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Show the Deseret News, Salt Editorial Page of OUR OPINION IN Lake City, Utah NEWS, FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1973 DESERET A5 Let's take mass transit off its starvation diet yesterdays refusal by the Representatives to divert money from highways to mass transit. Americans have not yet heard the last of this Despite House of issue. Not when supporters of better bus and-comuter train service have refused to be discouraged by three previous congressional rebuffs and promise to keep working for improved mass transit. Not when abandoning private passenger cars in favor of buses and trains remains a major answer to the growing shortage of gasoline. Not when American commuters find themselves caught in a vicious cycle and can see no better way out than to upgrade mass transit service. eral dollars but only two federal dollars for every state or local dollar spent to develop buses and subways. As a result, the highway system grows fat while mass transit goes begging. The cost of the present lopsided commitment to highways can be measured in growing air and noise pollution . . in the encroachment of asphalt on park and recreation areas the central-city ... in deterioration of ... and in suburban sprawl. At the same time, traffic congestion keeps getting worse. If Congress won't go along with diverting money for mass transit from the $6 billion-a-yea- r Highway Trust Fund, then how about setting up a separate trust fund for mass transit? Each year more roads are built because more people buy cars. Then more cars are built and sold because the roads are available and other ways of getting around on the ground are not. For this imbalance the federal government bears much of the blame; consequently, IVasnington also bears much of the responsibility for correcting the situation. A separate trust fund for mass transit probably would have to be financed from gasoline taxes. That means motorists would still be subsidizing bus riders, which was one of the objections to dipping into the highway fund. But its a weak objection, since highway users stand to benefit when highways become lesu congested and safer through the diversion of more traffic to buses and trains. For each state or local dollar spent Regardless of how it's accomplished, Americas mass transit systems must be taken off their starvation diets. on highways, Uncle Sam will put up nine fed Register voters by mail? For a variety of reasons, too many citizens do not vote. One reason is that they do not register, and they do not register because registration places are hard to find, hours are limited, registrars are not always helpful, and there may be long lines. There is also the problem of voter apathy. To get more citizens to register to vote, a bill has been introduced in the U. S. Senate that would register citizens by mail through creation of a Voter Registration Administration. Voter registration cards would be mailed to every eligible voter in the country. The cards would be returned to the appropriate state or local registration office which would process the cards and bill the federal government for the costs. While the intent to stimulate voter turnout is worthwhile, the measure would interferwith local and state political party- - That question is being raised as Idaho Frank Churchs Senate Foreign rela- Sen. tions subcommittee on multinational corporations digs into International Telephone and Telegraph Co.s controversial activities in Chile. As an object lesson in how an American company should conduct itself in a foreign country, U.S. firms would do well to study the example of First National City Bank of New York. Among its operating principles are these: We must never lose sight of the fact that we are guests in foreign countries. We must conduct ourselves accordingly. We recognize the right of governments to pass local legislation, and our obligation to conform. Under these circumstances, we also recognize that we can survive only if we By Nick Thimmesch Some WASHINGTON federal programs can resist - and anything everybody, including that great program-stompe- Richard r, Nixon, President of the U.S.A. I almost knew that the impacted school-aipromarked for the fire gram would survive this spring, along with the crab grass. Alas, both are with us, M. around 22 years, has grown to the point where every state has benefited districts and currently totals $507 million. Its original purpose was to school districts compensate of which had enrollments children whose parents lived and worked on military bases and therefore paid no property taxes, hence, did not help pay for the school system. The concept was broadened to include any government installation, and thio kind of aid became known as category A impacted school aid. Who can complain about it? A merely makes up for Students turn to books again But national registration through the mails? That could lead to compuslsory registration, which could lead to compulsory voting, and that is the last thing free Americans want or need. By Paul Harvey Last summer added up. is in and College and university students grade averages are up. Misbehavior is minimal. Just a few months ago campuses were torn and as students and bleeding some faculty demanded all sorts of reforms. Now they have reformed. Students are scholars again? The American Council on Educations survey of 527 colconleges and universities firms political opinions are This year they want classical music, conservative speakers guess-mon- ster and nostalgic I movies. Booking agent Lucy Lapage Carlton Royce says, There seems to be a swing toward cultural things Agent Alison Vogel of Ilurok says the trend toward is culture and conservatism obvious. of that's not all: Campus which turned newspapers radical in the sixties are going straight. And President Nixon, it seems, has found out how to get his Soviet trade policies around Senator Henry Jackson of Washington. The Senator has blocking the grant of been treatment to the Soviet Union and the opening of U.S. government credits for Soviet purchases m the U.S. He has insisted that the' Kremlin must first allow free emigration for .lews. But now the biggest-eve- r trade deal between Ameri- cans and the Soviet Union is on a straight barter basis. No U.S. government credits are needed. It doesnt matter whether Cengress lets the Save U.S.S.R. signed treatment. Under the deal, Occidental .Petroleum Corp, of California f V As everyone knows, the best way to become a U.S. ambassador is to contribute a large sum of money to the and have your candipresidential election campaign the tax loss. date win. But along came category B, which is a federal payment to a school district in which the .enrolled pupils are children of federal employes, period. This means a man could make a fine salary at his federal job, live in his own home and pay substantial taxes for the schools and still be counted as one makon the impact ing an schools attended by his children. Whether he is military or civilian, his presence brings nice federal dollars into the school system. Category B? Its mostly a boonand unnecessary doggle, The 1972 election was no different from elections past except that the prices of ambassadorships have gone up. Luxembourg, for example, never went for more than , $50,000. Bui this year it was given to Mrs. Ruth Farkas of ; Alexander's Department Store, who made a $300,000 con- I tribution to President Nixon's campaign. Countries throughout the world are very sensitive to the prices put on U.S. diplomatic posts and now consider it a matter of prestige if they get a U.S. ambassador-wh; has made an enormous contribution to Hie Republican party. It was for this reason that the foreign minister of Zemuiulu called on an undersecretary of state here the other day. I understood you are sending us an ambassador who contributed only $50,000 to President Nixon's campaign. I want you to know my government considers this an insult. We deserve at least a $100,000 contributor. something that Presidents in both parties have been trying to get rid of for 20 years. That is all well and good, Mr. Secretary, But I have it on highest authority that you are appointing an ambassador to Tonkidash who contributed $100,000. Why has the Any reasonable soul in the Congress or elsewhere knows that category B should go. Trouble is, 385 congressmen and 100 senators have districts which get nice boodles of money and it. administration category B are addicted The Nixon will be exporting machinery and some chemicals to the Soviet Union. It will build plants. It will bring back to the United States chemical products from those plants. The chemicals will belong to the company long before they enter the United States. ; The 'undersecretary replied, Money isnt everything, ; Mr. Foreign Minister. The man we are sending you has and strong connec- - ; excellent business qualifications is in high esteem by ; He held House. lions in the White the President despite his paltry contribution. to tried to end aid B through a new bill this year, but Congress acted on a continuing resolution, so B, like crab grass, is with us for another year. School administrators are relieved. Congressmen and senators are glad they d wont have to be on this matter until Zemuiulu is in the malaria belt, and the climate is hut and sticky, Mr. Foreign Minister. We tried to get you a $100,000 contributor but nobody wanted to go to your country. We were very fortunate to find you a $50,000 donor who didnt know where Zemuiulu was. We were so desperate we were considering sending you a professional diplomat. We still consider a $50,000 contributor unacceptable to us, particularly when the dollar has been devalued twice. We insist you find someone who gave at least $75,000 to President Nixon's victory. Mr. Foreign Minister, may I tell jou something in the undersecretary said. utmost confidence? mealy-mouthe- are successful in demonstrating to local authorities that our presence is beneficial. next spring. And the taxpayer is stuck with subsidizWe believe that every country ing affluence. must find its own way, politically and ecoAnd thats not all: The moderating. ColNow theres some weight to American Assn, of Slate nomically. Sometimes we feel that local Two years ago 44 percent Universities the and querdo not. are sometimes we leges argument that had B wise; policies considered themselves ied 80 schools and found been killed this spring, next of our own However, irrespective views, , last year 46 perjob and todays collegians we try to function as best we can under cent, this years budgets in hundreds of year 48 percent. money conscious, preparing school districts particularly conditions. prevailing to join the Establishment. Three years ago only 6 perthose getting a fair chunk of W'e have always felt free to discuss cent wanted to be lawyers or Where a generation ago the B money, would have been with local governments matters directly doctors; today 7 percent and big thing was to join VISTA disrupted. greatly 8 percent respectively. or the Youth Corps, todays affecting our interests, but we recognize One argument holds that in students seek jobs The percentage of coeds inthat they have final regulatory authority. areas, say, like Colorado or money. terested in medical When asked to pack up, we try to Springs, Colo., huge tracts of careers has leave gracefully in order to make it eas- doubled. property are occupied by the If the consensus can be catfederal ier to return later. government and thus is there less egorized, Coincident with this statisare not on the tax rolls, In other words, being a good corporate the agents experimenttical evidence, hence, dont pay school guest abroad is little different from being who book talent for campuses ing. 29 to a changing And more acceptance of taxes! I am advised the a good personal guest at home. If Con- are responding of the children in the in entertainpercent .student what appetite and doing experience gress really has to spell out the principles ment. tradition decree to be public the Colorado Springs involved, it will certainly be a sad reflecschools are from military or a if to is right wanted rock thing society Last ear they tion on American perception and be orderly. oth middle-road- Of course, replied the foreign minister. It is true that the ambassador we are sending you contributed only $50,0u0 publicly to President Nixons campaign. But what nobody knows is that he also gave another $150,000 in cash under the table. We cannot publicize this secret donation, but you, in fact, are getting a $200,000 American ambassador. How do I know youre not making this up? the foreign minister asked suspiciously. The cash is in Maurice Stans safe at the Committee of the President. You can go there and for look at it yourself. (Copyright) that-pa- health-relate- music d and liberal speakers. How Nixon Seeks Peace m Cambodia By Joseph C. Harsch BUCHUJALD hardy crab grass functions.??It would encourage frau?ea?d political misuse cf voter registration lists. , entire. Moreover, it wouid create another new Impacted school aid is federal bureau which would initially cost money given by the federal an estimated $100 million. government to school disThere are better and more effective tricts populated with federal ways to register citizens. Mo ?re states employees, civilian and mili- might adopt Idaho's program in which tary. This program has been registrars are authorized to canvass house by house. Residets of that state consistently turn out for national elections in percentages that often lead the nation. Other ways include making it easier by increasing the number of days to register, the number of registrars, teaching registrars how to do their jobs and, of course, How to behave abroad Should Congress draw up a code of conduct for American firms doing business abroad? U.S. school aid: d by enlisting topflight candidates who will conduct stimulating campaigns. ART Indochina, but particularly in Cambodia. The problem in Cambodia Washis to get a cease-fire- . ington wants it, urgently. A would immediately cease-firend the problem of keeping Phnom Penh supplied with food and fuel. The absence of means a rising There is no visible link be- a cease-firtween a chemical fertilizer need for an American, airlift deal and Mr. Nixons prob- plus bombing to keep the city lems in Cambodia. Yet the and its government going. conclusion of the deal, which for The key to a cease-fircan do much to relieve the Cambodia is in Hanoi. Dr. Soviet Unions chronic grain Kissingers negotiations with shortages, is bound to be the North Vietnamese have helpful in dissuading Moscow so far run into a blank wall from encouraging Mr. whenever he mentions CamNixons enemies in Indo- bodia. Hanoi isnt interested china. Dr. Henry Kissingers in a cease-firin Cambodia. linkages are rarely seen but How does one make a Camusually present. It is. known bodian cease-fir- e interesting in Washington that right now to the men in Hanoi? The anMr. Nixon is looking both to swer seems to come in two Feking and to Moscow for more help in getting things parts. Part one is a carrot, in the calmed down in all parts of e e form of reconstruction aid for North Vietnam. That is being held up now by the emotions let loose by the recent stories of torture of American prisoners of war. Part two is the influence which Moscow and Peking can exert in Hanoi, in return for whatever Dr. Kissinger can offer them in other areas. Which is precisely, of course, where the big chemicals deal comes in. e e b That deal is something the Soviets have long wanted and needed. Agriculture has long been the slowest sector of their economy. A plentiful supply of chemical fertilizers may be just what they need to get it going. American industry can fill in many a gap if the in their economy terms are right and Washington approves. Just exactly what Dr. Kissinger is offering in Moscow and Peking right now for help in Cambodia is something no Washington reporter has yet discovered. Kissinger tracks are usually well covered. But it can be taken for granted that offers are outwhich President standing Nixon much hopes will bring him the cease-firhe wants in Cambodia. Occidental Petroleum president Armand Hammer, who has been trading with the Soviet Union since the l92Gs, the called this agreement deal greatest commercial ever concluded. It appears then that the transaction could increase trade from its present level of $640 million to more than $1 billion a e Soviet-America- n year. Minister of trade Nikolai PatoBchev, who was present at the signing of the agree- ment, said he expected more big deals to follow. federally connected families. All right. I would agree that Colorado Springs suffers some because much of the areas property, is occupied by nontaxable federal installations. But Rep. Joel Broy-hiwhose northern Virginia district is lavished with A and B impacted school-aimoney, has a bill which would have the federal ll ), d government areas to Springs in make payments Colorado like lieu of the taxes the feds would pay if they were private enterprisers. This bill would kill A and B and substitute them with a more equitable system, one which wouldnt reward rich school districts. Brov hill's if Anyway, isn't taken, Mr. remedy Nixon has other plans. The administrations 1974 budget has no provisions for B school aid, thus it kills amounts to a next to be administered er impacted crab-gras- spring. (Copyright) ' SYDA6Y HARRIS This sad story has been my fate more tomes than I can count. A year before the event, some group will and offer a princely breathlessly call me sum for me to address the banquet at the annual convention. With both vanity and venality so grossly tempted, how can I turn them dow n? long-distan- Each time I wish I had, though. They have just wasted their money and my time on an elaborate charade composed of 50 percent cold chicken and 50 percent hot air. The speakers table is too long. Too many people are introduced as nauseam. Everybody wants to get into the act, and since ntbody wants to hurt anv bodys feelings, everj bodys feelings are pulverized in the end. The M.C. is too often a bore or a weakling, who either cannot control his own effusions or the of others. The president makes an Annual report that takes longer to recount than his term of office. The officers (2 minutes each, they were told) go "back to the Punic Wars to flavor their rambling reminiscences. Sometimes there is music a band, or chorus of overpowering volume and interminable repertoire. There may also be a Treasurers Report, three times as lengthlv as funny as Bob Benchleys clebrated paroand dy. As the time for the main speaker draws near (he has only 40 minutes in which to make his plane), it turns out that two tables have not recieved their entree vet, while ev eryone else is through with dessert. one-tent- h The evening is a total shambles. The noted speaker, brought a vast distance at huge expense, might as well be or babbling in Urdu. The audience is All the applause has been squeezed out of them, and all you can hear at the rostrum is the crunching of Turns tablets. And next year, despite all the protestations, it will be exactly the same. And Ill be there. half-drun- k $ half-aslee- v |