UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN editorials
Unsigned editors represent the opinion of the Kanan
edition staff. Staged columns represent the views of
the authors.
September 14,1979
KCC order overdue
The Kansas Corporation Commission took what its chairman called a more aggressive stance Tuesday toward the Kansas Power and Light
Not only was the stance more aggressive than other encounters with KPL, but it was also much more encouraging for the average homeowner. The KCC cut a request by KPL for a $31 million rate increase to only $5.9 million—just 18.9 percent of the company's request.
Most of the increase is to come from trimming KPL's requested rate of return, the amount that investors have returned to them.
The overall rate of return was set at 9.1 by the KCC, instead of the exorbitant rate of 9.6 that had been requested.
WHAT THE KCC did by taking this stance was to stand up finally to the seemingly unending flow of rate increases requested by KPL. KPL already has been collecting $27.1 million in rate increases since last September, when the company paid a $30.9 million jump in their monthly bills. Tuesday's KCC order makes that interim request final.
KCC made a few other strong stunts Tuesday that have been a long time coming. In the past KPL actually had given preferential rates to those homes that were all electric. Now, due to the KCC's order, those preferential rates are no longer possible, although some cheaper rates are still available
to all-electric homeowners during winter hours.
The KCC said all-electric homeowners should pay the same as other consumers, especially in those peak demand times of summer when air-conditioners are hardier and harder to maintain. Air conditioners have gone unnoticed or improved far too long.
Now, as it should be, it will be up to KPL to rationalize and prove that the costs of their advertising should be passed off to the public.
IN ADDITION, the KCC got guty enough to change its approach to the question of who pays the cost of KPI advertising. In the past, it was up to KCC to show that the costs of a company would not be charged to the rate-navers.
KPL, as expected, is upset about the new orders handed down this week. KPL officials plan to seek a rehearing by the KCC. And investors may be angry about their reduced rate of return.
But the average Kansas homeowner, who, because of last year's interim increase saw his monthly bill shoot up $3.30, is going to be ecstatic that he only has a 70 cent increase this time period, instead of KPL's suggested $3.80.
In taking the strong stances that it did Tuesday, the KCC recognized the fact that KPL can just as effectively trim their own fat as they have been in many of those bad budgets of thousands of electrical consumers throughout Kansas.
Dykes prunes plant sale, status
To the editor
I am a freshman this year, and so far KU is great! However, I am a little concerned about the administration, as are many people at this point.
Everybody and his dog knows that Chancellor Archie is very alert to community public opinion, and is easily swayed by it. And now, it seems that the Chancellor may have said with a local money-hungry plant salesman named Fred Pence, who is mad because the Commission on the Status of Women made a few backs selling plants last week.
He thinks students should have bought IHs plants. Now, his hip flapping may put an arm on his shoulder and make him camped, and arch? Or Arch says that it is "highly doubtful" that such a sale will be allowed
Again it seems that Dykes is intent on lowering his status among students to a teacher. But he doesn't seem to be shouldered to drag students down the ladder with him. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is organizing an organization at KU, and seems to be interested in sponsoring various activities at KU.
I agree with student body president, Margaret Berlin that students should have the opportunity to attend college. I also urge all students to get involved and let Archie and the Student Senate know what
David Kersley
Ottawa freshman
Answers, not 'stink,
wanted in plant sale
The Facts.
After seeing a tent on the campus at 10th and Mississippi on Labor Day, I phone the Chancellor. I also wrote him a letter asking questions. The letter was signed by about
I wrote the Board of Regents asking them some questions. I also sent a copy of an ad.
I appeared before the City Commission, and I asked them some questions. I made a statement.
In my opinion, the sale in the tent is unfair competition.
I did not threaten anyone, even though I have been threatened.
I did not stir up a "stink." If there was a "stink." I didn't do it.
I did not sue
I think it would be sad, said day in the life of an American if you cannot state an opinion or ask questions of the leaders, wherever they are.
I think I have earned a right in the world to do these things. Are you one who would deny me those rights?
Fred Pence
owner, Pence Garden Centers
Kansan overlooked Rogues canoe team
To the editor:
Oh forshear the playfulness of summer, all is won for me. With this Monday's issue of the prevailing social consciousness we call the Kanan, I have been shocked once again
KANSAN letters
Because I feel that readers were misled due to the placement of essential facts in the book, the KSate Cause Cure is an important element of my biannual slamming of a paper which insists on spearing illtorme, depression and anxiety on an already depressed, broken and psychotic patient.
into the reality that summer solitude is over
and another semester of drudgery is here.
Since a KU canoe队crossed the finish line first, was registered and abided by all of their teammates. The professional to headline 'KU team bests KState in Kau Bay River Rivalry?' Then the reporter could have gone on to mention that they were crowned for the trophy. After all, the KU Tau Kappa Epsilon Rogues canoe队 won, and, like it or not, they were represented by a UAHU team.
First of all, I don't understand why our teachers must insist on providing a negative grade to students. The headline and first five paragraphs of the canoe race article explain the reasons.
If nothing else, wouldn't you have been responsible to write that the K-State residence halls beat the KU residence halls? Please don't offend the KU students by claiming that AURH resident halls are the best in the state. Students who have kU-K State confrontations.
Second paragraph: "The leaders beat the first KU team by more than 15 minutes." The second paragraph: "and were the first KU team to cross the finish line. Are you K-State journalism
In the first paragraph, the article states that ... and once again K-State beat the KU women, a group of feminists, only a figure of speech), the KU TRE KORES beat the closest K-State entry by an hour. With in mind, how much impact do K-State beat the naddles off of KU?
Third paragraph: "The first KU canoe to finish was Scholl Hall." The Rogues were first, not the first AUHR team, but none-theless the first KU canoe.
This negative slant chosen by the Kansan seems somewhat unjust, considering many students merely skin through the paper.
I feel this is just one of many examples over the past four years when the Kansan students have been compelled of KU students of not being biased toward certain living or other
After all, the Kanan is the school paper. Wouldn't it be more responsive to student needs for it to shed a positive light over its educational institution with its literary heritage?
It's not until the sixth paragraph that we have the slight mention that a KU team actually finished first.
With its constant reverberations of this type of literary pestilence, I feel a more equitable name for our nationally-renowned author might be the University Daily Plague.
Randy O'Boyle Topeka senior
When Richard Nixon made his two final Supreme Court appointments in 1971 he made a remark which has frustrated many liberals, probably because of the sharp truth
Court's style rides on 1980 election
"Presidents come and go," the former president said, "but the Supreme Court, through its actions, goes on forever."
And forever it has seemed like for many liberals decrying the conservative Burger Court, Chief Justice Warren Burger criticized the court for establishing a court which has been, quite lamentably for many, ultra-conservative when contrasted to the liberal Warren Burger.
The present court is a Nixon dominated one. In fact, of the nine Supreme Court cases in which he has been involved, are, quite predictably, conservative. Burke, who served as the Chief Justice Powell and William Rehberg form a contrast between what is at times ineparable and which nearly always agrees that the right to constitutional issues.
Then there are two justices who are predictably liberal-Thurgood Marshall and William Brennan. More often than not, the liberal element of the Warren Court has been lost in the rightist surge managing to overpower the when moderate three shift in the left.
THERE IS a moderate group composed of Justices Byron White, Potter Stewart and John Paul Stevens, the latest annotée.
COLUMNIST
david
preston
Reviewing again what Nixon said in 1971, *Presidents come and go.* There is a growing emphasis on the Supreme Court. This relates to the Supreme Court and its justice quite nicely if you are a conservative lawyer.
CHANCES ARE好 that the president makes marked advances to the opportunity to make marked advancements to cause the men on the high court are aging and it appears to be time for at least a couple more.
The problem, at least as liberals see it, is that the two most aged and alluring Marks are able to defy fear, even when reported feeling it. It may not be realistic to believe that they will remain active on the ground during their retirement.
So a major but often-overlooked aspect of the 1890 presidential race is that the new president will more than likely have the support of the two main candidates and Brennan, Chancees are also fair that Burger, who is over 70 in good health, and Powell who is also over 70, could join the list of inactive voters. A new president would have an influential effect on the makeup of the court.
WHILE IT is hard to speculate, one couse
has decided to replace Marshall and Bremner
and working to fill any other spit with
eough liberal influence to counteract the
blow.
Thurgood Marshall
John Connally or Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, would be in a position to perpetuate the conservative image of the justices and would welcome the opportunity
to do so. The appointments of someone who is more ambivalent, someone such as Jimmy Carter, Howard Baker, or George Bush, would be interesting to watch.
And the input of the courts into liberal-conservative issues is of course, vitally important to the overall program of the two groups. The court has in the past several years, handed down rulings which have held that both of liberal and conservative policies.
IT HAS DECIDED, or at least confronted, such major societal issues as minority job opportunities, freedom of the press and free speech. The conference also favors the favor of conservative sentiment, especially in the Bakke and Weber cases, which decisions never really express the勒的 power to formulate firmative action programs, and in First Amendment cases, which have upset the liberal press because by limitations put upon them in regard to libel and free coverage of
William J. Brennan, Jr.
There is the chance that in the election of a Commonly or Reagan to the presidency that a seat should be vacant, one must maintain a seat on the bench for another four years until an more favorable executive candidate is elected.
Therefore the election in 1890 will be a major indicator of what type of complexion the court will have in the next decade.
Kennedy would get heartfelt support
Two days ago, a Kansas City television news show aired the results of an on-the-street canvass it took on the possibility of winning Kennedy running for president.
One woman in her mid-20s said that if Kennedy ran, "it would be the best thing that ever happened."
A young man said, "Think of that! Another Kennedy!"
And a woman in her mid-30s answered,
"Of course. How could we go wrong with another Kennedy?"
melissa COLUMNIST thompson
How can they say that? Another Kennedy. Being in the same age range as these young people, we must base their political choices on. Upon graduation, we may be deprived of when the three were very young? Or
Those three people were somewhere between the ages of four and 14 when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. They were between 10 and 19 when Robert Kennedy was killed.
upon historical study of the two dead men's ideologies? Lumping the politics of a living man with those of his dead brothers is in those—and possible dangerous—practice.
Politics must seem strange to a child. Such a boring thing, being concerned about a bunch of people who give speeches and stand up for what they believe in listening to people talk about dull things.
I guess I thought the same about politics when I was a child. In school, we were all Republicans. We were President's presidents were elected. So we dabbled in politics as our olders did, only half-
During the 1968 race between Hubert Hurphrey and Richard Nixon, we staged a
mock campaign and election in our sixth grade class. People who didn't stutter too much were chosen to give the speeches. The teacher arithmetic got to take polls and count votes.
We mouthed all the slogans that were on our elders' lips and we tried to make our numbers fall close to the real poll.
We didn't learn too much about issues or questions, and we understand vague how much power policymaking wield. All that mattered was identifying with either a dome or an elephant and then running with it to win the war.
What we did learn was how easy it was to grab onto a candidate who had personal appeal—somebody who excited us, somebody we could be loyal to.
Now, after having voted in one presidential election, realize that my opinion is much the same way as in sixth grade, with the heart, not the head. I think I’m typical.
After studying issues and candidates'
platforms, after reading news stories and editors, and listening to debates, most people's decisions are last-minute and their decisions are they. Are they felt, not consciously made.
That is why it will be easy for Edward Kennedy if he runs. People will feel he should have their support, not think he should have it.
This near-blind support is puzzling at times. People must subconsciliate think the Kennedy boys were or are all the same. The answer is no, they weren't at times as if he were taking a course his brothers took before him. They did well at the subject. Maybe his strong points are
If he runs, voters will exclaim, "Ah Teddy! Pick up where your brothers left off!"
So what if he leads us down a rocky path? If the decision to support him was made without thought, only feeling, what then do he need? It is shortened, short-lenghtened. Ignorance is no excuse.
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