| OCR Text |
Show Joseph Kraft Sunday Morning, October 10, 1971 Page Nixon Pressured By Viet Decision IGA The latest developments in Vietnam make certain another early round of the distorted presidential decision-makin- g that has always been so prominent a cause of trouble in the war. In the nvddle of next month President Nixon is to announce a new schedule for withdrawal of American troops. And matters have fallen cut so that he has to make his decision with maximum demands of Saiexposure to the conflicting gon, Hanoi and American public opinion. Under current schedules, the American down to below military presence here will be withdraw184,000 men by Dec. 1. The rate of month. Thus, 15,000 about per al is averaging clip, President that maintaining by just SAIGON Variances: The Slow. Hard Highway To Cleaning Utahs Atmosphere On the surface, it would appear that the Utah Air Conservation Committee does is grant exceptions to its own rules. More variances, this time on open burning, were given at Thursdays committee meeting, bringing the total to 40 granted since air quality regulations went into effect in 1969. During the same period, not one offender has faced prosecuall tion, And many of those in violation have rot even sought a variance, according to the air quality staff executive secretary, Dr. Grant S. Winn. But industrial hygienist Dennis R. Dailey reports that every variance procedure actually represents progress toward air quality control, because when a mill, plant or refinery is granted a variance, it is required to commit itself to a cleanup schedule. Theoretically, if the schedule is not met, the variance will not be renewed, and the polluter will be forced to close down. The current effort by the Division of Environmental Health is to serve notice on each polluter that he must cither seek a variance and plan the needed control measures, comply immediately, or shut down. But the work is going very slowly. A staff of four is assigned to the air quality section, but they are mostly out of the aspects of enforcement, because of a terrific planning load required by the Air Quality Act of 1970, said Deputy Health Director Lynn M. Thatcher. It has been a cliche to say that if the public wants clean air, then the public is going to have to pay for it but it has come to that. A request for additional funds (which would be augmented with federal matching dollars) for air pollution enforcement will be a part of the budget recommendation submitted to the upcoming budget session of the State Legislature. The recommendation will test, in dollars and cents, just how far the people of Utah, through their representatives, are effort to willing to go in the secure clean air. Until enforcement can increase, the variance will be the main tool in the slow progress against air pollution. It is only fair to recognize that a town of 150 population might have problems coming up with $50,000 for a sanitary land fill, or that a huge operation such as Kennecotts will need time to meet the regulations, but W'e hope the day i3 near when the norm will be compliance, rather than variance. day-to-da- y much-toute- troops out by election time next year. But President Nguyen Van Thieu wants a American military presence continuing of 50,000 men serving talks He 1973. through as unit advisers, and providing air support His with helicopters and fighter-bomberwith 90 percent of the vote is only going to stiffen his demands. d s. Americans Support Ihieu In the Soviet Union Me don't punish dissenters today. I sentence you to a mental breakdown and ten years in a Siberian asylum. Beyond Official Depth Postmaster General Winton Blount not only embarrassed the U.S. State Department with his call for a boycott of French imports until illicit heroin from French ports is brought under better control, but he may also have actually endangered an even bigger inernational drug crackdown. The U.S. has its hands full trying to stem the flow of illegal narcotics into this country. As a result, the government ha3 asked other nations involved to help wherever possible. Earlier this year, the Turks agreed to restrict opium cultivation with U.S. money subsidizing the cutbacks. Mr. Blount identified a lingering problem all right when he said much smuggled heroin still travels through French ports. But advocating an American boycott of French products as a countering measure constitutes sanctions against the wrong people, not to mention needlessly irritating a trading partner. Moreover, the recently asked western European nations, including France, U-S- . to help block the dope traffic developing on another front Burma. Approximately 400 tons of opium a year is being produced in insurgent-hel- d areas of northern Burma. About 100 tons is consumed locally, the rest exported in the form of heroin. Its understood that Southeast Asian drug rings want to expand operations and the U.S. is a prime target. Ironically, these intentions are based on a shortage expected in the American market when Turkeys production is reduced next year. In any case, French President Georges Pompidou prepared the course for cooperating with the U.S. in a letter urging the six members of the European Economic Community, plus Britain, to press a determined campaign against illegal drug traffic. Mr. Blounts comments appear more gratuitous than grateful. If he wants to solve a junk problem, how about junk mail? If he found an answer for that, few people would be offended, many would celebrate his name. No More Road Leases, Please Partial closure of Interstate Highway 80 near Redwood Road in Salt Lake County, because the State Highway Departments lease of the land expired is an example of shabby management. It is difficult to fault the departments decision to lease, rather than buy, the land because future construction of farther west would not require the land. The land was leased to allow construction of temporary access facilities to Redwood Road. But officials erred when they failed to negotiate a lease that would have guaranteed the state, and the public, use of the land until the interstate pushes farther west. Now, motorists driving to the airport, to work at firms along Redwood Road and other west side locations have been unnecessarily inconvenienced. Inconvenience is one of the things to be endured when roads are under construction, but every effort should be made to keep it at a minimum. west from Salt Lake City Pushing to the Great Salt Lake has been problem-riddle- d the past few years. Difficulties over acquisition, processing of cooperative agreements for moving of rail lines and slowness of funding are but a fewr. It is surprising the Highway Department, in light of recent history, 1-- would presume that any target date for completion of any phase of that freeway would be met. Work schedules on that part of Utahs Interstate system have been in a continual state of flux. In the future, if a situation arises where land will only be used temporarily, the Highway Department ought to exercise its right of eminent domain and condemn the land, paying the full, appraised fair market value. When thp land is no longer needed it can always be sold to the highest bidder. Land adjacent to highways usually, and particularly so in industrial and commercial areas, sells for a rather substantial price. A policy of condemning and then resel'ing would be of greater benefit to the public, than one of negotiating leases that unilaterally can be pulled out from under the publics feet, or in this case, the wheels of their cars and trucks. 1-- Bill Vaughan's right-of-wa- y 1-- Orbiting Parahs A congressional committee would limit campaign expenses for House candidates to $30,000. Wouldnt this sort of encourage cheap politicians? His parents report that the new baby down the block looks like hell be a member of the country's most popular bloc. He acts like a natural-bor- n consumer. As the poet reminds us, only God can make a tree, but if you want to have a dead one removed, it's a good idea to ask for com- petitive bids. We are always impressed when the police say that a crime is the work of professionals. On the other hand, why would an amateur ever steal anything? The syndicated brains are all but corroding Ed Muskie the nomination by the Democrats, a party which has heretofore been suspicious of Abe Lincoln imitations. Perhaps if conditions inside prisons are improved, the innovation might spread to society outside the walls. Critics dont care for some of the new crime shows on television. Maybe we can stomp out violence if we make it dull enough. The Public Forum A Special Place Editor, Tribune: We would like to take this moment to express our gratitude to the people of the State of Utah. We have just returned home from a trip through the Rocky Mountains, and, now that we are back East again, our memories of Utah are first in our minds. We look forward to another trip as soon as possible. We loved the scenery and the mountains, the lake and Salt Lake City, but mostly we were impressed by the neatness of your towns and the warmth and friendliness of your people. Our special thanks go out to the Jones Public Forum letters must not be more than 230 words in length, must be submitted exclusively to The Tribune and bear writers full name, signature and address. Names must be printed on political letters but may be withheld for good reasons on others. Witters are limited to one letter every 10 days. Preference will be given letters permitting use of true name, and to those and short. wnich are typed (double-space- family at the Park City Hotel for their kind hospitality and many helpful suggestions for exploring the historical and scenic sites in the Salt Lake area. The Joneses and many other of your citizens have made your state a very special place for us. You can be sure we will come back for a longer stay. If we can help it, our friends, too, will come West to discover the Rockies and, especially, Utah. Thank you all, B. LEIGH PRICE JR. Rye, N.Y. Beats Good Indentions Editor, Tribune: It seems to me that for the benefit of society, a double standard that should be removed is the apparent notion that determines be it good or bad intent whether or not something is right or wrong. Particularly is this evident in the subject of common household drug abuse wherein adult drug abuse is presumed justified because their intent is presumed good. Whereas, similar youth drug abuse is presumed bad because their intent is bad. But the fact is that intent, good or bad, legal or illegal, does not alter the effects a harmful drug may have upon the user. In a drug cultured society understandably, the youth is unfavorably impressed use of when parents reserve prescribed common drugs to counter their daily frustrations and anxieties on the premise that their intent is good, but deny the youth similar use or misuse on the premise that their intent is bad. A more effective way for adults to teach with youth would be to teach honesty with honesty, patience with patience, etc., thereby teaching and preparing youth in a larger measure to govern themselves. JOHN E. SMITH State Representative, Grantsville self-contr- ol l, Most Dismaying Editor, Tribune: We are writing this letto protest and bring to the publics attention the deplorable, unsanitary and unaesthet-i- ter c conditions of the Tracy Aviary located in Liberty Park in Salt Lak- - City. At a time when virtually everyone craves some real communion with nature and creatures, it is most dismaying to observe some of the world's most boaulifttl biids loc'.ed up in filthy litter-strewmetal cages. In the Aviary, one can observe a Bald Eagle, the ultimate symbol of soaring freedom, squatting in the corner of a pen which 's n, measures no more than 8 feet by 8 feet. Colorful South American parrots are given garbage cans for homes. From any point of view, the treatment of these birds is unconscionable both to them and to us. It would be better to have no Aviary at all than to continue the conditions which now exist in Liberty Park. DENNIS F. OLSEN Attorney at Law KATHLEEN R. HAMMOND Law Office Manager Some Athice Editor, Tribune: I have some advice for President. Nixon: Before you to China, read the Little Red Book from top to bottom. If you miscue in your diplomacy, point out that it was purely occidental. Dont put the rickshaw before the coolie. If you ping when you should pong, make deepbend apology. Dont express joy at seeing how the other half lives, remembering that its the other three-fourth- s. Tread lightly, but carry a big chop stick. Dont be too annoyed if your host doesnt always make the inscrutable perfectly clear. If the United Nations is mentioned, squirm with joy and say, Im glad you brought that up! Then explain that it tops the agenda for your next visit to the Chinese Empire. LOUIS W. LARSEN Without exactly saying so, the leading American officials here support President Thieus views, feel great gains are being made in government ability and economic stability. realized They believe these gains can be fully few next the for assured is if security only years. The American military believe government forces have shown steady improvement. But recent engagements in Laos, Cambodia and Tav Ninh Province have demonstrated a heavy dependence on air support. In particuthe lar, according to one authority here, South Vietnamese are hooked on helicopters. But with only 500 helicopters, the South Vietnamese are a long, long way from having the kind of air support the United States has been making available with its force of more than 3,000 choppers. So almost all the American military here believe the United States should continue to provide helicopter assistance, tactical air support and coordination on the ground. That means a residual force of about 40,000 Americans here for the next few years at least. Invites Trouble With Hanoi Even that small a residual force, however, invites obvious trouble with Hanoi. As a minimal price for negotiated settlement the Communists are demanding withdrawal of all American troops by a fixed date and suspension of all American air activity over Vietnam. The truly hard decision would be to go now for full American withdrawal In 1972. That would mean a difficult period in relations between Washington and Saigon. It would involve some dicey negotiations with Hanoi about prisoners. But it would guarantee that the United States was out of Vietnam, once and for all, on its own momentum. The truly soft decision is to go for the residual force. That would keep alive in Saigon the pleasant sensation of slow progress toward an indefinite goal. It would look like resisting domestic political pressure stimulated by Hanois maneuvering on the prisoner I issue. But in the end, it would guarantee that the 1972 American election would be fought out with the Vietnam war still on, with American troops still exposed, with American prisoners in Communist hands, and the United States divided once again on the bloody sore that is Vietnam. Theodore Long An Amendment Loaded With Trouble Proponents of prayer in the schools have finally pried a proposed constitutional amendment out of the House Judiciary Committee where it had been languishing for months. This wasn't easy. The committee chairman both pleas and pressure, as many another chairman has done with other legislation, and in the end the amendment's sponsors bypassed him by taking the petition route. Now. with 218 House members apparently committed by their signatures on the petition, the sponsors need only 72 more votes to clear the next hurdle in the path to ratification. The Founding Fathers tried to assure due deliberation in amending the Constitution by requiring much more than a simple majority in favor of change. The usual procedure is to submit a proposed amendment to Congress. of House and Senate Then, if s of the state agree, approval by And becomes Congress recessary. legislatures has added a few complications on its own the power of committee chairmen to impede pet on "nd thn ahi'ity of filibusterers to frus-- f tte decisions. resisted two-thir- three-fourth- Guarantee Against Error Thus far, more amendments are proposed than are ever ratified. However, once an amendment leaves Congress, it can become t of the Constitution m a relatively short time. In most instances, of course, a strong case over the for amendment had been built-u- p years. But it is also obvious, when the overall record is examined that methods of procedure are not an absolute guarantee against error. Lawmakers and public can be stampeded to thrir later regret. The 18th Amendment outlawing all alcoholic beverages was ratified in a great wave of moral fervor, only to be repealed after a dozen years of abysmal failure. More recently, the Tonkin Gulf resolution, whooped through Congress by huge majorities in 1964, turned out to be a case of jumping off a cliff because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Distortion of Laws There is, however, an important difference between congressional resolutions and constitutional amendments. The former can be approved or rescinded by a simple vote. But if an amendment proves to be a mistake, it has to be corrected by the same laborious procedures required for its original enactment. Meanwhile, the result may well be a serious distortion of the nations laws. That happened with the prohibition amendment. It could happen with the proposed prayer amendment. Supporters ol this resolution say that the Supreme Court decision forbids school prayers. The truth is otherwise. For the decision did not strike at prayers per se, but at the compulsory recitation of prayers written by an agency of goveinment. Nondentiininationai Prajers" The language of the amendment is also suspect since it permits nondenominational anu what, prayers. pray tell, does "nondenominational mean? Something vague and bland prayers addressed to whom it may concern"? Also, who would prepare these prayers and who would approve m for "se n he school'.? Somewhere along the line, government officials are likely to heroine directly involved. And if that happens, Ihe 1st Amendment barrier against an establishment of religion will be badly battered, if not completely shattered. The prayer amendment, an piece of constitutional tampering, rould havf consequences its zealous promoters probably never intended. : |
