UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN editorials
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Kansan editorial staff. Signed columns represent the views of only the writers.
OCTOBER 24,1978
Sacrifice necessary
In a move designed to avert another environmental showdown like the Tellico Dum confrontation, Congress last week approved a bill that would permit exemptions to the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
It is hoped that the legislation, designed to reauthorize and extend the law 18 months, will soothe the ruffed feathers of those who said the five-year-old law was inflexible and stood as an obstacle to "progress," such as in the case of the Tennessee Valley Authority Dam.
For conservationists, the legislation with its new exemption clause has been a lesson in political compromise. Ideally, environmental preservation should be a common goal, making exemptions to the law unnecessary. But such an utopian dream is not to be.
SOCIETY AND ITS continual demand for more—more of nearly every commodity—forces a sacrifice, usually of our environmental quality.
Wisely, most conservationists backed the exemption amendment, knowing that a compromise was necessary to ensure the law's continuation. If the reauthorization had failed, many endangered species would have been doomed. The environmental loss would have been immeasurable.
Under the original Endangered Species Act, which expired Oct. 1, federal agencies could not take any action that posed a threat to an endangered species or its habitat. It was upon this act 'the Supreme Court based its ruling that spared the snail
darter and stymied the Tellico Dam project.
NOW, HOWEVER, a federal review board, called the Endangered Species Commission, or the extinction committee, as some refer to it, can grant exemptions to the law if it is determined that the benefit of the project outweighs the value of preserving the species.
Although there is potential for abuse of the exemption clause, lawmakers did provide some safeguards. Agencies wanting an exemption must first consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether alternatives to the project exist.
Only after this session will the request be submitted to the so-called extinction committee, which requires a vote of five of its seven members to grant the exemption and the possible extinction of a species.
FOR PURISTS in the conservation movement, the bill, which President Carter is expected to sign into law, seemed unnecessary. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the 5,000 cases reviewed under the old law, only 3—one being Tellico—produced an irresolvable conflict between project and species and had to be decided by the courts.
Compromising on the reauthorization bill, no matter how distasteful, was politically necessary for conservationists. But it is hoped that their retreat in this battle will not become the norm and that the all-important war for conservation will continue.
She was born July 25 in Oldham, England, and the world was amazed. Louise Brown, daughter of Lesley and Gilbert John Brown, was the world's first test tube baby.
Test tube babies raise moral issues
She was born Oct. 3 in Calcutta, India, and the world was interested. The daughter of Bela and Pravat Kurna Agarwal was the world's second test tube baby.
She was born anywhere a few years later
and didn't care. Nobody was inter-
ested in what she did.
Test tube babies: For the moment, the thought is both exciting and frightening. But as more and more are born, the thought won't be given a second thought.
The concept of test tube babies has been
proven to be a miracle and a curse. And it should be
reduced.
"ALL WE WANT is to be a normal family. Having a normal baby is our dear wish." Those were the words of the Browns shortly before their daughter, Louise, was born.
When she was born, the entire world looked on. British newspapers called her "Our Miracle Baby," "Baby of the Child," "Milton's Midnight." They wanted to "Tell the World!"
The process is a delicate one that has been researched with little luck for many years. It involves removing one or more eggs from one of the woman's ovaries, placing them in a lace-like net and feeding them to the husband's sperm. After a few days, the concept is placed in the mother's womb.
Louise Brown was indeed a great step for science. And her birth gave great hope to many couples around the world who were unable to have children because of problems with a woman's fallopian tubes. In the United States, 10 percent of all married women who want to bear children reportedly cannot.
FOR THESE couples who can't have children, the future looks bright. But are these first two laboratory conceived babies a sign of times to come? Probably not.
One researcher said, "After all test tube babies aren't going to be popping out like babies."
And Lesley Brown's gynecologist, Patrick Steeple, said, "All that I am interested in is how to help women who are being denied a baby because their tubes are incapable of doing their small part." Steeple and Robert Edwards, a Cambridge University drive conduct experiments on in vitro (Latin for in glass) fertilization for 10 years.
Still, Steptoe and Edwards obviously can't
control the process. It’s a bit far-fetched, but shades of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” do come to mind—the absence of parenthood and the presence of baby hatch-
THE QUESTION to be asked must be how much further we should go in our experiments with nature. Until now, the experiments have been admirable and largely beneficial, but we may soon overstep our boundaries.
No test tube births have been reported in the United States. In 1975, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare was asked to investigate whether fertilization unless the experiments were
first approved by a national ethics advisory board. But test tube babies probably will come to America. Even now the baby must be restricted to Great Britain and India.
Geneticist Robert Berry, a consultant to a board being set up by the Church of England to consider issues such as test tube cultures and the use of vitro procedure for couples like the Browns.
colpies like the brows.
BUT HE also is disturbed by the expanse of other logical questions. "We're on a slippery rope. Western society is built around the family; once you divorce sex from procreation, what happens to the family?"
Other ethical questions have been raised by leading theologists and scientists. What could prevent a scientist from taking a fertilized egg from one woman and implanting it in another who would serve as a surrogate?
Columnist George Will has a reasonable objection to the experiments. He insists that he was not involved.
suvenet our sense of mystery and so our reverence for life." he says.
Man probably won't have the capabilities to take reproduction methods much further than the test tube baby for many years—the argument over cloning still goes on—but undeniably man is coming closer. And that is frightening.
That potential can be developed too far. We must not failure that time comes near
Science writer Isaac Asimov warns in his argument for control of the new technology, "Scientists develop a potential. Governments and people decide how to use that technology."
A doctor at Johns Hopkins University reportedly has succeeded in keeping mice embryos alive outside the mother's womb for eight-and-a-half days after fertilization, almost half the typical 19 day gestation period. That would be the ultimate test tube baby: both conceived and developed outside the mother.
When that process is done to humans, it will be time to stop.
Finding good conservatives for Cabinet a difficult task
By ANTHONY HARRIGAN
N. Y. Times Feature
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—As conservatives look to the 1980 presidential contest, a decyman a discern of eminently intelligent candidates for presiding electors.
These include former Governor Ronald Reagan, former Secretary of the Treasury William Simon and U.S. Repres-
tative Philip M. Crane. They know that any one of these policies could threaten the economic foreign and defense policies and a stronger free market economy policy.
A conservative president-elect would face some difficulty, however, in staffing a new administration. Conservatives have been excluded from important government posts for so long that there isn't a large cadre of experienced persons for key policy-makers. They are also conserved academics, but a sensible conservative president would avoid excessive reliance on professional types.
NEVERTHELESS, a strong conservative team could be assembled. It would be necessary for several of the losers in the struggle for the presidential nomination to accept major Cabinet positions; search for qualified officials should begin whenever.
It's likely that roary commentators will produce lists of possible key officials in a conservative administration. The following slate might be considered if Governor Reagan were nominated and elected:
- Secretary of State: Former U.S. Senator James L. Buckley. His name commands respect in Congress and the country. He has the education, personal background, philosophical orientation and prudence to conduct foreign relations for the United States.
- president. *Secretary of Defense: Former Texas Governor John Connell. If he fails to win the presidential nomination, he certainly would be the leading contender for this key Cabinet post. As a former secretary of the navy, former secretary of the treasury, and former governor of a large state, he has been required to acquire the direct activities of the Defense Department.
- SECRETARY OF THE Treasury: U.S. Representative Philip M. Crane surely would need top consideration for this post if he failed to win the GOP presidential nomination. A member of the Ways and Means Committee and a former university
professor with a keen interest in all phases of domestic and international economics, Congressman Crane is well-equipped to translate free market economic philosophy into Treasury policy.
- Secretary of Commerce: Joseph Coors, president of the Adolph Coors Co. of Colorado. He is one of the most outspoken free enterprises in the business community, a businessman whose philosophies are compatible with any one of the contemptuous contenders.
- Secretary of Labor: Anne Armstrong, former U.S. Ambassador to Britain. Armstrong would provide a conservative president with the articulate, persuasive spokesman he would need on labor issues. A good ambassador would be needed, for the president undoubtedly would be seeking legislation aimed at strengthening union monopoly and bringing union under the antitrust law.
- SECRETARY OF Health, Education and Welfare: John Howard, director of the Rockford College Institute in Illinois. A scholar and administrator with strong conservative principles and experience on presidential panels, Howard would be an ideal choice for a conservative administration that sought to dismantle many of HEW's programs.
- Secretary of Energy; Governor Dixie Lee Ray of Washington, a Democrat and forceful advocate of nuclear power.
- At the White House, the new president need an outstanding foreign affairs-defense expert to direct the National Security Council Richard F. Stair, director of International Affairs, to the President who would receive consideration from a conservative president-elect.
- Ambassador to the United Nations: Lev Dobriansky of Georgetown University. As former head of the Captive Nations Assembly, Dobriansky has an international reputation as a crusader against tyranny.
If a careful, long-range study of personnel requirements were made, a new conservative government would find the talent and experience needed to conduct the nation's business in an effective manner.
Anthony Harrigan is executive vice president of the United States Industrial Council in Nashville and the author of books on foreign and military issues and national affairs.
Art library split raises question of responsibility
Regarding the recent controversy over moving the art library to Spencer Art Museum, I would like to pose the following questions:
To the editor:
1) Why should Spencer Art Museum be established as "one of the country's best museum teaching facilities." to quote Dil Shankel, at the expense of availability of the
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resources for research and teaching campus-wide?
2) Why was a commitment made to move the art library without the consultation or consent of the humanities' chairmen, among others?
It seems to me that the University administration has lost its decision-making power in this matter. If I knew who does hold the power to change her or his mind, perhaps I would know where to send my petition.
When, and to whom was this "honest,
good faith commitment," again to quote
SHAHAR.
Politics is not job of attorney general
Donna Carrison Gardner The Hague, Netherlands, senior
To the editor:
In response to Claire McCurdy's headlined letter of Oct. 18 supporting the campaign of Bob Stephan, I would like to corrections to several statements made.
Ms. McCurdy is correct in her statement "the attorney general's main responsibility, is to act effectively as the state's chief law officer." However, stating "as the chief lawyer for all the people of Kansas, it would be his job to support the majority" in its views is definitely in error. Responding to that criticism, Ms. McCurdy of Kansans to reinstate capital punishment," contrary to Ms. McCurdy's opinion, is espousing a political viewpoint.
The job of the attorney general is to interpret the laws of the state of Kansas, not to interpret the laws of the state of Texas, spokesperson for that public opinion. The proper persons to seek out for expression and implementation of public policy are the members of the Kansas Legislature and the
Gary Kessler Lawrence law student
Sudden starts, stops cause bus mishaps
To the editor:
How many times you have gotten into a crowded KU bus, gotten yourself barely situated, only to be thrown off balance when the driver steps on the gas pedal?
What's even worse is the domino effect created when one person is thrown off balance, triggering a chain reaction of failing students, books and debris.
I survived with little more than pain and insomnia, but how many other students did it take?
The morning of Oct. 9, a particularly damp and dreary one, I was a victim of a bus mishag. As the driver started the bus in motion, I slipped on the wet floor and fet tearing off my shoe. For my part, the driver was kind enough to bump me by Watkins Hospital for X-rays.
Liz Hoppe
I realize the bus drivers have a schedule to adhere to, but how much time does abruptly drop?
Liz Hoppe Overland Park sophomore
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Managing Editor Jerry Sass
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