THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Urban Affairs Problems
81st Year, No. 114
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Tuesday, March 30, 1971
See Page 8
Nixon Begins Plan to Cut Building Cost
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (UPF) - President Nixon Monday put into effect a self-regulation system for stabilizing wages in the building industry, but substantially cut spiring construction costs.
According to Labor Secretary James D. Hodgson, the system aims to pay peb bows for construction workers to approximately six feet. The system also adds additional increases based on local factors.
In any event, he said, the new restraints would result in a "substantial improvement" over the current 16 per cent annual increase which the administration blames for inflationary pressures in this important sector of the economy.
The President, in a meeting with Hodgson at the Western White House, signed an executive order establishing a network of review boards that would begin immediately all construction contracts and applying the new government guidelines to them.
"Wage increases negotiated last year in the construction industry were more than twice those of factory wage increases in the same industry." A statement accompanying the executive order
Kansan Photo by GREG SORBER
"... But at the same time that wages and prices, ... were soaring, unemployment in the industry rose to a level which is nearly double the national average. The leaders of the management are aware that unless this trend is countered, disaster lays ahead."
Under the system, a total of 18 special review boards—one for each of the building crafts—would be established to examine new materials and construction will be negotiated between now and Oct. 31.
Court to Decide If Felons Can Own Firearms
WASHINGTON (UP) — The Supreme Court agreed Monday to rule that the 1968 gun control law makes it an automatic crime for a man with the design of a felony to have a firearm in his possession.
The government has prosecuted about 150 persons under the provision of the federal statute, but a U.S. appeals court reversed the conviction of a BROY, N.Y., man, Kenneth Bass, and the Justice Department brought the issue to the Supreme Court.
The case will be argued before the court next fall or winter and a written decision will
In enacting the law, Congress included a provision that prohibited a convicted felon from possessing firearms on penalty of a $10,000 fine, two years in prison or both.
However, the law in its general terms described a violator as one "who receives, possesses or transports in commerce or affecting commerce."
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed his law conviction on grounds the government had failed to show the firearms were involved in commerce.
Bass, previously convicted of attempted grand larceny in the second degree, was sentenced to 15 months in jail when a shotgun in a Beret pistol were found in his apartment.
In asking Supreme Court review, Solicitor General Erwin N. Griswold said Congress meant to "make any possession of firearms by a felon a federal offense." The 2nd Circuit said such an interpretation would render the gun laws unenforced and unprecedented extension of federal power."
The Justice Department in its appeal noted that the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had dismissed a claim.
Kaboom!
It is an established fact that kite-flying requires some minimum amount of wind. The wind's strength determines
and Tom Hedrick, Mission sophomore, found that the minimum wind was not available. Their kite's frame broke when it fell so they decided to postpone their kite-flying until a day when they could hope for more than moderate success.
Reds Surprise Attack Kills 33 U.S. Soldiers
SAIGON (UPI)--American solitary who were scheduled to leave for home soon dropped their guard just long enough for the Communists to stage a surprise attack that killed 33 U.S. soldiers, military sources said Monday.
"I think security must have been pretty bad because some of the guys thought they were going home soon and the war was almost over because we had a attack Sunday 50 miles southwest of Da Ngang.
Near the U.S. base of Khe Sahb which is being dismantled, withdrawing U.S. soldiers engaged North Vietnamese troops Monday in three brief skirmishes north, east and south of the base. One American was killed and 22 others. No Command casualties were reported.
The U.S. Command said Communis-
gunners downed two American helicopters Monday in the Mekong Delta 60 miles southeast of Saigon.
The five-hour battle was fought about two or three miles southwest of the town of Sung, which is on the old French imperial Highway 7, and 55 miles northwest of Pihm Penh.
The South Vietnamese lost two killed and 25 wounded, spokesman said.
The Communist raid Sunday which killed 33
Americans also wounded 7 U.S. troops. They were members of the hard-huck American Division and their artillery base was nicknamed "Mary Am."
U. S. reinforcements were pushed into the valley, 350 miles northwest of Saipan, Monday before an assault by a U.S. force.
WASHINGTON (UPF) — Setting a date for withdrawal from Vietnam should assure rather than jeopardize the release of weapons, the newest congressman contended Monday.
Rep. William R. Roy, a Republican-turned Democrat and a freshman in Congress, told IPSC "1: I intend to vote for a certain date of withdrawal, if it is Dec. 31, 1971. This at least should assure return of prisoners of war and ensure the safe passage of withdrawing troops."
Dr. Roy Favors Setting Date For Withdrawal
He said the North Vietnamese had inculcated in the past they would get down to work.
Lt. Calley Found Guilty; Lawyer Set for Appeal
BT. BENNING, Ga. (UPI)—Lt. William L. Calley Jr., was found guilty Monday of premeditated murder of at least 22 Vietnamese civilians at My Lai—the first U.S. soldier convicted in the March 19, 1968, massacre.
Sentence Yet to Come
See DR. ROY Page 2
CALLEY'S ATTORNEY, George W.
Lattimer he intended to appeal the case.
Calley, his face flushed pink, snapped a weak salute when he heard the verdict. The jury will now decide whether to sentence him to death or life imprisonment.
The whole process of delivering the verdict was accomplished between 4:29 p.m., when the jury entered the room, and 4:33 p.m. The jury fired out at shortly thereafter, ending the long trial that began Sept. 5, 1989, when Calley was charged with 109 murders. That number was reduced in a pretrial带货 a year ago to 102, and the jury cut it down to 22.
The 27-year-old defendant, who stood trial for 102 murderers, also was convicted of assault with intent to murder a two-year-old child. A witness testified Calley shot at the child, but did not see the bullets hit—thus the jury, in three days, lowered the murder count to assault.
"L. Calley, it is my duty as president of this court to advise you that the court in closed session and upon secret written ballot, two thirds of the members present, at the time the vote was taken in集聚, for the court presided in H. Ford, the court president, told Calley.
The charges against the young officer were contained in four specifications. The first accused him of killing 30 South Vietnamese soldiers during a night assault; the second charged that he rounded up 70 persons in an irrigation ditch and cut them down with automatic weapons fire, and the last two accused him of two individual slayings—the child, and a man dressed as a woman.
Calley was standing at attention as the verdict was read, and he nervously licked his
LATIMER WAS MISTY-eyed when he left the courtroom with Calley to retire to the defense chambers. He remained closest closed to Calley for 10 minutes before outside.
When asked how he felt, he replied, "How would anybody feel after a verdict like that. It was a burrowed decision for the United States of America, the U.S. Army and for my client."
Asked to relate Caley's feelings, LATimer replied, "I hardly need I need to explain that." Then be added: "Take my word for it," and then LATimer added. "LATamer added, 'He's still got an oracle.'"
CALLEY IS confined at the post stockade. He will be held there until the sentencing procedure is concluded, emerging only for the court sessions. He will be treated as an officer, quartered and fed separately from enlisted men.
Latinier said he would call no witnesses when court convenes for the sentencing phase of the case.
The prosecutor in the Calley case, Aubrey M. Daniel III, refused comment on the verdict, as did the trial judge, Col. Reid W. Kennedy.
LOS ANGLES (UPT)—Die in the gas chamber was decreed for Charles Manson and all three of his women followers Monday after he killed them and six other persons in August, 1899.
Death in Gas Chamber For Manson and Aids
A middle class, mainly middle-aged jury brought in the death verdicts for the 36-year-old cult leader and Patricia Krennkweil, who was convicted of Van Houten after deliberating for 10 hours.
Manson was led from the courtroom sheting at the judge and the jury before the trial.
The minute the death penalty against Manson was returned, the three women defendants also began shouting and were dragged bodily from the courtroom before they even learned what their own fate was to be.
Manson, looking like a little old man with sunken eyes and a stubble of hair on his head and clad in a blue denim prison uniform, called out to the jury: "You have no authority
over me. Half of you aren't as good as I am to begin with."
After the 27 separate verdicts of death were read, Superior Court Judge Charles H. Older told the jurors that if it were within his power to decide the case, he would serve "service above and beyond the call of duty."
Older then took the rarely seen step of older the bench and approaching the jury box where he shook hands with each of the 12 people and the three remaining alternate jurors.
Imposition of the death penalty was not imposed for three to five years, if ever. Appels may take that long and there has not an execution in California since April 1967.
A woman was last executed at San Quentin prison in 1962.
Judgelder announced that he would formally pronounce sentence on April 19. He has the authority to reduce the punishment to five years, and he is considered highly unlikely he would do so.
Kansan Staff Writer
By HELEN COX
Voting Age Question Goes to Public
On April 16 the voters of Kansas will decide whether 18-year-olds in the state will have the right to vote in state elections. Several state representatives and local political leaders seem to think the voters will save vows.
State Sen. Arden Booth said he had seen no poll and had received no official information about the possibility of the voters approving the amendment that would allow 18-year-olds to vote in state elections, but he said, "I have a feeling it will pass."
"If the 18-year-olds were granted the right to vote in state elections, he said, "it might teach some of us in our generation the importance of voting. If the older voters consider the young voters a threat, they may get out and vote in increasing numbers, and anything that increases participation in the government is good."
Booth said there are many who thought the 18-year-old should have the right to vote. There were others, who didn't favor the amendment, but who would probably vote for it to save the condition of having 18-year-olds in federal elections and not in the state elections.
Dr. William Roy, congressman from Tampa, had denied that the measure would "limit" his power.
"A lot of people from all over the nation will be watching Kansas," Hoy said, "because it is a real competition."
measure after the recent Supreme Court ruling giving 18 year old the right to vote in the US.
He said that because of the recent campus disturbances, the measure probably would have difficulty. This, he said, would be unfortunate because of the confusion that would result from having two separate lists of voters.
State Rep. Morris Kay said he thought the amendment would pass, but it was "up to the people." He said there was no way to predict how much would pass. If he could vote in national elections, it was only a question of time before they could vote in state legislatures and believed that he was in favor of the amendment.
"I think it will be a close vote because I haven't seen too much action in support of it," was State Rep. John Vogel's comment, Vogel said he favored the 18-year-old vote, but he said he thought that all the rest of the laws should be changed to make 18 the legal age. He said if the 18-year-old could vote then he would lose his right under the law. Vogel said he was doubtful that the voting issue would have come up if it hadn't been for the federal action.
Paul Hess, law student and state representative, said he had seen three or four polls that indicated the amendment was in trouble but he thought it looked a lot better now. He said a group of students called Kansas for the 18-year-old vote who are backed by Sen. James Pearson, Sen. Robert Dole, and Gov. Robert Docking, are writing
25,000 letters urging people to vote in favor of the amendment. Hes endied by saying, "I'm very much in favor of it, and I think it will pass."
The League of Women Voters is in full support of the amendment. The 14 local leagues have been making reports and speeches and taking out sips urging the people to approve it. The state legislative chairman said, "I don't understand, 'I can't imagine that it wouldn't pass.'"
The president of the Young Democrats, Dan Conyers of Battle Creek, Mich., said they have been doing all they can to support the amendment. They have had a voter registration drive and handed out pamphlets door to door. Conyers said the Young Democrats have tried to start a program at Lawrence High School to inform students and parents about the issue. They have used their efforts to demand that Democrats in their effort to call every person in the 21 to 30 age bracket and urge them to support the amendment.
Conyers says the people of Kansas will realize that it is impractical and expensive to have two separate ballots. He said young people have many other obligations that they should have the right to vote. He was confident that it would pass.
Randy Williams, Wahnick, R.I. and president of the Young Republicans, said he had heard that the people were among the 18-year-old vote because of all the student unrest in Kansas, but he said he didn't think that would make much difference.
Debate Scarce at City Commission Candidate Forum
By MARY FROJEN
Kansan Staff Writer
Five of the six candidates for the Lawrence City Commission spoke at the meeting, which was sponsored jointly by the League of Commerce and about 120 people attended.
The supposedly controversial issues of Rick Walker and the Meninger-sponsored police-comunity relations program aroused little debate at the "Know Your Candidates" meeting Monday evening at South Junior High School.
Major Don Metzler introduced the candidates and read questions submitted from the audience. The candidates present were Charles F. Fisher, Mrs. Nancy Hambleton, J Oliver Harris, Edwin O. Stene and Peter A. Whitenight, Absent was candidate Jack Rose.
Fisher said he would be in favor of eliminating Walker's position because he had not "seen his effectiveness." But the other candidates agreed that such a position was needed as a link to students and street people, even if Walker was not the person to fill it.
effectiveness as assistant to the city manager and whether the Menninger program was a success.
WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM the audience
promoted the discussion of Rick Walker's
The only candidate who responded to the question about the Meninger program was Mrs. Ham堡姆, who said, "It's a positive step. Whether it's the best one, I don't know, but I do know that those who have participated, including myself, feel that it would be good if somehow the whole town could participate."
"I have my doubts about the way Walker's wrist was handled, but I would be in favor of such a position if its duties could be nailed down more specifically," said Whitenut.
EACH CANDIDATE gave a brief opening statement before the question and answer
Stone said that since he was retired he would have time to give his complete attention to duties on the commission. He said he would help him surround the city to give different neighborhoods a chance to discuss their particular problems. He said he supported the increase in the number of commissioners to seven and the distribution of them from specific districts within Lawrence.
Mrs. Har堡姆 suggested an annual address or report to the city by the commissioners of the Department of Justice.
a new sewage treatment plant and a second bridge to North Lawrence, she said, were among the big money items to be considered in the next few years.
Our problems are not just money, but
human relations," Mrs. Hambleton said. She proposed extending the Menninger program and said that her work with the League of Women Voters and other community groups would equip her to work with many segments of the community.
Rose's written statement, read by a spokesman, said that his qualifications included two specific areas which were related to Lawrence's needs; a background which could provide a link between the University and the community and his financial expertise.
Rose's statement read, "The taxpayers' revolt comes from a feeling that their money is not being well spent. My work experience is in money management and purchasing—trying to make organizations more efficient by saying them work and money."
ATTITUDES ABOUT conversation and development are important, especially as we move into the 21st century.
Writenight said that he was particularly concerned with the growth and development of his business.
HARRIS SAID he had many links with the young people and the black community and his love of music.
"The only way to answer that is that I'll make the time," he said.
"People are rebelling at paying more taxes," Fisher said, "but at the same time they are not."
Since he commuted from Kansas City, Harris said, many people had asked him how he would find the time to serve on the commission.
Fisher said his experience on the Douglas County Planning Commission would help him on the city commission. With good planning, he could also use money gradually for future projects.
in such areas as zoning and housing codes.
"There are some things we need to be about," said Harris. "law and order can come from justice and unity. By law and order I mean the peace and quiet that will come when our deeper problems are being dealt with."
Another question asked was whether the bus system should be subsidized, if it cannot, in fact, survive on its own. Mrs. Ham堡姆 said she would be hesitant to provide a subsidy on a long-term basis, but that "the time is not right" for promotional methods for the bus system.
On the issue of an auxiliary police force, Whitenight said that a force should not be armed. Harris said that Lawrence should be arrested for any other problems that led up to the current allocation.
"if we have such a force, it should clearly be responsible to the chief of police and not to you," he said.