is a document of title issued by the state. On application to the School Land Board, a person is entitled to receive a patent if: (1) the land is surveyed public free school fund land, (2) the land was not patentable under the law before the adoption of this proposed amendment, (3) the person acquired the land without knowledge of the title defect out of the State of Texas or the Republic of Texas and held the land under color of title, the chain of which dates from at least January 1, 1941, (4) the person has a recorded deed on file in the county courthouse and, in conjunction with his prede cessor in interest, has claimed the land for at least fifty years as of January 1, 1991. and (5) the per son, in conjunction with his prede cessor in interest, for at least 50 years has paid taxes on the land together with all interest and pen alties associated with any delin quency. If the applicant is denied a patent, the apnlicant may file suit against the School Land Board in a district court in the county where the land is located within 60 days from the date of denial. The pro posed amendment does not apply to beach land, submerged land, or islands, and may not be used to resolve a boundary dispute. The pro posed amendment also does not apply to land found by a court to be state- owned or to land on which the state has given a mineral lease that is in effect when a patent is sought. A patent under this proposed amend ment for land within five miles of mineral production shall reserve minerals to the state in the manner provided bv law for reservations of minerals in sales to claimants of un surveyed school land within five miles of production. An application for a patent under this proposed amendment must be filed with the School Land Board before January 1, 1993. This proposed copstitutional amendment is similar to the version of article VII. section 4A, that was in effect between 1981 and 1990. The main difference is that under the earlier version the applicant for a patent to land had to have a chain of title that dated back to at least as early as January 1, 1932. The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the commissioner of the General Land Office to issue patents for certain public free school fund land held in good faith under color of title for at least 50 years.” PROPOSITION NO. 10 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 15 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to pass general laws to exempt proper ty owned by a nonprofit corporation organized to supply water or pro vide wastewater service from ad valorem taxation. A nonprofit cor poration would be eligible for the exemption if its bylaws provide that on dissolution, the assets remaining after the discharge of the corpora tion’s indebtedness will be trans ferred to an entity providing water supply or wastewater service, or both, which is exempt from ad valorem taxation. The transferred assets must be property that is rea sonably necessary for and used for water supply and wastewater ser vices. The proposed amendment will he described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the voters of this state to consider state debt questions in the form of ballot propositions that must clearly describe the amounts, purposes, and sources of payment of the debt only after approval of the propositions by a two-thirds vote of each house of the legislature.” The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to ex empt from ad valorem taxes cer tain property of a nonprofit corporation that supplies water or provides wastewater service.” dissident leader Wednesday a:- President Zviad Gamsakhurj urged his supporters to rid tht:" public of forces trying to unsc him. Georgi Haindrava, 32, a fare filmmaker who fought along;: Gamsakhurdia for Georgianm pendence, was seized afterir: night on Rustaveli Avenue,a; of political rallies the pastti weeks. Hours later, police abandon efforts to remove heavy conoi blocks that form one of tv: makeshift barriers defended young protesters across thewi street. I ir hors he PROPOSITION NO. 11 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 8 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to pass laws to authorize the State of Texas to operate lotteries and to enter into a contract with one or more legal entities that will operate lotteries on behalf of the State of Texas. nary T< About 100 police militiair ||, \ 01 showed up with a crane/ 5 0 1 protesters climbed on the an hours until the officers left. Haindrava, 32, is best knc> layoff < hiq Horn mnfpirv ahnnt r ' . ^ mobile ' d s,0 ° d P eace J u ">' l 0 '*' Spends *nrQ nnti fnn offin^rc: pH f The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing a state lottery.” PROPOSITION NO. 12 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 34 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would increase the total amount of bonds that may be issued by the Texas Water Development Board to provide wholesale and retail water and wastewater facilities to eco nomically distressed areas of the state. The proposed amendment in creases the maximum principal amount of the bonds from 20 per cent to 50 percent of the $500 million amqunt authorized by article III, section 49-d-7, of the Texas Constitu tion. The proposed amendment would increase the maximum aggregate dollar amount of bonds that the Texas Water Development Board could issue from $100 million to $250 million. for his documentary abouta April 9, 1989, pro-independer; rally in Tbilisi in which Sov- troops killed 20 people with she els and gas. The incident caused a fur; raised doubts about Soviet Pif dent Mikhail S. Gorbachev'sp claimed policy against usingfer 1 to stifle dissent and brought mr Georgians into the battle for ini pendence. Haindrava was held on; three-day preliminary detent* order. Georgi Chanturia, thefi; tional Democratic Party leadt was arrested 24 hours earliert der the same decree, according party spokesman Guram Chi vadze. Chanturia's wife, Irina & ishvili, was detained with him- ter the Aeroflot flight to Mosco they were on was turned aroiffi after takeoff. A third party offio; Vakthang Talahadze, was i; leased without explanation Tue day. Aft Cedar for del night We tendar weeks, the tra leg. H pain ir in pair Toi To! coi The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: The of recor “The constitutional amendment to increase from 20 percent to 60 percent the percentage of Texas water development bonds previ ously authorized by Texas voters that may be issued for economical ly distressed areas.” PROPOSITION NO. 13 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 2 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to pass general laws authorizing Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or its successor to issue and sell up ,to $300 million of general obligation bonds to finance educa tion loans to students. The maximum net effective interest rate to be borne by the bonds would be set by law. The amendment would also authorize the legislature to provide for the investment of bond proceeds and to establish an interest and sinking fund to pay the bonds and provide for the investment of such fund. Bonds authorized under this amendment would be paid from the first money coming into the treasury in each fiscal year that is not other wise appropriated by the constitu tion, less any amount in an interest and sinking fund established at the end of the preceding year that is pledged to the payment of the bonds or interests. The Tol Haindrava belongs to theN: Sticks at tional Congress, which links Geffen number of parties. Chahvad; said the government sought toil plicate Haindrava to a Sept. 2rt ly in which Georgian Intern being u Ministry troops wounded lift Bones. |structio: it times The From Pagt throu gb present based foods that have been left: 1988, fo refrigerated (such as: dairy pro: lems. ucts, potato and chicken salacf The sausage, ham, chicken gravy), selves. * During preparation of 0 been he cooked meat and poultry, tht a vehicl Tips oughly clean all utensils and surfaces before use with otl foods or ready to eat items. * Avoid partially cooked mf<| or poultry' stuffing. * When traveling in foreij countries, drink only bottled wal or bottled drinks, eat only fmi and vegetables that you peel have been thoroughly cooked avoid sidewalk stands and avci The proposed amendment will be described on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of gen eral obligation bonds not to exceed $300,000,000 to continue existing programs to provide educational loans to students, with repayments of student loans applied toward retirement of the bonds.” Estos son los informes explana- torios sobre las enmiendas propu- estas a la constitucion que apara- cerdn en la boleta el dia 5 de noviembre de 1991. Si rested no ha recibido una copia de los informes en espanol, podrd obtener una gratis por llamar al 1/800/252/868S o por escribir al Secretario de Estado, P.O. Box 12060, Austin, Texas 78711. Published by the office of the Secretary of State of Texas Care of mild attacks of dixK rhea at home includes gettii? plenty of rest, with minimal actKi ty. Let your stomach restforfon to six hours. Consider a pit scribed dosage of kaolin-pecK compound from any drugstore Get plenty of fluids. Then stf with foods in a light bland dii (hard cooked/boiled egg, ripe hi nana, dry toast, strained orantj juice, plain gelatin broth/bulM cube or weak tea). This information on gastroi' testinal upsets is offered as a eral guide. Discuss your oi*’ health history or medical coni] tion with your physician. Come the health center or call 845-1 for an appointment, if yourdi;" rhea is so severe that you m»j stay within reach of the toilet, you have persistent abdomirt pain, if unable to retain clearfl« ids, or if vomiting or diarrhea coJ tinue more than 24 hours or occ* more than three times an ho« ! ! Also return immediately ifbli is in the vomitus or stools, ori ( urination for more than e$ hours. If you have questions, died with your physician for properi agnosis and treatment to be safe. The I fc