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Tuesday. February 4, 1975
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN
Editorials, columns and letters published on this page reflect only the opinions of the writers.
94th politics same
New politics for old! That was the battlecry of the members of the 94th Congress when it convened earlier this year.
The new House of Representatives, which includes 75 freshmen Democrats, proceeded to push for reforms and it has been successful in replacing many of the old, ineffective committee chairmen.
Among the most noteworthy of the House's accomplishments was the replacement of Rep. Wilbur Mills, D-Ark., with a Al Uliam, D-Ore. Some of the former have 'other impressive,' however, have been less impressive.
Last week Rep. Leonor Sullivan, D-Mo., the sponsor of more consumer legislation than any other member of Congress, was deposed as chairman of the consumer affairs subcommittee.
Sullivan said she was defeated because she supported Rep. Wright Patman, D-Tex., to remain as House banking committee chairman. Therefore, Rep. Henry Reuss, D-Wis., who beat Patman, and his supporters punished her. The consumer affairs panel is a subcommittee of the banking committee.
In addition to being the sponsor of more consumer legislation than any other member of Congress, Sullivan was the first member of the House to receive the Consumer Federation of America's highest award three years ago. She was the initiator of the food stamp program.
Sullivan said she wasn't surprised that a good old-fashioned political deal had been made and that she was the victim.
"If I had thought it was a reflection on my work in writing legislation, I'd be crushed," she said. "But I am not crushed. I know why this was done. I don't regret my work for Me. Ratman one hit."
Besides removing Sullivan, the committee elected Rep. Thomas Rees, D-Calif., as chairman of the international trade, investment and monetary policy committee. Rees' credentials for the position mainly consisted of one: He managed Reuss' campaign.
If one wishes to be pragmatic, Sullivan took the wrong side in a party squabble and lost. However, she did not give up the record, she will be greatly missed.
Whether Rees will prove to be a competent and effective legislator instead of a political crony is unknown.
There is nothing unusual about political deals in Congress. Most people have accepted this spoils system as part of American politics.
It is unfortunate and a bit hypocritical, however, that such practices should be in a way consistently bragged that it plans to cleanse itself.
Perhaps the reforms are new, but the politics are the same ones that have been around for years. The color still appears to be a soiled gray. —Kenn Louden
By ROY CLEVENGER
News Editor
Error stamps mail service
Probably no federal agency affects so many people so directly so often as the United States Postal Service. Every邮政的the postal service affects someone in a very personal way.
Four years ago, the United States Post Office Department was a branch of the executive department. It was the least efficient of government
No postal service has ever escaped criticism. Yet rarely has the criticism been as strong as it is currently against the Post Office Service, which is still in its infancy as a private corporation.
bureaus, wracked by cronyism,
ancient equipment and out-of-
date sorting methods.
On July 1, 1971, the Post Office Department became the U.S. Postal Service. Within a decade, it was hoped, the efficiency of the past two centuries would disappear.
It hasn't turned out that way, largely because the postal service has aimed at a mighty goal, one that men as able as women can attain, the first postmaster general, never were able to achieve.
Frustration has arisen also because the postal service has embarked on a seemingly contradictory pair of actions: cutting costs and modernizing at the same time.
The postal service has added
new sorting machines, built regional centers for handling mail and simultaneously reduced its employees by 30,000. The result, ideally, is a slimmer, sharper poster ser-
problem for the postal service.
The corporation recognizes that and has begun a massive campaign of catering to stamp collectors and advertising its lesser-known services.
Every mistake by the postal service affects someone in a very personal way.
"SAY WHO TOOK MY PARKING PLACE?"
vice, far more efficient than its predecessor. But the implementation of these two methods is the way for possible disaster.
Postal officials contend that mail is processed faster and more efficiently than in 1971. Although vast amounts of capital and a continuing subsidy will be needed, the service has taken the first halting steps toward self-sufficiency, they say.
The postal service has been hit especially hard by union contract demands, which were a major factor when postal rates increased two cents last year. They are increasing by 10 cents by summer. Postal officials have already disclosed that they will seek an increase of two or three cents to be implemented by July.
Postal officials say they
During this session, a Congressional subcommittee will investigate charges that the postal service has improperly competed with private industry with some of its products (like foam-padded envelopes) and items from Congregationalism. Congressional薄薄 millions of dollars on unproductive advertising.
Postal officials also dispute charges of inefficient transmittal. They say that 85 per cent of all local mail is delivered the next day and that 99 per cent of all business days are four business days of mailing.
One source of controversy throughout the short history of the postal service has been Elmer Ted Klassen, the last postmaster general of the Post Office Department and the first
Postal officials contend that mail is processed faster and more efficiently than in 1971.
handle efficiently the vast majority of the more than 90 billion pieces of mail sent every year. But, they explain, an answer is that the per cent would generate 90,000,000 complaints a year.
Postal errors seem far more massive than they actually are. People don't remember the hundreds of pieces of mail they received promptly. What they do remember is the one letter in their desk that was its destination, the one package that was ripped open.
All those memories produce a substantial public relations
of the U.S. Postal Service.
Critics say he has been ineffectual and apathetic and that his greatest efforts have been devoted to refurbishing his offices.
The Justice Department is reported to be investigating evidence sent to it by members of Congress alleging that Klassen may have been involved in bribery.
New Klassen, 66, is retiring.
He will be replaced Feb. 15 by
Joshua Hale, who will
change the change in command and
expected rate increase are
likely to produce major innovations.
The postal service jones with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration last September to initiate transmission of mail programs. The program, letters called Mailgrams are transported across country by satellite and delivered the next day by the local post office. The system, which is substantially less than telegrams, has received an enthusiastic response.
Express mail service is another innovation under consideration. With this program, mail sent from certain designated cities is guaranteed to be delivered the next day in any of the 405 cities in the network.
The postal service is training its employees more intensively than ever before and is relying entirely on the merit system in the selection of postmasters, in the considered choice political jobs.
But so many humans are thousands of fallible humans handling billions of pieces of food, and many will be vast numbers of errors. Human diligence can't completely eliminate them; nor automation. No postal service can ever be perfect.
Probably no organization could process and deliver a letter for a dime, no matter how
The realities of the energy and economic crunches have convinced Americans that they can't get something for nothing.And that is the basic problem with the postal service.
All these innovations will mean little unless the postal service can control its greatest enemy, human error. Most errors made in the handling of mail are caused by mistakes made by postal clerks, sorters and letter carriers. Those errors are the hardest to catch and they can produce the worst problems.
The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce is surveying businessmen to see whether their needs would support the creation of a law firm. The Lawrence Aviation Inc. would transport mail to Kansas City, from where it would be sent by air to other cities served by the express mail program. The office would be situated significantly higher than with regular air mail, but next-day delivery would be guaranteed.
modern or efficient it was. Perhaps that has been the main failing of U. postal operations, that they have for too long let Americans enjoy disproportionately cheap mail service.
It is a fact that an American pays far less for sending a letter than his counterparts in many European countries that have far less efficient postal services.
The realities of the energy and economic crunches have convinced Americans that they can't get something for nothing. And that is the basic problem for most Americans. Americans don't finance in high mail rates they must pay in subsidies funded by taxpayers.
The Postal Service, an operation of vital and direct concern to almost everyone, has too long been given little attention. Yet, miracles have been expected from it, and no one should be surprised that the miracles haven't come.
Readers respond
My room was comfortable spotlessly clean but not sterile
To the Editor:
I recently spent several days in Watkins Hospital with flu and was quite impressed by the hospital. Having never been hospitalized before I suspected that friendly doctors, helpful nurses and a loving atmosphere were important to my life. Webby epilogues. I was surprised to find them at a college hospital.
Car dealers pick up the pieces
By STEVEN LEWIS Contributing Writer
The ever-increasing cost of gasoline has pretty much devastated the automobile industry. Dealers are being forced to make some interesting changes, and recently I decided to take advantage of the economic crunch and buy a new car.
I picked up some odds and ends from around home and took off for John Smith's Chrysler-Plymouth.
My first impression of Smith's car lot was one of astonishment. It was full of new cars, and most of them were
buried under huge tumbleweeds that had blown from a nearby field.
The entire place looked deserted, but an "OPEN" sign on the door encouraged me to look in. As he entered the door, my eye caught sight of a man sitting alone at a desk. He appeared startled by my entry, but in no time he gathered his arms and came charging toward me.
"Congratulations, sir! Just for walking through the door of John Smith's Chrysler-Plymouth, you are now $500 richer! Hi! My name is John Smith."
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I was surprised by the enthusiastic reception the man was giving me, especially in view that his clothes were tattered and his body pale and gaunt.
"When do I get my $500?" I asked.
"I've been thinking about it, Mr. Smith. I'm a student, though, and I don't have much money."
"As soon as you've decided on which car you want," Smith replied. "You do want a new car, don't you?"
"That's all right. At John Smith's Chrysler-Plymouth, the customers make the deals!"
"I'm glad to hear that. How much will you give me for my old 64 Plymouth? It's that green car out front."
"Then what will you give me for what's under the hood?" "I have no need, mother."
"Sir, without even looking under the hood I'll give you another $50."
"The extras, Mr. Smith. What will you give me for the extras?"
"I beg your pardon, sir?"
“This is quite unusual, sir. You sold me the car, but now you insist on selling it to me again piece by piece.”
"All right. I'll give you $300 more for everything under the hood. Now, would you like to pick out a new car?"
"Extras, sir? You mean the engine doesn't come with the car?"
I've got a brand new spare tire in the trunk. And I've got a jack that's in excellent condition. What'll you give me for them?"
"Not my engine. Mr. Smith.
My car may look old, but it runs
a long time on a gallon of gas.
I'll probably get the gas stations
that it does."
"I'm sorry I took so much of your time, Mr. Smith."
"Wait a minute, Mr. Smith.
youllin, mar. Smith.
"No-no! Don't go! I'll give you $1M for your back and tail."
"No-no! Don't go! I'll give you $100 for your jack and tire." "That's very generous of you,
"Would there be anything else, sir?"
"But I did bring my briefcase with me, Mr. Smith."
That's very generous of you, Mr. Smith. I'll take it."
"No. I'll throw in all the other extras free-of-charge."
"All right! I'll give you $50 for it!"
"Oh no, Mr. Smith. You misunderstand. My briefcase isn't for sale, I could never sell my briefcase. It was the last thing my late grandmother gave me."
"Thank you, sir."
"How stupid of me, sir. I anologize."
"Oh that's okay. Mr. Smith. I've got some things inside my briefcase that you can have. How much would you give me for a term paper on the ethics of man sexuality? I got an Art on it!"
The food was good if you like all American meat and potato meals (which I don't really, but they can't please everyone). They offered me fruit juices in the afternoon and ice cream for a bedtime snack and generally did a better job than my own mother (no offence, Mom). The doctors and nurses were more generous than a Waldorf-Astoria room servant with a $1 tip in his hand.
Starting off the semester with the flu was a drag, but it could have been a lot worse. My thanks to everyone who helped make my unfortunate stay at Watkins so pleasant.
Lee Knox
Lee Knox Lake Quivira Junior
Changes trivial
I looked with disappointment at the article in last Monday's paper entitled "Board Proposes Cuts in Parking Zone Rates." had hoped that the board would contribute something subversive to the prevention of the parking situation at KU.
What is needed are profound changes in the parking situation, not trivial readings, based on geographic distributions.
—Bring into question a policy which excludes large numbers of potential parkers and renders parking zones unused.
Dispel from your minds the illusion that the parking situation at KU needs only induction tampering to make it
**Quiz yourself about the rationality of having a traffic police empire (that can levy parking fines five times greater than those by the addition of Lawrence Browne to the injury of permit fees.**
Even the untrained eye can observe that parking zones of all descriptions are running about half full on the average. If the owner halves full parking zones in light of the cushort competition for city street positions? It seems senseless to marginally adjust zone fees to redistribute when zones are going unused.
Let us admit that some parking restrictions and may be desirable to prevent chaos, but let us also admit that unused parking facilities are senseless landscape and melesse to anyone.
Despite their locations, X- and O-zones are in great demand because the rates for parking in these zones are reasonable compared to the cost for permits for other zones.
Let me make a few suggestions to the board, the University Council and the chancellor:
Craig G. Heatwole Lawrence Graduate Student
Attack attacked To the Editor:
At this point the University should be encouraging the use of ever expanding parking facilities or building use. Either reduce the permit fees substantially or turn unused zoned space over to Buildings and Grounds and then make parks out of them.
The Kansan has done it again. My hearty celebrations on top of it have been covered and cover contained in the Monday, Jan. 27, Kansan. The
Although Miss Gump may feel she is doing a service to the University community, it is my thought that this article is an example of irresponsible journalism, although I am one of the strongest supporters of a free press, it is a duty of my support of free press if I didn't beseach the press, especially in the responsibility they have to the public to keep editors on the editorial page and to distinguish between fact and opinion.
blatant attack upon Jerry Williams is utterly nauseating to me.
Williams is under no obligation whatsoever to provide the Kanans or any other person or body evidence or information to prove the allegation against the group. Although some of those in the journalistic profession may forget, our form of government and justice guarantee any person the presumption of innocence of any charged individual. We will not permit anyone until the person making the charge proves the truth of his charge.
Timothy A. Albertson Lawrence Sophomore
Another instance of the Kansan's policy of butchering the truth appears in the next to the last paragraph, the second one, beginning. It is the apparent intent of the Kansan to leave the impression that the Baker University dean's noncomment on Williams's student butchery is justified by the truth of the allegations levied at Williams.
Manna unlikely
To the Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to point out to the pushers of the 'famine' that the reason for the massing of the world won't be saved by Jesus Christ, when and if he returns, because they believe it is necessary to recall that it is necessary to be saved (?) for one to believe.
The "Fat Cats" get over again.
Thomas S. McClenaghan Lawrence senior