Show ?!P - 5alt fakt :Jjc rage 18A - David Lawrence eqrtibunc ' - 9 uestioli of Ethics Sunday Morning March 19 1967 - In Political Gft s -- Constitutional 'Sleeper' Forges Ahead - - Action by the legislatures of Colorado and Illinois last week advanced to a danger point a movement to bypass Congress in amending the Constitution a proposal which might subvert the system of government under which the United States has grown and prospered Votes of the two legislatures formally asking for a national constitutional convention brought to 32 the number of states that have joined a movement ostensibly designed to halt a trend toward centralized government Action by only two more states would clear the way for calling the first constitutional convention since the Founding Fathers completed their work 160 years ago The States' legislative actoin taken mainly without debate or much public attention is based upon Article V of the US Constitution In addition to giving s of both houses) auCongress thority to propose amendments "deemed necessary" the articleprovides: "or on the application Of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states Congress shall call a convention for proposing amendments which in either case shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution when ratified by the legislas of the several tures of tates or by conventions in thereof as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by Con" gress This procedure has never been used in history and there are virtually no guidelines for such a convention Clearly however if (34) of the 50 state legislatures passed the proposed resolutions the same pressure groups in the states might be able to elect enough delegates to dominate the convention The constitutional convention proposal was part of a package program first advocated at a conference of delegates (two-third- three-fourth- three-fourt- two-thir- - ds from 12 Southern states at Biloxi Mississippi in July1962 It was racist rural in tone The 1954 Supreme Court decision outlawing racial segyega- and right-win- g tion was a target but more attention was focused on a more recent decision (Baker vs Carr) reapportioning Tennessee's Legislature The proposals received additional emphasis at a conference in Phoenix in the fall of 1962 and later staff members and affiliated groups of the Council of State Government pushed the proposals in various state legislatures Other proposals in the package were equally radical but all slipped through a dozen or so legislatures without much debate or public awareness of thir nature Tie second proposal forbids a federal court consideration of a state legislative apportionment case (This sleeper went through the Utah Legislature) The third proposal would create a Court of the Union comprising the chief justices of state supreme courts with powers greater than the US Supreme Court A partial belated awakening came to the legal profession at least when in April 1063 Charles Black Jr Yale Law Schoot professor published an article in the Yale Law Journal analyzing the proposals The suggested change in the Black warned amending procedure s of the state "would enable of any consent the without legislatures other body" to change the presidency to a committee of three hobble the treaty power make the federal judiciary elective repeal the Fourth Amendment and move the national capital to Topeka" Another critic warned in 1963 that such a plan might make it "possible for such basic rights as freedom of speech and religion the privilege against self- incrimination the right to jury trial or other freedoms in our Bill of Rights to be removed from the Constitution by a minority point of view" The other amendments lost their steam after clearing less than 20 state legislatures The one which could prove the most dangerous of the three is now within two state votes of being initiated The American people should be made aware of the issues at stake o- what is tion of : The public fancy has been so aroused electric by the talk of pollution-fre- e vehicles that a joint hearing is under way by the Senate Commerce Committee and a subcommittee on air and water pollution aimed at producing legislation to provide federal funds to develop electric propulsion for cars In addition to reducing air pollution electric cars offer the attractive prospects of lower maintenance costs lower operating expense quieter performance and d smoother riding than automobiles Electric cars aren't likely to replace entirely the traditional gasoline models however For one thing although they would reduce carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon levels in the urban air they could indirectly cause an increase in another air contaminant To meet the demand for electricity to recharge millions of auto gasoline-powere- Much has been made of the problem of "slumlords" in New York Chicago and other cities where many poor often members of minority people groups are crowded into ramshackle tenements or other deteriorated housing The problem of the slums is a serious one -- but it may not- as many have contended be due to the greediness of owners of such - property Four years ago a New York group called the Citizens Housing and Planning three-fourth- Christian Schwa Monitor "Now eloso your eyes " i i i 1 1 J I I t more coal And coal combustion usually creates sulfur dioxide Michael Ference Jr a Ford vice president in charge of scientific research put' it this way before the Senate probers: "Widespread use of electric vehicles would change the balance of our natural resources It would require a major expansim of electric generation And transtMssion facilities This in turn would change the economics of the electric power industry would intensify the need for reducing pollutants from power plants and would affect the use of national water resources The petroleum and motor vehicle service industries would also be profoundly affected" Instead of financing the development of an electric car the government might well step up research into better pollution control and make special studies of the possible social and economic impact of retiring the combustion engine Council set out to prove that an owner of slum property could provide more satisfactory living quarters and still make a fair profit With private financial assistance the organization purchased two slum properties All told including major repairs and the organization spent improvements nearly $300000 Now the council has concluded it is impossible on a private enterprise basis to provide better slum housing and make a profit High cost of maintenance vandalism tenant carelessness and inability to charge high enough rents to offset the costs were blamed for the fact that last year the operation showed a net deficit of $7335 Perhaps if the organization had permitted its slum housing to continue in its original rundown condition it could have made a profit — although many owners of such property maintain that the operation is not nearly as lucrative as it is por'o The Health Education and Welfare Department hopes to wipe out measles this year For the moment however the situation remains spotty 2 - -- Corporations and labor organizations are of course forbidden to make campaign contributions to candidates for federal offices but they can give as much as they like to state county or city campaign funds And who can— separate the money when it is spent to build an organization that works for a straight ticket and thus benefits also the candidates for federal office? The case of Sen Thomas J Dodd appears on its face to be unusual but it bears a resemblance to many other situations In which elected officials sometimes find themselves They pay out their own funds for campaign expenses and later get gifts or contributions which enable them to meet personal expenses that were not paid previously because campaign necessities came — The Public Forum Finis on Sunday Closing Editor's Note: Governor Rampton's veto having settled the Sunday closing law issue the Forum will discontinue publishing letters on the subject Although many such Communications were used we regret that space restrictions prevented use of all received Editor Tribune: I did not write the letter over my signature that appeared in last Sunday's (March 12) Forum But the incident in which I was insulted by an official did occur It was however in the county clerk's office not the county tre'asurer's as last Sunday's letter mistakenly deciared I was working on some books in the clerk's office The windows were open and as I am subject to arthritis I pulled a corrugated door part way across to keep out of a draft A man stormed in and wanted to know why I had closed the door I told him in a nice way and he really insulted me He had no respect for his elders The way he talked to me was a batteries the utilities would have to generate more power To generate more electrictly in most areas requires burning An International survey reports that American schools do a bad job of teaching math as compared with those of other countries Don't put all the blame on the schools remember that American parents are the only ones in the world who mess up the homework In ! I - - This indicates that neither private or city ownership of existing housing offers a solution to the slum problem That doesn't leave much of an alternative save massive and costly redevelopment Petits 1 I In a material way? ‘ Also is It ethical for a chief executive to be the drawing card at a luncheon or dinner when business firms — many of which have large contracts with the federal government pay as much as $1000 per ticket for admission to such meetings? Who Can Separate Funds? ' trayed --- it 4 1 responsible only to Congress for its reports of action taken as is the case with the comptroller general's office It Isn't unlawful but Is it ethical for a Member of Congress to receive for a speech a fee from organizations which are deeply interested in legislation that could affect them Beneficent NY 'Slumlord' Goes Broke so-call- ed N 112 UV' Electric Car Idea No Cureall for Polhition car seeking not set laws of the land Nor are I violations of such laws al- 1 - ' when ) prosecuted ways 4 x 1soNi itz they should be ‘' There are ilots of ' ' wit prethings wrong r sent system First the De- partment of 'Justice is a I political arm of the admin- istration In power and Mr Lawrence often In the past has undertaken prosecutions only when public opinion has forced the issue The prosecution of federal offenses shouldlae delegated to an agency of government Independent of the President or the Cabinet and ' It Was Clerk's Office The "in" gimmick for remedying the sick urban atmosphere is the battery-powere- d The whole question of unlawful or unethical in the contribumoney to the campaign of a person federal office is t ' forth clearly in the GT- disgrace DIRS VERN JOHNSON County Saves at Dump - Editor Tribune: The recent letter from Mr Ralph Lee concerning economy at the Magna dump is fallacious Under the past administration Salt Lake County paid $58 to a party to operate the scavenger rights to the dump Salt Lake County also maintained a heavy-dut- y operator on the site at the cost of an average of $650 per month Under Mr Gundersen's direction currently Salt Lake County receives $300 (done on a basis of competitive bid) for the scavenger rights and this scavenger also provides a man to operate the heavy-dut- y equipment saving the county another $650 It looks as if Mr Lee got his figures mixed up Instead of it costing MO a month more to operate the dump as he charged a cost of some $700 has been eliminated and the $300 monthly payment means the present administration Is saving the taxpayers over $1000 a month on the dump operation JIM SMITH Asst Supt County Sanitation Department Ashamed of Court Editor Tribune: I believe it would be a good idea to print in large letters so all can read the oath of office for our congressmen Then see whether the House of Representatives was wrong in refusing to seat Mr Powell And if a white congressman is guilty of the same acts or is in any way not living up to his oath he should get the same treatment as Mr Powell And the Supreme Court can keep its cotton picking nose out of where it does not belong They are making a mess of the whole Judicial system Instead of being proud of them I am ashamed of them and what they are doing BARBARA E COBB Halley Idaho By Our Readers your budget? What If these people who have resigned had chosen to remain on the job? ' MRS EFFIE SNIDER Ogden Utah Mormon Boys Do Serve Editor Tribune: In answer to Marian Warner whose letter appeared March 15 I don't know where she got her information but the Mormon boys I know do serve their country and serve It well What if they do go on a mission for their church first? When they return they serve their country and are qualified to serve it even better My husband served a mission and also served his country I have a cousin who is a 250 In length werdl must bo submitted exclusively to The Tribune and full name and address Names must be printed on on political letters but may be withheld for flood reasons on others Preference will be Oxon letters permitting use of true name and to those which are typed and short bear writer's major in the Air Force My neighbor's boys served missions and all three of them have or are serving their country in the Air Force Marines and Coast Guard Many times officers in the armed forces have paid tribute to the high quality of the Mormon boys serving under them MRS DEAN GALLISTER 45 Per Cent Non Mormons? Editor Tribune: A question in regard to Student Body President Southam's letter concerning athletes at BYU He stated that there are 134 and 160 Mormons on the BYU athletic teams Later he said these athletes are representative of the student body Does this mean that approximately 45 per cent of the BYU student body consists of I doubt It 11 wrong I should like to be corrected rs s? M C BECK Logati Utah health Editor Tribune: As an nurse it is most interesting to me to watch the "shuttling" tactics that are being used by the Salt Lake City Commission in regard to the interim salary requests of the Salt Lake City public health nurses It is my understanding that they were told that if they could find the money from salaries already budgeted but open because nurses had resigned to take other jobs they could use that money to increase the salaries of those still The requested Information was submitted to Commissioner Barker who said: "There is no money In the budget" Now my questions to Mr Barker Sire: Po you anticipate or encourage resignations So that you cart balance ic 1 t E v 1 b s 41 ti h first e Conceding that few If any of the donors expected rewards in the forin of help in getting an appointment or some other favor doesn't the present system seem to put the official under obligation? Presidents too -i like senators and members of the House — have received contributions with no strings at tached and with no understanding as to a reward But when a large donor seeks an appointment as an ambassador for Instance doesn't he expect the President or others in the party who have influence with the chief executive to remember the financial benefactors of campaign days? n b a n 11 - 3 d Proposals Not Comprehensive One suggested solution is for Congress to appropriate public money for political campaigns but proposals thus far are by no means comprehensive Not only is it desirable to provide money for candidates for federal office but states counties and cities would have to furnish funds for local candidates as well If this were done It would then be necessary to prohibit anybody else from contributing — whether the candidate wishes to spend sums out of his own pocket or the money his friends donate Reforms of this kind seem a long way off and that's why cases like Sen Dodd's will crop up again and again Indeed Congress would find many similar situations If it ventured to examine the private finances of all 11 ii - 1 p s IA t members when elected Men of integrity who have the courage to turn down a campaign contributor with a doubtful motivation may seem to be rare but there are a good many such persons in public office today So the outlook is not as grim as it may appear to be Ii tj 11 - Theodore Long t t r Peking's Blackout Can't Hide All the Facts - Hard news about the Great Proletarian Revolution in always late in reaching the West and 1vhat passes for news frequently ' 1 turns out to be conjecture rather than fact For one no completely 1 thing reliable lines of communi- cation exist For another f tdiop "facts" are not always ) what they seem and may be distorted in the process ) 400tit of interpretation After are all human beings affected by Mr Long prejudices and opinions not machines Which produce exact answers when fed the proper information This makes an accurate assessment of It is China-watche- day-to-d- ay tikt developments in Communist China almost impossible especially in terms of who's up and who's down The most that can be said is that the opposition to Mao and Lin Pia° though remarkably resistant gives little indication of being able to take Tse-tun- g ‘Shuttling' Nurse Budget t -- Forum Rules Public Forum litters must not bo more than - over - - Plenty of Information But If the progress of the struggle is a mystery the outside world possesses an immense amount of information about the object of the struggle that is about China Itself Books pamphlets magazine and newspaper articles pour from the presses and while some of the material may be suspect much of it is based on solid research and scholarly evaluation For example one publi cation the China Quarterly (edited in London) devoted much of its latest issue to articles on the background of the cultural revolution previous issues have examined such economic subjects as the development of transportation and China's third five-ye- ar plan Now the Joint Economic Committee of the US Congress has issued a comprehensive study "An Economic Profile of Mainland' China" (two volumes 684 pages) which dis: cusses everything from Industry and agriculture to urban employment and foreign I r trade got a Unique Effort This It should be emphasized Is not a unique effort Nor is it the first study by a US government agency of the Chinese economy in 1960 the Bureau of Mines reported that China has "a sufficiently diversified mineral base to become a first rank industrial power" The US government obviously relies on facts not myths in estimating the potential of an adversary It Is equally obvious that facts were available for those who know how to look for them StatitAles Blacked Out However an appraisal of the Chinese economy by outsiders became much more difficult seven years ago when Peking imposed a blackout on economic statistics Perhaps Conditions had worsened (The fiasco of the Great Leap Forward had occurred only two years earlier) Or perhaps the Chinese leader ship was simply erecting a "great wall" of se-crecy against "enemy" countries the Soviet Union Included while plans developed for the cultural revolution that turned into a power struggle Nevertheless information does seep through (Some figures in the joint economic committee's report are 23 recent as 1964) And as time passes contradictory reports on the power struggle are likely to yield to analysis I - |