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Show THE DAILY Page Eight Consumer Credit Conference Panelist: Fair Credit Billing Act" Credit Sales Manager The Addis Company Syracuse, New York The audience will participate in a question and answer period following panelists. All delegates and guests will cap the opening days session with the annual reception sponsored by Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company. The International Consumer Credit Conference is open to ICCA and CW--1 members only. Interested persons or firms may contact the Credit Bureau, Felt Bldg., Salt Lake City, regarding membership qualifying you for attendance. 3 Lawyers Hit - CHICAGO (ACCN) detention of individuals Pre-tri- Preventive Detention al charged with certain crimes, as provided in the new District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act, may do society more harm than good through erroneous confinement of many who should be freed on bail, according to three lawyers writing in the upcoming June issue of the American Bar Association Journal. The three point out that the District of Columbia act, if constitutional, could have national implications if the states use it as a model for their own legislation. ImIn an article entitled Judicial Hunch, prisonment by Alan M. Dershowitz, a law professor at Harvard University, says the statutes wording is vague and ambiguous enough to allow wide interpretation. The law authorizes the detention of defendants charged with certain crimes when this is considered necessary "to assure the safety of any person or the community. Professor Dershowitz states that the law might be used to hamper the activities of political activists. The statute could be applied to anticipated crimes of speech, advocacy and political organization, he says. These are the traditional crimes against the community. As this more restrictive legislation went into effect in the United States, France liberalized its criminal justice system in which preventive detention was the rule for well over a century. "The French Experience with Preventive Detention is the subject of another article in the June issue of the ABA Journal. Authors W. Laurence Craig, a partner in an international law firm in Paris, and William A. Dobrovir, a Washington, D.C. lawyer, warn: "French experience illustrates that in a system in which preventive detention may lawfully be imposed, in fact no legal safeguards will keep it from being regularly imposed. As an alternative to preventive WASHINGTON (UPI) The State Department has denied detention, Deshowitz urges that defendants be granted speedier reports that the U.S. government is within 60 days of pressuring Japan to revalue its trials, preferably their arrest. "Only after we have currency. tried to determine whether that Department spokesman Charles could be done and whether it would Bray told newsmen May 25 these effect on the have a reports are absolutely without reduction significant we conof should crime foundation of any kind. of sider radical the surgery Bray said he had seen cables he detention, says. preventive containing the transcript of remarks In France, according to Craig and made in Japan by Philip Trezise, Dobrovir, nearly 50 per cent of those assistant secretary of state for of crimes have been accused economic affairs, "and he confirms detained in jail before trial, making my denial. of the entire prison Bray was asked if Trezise had not, up Of these, some 15 per in fact, discussed revaluation with population. to a prison sentenced the Japanese government without cent are not term upon trial. actually proposing it. Craig and Dobrovir state that Bray said that Trezise had had U.S. Spokesman Denies Putting Heat On Yen two-fift- wide-rangin- g discussions with Japanese officials during his visit but said, I dont want to give further impetus to a story that is without foundation. Reports from Tokyo had stated that the United States requested Japan to revalue its yen currency upward to help break gloomy economic relations between the two countries. The Japanese government said the American request was made by Trezise, who is in Tokyo for the 13th planning meeting of U.S. and Japanese diplomats. Trezise, the sources said, stressed that the Japanese currency is undervalued. The Japanese currency maintains its parity of 360 yen to one dollar set under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1949. The sources said the government has been placed in a dilemma by the American request. The immediate effect of revaluation upward would be to raise prices for Japanese products abroad. The purported American request came while the Japanese government was taking pains in mapping out steps to stave off other pressures from abroad for a yen revaluation. In asking Japan to revalue its currency, Trezise stressed, the Tokyo reports said, that the United States has no intention of devaluing the dollar as a step to help solve the international monetary crisis started with speculations on the West German marks. hs widespread publicity concerning preventive detention abuses helped stir up enough public opinion to bring about reform Lawmakers In New York Back Off Drug Bill - The State ALBANY, N.Y. (UPI) Assembly has closed the door on prospects for liberalizing the marijuana laws this session by narrowly rejecting Gov. Nelson A. Rockefellers proposal to soften penalties against the drug. The bill, sponsored by Assema Chester Hardt, blyman from fell Williamsville, Republican two votes short of passage, at May 24. He then sent the bill back to committee. Through a week of quiet lobbying, Hardt picked up about one dozen votes from an earlier rejection of the but other changes from bill, to "No "Yes doomed the measure. The key part of the bill would have lowered the maximum penalty for possession of less than a quarter ounce, or about 12 cigarettes, from one year to three months in jail. Another feature would have allowed judges to put first offenders on probation for one year. At the end of the time, charges could be dropped and the records sealed. 74-7- 65-7- 9, D 5, MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1971 Nader Image End State Senate Oregon Passes Widely Known, Poll Finds Approval of Judges Law To Require - SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) The California poll has released a survey that showed most Californians know HUGH M. MARTIN, CCCE NOTE: RCOR who consumer advocate Ralph Nader is, but do not think he should run for public office. The poll found that 93 per cent of the public recognized Nader's name. "This recognition factor is very high, a spokesman for the poll said. Few celebrities who have been in the public view for a long time achieve this high of Soledad Acquitted in Guard Slaying CALIF. 7 appointments other than ap- pointments to the Supreme Court. Senatorial Courtesy Referring to the use of "senatorial courtesy and other tactics used at time in the Senate to block or delay judicial appointments, Weintraub said, "Some members of the Senate are reading the Constitution backwards and they think they have the power to appoint. The responsibility for judicial should be conappointments he said, whereas the centrated, present system of confirmation by the Senate of the Governors appointments to the bench merely results in a diffusion of that responsibility. There is nothing we can do about it, he added. "The judicial branch is not the master of its own house. The Chief Justic spoke briefly about a number of problems in the administration of justice in New Jersey including calendar backlogs, and inadequate prosecutors, part-tim- e prisons, municipal court judges and the ever increasing volume of cases. He art-tim- - during cross examination was Thomas Prinson, a prison "snitch, who said falsely he saw one defendant running from a shack where the victims body was found. He changed his mind at the next court session, Saying he had hoped for a release because of his false testimony. Schull was one of 10 men killed in the racially-trouble- d prison during the last 18 months. self-style- d Bernard Chazen, of Jersey City, an Associate Editor of the New Jersey Law Journal was Conference Chairman. "If I had a choice," the Chief Justice said, I would rather see the Governor with the power to appoint without confirmation from anyone. However, in order to preserve the system of checks and balances, he suggested that the Supreme Court be empowered to confirm all judicial overcrowded A (UPI) on the Superior Court Judge, recommendation of the District Attorney, has acquitted the final three members of the "Soledad Seven, charged with killing a white prison guard. "I hope you feel that law enforcement did not break down even though you were unjustly accused, Judge J. F. Good said to the defendants when he dismissed the charges. Seven black men, who became known as the Soledad Seven, had been originally accused in the fatal stabbing of Soledad prison guard William C. Schull. But charges against four had been dismissed before the trial started at the request of District Attorney William D. Curtis, who said he could not find evidence to justify a conviction. Curtis again appeared in court May 27 to ask that charges be dropped against the remaining three because a prosecution witness admitted perjury. It has become apparent to me that the People's case can no longer be supported, Curtis said. Good said he could "only agree with your appraisal of the case so far as I have heard it. Good dismissed charges against Jesse Phillips, 19; James Wagner, 24; and Roosevelt Williams, 21 All had faced capital charges since they are serving life terms. Curtis said that when he took office he "realized the case against the remaining three was not the strongest in the world, but based on the information available at the time, and information up to the time of the trial, it appeared to me . . . that the trial should go forward. A witness who admitted perjury SALINAS, Citizens Conference on the Administration of Justice held here recently, Chief Justice Joseph Weinlraub said the practice of requiring the Stale Senates consent to the appointment of judges by the Governor should be abandoned as it has introduced and fostered the entry of politics into the appointment of judges, an area in which there is no room for politics. public awareness. The survey claimed 80 per cent of those had a "favorable impression of Nader and most said it is very favorable. Only 14 per cent felt Nader should run for office. The poll was conducted from April 26 to May 3 and was based on opinions of 534 persons. Of those interviewed, 171 identified themselves as Republicans and 287 as Democrats. The others were members of another party or had no political affiliations. One of the questions was: Do you see Ralph Nader more as a Republican or more as a Democrat? Thirty per cent thought of Nader as a Democrat and 12 per cent felt he was a Republican. Others said he was neither or else they came under the heading dont know. The poll also asked if Nader did enter politics, which office would he be suitable for. Only two per cent felt he would be suitable for President and only five per cent saw him as Governor. However, 38 per cent said he would be best as a Congressman w'hile 27 per cent saw him as a Senator. 3 N.J. (ACCN) -SNew Jersey the before peaking CHERRY HILL, e cautioned those attending the conference against trying to find and "easy solutions or cure-all- s answers lie the real that suggested in enough judges, getting prosecutors and counsel for both sides, and in such improvements in the system as merging the county courts into the Superior Court. Senate Leader Critical In a press conference the following day, Senate Majority Leader Raymond H. Bateman charged that the Chief Justice had "strayed way off the reservation in calling for an end to the Senate's power of "advice over judicial apand consent that the Chief Justice pointments; had by his statements intruded into the "political arena where he did not belong; and that his statements and suggestions had so antagonized many senators that any remote possibility that had existed for passage of the court merger bill was now non-existe- Sunday Work Objector Loses In High Court - WASHINGTON (UPI) The 4 on a tie Court June vote, Supreme 1, has affirmed a ruling against a worker firing him for refusing overtime work on Sundays because of his religious beliefs. The case concerned repairman Robert K. Dewey, who was fired in 1966 from his job at the Reynolds Metals Company. Plant in 4-- Wyoming, Mich. Dewey, a member of the Reformed Church of America, found a substitute for Sunday work a few times but eventually decided that even that violated his religious scruples. Dewey relied on a section of the 1964 Civil Rights Act which bars discrimination in employment on religious grounds. The Justice Department supof the ported him as a fri. r Bottle Deposits r An SALEM, ORE. (UPI) bill requiring a deposit on all anti-litte- bottles and beer and soft drink cans passed the Oregon Legislature Tuesday. The House agreed on a 52-- vote to accept the Senate version of the measure, which requires a nickel deposit on all cans and on all bottles except those of uniform size and shape which can be reused interchangeably by different beverage makers. The deposit on the uniform bottles will be two cents. The measure, which previously won the endorsement of Gov. Tom McCall, who must sign it, will be effective Oct. 1, 1972. It was proposed two years ago as a method of keeping cans and bottles off beaches and roadsides. The bill also prohibits the sale of pull tab cans. Can manufacturers strongly opposed the measure, arguing it could lead to unemployment, consumer inconvenience and higher prices for other canned goods. They said they were being singled out for punishment while an attack was needed on the whole solid waste disposal problem. 8 Bill Would Let 18-Year-O- lds Serve on Juries WASHINGTON - (UPI) at Sen. 36 the John Tunney, youngest member of the Senate, has prepared legislation to let olds serve on the federal juries. Tunney said Sens. Charles McC. and Philip A. Hart, Mathias, would join him as cosponsors of the measure. As the youngest member of the United States Senate, I take particular pride in authoring this legislation because I believe that it will bring to our newly enfranchised young citizens the full measure of the cherished American right to trial by ones peers, Tunney said in remarks prepared for introduction of the bill. Tunney said Congress had lowered the voting age to 18 in federal V. 18-ye- ar R-M- h., elections and had unanimously approved a Constitutional amendment to extend it to all elections. Now the Congress has the opportunity to act once more to guarantee to these young people the full measure of their rights as citizens and voters by extending to them the right to serve on federal juries," Tui.ney said. Federal Judges, Life Tenure End Sought - WASHINGTON (UPI) Sen. has Harry F. Byrd, Jr., proposed that lifetime tenure for federal judges be ended. Byrd offered a Constitutional amendment that would require Senate reconfirmation of judges every eight years. Federal judges are appointed for life. They are accountable to no one. It is time that we restored balance in the government by making federal judges more responsible to the people, Byrd said in a Senate speech. The amendment would not affect judges presently on the bench. But all new appointments would be subject to reappointment after eight years, and every eight years D-V- a., LOS ANGELES (UPI) -P- ublication of the first issue of Black Law Journal, a quarterly magazine created by black UCLA law students and professors, has been announced. The magazine hopes to become a national forum for a new breed of legal activist. Many of the problems black people face have a legal base, editor Barbara Williams told a news conference. When black people understand this they can push the laws that are in their best interests. |