North Carolina Newspapers

r i S3 - Chapel HiWs Morning Newspaper Chrpcl HI!!, North Carolina, Thursday, Jsnusry 16, 1975 Vol. 63, Mo. 81 Foundsd February 23, 1CS3 o I I i e ! i i economic restraint i proposed by Don Baer and Jim Buie - Staff Writers RALEIGH ' Fearing continued severe inflation and recession, Democratic leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly presented a six-point package Wednedsay to put the state on a course of fiscal restraint. Shortly after his formal election as president pro tern, Sen. John T. Henley, D Cumberland, presented plans by the Senate Majority Caucus for "conservative, sound and responsible action in handling the state's economy." Henley said the tentative proposals had the support of House Speaker James Green, D-Bladen. The establishment of a joint Senate-House economic watchdog committee headed the list of proposals contained in the report. Henley, a potential candidate for state lieutenant governor in 1976, said "the climate of economic uncertainty and deep concern made such a committee necessary. The committee will review current spending in the state, determine likely revenue for the next four years and recommend to the appropriations committees necessary action for keeping the economy stable. Henley said the committee "will look at unemployment compensation, at public service-employment programs and at the hard-hit industries of our state. It may recommend discontinuation of some current programs. The committee is to report by April I. Henley said the Seriate Commission on Revenue Laws would soon recommend elimination of inequities in the tax structure. This is the first time a legislative package separate from the Governor's proposals has been presented by the legislature's leaders. The unique situation of ; a Republican goyefrfdf ana s. General Assembly with 1 60 Democrat of 170 members prompteirthe''" i .move. , The proposals also deal with energy, integrity in government, consumer service and education. Henley, said the Senate will soon investigate the state's "extraordinary electrical rate increases" and the rate-making powers of the utilities commission. Creation of a state growth policy was proposed to deal with anticipated energy shortages. Calling effective government "a necessary ingredient to meeting the state's needs," Henley called for controls on the indiscriminant addition of people to state payrolls and for a permanent government operations committee. "Continued lawlessness in our state and nation," he said, is cause for legislation to expedite criminal trials and to improve the administration of justice. Legislative and executive ethics, lobbyist registration and fair campaign legislation are called for in the packlge. Henley also committed the leadership.to shortening the time between primary an general elections. Expanded medical personnel training programs are proposed, including the new four-year medical school at East Carolina University. X i 'i v - ' ' I I '1.1 . - ' M ' 1 -l X , i I .'-' I ' ? ' ' I I ' 1' y i -1 ' K I-' ' i- ' I , U 5 S ' 5 I - f X X f 5 i i W ? ' ' Y H U - I - V -K U h - ' - ! - - i ! fl i M ! : I V I : ' i 1 1- , ; I: f : v i, I 1 t i ; ' - s 1 I i - :i - t, ' ' I - yvsJ - , -, - - V 1 Stall on si fund. UPI N.C. Secretary of State Thad Eure passes gavel to House Speaker James C. Green Wednesday In Raleigh Key bills introduced in Assembly 1975 session coeveees by Don Baer and Jim Buie Staff Writers RALEIGH The North Carolina General Assembly convened Wednesday ready to work, but still bogged down in procedure. Several key bills were introduced in both houses on the first day, including abolition of the death penalty, reduction of the three per cent sales tax on food, repeal of the law allowing utilities to establish rates based on -projrte6sthaicre'ae"in the state minimum wage from $ 1 .80 to $2.00 per hour. Of particular importance to students was the introduction of legislation to change the primary date from the first Tuesday in May to the first Tuesday in August. Such a bill, if passed, would seriously weaken attempts to make the student vote a forceful bloc. Rep. Trish Hunt of Chapel Hill and H.M. Michaux of Durham plan to introduce a bill Monday to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A similar bill was defeated in the last session of the assembly. History was made in several ways Wednesday. The Democratic leadership presented an unprecedented six-point legislative package separate from the Governor's proposals. The Senate for the first time used an electronic voting machine that will make their votes quick and obvious. Legislation was introduced in the House Wednesday to provide similar machines. Action is already planned to restore the right-turn-on-red law for motorists. Both the House and the Senate are expected to approve the law today. Despite promising activity in Raleigh, the 4 assembly, as always, was immersed in tradition and procedure. The House took 40 minutes to elect Rep. James Green as speaker. He had been unofficially chosen for the office two years ago. Speeches praising each of the officers as "fine Christian gentlemen and "wonderful family men" were almost endless.' Senator Charles Vickery of Chapel Hill was assigned to committees on higher education, appropriations, natural and economic . resources, Courts and judicial districts, and jtrdrctary;?; .v , Sen. Russell Walker of Asheboro was assigned to committees on education, finance, human resources, local government and regional affairs, manufacturing, labor and commerce, and public utilities and energy. . Representatives Trish Hunt and Ed Holmes will learn of. their assignments Monday. The assembly prepared to invite Gov. James Holshouser to deliver his State of the State address at its Monday session at 7:30 by Mike FelnsIIber United Press International WASHINGTON Telling Congress he had "bad news, President Ford Wednesday called for new taxes to add $30 billion to the cost of fuel and for a permanent cut in income tax rates of 516.5 billion for individuals and $6 billion for corporations. Delivering his first State of the Union address in the House chamber where he served for 25 years. Ford outlined a program which puts aside the fight on inflation to concentrate on overcoming recession and ending the country's dependence on foreign oil by 1985. "I want to speak very bluntly," Ford said. "I've got bad news, and I don't expect much if any applause." Applause interrupted him only about a dozen times. Ford called for actions which would add two per cent to the cost of living in this and subsequent years and add at least 10 cents to the price of gasoline. All told, Ford's program would . add additional taxes of $30 billion to fuel to be passed along to the consumers. Ford said the government would pump the $30 billion back into the economy to help combat the most serious economic downturn since World War II. To restore buying power, he proposed a reduction in tax rates for low- and middle income taxpayers, payments of $80 each for poor adults and tax relief to businesses which expand or modernize and to homeowners who insulate or install storm windows. He asked, too, for a moratorium on new social spending and standby authority to ration gasoline. And he asked Congress to reduce to five per cent the 1 2 per cent cost of living increase in benefits which is to be paid to 30 million recipients of Social Security. Atop the 12 per cent rebate on taxes due for 1974 earnings, which he proposed Monday night in a speech. frornJhe uWhite., a permanent cut house. Ford called for averaging 12.6 per cent. It would give a family of four with $10,000 in taxable income a reduction of $349 in federal income taxes. The reduction would be smaller for families with higher or lower earnings. Ford emphasized that the economy faces tough going. "I must say to you that the state of the union is not good," he said. "The emphasis of our economic efforts must now shift from inflation to jobs." he said. He asked Congress to seize "an historic opportunity" and make it "one of the great creative moments of our history." But Democrats expressed skepticism about many of Ford's proposals, especially his plan to 'restrict consumption of fuel through a drastic increase in price. Generally', they welcomed the proposal to cut taxes but called it too generous to the rich. Conservatives in Ford's Republican party expressed grave misgivings about the projected deficit of $75 billion in the current and next' fiscal years. Ford said his energy plan would "make us invulnerable to cutoffs of foreign oil. "It will require sacrifices," he said. "But it will work." Democrats denounce Ford plan Students vote to determine CGCs future next Tuesday by Jim Roberts Staff Writer Students will go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to keep the - Campus Governing Council (CGC) or revert back to the old Student Legislature (SL). , The referendum will ask students to reapprove the current student constitution, first passed in Nov. 1972. -The major difference between the present constitution and the preceding one is in the legislative section of the constitution. The CGC replaced the Student Legislature in March, 1973, as a part of the new constitution. Also provided in the constitution was a referendum to be held two years after it went into effect. If two-thirds of the students referendum turn voting in Tuesday's down the present constitution, the previous one will take its place, and the Student Legislature will replace CGC. Hinging on approval of the new Student Legislature are several constitutional amendments approved by the student body in recent referenda. If the constitution does not pass amendments such as judicial reform and the Publications Board by-laws will be void. The main difference between SL and CGC is the size of the two groups. Student Legislature contained 45 to 55 members in multi-member districts whereas CGC has 20 representatives in single-member districts. The large size . of Student Legislature TTT combined with its strict adherance to .parliamentary procedure often led to confusing and Cumbersome operation. Ben Steelman, CGC rules committee chairman, said, "The legislature was so big, everyone was shooting off their mouths all the time. It was impossible to get any work done." Minority representation in CGC is insured by , the Student Constitution. Two blacks, two women and two men must be on the council at all times. If the new constitution is disapproved, CGC will have about one month to devise new districts for the election of Student Legislature representatives. Those representatives will have to be elected during the Feb. 26 general election. by Steve Gerstel United Press International WASHINGTON Assistant Senate Democratic leader Robert C. Byrd, joined ihy , GOP.,, conservatives, Wednesday denounced President Ford for advocating the biggest peacetime deficits in history. Byrd bluntly called Ford's economic proposals "surrender to inflation" and Sen. James L. Buckley, R-N.Y., added it would feed inflation. Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, R-Ariz., said "tax cuts, in my opinion, are not going to save the economy" and blamed the nation's plight oh excessive federal spending. The twin attacks from the increasingly influential Democratic whip and spokesman for Republican conservatives could signal trouble for parts of Ford's program. George Meaney said President Ford's economic proposals will neither beat the. recession nor get Americans back. to work, and pledged the AFL-CIO would fight the program in Congress. But Sen. Jacob K.Javits, R-N.Y.,--a leading Republican liberal, called Ford's proposed tax cut ,"a sound economic measure." He added, however, that the tax rebate should be limited to those earning $23,000 a year or less. Javits also said he did not thing higher -gasoline prices would discourage consumption. He called for some form of rationing or allocation. r , I V ' ' ' : ' X "1 - O A A Tl mm moBBj n 6 TD) otoertt mow f 4 j i Steve Neal and Robert Morgan Photo by NmIHW -two North Carolinians new to Washington by Sandra Millers Staff Writer , WASHINGTON It was a red, white and blue day in -Washington. - ' Flags snapped against a clear sky as icy winds whipped over Capitol Hill and around the corners of the Congressional office buildings. Inside, a peculiar sort of electricity crackled through the air. The corridors surrounding the legislative chambers bristled with activity as Congressmen criss-crossed through the halls, often stopping to greet old friends-and colleagues with hearty handshakes. Around them, families and supporters of freshmen ' legislators, members of the press and dozens of curious onlookers thronged into the chamber galleries to witness the opening of the 94th United States Congress. It was Tuesday, January 14, 1975. The ceremonies began promptly at noon. Senators and representatives were sworn in quickly in groups of four and five. And suddenly the crowds spilled back out into the corridors again. And so it was for many. Familiar faces flashed by the Capitol office of Vice President Rockefeller. Kennedy, Montoya, Humphrey, Muskie, Weiker, Bibicoff. And Jesse Helms. CBS newsman Roger Mudd circled the room with a speculative eye and then walked out. There were a few faces conspicuously absent. Hughes. Fullbright. Ervin. And a few ' faces just as conspicuously new. 1972 McGovern campaign manager Gary Hart of Colorado. Former astronaut John Glenn of Ohio. And the new junior senator from North Carolina, former Attorney General Robert Morgan. From all appearances, the man known for years in the North Carolina Senate as "Little Bobby" seemed to be breaking into the frantic Capitol Hill scene in a big way. "It's Robert now," N.C. Congressman Richardson Preyer informed two inquisitive visitors. "He's a good asset," Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield said. "I'm glad he's up here, and I expect great things of him. I'm sure he'll find Sam Ervin's shoes hard to fill, but in time he'll adjust to them." Deep in the recesses of the Dirksen office building, the shingle on the door of Ervin's old five-room suite announced the change. "Mr. Morgan, North Carolina." Outside the dimly-lit marble halls were cluttered with furniture and filing cabinets caught in the shuffle of a Congressional moving day. The sign on the door of Ervin's former office is temporary. As soon as the shuffle is over, Morgan and his staff will be assigned to new quarters. But for the time being, it was still North Carolina soil and all Robert Morgan's. Bundles of red, white and blue carnations punctuated the austere mahogany monotony of the rooms. A constant stream of campaign supporters, wandered in and out of the office. Some signed the guest register a yellow legal pad. "Senator Helms called late this morning," announced an office worker. He asked if the Senator had left for the chambers yet and did he know he was supposed to be there at twelve?" She shook her head in disbelief. Soon the clock in Ervin's old office read a quarter to three. Staff members and others began moving out toward the formal reception beginning in the Capitol building. Potted ferns towered in clumps around the cavernous room once filled with tense witnesses and spectators during the Senate Watergate hearings. A drooping American flag was pushed into a corner. The room was already crowded when Morgan and his wife arrived. The Morgan daughters, Mary and Margaret, stood beside them wearing identical short-cropped haircuts, red, white and blue dresses, patent leather shoes and greeting each guest with identical practiced smiles and polished "Nice to meet y'ou"s. . . "I'm proud of him," 13-year-old Margaret Morgan said about her father. "I'm real excited." Most of the North Carolina Congressmen, including Richardson Preyer and freshman representatives Bill Hefner and Steve Neal, stopped by to offer their congratulations. A group of military brass stood chatting over lemonade and Ritz crackers. Two black ministers circulated around the room together. And the Senators dropped in, too. "I just came by to wish you well," George McGovern said as he started down the receiving line. "Senator, thank you for coming," Morgan responded. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri and former Senator Harold Hughes of Iowa greeted the Morgans briefly before moving on to other receptions. The other guests threaded their way through the room, down the table of hors d oeuvres and back onto the floor, engaging themselves in a continuing stream of conversation. "I feel like North Carolina will have more progressive leadership in the Senate because of Robert Morgan," said Wilbur Hobby, president of North Carolina's AFL-CIO. "1 think he'll make his mark in consumer protection and with his constituents." "It's very fitting that he should be here." N.C. Attorney General Rufus Edmisten commented. "He ran the justice department with fairness, and he'll do a great job here." "Of course I had a sad feeling today when I looked out over the Senate and Senator Ervin wasn't there," Edmisten. who spent ten years as Ervin's legal assistant said. Morgan's foster son Rupert Tart, a junior political science major at East Carolina University, talked about the Morgan family. "Mama Katie and the girls will probably stay in Lillington until school's out, but they're looking very much forward to moving to Washington." Most Morgan campaign workers who did become staff members will be located in Raleigh instead of Washington, a rather innovative set-up by Washington standards. "It's different," admitted Carroll Leggett, Morgan's administrative assistant and right-hand man. "Our prototype is the staff of Senator Lawton Childs of Florida. Really at this point it's difficult to tell, but we think it will work out very well for us. It's important that people feel they can get to their legislators." "It's been, of course, very exciting and very awesome to take on such responsibility," the new Senator told reporters, freed from his position on the wilting reception line. "I was impressed with the way the Senate got right down to work. It's certainly not going to be any playhouse up here."