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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle, Wednesday, January Page Four 11, 1973 OTfQriQ kirk Better for Hansen to down step More than a year ago, the Daily Utah Chronicle called for Robert Hansen to step down as Utah's A n ew worm er for aged An General. Given the end: controlling the increasingly feisty and increasingly growing-num- ber of those old folks. According to an Associated Press story, the first pair of electric pants was invented recently by a pair of British school boys in Crediton, England. They said they designed the pants after an elderly local woman died of controversy surrounding Hansen for which he has not given reasonable explanation. In Novembei, in-la- w t The reasons for developing electric pants into a device of senior citizen control are twofold: first, the number of people over 65 is increasing every year, and second, nobody wants them around, or at least nobody wants to be bothered by them. And certainly, everybody knows old people become quieted and thus less bothersome when they are warmed 0 so i to same effect of rubbing a cat's belly, the old boy would relax and take what was given him. Governor Matheson could probably use such a device this week, what with the legislature convening. The unsuspecting representatives would be issued the trousers with the rest odd-lookin- g of their legislative packets when they entered the capitol building and advised to plug them into the special sockets provided at each desk. No doubt, few questions would be asked about the state budget the only sound to be heard in the rotunda would be the soft murmur of the womb and an occasional sigh. At the end of the session, the governor's assistants would simply walk through the floor unplugging the legislators and ushering them to the door, all necessary legislation having been accomp-lishd- . Ethically, the idea is completely defensible. Electric pants (that. incidentally, operate on only two cents a day), are a muc h kinder alternative for all of us than hearing and seeing the old farts complaining about discrimination or other such silliness. the Actually, some old lady protested that she had been shortchanged, the manager would press a button and out would pop two guards who would force the pants on and plug them in. When she was sufficiently calmed, the trousers would be removed and she would be allowed to leave. Of course, the obvious use in rest homes as a means of keeping the patients soothed and satiated would be the first to be explored. No more would cackling, bitchy old ladies bother the nurses or anyone else. They would be quieted in a most humane way, don't you think? After all, humanity is the name of the game. Jonathan Clark Business Manager Steve Johnson Advertising Manager Nancy Etheridgf News Editor Rick Hall Editor in Chief Jeff Howrev Assoc late Editor Kirk Johnson Editorial Editor Martha Wickelhaus Molly Fowler Assistant EntetLunmenl Editor Joseph Brockmeyer News Editor Jim Smedley Sports Editor Copy Editor Diane Jill Cook Assistant Copy Editors Colleen Reichert feature Editot Julie Harmon layout Ediior , Bob Bauer Photography Editor Lisa Miehele Hum 1 ir Gardner Senior Reporteis womb sounds eminating from a hidden speaker in the lining, few old people would be willing to put up a fuss about the way they were being treated. If an old codger got uppity enough to ask what happened to the thousands of dollars he had paid into social security for the past 30 years, the fed boys could on the electric simply slip - ( preset With the pants PHOTOGRAPHERS: Bob Bauer, Chuck Kuireski, John Watson. C ARIOOMSIS Galen Von. Bill Nichols opinions expressed on tne editorial page of the Daily I 'lah C.h'onu If do not necessarily represent the views of the sliidentbocjy or the I'niversity administration. Published daily during fall, winter and spring quarters Inol in hiding lest week or quarter breaks) by Publications C)unt il of ihe I'niversity of I'tah Subscriptions $20 a year tint hiding summer quarter), $6 an academic quarter All subscriptions rust be prepaid. Two weeks notice for change of address. Forward all subscription correspondent to: Subscription Manager. Dairy f lah Chronulr, I'nion Building. I'niversity of t'tah. letters to the editor must be typed and doublespat ed on a 74 spate line. Letters of 200 words or less w ill be given priority Address letters to "Inters to the Editor." The Chrunn has ty pewriters available for soul use. We reserve the right to edit for libel, priority- and space. 1 he (10 I CWSSev A ROtffcOVV. 1H6 ATtAjOTfC PLV NO AIRPLAY l 60 J 10CK A To m HOX). fo trip $0 1 17YV i I AT Ctm80)R( AUP IKVm: "A -- m AUAJ07TC CKg5 I0 A ROU)B0AT. i on? tie TMUtT; A FRAOP FRAOP HAS 1m wcou. ADP low (jOCRU? A F&W! Sarah Woodhead 50 AT 50,000 FeeT TH006HT: 'A FRAUC? (S FtVlUS AD AIPPIAU5." pacifier-pant- s would work in a host of situations. For example, retailers could arm their security guards with them; if BCHRDNO-- E and satiated. Electric pants could become the opiate of the old, thus freeing the rest of us from the trouble of fiddling with them. With not a great deal of modification, some wily scientist could probably convert electric: pants to work like a pacifier for old people. With a soothing pair of electric pants on, perhaps with the additional feature of 4 mutf subnormal hypothermia body tempera tun in then town. The pants, patterned after the electric blanket, feature an electric clement fitted into the lining arid a lead win-thaplugs into an outlet. 4 1 invention with the purported purpose of keeping old people warm was announced this week. However, the device may turn out to have a greater 1976, then information revealed about Hansen Chronicle Associate Lditor Andrew since that time and especially in Welch reported in the Chronicle that light of recent recommendations by Hansen allegedly arranged for two the Utah State Bar the Chronicle bar exam scoies to be (hanged again calls for Hansen to step down. resulting in the passage, rather than Though the Chronicle does not failure, of Hansen's daughtei- seek to position itself as judge and and law clerk. Earlier, Welch had jury for Utah's highest legal official, reported that the U.S. Justice it is obvious that several things make Department was considering it nearly impossible for Hansen to investigating irregularities serve the people of Utah effectively. surrounding the bar exam. is the Hansen reportedly told a tele isoin First, and foremost, recommendation by the Utah State news reporter and the Associated Bar that Hansen be barred from legal Press that he was willing to take a practice for one year. The bar's polygraph test to prove he was not decision was based on the involved in the bar exam problem. Disciplinary Committee's hearings He refused, however, to take the test last November which dealt with when it was later arranged by the complaints against Hansen brought Chronicle. An apparent offshoot of this is by former clients. Four counts of were ethical violations brought Hansen's difficulty in working with against Hansen and the bar the Salt Lake media. Not only did committee found violations in three Hansen black list (refuse to talk to) of them. Welch (then working for KTVX-Should the Utah Supreme Court news), he also put KTVX-- uporter AM agree with the bar and suspend Tim Wieler and KSXX-63in Hansen what for several one year, Hansen legal reporter Dan Tyler be called the "penalty box." In other would have to problems resolved the foremost being words, he refused to talk to them for a whether Hansen could remain in certain period of time. office as attorney general. Hansen An attorney general or any no he of said has course, has, public official cannot expect the intention of resigning. But state law people's trust if he is not fair, open requires the attorney to perform legal and frank with the media. duties such as to "give an opinion," Hansen, pointing to his 18 years as of in and behalf "institute a private attorney with an prosecute the state" and "assist any district or "unblemished record" and asserting county attorney in the discharge of that he has not been charged with any his duties," all of which require an wrongdoing since becoming attorney. attorney general, said he will fight Utahns are not being adequately the bar's recommendation served unless an attorney who can "vigorously." For himself, and the people of legally practice in the state is for them. such things performing Utah, it would be much better for of Hansen to simply step down. Secondly, there are other areas Attorney johnson |