Columbia Missourian Newspaper 1976-10-01

              Utilities fund initiative opposition
By David Briggs
Missourian staff writer
" Missounans against Proposition 1,"
the organization leading the effort to
defeat an initiative on the Nov 2 ballot
to prevent utilities from adding costs of
construction in progress to consumer
Mils, is quietly being financed by those
utilities
Darryl Francis, past president of the
St Louis Federal Reserve Bank and a
leading citizen member of the group,
said Thursday the utilities are
financing all the group's costs
None of those involved would disclose
the extent of the utilities support.
Asked if not revealing the utilities'
financial support is deceptive, Don
Landes, Kansas City Power & Light Co
spokesman, said, " I don't know Do
you7" He said later the company has
not tried to hide the fact " we have vital
interests in and we are supporting this
group"
" It's sort of a double- barrelle- d shot at
their customers," complained Kay
Drey, statewide coordinator for
" Citizens for Reformed Electric
Rates," after being informed of the
practice
Mrs Drey said the publicity effort
opposing the measure not only will
increase the chances of customers
eventually subsidizing financing costs
but, " We know who's going to end up
paying all these bills It's going to be
us'"
Dick McAleenan, a spokesman for
Union Electric Co. of St. Louis, said the
costs will be borne by the stockholders
and " none will be charged to the
customers "
McAleenan, noting that individual
contributions are accepted, said he also
does not think it deceptive that the
group's literature does not reveal the
utilities' financial interest since the
group's budget is not known yet.
He said the budget will be based on
how much " misinformation" the
initiative's proponents " will get out"
Landes said the costs will be divided
among the utilities on a per capita
customer basis
Accusing the group's opponents of
practicing " deception," Landes said,
" Who would tell the truth about this if
we didn't'"
John Jutton, a public relations
consultant with Fleishman- Hillardin- c ,
the firm handling the group's account,
said " most of the regulated utilities
throughout Missouri" are financially
backing the group He declined to
name the other utilities involved
Jutton also would not give specific
figures on present advertising or future
publicity plans
Union Electric was Fleishman- Hillard- ' s
first customer and is still a
major account
Mrs Drey said she hopes the utility- backe- d
organization's media blitz will
make the public realize the utilities
selfish interest in defeating tie
initiative " There must be some re. -
as to why they feel it's so necessary to
spend that kmd of money "
She said the utilities' use of an
experienced public relations firm
' makes it very difficult for a citizens'
group " She said the utilities, through
the organization, already have bought
thousands of hours" of radio time
while her group cannot afford any
media time
Paul Schaefer, Kansas City
coordinator of the consumers' group,
said the utilities apparently are
deceiving" the public in ' pretending
to be" a citizens group
' I think if the people in the state knew
this was going on, they'd be very much
( See UTILITIES, Page 16)
In town
today
7: 30 pm. " From Berlin To
Broadway" with Kurt Weill,
basement of Gentry Hall,
University
7 30 p m. " Picnic," Fine Arts
Center, University
7: 30 p. m. " The Importance of
Being Earnest," Playhouse,
Stephens College.
8 00 p. m. High school football.
Rock Bndge vs. Chillicothe,
Hickman Field
Exhibits
Continuing: 180 Read Hall,
University, exhibition of
Nigerian arts and crafts, 9 am.
to 5 paoa. Stephtan College
Student Art Gallery, multi- medi- a
show featuring painting,
sculpture, photography,
ceramics, and glass works, 1 to S
p m. Brady Commons Art
Gallery, Enviroment Art by Lee
Snyder and drawings by Rich
Guyette 2 to 10 p. m Colombia
Gallery of Photography, black
and white photographs by Abigail
Heyman, 9 ajn. to 530 pan.
University Fine Arts Gallery,
Gallery Art Faculty, 9 ajn. to 3
pm. Columbia Art League all
members exhibition of new
works, 10 30 ajn. to 3 pjn.
Kirtley Library, Columbia
College, drawings by Leonardo
Da Vina, 8am to 10 pjn
See Page 15 for movie listings
Insight
Low funds
spell crisis
for schools
Cities disregard
programs, repairs
to $ ave money
By Gene L Maeroff
N. Y. Times Sendee
CHICAGO An increasing number
of big- cit- y school systems, beset by
staggering financial problems, are
edging toward impoverishment of the
sort that forced massive cutbacks in
New York City's public schools.
In Chicago, where the nation's second
largest school system had to close 16
days early last June because it ran out
of money, the 26,000 teachers recently
submissively accepted a contract that
provided no salary increases.
Moreover, there remains the
possibility that part or all of the $ 48
million saved by the early closing may
be lost to the school system in the form
of a penalty assessed by the state as a
result of Chicago's not having
completed a mandated 176- da- y school
year.
The situation is so dire mat the 1976- 7- 7
budget which Superintendent of
Schools Joseph P Hannon recently
proposed projects a deficit of $ 147 1
million, a figure that could lead to
extensive mid- ye- ar salary reductions
end dismissals or another early closing
Elsewhere, Washington, D. C.,
already has frozen positions and laid
plans for a payless furlough of its 12,000
school employes in December; Detroit
has abolished lnterscbolastic sports;
Miami is saving almost $ 1 million by
reducing the amount of paper,
materials and supplies given to
students; and New Orleans has put a
moratorium on teacher participation in
in- servi- ce training, saving $ 250,000
Educational decision makers in more
and more of the country's big- cit- y
school systems are being forced to
revise priorities and slash programs as
they are squeezed by escalating costs
and dwindling local revenues.
Most districts, whenever they can,
try to concentrate the cuts in non- classro- om
areas, notably the deferral
of maintenance expenses, in an effort to
protect instructional programs.
Officials are trying to avoid
dismissing the admiitetrators and
teachers. They are using attrition
letting positions go unfilled as
personnel die or retire rather than
remove people from existing Jobs.
Concern U growing that New York
City's plight may be a harbinger for
other large school systems. New York
( 8ee SYSTEM, Page 13)
69th Year No. 16 (, ootl Morning! It Friday. ( Pet. J. 7976 16 Pages 15 em
Meyer ' abdicates' office,
leaves confusion in wake
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The remnants of Jade Meyer's days as Boone
County sheriff: an empty nameplate, several
cigarette butts and many unanswered
questions. ( Missourian photo by Joan
Toeniskoetter)
By Martha Polkey,
Scott Sunde
and Dan Potter
Missourian staff writers
Boone County Sheriff Jack Meyer
quit again Thursday, this time, it
appears, for good
A one- senten- ce letter announcing his
resignation effective Oct 15 was
submitted to James Butcher, Boone
County Court presiding judge
appointee, after Meyer had cleaned out
his office and left
His Democratic opponent, Charles
Foster, said Meyer told him Thursday
he was taking another job
Prosecutor Milt Harper by law
becomes the acting sheriff until the
County Court appoints a replacement to
serve until Jan 1
Though Meyer said in his letter his
resignation is not effectne until Oct 15,
Harper said that Meyer has " seemed to
totally abdicate" and that an absence of
leadership until that tune " wouldn't
seem to be the intent of the law "
Thus, Harper said it appeared that
Meyer's resignation was effective
immediately
' I'm the first attorney- sherif- f in the
county," Harper said
In his first act as sheriff, Harper
ordered the department to continue
normal operations under the
supervision of Chief Deputy Bill
Whitehead
ijwjtSSSBalBiSHHMR
Sheriff Jack Meyer
Resigns suddenly
Harper said an audit of the sheriffs
department Thursday b County
Auditor Don Caldwell is " nearly
complete ' and the department appears
to be in order The audit is the usual
legal procedure when an official leaves
office. Harper said
Though Meyer is nowhere to be
fouiid, his name still will appear m the
November ballot A Republican
replacement, if there is one, will have
to be a write- i- n candidate, Count Gerk
Murry Glascock said
Meyer's resignation came as no
surprise to some Northern District
Judge Rodney Smith said he had
spoken to Meyer Tuesday and the
sheriff had said he wouldn't be there
in three weeks "
First Ward Councilman Pat Barnes
whom Meyer defeated in the primary
said he wasn't surprised "
Meyer announced his withdrawal
( See BARNES, Page 16) Ford inquiry z no charges expected
By Nicholas M. Horrock
N. Y. Times Service
WASHINGTON The Watergate
special prosecutor is winding up his
inquiry into President Ford's campaign
finances, and there is a growing
indication that no criminal prosecution
of Ford is contemplated, according to
officials in Grand Rapids, Mich , and
government sources here
Several sources said -- they expected
Special Prosecutor Charles F Ruff
" shortly" would be making a public
statement indicating he had
investigated allegations of campaign
financing irregularities and had found
no basis to either continue the inquiry
or bring criminal charges
Ruff had no comment on this report
Two key sources m the Ford
administration said they believe Ruff
received a " single allegation" Ford
might have misused campaign
contributions and he " could not," as
one of them put it, " responsibly or
properly avoid giving the matter
careful attention " One of these sources
said he believed Ruff conducted the
inquiry in the " most discreet fashion
possible" in order not to affect
improperly the presidential election
On Aug 19, the day after Ford was
nominated as the Republican
presidential candidate, Republican
political committees in Grand Rapids
received subpoenas for records from
1964 through 1974 The records of the
three politic. committees involved
were picked up by FBI agents in mid- Septemb- er.
Eleven days ago, press reports
disdosed the subpoenas and that Ruff
also had obtained the financial records
of tie Marine Engineers Beneficial
Association, a maritime union that
made political contributions to Ford for
several years.
Shortly after the disclosure, FBI
agents from the Grand Rapids field
office conducted some half dozen
interviews for the prosecutor In
interviews with officials familiar with
Kent County Republican campaign
financing between 1968 and 1972, the
agents asked whether contributions
from maritime unions diverted to the
committees by Ford then secretly were
rediverted to him in cash
Though several of those interviewed
have declined to comment, current
Republican officials have said flatlv
that all persons denied any
misdirection of campaign funds or
wrongdoing
The most recent FBI interview,
which was expected to end the inquiry,
was conducted with Paul Henry,
current chairman of the Kent County
Republican Committee, sources said
Henry later told the New York Times
that agents asked him technical
questions about his committee's
bookkeeping methods and systems of
handling contributions
Of the various maritime
contributions, the inquiry seemed to
center on two payments in 1970 totaling
$ 4 500 from the maritime engineers
The payments were made by check
with the business cards of officials or
representatives of the Marine
Engineers Beneficial Association
attached, but there is one unconfirmed
report that $ 2,000 of this money may
have come from the Seafarers
International Union, another long- tim- e
contributor to Ford
City gets grant for 10- ac- re park
The federal Bureau of Outdoor
Recreation Thursday approved a grant
giving Columbia more than $ 17,500 to
purchase 10 acres ( 4 hectares) of park
land in the Oakwood Hill subdivision in
the southwest part of the dty
The federal money will provide one- ha- lf
of the estimated price of the land,
said Dick Green, dty director of parks
and recreation. The balance of the
money will come from the dty's public
improvement fund, he said
Oakwood Hill Park is designed to
meet the city's goal of a park within at
least 8 miles ( 1 26 kilometers) of every
major population center, Green said
The park, he said, will contain a
baseball diamond, playground
equipment, a hardcourt surface and
picnic tables
The city has been waiting for
approval of the grant since last March,
Green said A tentative purchase
agreement already has been reached
with the owners, he said, and the actual
acquisition would be completed m
about 30 days.
Development of the park, Green said,
probably will wait until spring The
funds for the work already are
allocated, be said, and only a city
council ordinance appropriating the
money is necessary
Medicare costs increase
WASHINGTON ( UPI) - Citing rising
hospital costs, the government
Thursday boosted hospital fees for
persons on Medicare by 19 per cent and
said the prices for extended treatment
in hospitals and nursing homes also
would go up
Under the changes, effective Jan. 1 .
Persons entering a hospital under
Medicare must pay the first $ 124 of the
bill, compared to $ 104 now.
Persons on Medicare staying in a
hospital for more than 60 days wul pay
$ 31 a day for the 61st through the 90th
day, compared to $ 26 a day now.
Patients discharged from hospitals
who enter a skilled nursing facility and
stay there for more than 20 days will
have to pay $ 15 SO per day toward the
cost of the 21st through the 100th day,
instead of the present $ 13
If a person chooses to draw on his
" lifetime reserve" days the extra 60
hospital days a beneficiary can use
when more than 90 days of hospital care
in a benefit periodiSTieede- d- the
patient will pay $ 62 for each reserve
day used instead of the present $ 52.
" The increases are mandatory under
law," said a spokesman for the
Department of Health, Education and
Welfare. " They are mandated by rising
hospital costs"
The changes could cause hardships
for many of the 24 7 million fixed- inco- me
elderly persons who are
covered by hospital insurance under
Medicare. The number of persons
covered is expected to increase to 25 3
million next year
Social Security Commissioner James
B. Cardwell said the hike in the initial
deductible Is Intended to make the
beneficiary responsible for expenses
approximately equal to the average
cost of one day of hospital care
At present, the average hospital stay
under Medicare costs about $ 1,600, the
government said
f"
M. U. receives only- healt- h
center grant
By Leslie R, Myers
Missourian staff writer
The University has been chosen by
the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare ( HEW) to
receive $ 893,223 a year for five years
for a health care technology center
The University was the only school
chosen for the grant. Harvard
University, Stanford University and
Mount Sinai Medical School in New
York are among schools that
applied
Donald Lindberg, University
director of the Information Science
Group, said HEW has not notified
the University officially that the
grant has been awarded. The letter
to the University will not be sent
until Saturday, hesaid.
The center will study the impact
technology has on health care and
will evaluate the effectiveness of
information processes and computer
technology, he said.
The University Board of Curators
submitted the proposal for the
center to HEW on May 21 in a 350- pa- ge
document
Lindberg said the University was
selected because '" a great deal of
this type of research already is
being done here The change is that
we'll be looking at national problems
as well as regional ard local ones."
The program's first step would be
" putting m motion the experimental
projts we proposed to HEW," he
said
The program will concentrate on
the study of drug information
systems, a computer- controlle- d X- r- ay
system, data base systems and
microprocessing computers
The research will involve the
University School of Medicine, the
School of Journalism, the College of
Arts and Sdence, the School of
Industrial and Bio- Enguieen- ng, the
computer sdence department, the 1
rural sociology department and I
University Extension Division I