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University Daily Kansan, November 7, 1980
News Briefs From United Press International
Mideast battle pushes oil prices up
spot market prices for heavy oil burned to heat apartments have surged 23 cents a gallon since the Iraq-Iran conflict began while home-heating oil prices have risen 4 to 5 cents a gallon, a petroleum newsletter said yesterday.
The spot market, where crude oil and refined products are sold to the highest bidder, is a sensitive barometer of price trends at wholesale and retail levels.
"The real effect of the Middle East war has been on heavy fuels used to heat apartment houses and to run industry," said VincentSG, editor of the
"Because of the loss of Mident production, European buyers are now running to the Caribbean and outbidding Americans for Venezuela's heavy steel."
Five U.S. oil companies—Mobil Oil Corp., Exxon Corp., Gulf Oil Corp., Sun Co. and Scallop Oil Co. have increased prices for home-heating oil by a penny a gallon in the last week.
U.S. continues hostage release efforts
Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher met yesterday in the longest session yet with the Algerian ambassador to Washington to pursue indirect contacts with Iranian officials for release of the $2 American hostages.
Iran has designated Algeria as the intermediary in negotiations to work out an accord to free the hostages after 369 days in captivity.
The U.S. effort toward a solution came despite a warning from Tehran that Ronald Reagan's election could delay the process. Iranian officials are apparently trying to decide whether to continue negotiations with the Carter administration or wait until President-elect Reagan takes office in January.
Both administrations have stressed that Carter is in charge until he leaves office Jan. 20.
State Department spokesman John Trattner said the United States remained in indirect communication with the Iranian government seeking a better understanding of the exact meaning of the four conditions set by Iran's Parliament for releasing the hostages.
Ttrattner said he would not be able to say when the U.S. answer would come but that the United States "did not feel under the pressure of time."
Announcing the conditions Sunday, the Iranian Parliament said that unless the United States responded promptly to the demands, the hostages
Panel recommends gas tax increase
TOPEKA-A -A legislative interim committee yesterday recommended a 3-cant a gallon tax increase on motor fuels which, combined with another recommendation of the committee, would give the state about $60 million in additional highway funds.
The Special Committee on Transportation made the fuel tax recommendation, which would raise about $45 million in fiscal 1982, a legislative research department staff member said. The panel's recommendations will be considered by the 1981 Legislature.
The state now has an 8-cant tax on each gallon of gasoline, 10 cents on diesel fuel and 7 cents on liquefied petroleum gas.
The committee also recommended that the Kansas Highway Patrol receive funds through the state's tax-federal general fund instead of its current financing, which is done through the highway fund. That would free about $15 million for highway use.
During the 1980 Legislative session, legislators had proposed bills to index the motor fuels tax so it could rise with inflation. Republicans had refused to support the plan unless Democrats joined in to support it, because they were not convinced that the tax would be used against them in election campaigns. The plan was never passed.
5 top detectives to join Atlanta case
ATLANTA - Five of the nation's top homicide detectives will assist
15 black-clad Police Safety Commissioner Leven said yesterday.
In a strongly worded telegram released by the mayor's office, Jackson
discriminatory reaffirmation of Atlanta and reapprehensible in light of the cruisit.
Brown said the five top investigators were called into the investigation as consultants to the 35-map special task force trying to solve the crimes.
Among the detectives, Brown said, is Pierce Brooks, former captain of the Los Angeles Police Department's Investigation Division. Brooks, now retired after 29 years of work in police work, solved the "Onion Field" police murder case made famous by Joseph Baughbuch's of the same name.
James Earl Ray seeks new hearing
NASHVILLE, Teen...James Earl Ray, serving a 99-year prison sentence for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., is trying to pardon a son.
Ray, S2, file a 38-page document with the state board of parole Wednesday seeking a "full and complete pardon" from his conviction for the slaying of King, who was killed by a sniper 12 years ago on the balcony of a Memphis motel.
*Iwas-is—my belief, based on associations during the 1967-68 period and other information, that elements associated with illegal trafficking in persons have been detected.*
He said that if the parole board granted the hearing, he would call witnesses and reveal new evidence about who financed the assassination.
In the document, Ray restated his claim that he was coerced into pleading guilty to the shooting and said the courts had refused numerous petitions to
The last petition for a trial in the case was denied by the state supreme court Sept. 2.
Parole board chairman Nevin Trammell said the panel would decide in about a week whether to grant the hearing. If the board decides to hold the hearing, he would ask for a judge's advice.
Conservative wins hinder ERA effort
WASHINGTON—A coalition of organizations supporting the Equal Rights Act and the pledged redoubled efforts to win ratification in the wake of Tuesday's election.
Representatives of the National Organization for Women, ERAMericana and several other organizations working for passage of the ERA conceded the vote.
"We know the women's movement is in for a tough four years," NOW president Eleanor Smeal said. "Supporters of women's rights cannot take progress for granted. Instead, they must come to the aid of this movement."
Thirty-five states have ratified the amendment, which says, "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." The amendment must be ratified by 38 states before the deadline of June 30. 1982.
Smaal said it was still too early to assess the impact of the elections on the state level, so the coalition has not reassessed what states will be targets of renewed efforts. However, the states of Florida, North Carolina, Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois are considered likely candidates.
Mary Crisp, the former Republican Party co-chairman who was ousted during the GOP convention because of her support for ERA, called on Reagan to re-examine his opposition to the amendment, and urged Republican women favoring ERA to mobilize in support of it.
Reagan won't interfere in hostage effort
By United Press International
At the same time, Reagan reaffirmed support for the Republican Party platform and its opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. He said in regard to the moral majority and other conservative groups that supported him, "I am not going to separate myself from the people that elected us."
LOS ANGELES—President-elect Ronald Reagan said the nation yesterday he would not interfere with President Carter's efforts to free the bank and would work with both Republicans and Democrats to form foreign policy.
In his first news conference since his victory Tuesday, Reagan named his tion
campaign staff and advisers to head his transition forces.
Senate Republican Leader Howard Baker will be major leader, Reagan said, even though he is believed too liberal by a number of conservative Republicans. Reagan said despite critical remarks from the right he plans on making full use of his vice president, George Bush.
REAGAN REFUSED to comment on whether he would run for re-election in 1844, saying, "I haven't thought beyond this question." But if there is any question, I feel fine."
Reagan said he wanted to "rebuild a bipartisan base to American foreign policy" and he named among his advisers in that area three Democrats—Sen. Henry Jackson of Washington, defeated Sen. Richard Stone of Florida
and Washington defense lawyer Edward Bennett, Williams
Reagan indicated there would be foreign policy changes in his administration that that the policy would not work with Democrats as well as Republicans.
He did name as top foreign policy advisers former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Richard Allen, who resigned from his staff in the closing days of the campaign when newspaper reports said he had used his position in the Nixon administration to his own financial benefit.
There is "absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing" by Allen, Reagan said.
"We are not going to interfere." Reagan said regarding the negotiations for the release of the 52 Americans held hostage in Iran. He said he wanted the
Iranians to know that President Carter was in charge of the situation until he left.
In dealing with the Soviet Union, Reagan said, he would wait until after he takes office before to begin training on a new arms limitation treaty.
REAGAN SAID he was prepared to take over the helm of government but would take no action before his inauguration.
At the White House, Chief of Staff Jack Watson said he has talked with Ed Meese, who will head the day-to-day team and meet with Meese next Wednesday.
Watson said Reagan and Vice President-elect George Bush would get daily intelligence briefings, including details about the materials, probably as soon as next week.
*1980 Beer Brewed by Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI.