VOL. 100, NO. 67 (USPS 650-640)
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
FRIDAY DEC.1,1989
ADVERTISING:864-4358
NEWS:864-4810
Tax committee rejects calling special session
By Derek Schmidt Kensan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
TOPEKA — Taxpayers staggering under rising property taxes got no immediate help yesterday from the Legislature.
A special tax committee voted 21-11 last night not to recommend that Gov. Mike Hayden call the Legislature into special session this month to address tax-relief measures.
"Dissatisfied taxpayers' is not a strong enough expression," State Rep. Betty Jo Charlton, D-Lawrence, said after the vote. "It's possible we could have a genuine revolt, such as people refusing to pay their taxes."
A member of Hayden's staff said that the governor would decide by Monday whether to call a special meeting.
"At this point, there appears to be no consensus among the legislators on a special session," said Frank Ybarra, the governor's deputy press secretary.
The governor already has extended the deadline for payment of first-half property taxes from Dec. 20 to Jan. 16 to allow the 1980 Legislature, which convenes Jan. 8, a week to debate tax relief before the deadline. Several counties reportedly plan to contest the governor's authority to extend the date.
Karen France, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of Realtors and an organizer of a tax-protest rally at the Capitol on Wednesday, said she was disappointed with the committee vote.
"It really would have been a big help to the taxpayers if they would have called for a special session," France said. "They made a beginning, but they have a long way to go."
State Rep. Robert Vancrum, R-Overland Park, led the fight for a special session.
The committee did agree on several tax-reflux measures that the Legislature could enact, but without a special law.
"We need to come in here and clear up the confusion about what appeals are possible and what taxpayers' options are." Vancrum said.
But several committee members feared that a special session would degenerate into a legislative free-for-all and that other issues, such as abortion, would invade the process.
"It's just an expensive waste of time," said State Rep. Keith Roe, R-Mankato.
Charlton and State Rep. Jessie Branson, D-Lawrence, voted for the special session.
Branson said that she was disappointed that the special session vote failed but that she was pleased with the committee's policy recommendations.
► Re-opening the local tax-appleals process for all taxpayers.
▶ Codifying the governor's extension of the tax due date to Jan. 16.
▶ Requiring taxpayers to pay only 25 percent of their tax bills to qualify to protest. Half payment now is required.
▶ Adding $20 million to the current $10 million appropriated for the residential "circuit breaker," which provides direct tax relief to low-income homeowners facing sharp tax increases.
trading an $82 million commercial circuit breaker to offset tax increases for small businesses.
Keith Thorpe/KANSAN
Solitude
A student walk a well-worn path near Potter Lake. Warming trends should bring temperatures into the 50s through Tuesday.
City files charges against 8 houses
Seven fraternities, one sorority slapped with fire code violations
By Lisa Moss
Kansan staff writer
The city prosecutor filed charges Wednesday against seven KU fraternities and one sorority for violation of the uniform fire code.
Representatives of the houses' corporation boards will appear in court Dec. 15 to answer charges.
The houses could face a maximum fine of $200 for each violation, city prosecutor Tom Porter said.
Phi Kappa Psi, 1602 W. 15th St., was charged with six counts of fire code violations and faces a maximum fine of $1,200.
Alpha Epsilon Pi, 1116 Indiana St., was charged on five counts.
The five other fraternities cited by Porter were:
Alpha Kappa Lambda, 2021 Stewart Ave.
Phi Kappa Theta, 1941 Stewart Ave.:
Tau Kappa Epsilon, 1911 Stewart Ave.
and Theta Chi, 101 Missouri St.
Sigma, Kappa, 1325 W. Campus
The charges were filed as a result
of Nov. 10 inspections made by Rich Brarr, Lawrence fire marshal.
Harvey Bodker, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi's corporation board, said he was not yet aware of the charges and was not concerned about them because he was doing all he could to comply.
"I guess he is just doing his job," he said of the fire marshal. "We've been working on it. We want the safety of people who live in the house as much as the city does, if not more."
Pat O'Connell, president of Phi Kappa Theta's corporation board, also said that he had not received notice of the charges. He said that the corporation board was working to comply with the codes.
Porter said that he thought the corporation presidents would plead not guilty and that a second court date would be set.
If the work that needs to be done is finished between now and then it would help their cases, he said.
"They were given a lot of time to correct these things, and the reason is that these are major items requiring large amounts of money." Porter said.
At a farewell ceremony in the
Leaders confident of summit success
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Consumer spending fell to its lowest level in nearly three years in October, the government said yesterday, and analysts said continued sluggishness in personal consumption was likely to be a "major drag" on the economy in the fourth quarter.
Urging an end to East-West divisions, Gorbachev the changes sweeping Eastern Europe and toppling hard-line communist regimes were invocable. He said they did not signal the collapse of socialism, but instead further development of a concept with noble goals and "enormous humanistic and democratic potential."
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Bush headed yesterday for his first summit with Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev, saying the two have a powerful and historic opportunity to work for peace. Gorbachev, in a speech in Rome, called for a 35-nation meeting next year to speed the integration of Europe.
"It's not going to be a great Christmas in terms of shopping and retail earnings," said Sandra Shaber, an economist with the Futures Group, a Washington consulting firm. "People will just wait until things go on sale."
On the other hand, personal income rose 0.9 percent, which analysts said indicated that consumers still had a bargain but were just waiting for bargains.
The Commerce Department said that spending, reflecting plummeting auto sales in October, dropped 0.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $3.53 trillion after
October spending drops; personal income increases
White House Rose Garden a few hours before his scheduled departure aboard Air Force One, Bush said, "I'm ready and confident." He labeled himself and Gorbache as "envoys for positive, productive change."
Half a world away, authorities on the Mediterranean island of Malta were busy mobilizing the military — the first to join the war — for ration for the superpower leaders.
Not even a shortage of tiny, wavable Soviet flags was enough to hamper the preparations, said Eddie Stafrace, who reported selling 160 toy cars from his toy store behind the Palace of the Grand Masters in Valletta.
Bush and Gorbachev will meet tomorrow, beginning $11\frac{1}{2}$ hours of talks during two days.
Income, on the other hand, totaled $4.51 trillion, reflecting the largest advance since a 1 percent gain last March. It had risen 0.3 percent in September.
edging up only 0.3 percent in September.
It it was the first decline in personal spending since a 0.1 percent drop in September 1988 and the steepest decrease a 1.4 percent fall in January 1987.
The San Francisco Bay area earthquake knocked $21 billion out of the income figure at an annual rate, but that was partially offset by other one-time "special factors," including a $7.2 billion increase in farm subi-
Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of the nation's economic activity.
"Consumer spending is starting the fourth quarter on an extremely good note," said David Jones, an economist with Wheybridge G. Lanson and Co. in New York.
Personal spending
dies and $6.8 billion in bonuses to auto industry employees.
Jones and Shaber expect a weak fourth-quarter economy but said the report by itself did not indicate an imminent recession.
Percent change October
All spending -0.2%
Durable goods -28.8%
Nondurable goods +2.5%
Services +20.2%
SOURCE: Bureau of Economic Analysis
-0.5% ND J F M A M J J A S O
Legislature to consider bar checks Kansas courts still question constitutionality of asking for ID
By Stacy Smith Kansan staff writer
State Sen. Wint Winter Jr., R-Lawrence, said the issue would be discussed in the Senate Judiciary Committee when the legislative session begins Jan. 8. In addition, Winter said he was considering introducing a bill that would legally allow officers to ask bar patrons for identification.
When the 1900 Legislature convenes in January, the legality of bar checks will be raised.
Shepherd wrote in her decision that Lawrence police officers did not have reasonable suspicion that Bernstein, Winnetka, ill., junior, was underage and therefore involved in criminal activity at the time they approached her in a Lawrence bottle. Shepherd asked the young woman looked young was subjective and dependent upon that officer's perspective.
"One idea was to treat the ability to drink in a bar like we treat the ability to drive a car. It's a privilege, not a right," he said. "By driving, you can give your consent to give your driver's license when an officer asks."
The constitutionality of bar checks was brought into question when Judge Jean Shepherd of Douglas County District Court rued on Sept. 20 to suppress evidence in the Kansas
vs. Abbey Bernstein case. The case involved a KU student who was charged with underage drinking last spring.
The Douglas County district attorney's office filed an appeal on Sept. 25 with the Kansas Court of Appeals in Topeka. Rick Trapp, assistant district attorney, said he was using the same legal arguments he used in the original case. He said he could not comment further.
Bernstein's attorney, Donald Strole, said he had developed an additional defense to counter the district attorney's point that if the
ruled was upheld, the police could not enforce the law. Strole has until Dec. 22 to file his brief with the Court of Appeals.
"The court has held that looking young alone is not reasonable suspicion." Strole said. "The case could be if police saw someone look really nervous and who had someone else always buy drinks for them and then who started to leave when a uniformed officer entered.
"I'm just trying to say that if officers have these factors, they might have reasonable suspicion: Having one factor alone is not enough."
Strole said he based his point on a recent Supreme Court case, United States vs. Sokolow, that held that the police had cause to arrest an individual because the defendant looked and acted suspiciously.
Strole said he did not expect the case to be put on the court docket until February or March.
U.S. joins battle to thwart Philippine coup attempt
The Associated Press
MANILA, Philippines — U.S. warplanes this morning joined the battle to save President Corazon Aquino's elected government after military rebels bombed the presidential palace in the strongest bid yet to toil her.
President Bush authorized military assistance to back Aquino's government after rebels also seized two air bases, including the air force headquarters, and were moving artillery and armor into the capital.
The mutinous soldiers also seized two television stations.
The extent of U.S. involvement was fighter jets flying over the rebel-held Sanglegy and Villamor air bases, a U.S. official in Washington said.
more, two Pacific democracies stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the defense of freedom.
"Even now, U.S. fighters are joining the fight to give air cover to our ground troops." Aquino said. "Once
"The fight is joined in earnest. The outcome is assured."
At least 10 people were killed and 64 wounded in the most serious of the six coup attempts since Aquino came to power. She was reported safe after the attack on the palace.
She was swept into office in February 1888 by a civilian-military uprising that drove President Ferdinand Marcos into exile in Hawaii. But public discontent with the economic use of economic problems and allegations of corruption.
Jets roared across the skies over Manila Friday afternoon but U.S. Embassy and Clark Air Base spokesmen refused to confirm whether they were U.S. planes. U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Blatt said he was unaware.
in battle to death in winter they were U.S. pilots.
U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Platt said he was unsure
how many U.S. warplanes had been committed to help the Aquino government. He said there was no specific time limit for use of the U.S. lets.
In Washington, a U.S. official confirmed that U.S. planes began flying over two rebel-held Phillipine air bases shortly after the presidential authorization.
"The goal in this authorization has been to discourage any hostile attempt on the part of the rebels in the Philippines. President Aquino's request was very specific and that was to conduct an aggressive cap over two Philippine air bases, Villamor and Sangley Point," the official said.
It appeared the government had trouble mustering loyal troops. Mutinous units were less than a mile
The official said the U.S. aid at this point involved solely those flights over the rebel-held bases, and added that ground troops were not involved
Rebels also held parts of Manila's main airport and bombed government installations.
from the palace, and thousands of civilians fled the fighting.
It was unclear who was leading the mutiny. Rebel soldiers would not say. They were believed to be loyal to renegade Lt. Col. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, who led an August 1987 coup attempt in which at least $3 people were killed.
The U.S. military has 40,000 troops, military departments and Defense Department civilians站 at six bureaus.
U. S. Embassy spokesman Jerry Huchel warned U.S. citizens living in Manila to stay in their homes. Up to 100,000 other U.S. civilians live in the Philippines.
Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Thailand condemned the coun attempt.