4
Thursday, February 17, 1977
University Dally Kansan
Comment
Opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Kansas or the School of Journalism
Gas plight serious
President Ford's request a few years ago that Americans "bite the bullet" to fight inflation produced a lot of smokeried, fodder in comic comics and, generally, very few results.
Now Americans face another problem: a natural gas shortage. Again, they are asked to
but they'd better take things a bit more seriously now than they did when Ford was warning about inflation. This time, the country faces an immediate problem that will require some kind of solution; the country puts to action the only long-term solution; deactivation of natural gas prices.
Deregulation means lifting the price ceiling off interstate natural gas—that is, gas produced in one state and sold in another. That, in turn, means that prices will jump.
TO CONSUMERS AND some Congressmen, it all seems very unfair. They theorize that the price now paid is fair and that the only reason there isn't enough gas is that companies have been too busy counting their gold to bring new supplies out of the ground.
But it's not that simple. The fact is that Congress has, through price regulation, squelchecled government to develop infrastructural gas networks that would take the gas to places that need it most.
It is a tangled web that Congress has woven around our natural gas supply. The problem began years ago when Congress theorized that natural gas shipped from state to state was merchandise in interstate commerce. Therefore, Congress felt compelled to regulate it. It put a price ceiling into effect.
THAT WAS JUST fine, because the price ceiling was reasonable. And, besides, natural gas was just cheap stuff that people used for vard lights and things like that.
Then, in the 1960s, coal and oil prices rose and people began substituting natural gas. The demand for natural gas began rising,
but the price of interstate natural gas remained low.
No right-minded congressman was going to support removal of the price lid. The folks at home wouldn't like that. So demand for natural gas around the country grew while it became increasingly less attractive for companies to sell its natural gas for interstate pipelines.
Instead, producers concentrated in intrastate sales, over which the federal government had no control. The gas companies made a fair profit, and everybody
UNTIL THIS WINTER. It got awfully cold in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania and New York—places that aren't brimful of natural gas. Their supplies ran out, and interstate lines had never been developed. The result was a shortage.
People in gas-rich states like Kansas have trouble comprehending the whole situation. They often do not understand it.
But it isn't an equal world in which we live, and those shivering in Ohio need Kansas gas. And they would have gotten it if Congress hadn't squeezed the flow shut.
Now Congress needs to backtrack and undo the damage before even more Americans freeze next year. There's no reason for panic, but there is a need for controlled, positive action to deregulate prices.
OF COURSE, ANY price deregulation would be a form of whistling in the dark if it wasn't accompanied by a stringent conservation program in both the public and private sectors. Natural gas is a strictly finite resource, just as coal and oil are. Regardless of its price, it will disappear just as quickly as our oil is unless some common step measures are taken to extend our supplies.
Toss the prelection pap about legislative ethics out the window folks, for the 1976 Congressional campaign stockings nearly bursting with green goodies last fall.
The Federal Election Commission reports that candidates for Congress received nearly double the amount they got in campaign finance, $25 million mainly from organized corporate groups.
Candidates still get big money
Leading the list of corporate cronies were the American Medical Association political committees, which gave a total $1.8 million. Following were the United States Medical Association and AFL-CIO political committees, which provided about $1 million.
AND SO ON, down the luxury line they go, with corporate and business trade association accounts, which totals $7.1 million into the salad.
Chief among the House recipients was Rep. John Rhodes of Arizona. House recipient $250,000 from business, professional and agricultural groups. Former Sen. Vance Harkite of Indiana led in the case $245,000 from organized labor alone.
It appears—pompous edicts about government ethics aside—that special interest groups are still courted by our noble-sounding legislative leaders—noble funders—who uncleart fund grab bags tussle loose again in a couple years.
BUT WHO CAN fault the candidates? Campaigns, especially losing ones, as was the case with Harkins's cost, for a public campaign funds to help out, our leaders are still compelled to seek funds elsewhere, gifts hidden under election materials, gifts whose predominant color is green, green, green.
The preponderance of the words "political committees" make obvious the ways by which the various contributing
...ALL CONTRIBUTIONS made by political committees established or financed or maintained by any corporation, organization, person . . shall be considered to have been made by a single
groups got around the Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1978:
between political committees of funds raised through joint fund-raising efforts. . . "
A. **thing** in these FEC Amendments makes any sense. OF COURSE, the ambiguous word dilates and equally eager donors to ease through the loopholes in the law, ac-
Bill Sniffen
Editorial Writer
whose ends are the strings attached?
countants and lawyers at the ready.
"... (A) Nothing in this sentence shall limit transfers
"Why bother with a national health insurance plan? Let private (read: expensive and selective) companies handle the job. Sure, milk prices are low. Why don't we boost price supports or something? Local manufacturers can buy milk and-a-half during your lunch breaks certainly seem justified to me..."
SHEER FANTASY, of course. Some sor of national health plan is inevitable, despite AMA protests. Legislators foolish enough to follow the Nixian example to attempt to artificially boost employment be boiled and then hauled off the Congressional floor. Organized labor isn't likely to get all it
wants, despite beloved lunch breaks.
But there could be less obvious effects caused by the big contributions. That's where the vote goes, and those are responsible to only those major groups that got them elected in the first place, we can expect the same sort of special effects with our efforts barring went out of style.
We'll give our electees a break for now. Their voting records will indicate later how well they know which side their bread is buttered on. But I have my doubts.
After all, money around campaign time sure beats the back of a lump of coal in the heat—even if it a labor union coal.
Tanman signals spring
But that weather isn't coming to the University of Kansas; it only concerns the rest of our countrymen.
rumors about of his going to Texas for the winter.) He may have been around recently with a shirt and coat on since this has been an unusually cold winter. But it's that first no-shirt ap-
KU, in breaking this national tradition, has a more distinctive forecaster than the one in Pennsylvania. And that earlier didn't display his forecasting methods on Feb. 2, either.
THE FORECASTER of whom we're speaking is, of course, the Tannan. Local legend has it that if the Tannan makes a noshirt appearance sometime during the first two weeks of winter, we will be good weather will be forthcoming in a few, short weeks.
and noticed that the weather hadn't changed much. It was a little on the windy side, but the sun was still there and the temperature was in the mid-50s. Since I had to go to Flint Hall for
Last week I was assigned the task of watching for Tannam's February appearance. Now, that doesn't mean the Tannam hasn't been around lately (although there had been
Jay Bemis Editorial Writer
pearance that keeps us all bubbling with enthusiasm.
MOST OF last week we had some nice, clear weather with lots of sunshine. I began wait for the newsroom windows in Flint Hall. That's about the best spot to watch for the "Tan," by the newsroom window. A stunning spot is on the benchite just east of Wescoe Hall.
But as each weekday went by, there was no Tan. About all I saw were the disgusted glances from women who took me for some palpert pervert who had nothing better to do than gank at them from open newsroom windows.
LAST SATURDAY I awoke
other reasons, anyway, I went a little earlier in hopes of breaking my first Tanman story.
The time was 11 a.m. I had an 11:30 appointment in Flint and planned to go to Allen Field House right after that for the KU-KState disappointment. In other words, my search for the Tan had about 30 minutes to find something more desperate. As the minutes ticked on, I was about to close the window.
SOMEWHERE outside, a car was honking.
And then, lo and behold, there he was. John Snyder, alias the Tannam. He was walking along Jayhawk Blvd., three days
He was dressed (with no shirt, of course) in his usual summer attire: ragged blue cut-offs, slapped gray socks and beat brown shoes with tarnished buckles. He was waving at the driver of the car that had bonked.
before the end of February's first two weeks.
One could see by the big smile on Tan's bronze face that the signs of excellent spring and summer seasons were soon to be setting in. He continued his work, and soon he passed the Wescock benches where one sees him so often in warmer weather.
I CONCLUDED that the Tan had been gone so long that he was foregoing a stop at the benches to take a full-scale tour of the campus. Or maybe he knew of the KU-K-State encounter and to go allen Field House for a little people-watching, which happily ended with a pretend last meal. I yelled at Tan in hopes of getting a quick interview, but it was too late.
He had started jogging,
hoping perhaps that the Chi
Omega fountain had been
turned on for the season.
To the editor:
WSU alumnus concerned
as an alumnus of Wichita State University, I have been watching with concern the recent developments regarding obscurity at WSU. During my time at the university, the importance of awareness, as tolerance, freedom of expression and ideation were firmly ingrained in my mind.
The following is an open letter to Clark Ahlberg, president of Wichita State University (in response to a raid on the film, "The Devil in Miss Jones," Feb. 10 on the WSU campus):
The university should, above all other societal institutions, hold these values to be sacred. And in fact it is the national virtue to uphold these basic constructs upon which our country was founded.
To allow without so much as an argument the violation of a duty, you must desecreation of your duty as protector of the academic atmosphere as well as your authority as a citizen of the United States.
I can well understand that you, just as I, find these films distasteful, but that is not the issue. Neither you nor I nor the society have the right to impose our moral values on the minority.
In the tradition of our founding fathers there is a time when principle reigns above social acceptance, boards of regents or commissioned that, if required of taking the fatalistic approach implied by denouncing the seized film as illegal, you would recognize the clear imposition of the majority's sensitivities to the minority's constitutional rights. The films we watch are not weakenig people's minds. It is clearly set out in the Constitution that government is not intended to be a religious institution or anyone's moral guardian. I am overwhelmed with disbelief to see that in the land of the free, people of the arrest for showing pictures to a volunteer audience.
letters
I sincerely hope that in the spirit of civil disobedience you will reassemble your position on this issue and that I will no longer be an associate with Wichita State University.
Richard Jantz
2330 N. Oliver
Wichita
winstiing aiong
To the editor:
Is anyone aware of the chaotic effects of the whistle's absence on campus? Why, no more are casualties regularly reported in the demilitarized zone where all self classes continue without the mid-lecture invasion of our dear, beloved factory reject and its sweet strains. But perhaps worst of all, my instructors feel free to finish a sentence, comment on our event or even wait until 20 minutes and 30 seconds past the hour.
Oh, for those days of old when I was lovingly awaked every day after school on Saturday morning. Oh, for the times when my startle response was so vigorously exercised in the quiet of Watson's west garden.
Could it be that even spring is lost without the whistle, and will not know when to return to our lovely, quiet campus? It can not be! Unite . . . call a half to such absurdities! And remember, Feb. 16 and 17 are "Be Kind to Your Startle Response Days."
Bekki Mumaw Holton sophomor
Sign rule miffs fan To the editor:
I enjoyed reading Courtney Thompson's article on the recent KU-State basketball rivalry. Something within her article, however, sparked me into a fury. She remarks that beside our enthusiasm, KU students were nice and kind, but I wonder if the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation's business department cannot act in a similar fashion.
Let me explain my dissatisfaction. First of all as a loyal and devoted KU basketball fan, one who has backed our team at Kemper Arena and in Columbia, I was a bit puzzled when I found out that the seats that I have sat in for four years as a student had been sold. Who got those tickets? Generally speaking, the KU student or alumnus who supports our team for one game a year, or worse yet, K-Sate delegates. What about seats that became pure profit on Saturday.
What really rubs me the wrong way, however, is the business departments "sign" admit. Admittedly I am no
acust, but the sign which I spent hours on and took to the Kemper Arena, was ripped up by two spirited security agents. This would not bother me so much except that every Sunday at the center of campus and college basketball, I also see wall-to-wall signs.
One might ask as I did, "why no signs at 'colorful' Allen?" Well, in talking with someone at the business office I got three excellent reasons: 1. Have you ever had to take 20 or 30 signs down after a game? They are why are both NBC and TVS allowed to tape up their signs? 2. Inlure to spectators.
Somehow I felt that if the mortality rate rate on the nation due to signs was a respectable percentage, I feel that schools Tennessee and Notre Dame would follow similar policies.
The real reason I feel that our University upholds such a rule — and certainly destroy the moundate and drab atmosphere of the pit. GO, KU round-bailers. My sign is "Keep waiting at Kemper March 3 and 4."
Gene Spratford Prairie Village senior
Need new system To the editor:
grent Anderson's editorial and the recent stream of letters supporting the manager-commissioner form of government are confusing me. Especially alarming is that these people have actually said the present system is truly the
F
representative voice of the people and why change a good thing? I don't see how anyone represents present system is representative.
face action prom more tenur
from Facu sibilis solidi by el and revle
The
1978.
propo
undu
A policy of business expansion is the main thrust of the present system in control of city hall. When election time comes around, the businessmen in town have the money to campaign, and they must part get elected. Money is spent to improve business opportunities and growth.
A is m at th hire com
Bush revie back used accidition sprin
Business has its place in the growth of any city, but the mayor-council government gives both segments as well as others a chance to work and benefit the whole city.
psyco poss in m
F nece UCI sch
A more representative system is needed. I'm tired of business controlling the future of our city. Less money needs to be spent on improving the terrible air, or to turn Lawrence into a fast-growing, industrialized center of business. M
After all, government is supposed to be by the people, for the people--all the people. Lee Timm
The proposed mayor-council form would elect members from divided wards. Each section of the city would elect its own representatives and together they would decide the affairs of the city. It's called democracy.
Kansas City, Kan., sophomore
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
at the University of Kansas daily August 4th from 10am to 5pm. Students may June and July except Saturday, Sunday and Holiday. Subscriptions by mail are a $1 merchant or $18 for a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are a $1 year outside the county. Student subscriptions are a $1 year outside the county.
Editor Jim Bates
managing Editor
Greg Hack
John Bates
Editorial Editor
Stewart Brantwyn
Campus Editor
Alison Gwinn
Associate Campus Editor
Associate Campus Editors
Lynda Brittle
Barbara Bowden
Barbara Bowden
Gillia Difl
Business Manager Janice Clements
Advertising Manager
Advertiser
Classified Manager
Assistant Advertiser Manager
National Advertising Manager
Rubble Wrennan
News Adviser Bob Giles
Publisher
David Dary
Business Adviser Mel Adams