Banner Graphic, Greencastle, Putnam County, 8 November 1974 — Page 3

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1,1*74. THE PUTNAM COUNTY BANNER-GRAPHIC M

Connected with oil company

Ford administration taking 2nd look at Gibson’s nomination

WASHINGTON (API - The Ford administration is taking a second look at its nomination of Andrew E. Gibson to be federal energy administrator after disclosure that Gibson has a lucrative agreement with an oil

transport company

White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen said Thursday that

Gibson's nomination will not be sebt to the Senate for confirmation until the FBI completes its background checks on him. Nessen’s disclosure came after The New York Times reported that Gibson received a

$1 million separation agreement with Interstate Oil Transport Co. of Philadelphia. The Times on Thursday said that the agreement assures Gibson of about $100,000 annually from the company for 10 years. Gibson resigned as pres-

ident of Interstate in May after 16 months with the company.

Later, in an interview with the Times published Friday, Gibson said he would receive $88,000 a year under the 10-year contract. Gibson also said he was surprised when President

Ford announced he was his choice for the energy job. Gibson said he had expected to be nominated for deputy director of the International Labor Organization in Geneva, the Times reported. Sen. George McGovern, DS.D., called on Ford to with-

draw the nomination and said the Senate should reject it if he does not. “Gibson has a million-dollar ring through his nose with the oil industry holding the chain at the other end,’’ McGovern said. ‘There can be only one reason for this appointment — and

that is a further raid of the American consumer by big oil.” The usual background check on Gibson was not conducted before Ford nominated him last month to succeed John C. Sawhill “because of the urgency" of the appointment, Nessen told reporters.

“Before the nomination is sent to the Senate, these checks will be completed,” Nessen said. Deputy Press Secretary John W. Hushen said Ford was not aware of Gibson’s separation agreement with Interstate when he announced the appointment.

Republicans say Setback due to independent vote

‘Up the Down Staircase’ Joe Ferone, played by Mark Trigg, confronts at McAnally auditorium this Friday and his English teacher, Sylvia Barrett, played by Saturday at 8 pjn. Tickets may be purchased Christine Brown, in Greencastle High School at the door or from any Thespian member for Thespian Troupe 1098’s production of “Up the $1, students and $1.50, adults. (BannerDown Staircase.” The play will be presented Graphic Photo). Demo’s Congress swollen majority face new problem

WASHINGTON (AP» - The key to Republican party setbacks in Tuesday's elections was the party's failure to attract votes from those who consider themselves independents, the political director of the GOP National Committee says. Normally they vote 60 to 40 for Republican candidates, but “this time'they went 60-40 against us,” Edward Mahe said Thursday during a panel discussion at the Washington Press Club.

WASHINGTON (API - A coal strike could cut steel production immediately, electric power generation, hospital and school operations within two or three weeks and some 280.000 non striker jobs within a month. These are federal estimates, but there are virtually no federal plans to cope with these problems An energy official who declined to be identified said there was little the government could do about a coal strike and was reluctant to invoke its Taft-Hartley powers to order miners back to work unless forced to do so. Reports reaching the U S. Bureau of Mines indicate the effects of a coal strike likely to start Monday may fall most heavily on perhaps eleven states, with potential problems in four more states and the Tennessee Valley Authority TV A) power area The energy official said that so far the federal government

JERUSALEM (AP> - Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger has assured Israeli officials that American policy in the Middle East has not changed despite the Arab summit conference s new boost to the Palestine Liberation Organization. “There is nochange in .American policy on any of the issues," Kissinger said on his arrival in Israel Thursday night from Damascus The secretary of state met at once with Premier Yitzhak Ra-

INDIANAPOL1S (AP'-A study prepared for the legislature recommends a vast reorganization of the state mental health department, including the closing of the Richmond, Madison and Logansport state hospitals The study stated the reorganization could be accomplished either by decentralizing the agency or establishing district hospitals, with each having its own board of directors. It was prepared by .Arthur D. Little Inc . a Cambridge. Mass., consulting firm hired by the Legislative Ooimcil Consultants recommended closing Richmond State in 1979 with Madison and Logan^iort following at two-year intervals. They said the hospital at Evansville. Central State in Indianapolis and Norman Beatty at Westville should remain open Upgrading of the state's hospitals for the mentally retarded was recommended State Sen John M. Mutz. RIndianapolis. chairman of the interim steering committee on mental health, said any decision to close a hospital would have to be made by the legisla-

He said that in 1972 “they gave the Republicans a chance." But Mahe said that in the past two years "they've been giving the other side a chance." He also said that he has such faith in what the Democrats will do now. that he is certain “well recover in 1976.”

Mahe's Democratic counterpart. Robert Keefe, recalled a sales pitch from the early days

has little to offer them but the suggestion that industries and utilities with adequate coal stockpiles prepare to share supplies with hardship cases. Negotiators for the coal companies and the United Mine Workers union say a new contract may be drafted before the present one expires Monday. But UMW President Arnold Miller says it would take his union 10 days to ratify a contract and the members won't work without one, making a two-week strike “a foregone conclusion." A coal strike of any length would hit the steel industry almost immediately. The Bureau of Mines says plants that convert coal into coke must slow production to stretch out their supplies because running out of coal would ruin the coke ovens. The coke is used in steel blast furnaces, but stockpiles average only a one-week supply. the bureau reports, so steel

bin. Foreign Minister Yigal Alton. Defense Minister Shimon Peres and other officials Then Rabin called his cabinet into session after midnight to discuss what Kissinger had reported. One of the main items discussed was Israeli concern over President Ford's statement this week that Israel should be negotiating with either Jordan or the Palestinian guerrillas to settle the future of the occupied West Bank of the Jordan River.

ture “It will have to decide if it wants to provide first-class mental care in the remaining three or provide mediocre care which is presently being given." Expected cost of the decentralized program in the 1975-76 biennium would be $127 million. The district hospital concept would cost $101 million. “The changes we advocate will be extremely painful for many among the hospital staffs, unless very sound steps are taken." consultants said. Mutz said the consulting firm favors the decentralized system which would require establishing 10 to 15 multicounty boards Each would oversee operation and funding of one to three community mental health centers. The study said the Evansville Psychiatric Children s Center should be closed as soon as a “high-quality children’s program elsewhere is found." It also suggested Larue Carter Hospital at Indianapolis be upgraded for that purpose and continue as a teaching and research facility.

of television and said the voters “have given us a 30-day home trial" and will decide in 1976 whether it’s worth keeping the Democrats on further. “We've got a big opportunity but we’re going to have to deliver," Keefe declared. He predicted that “we will get some leadership in the House and the Senate" to enable the Democrats to deliver, adding “that will be a truly determining factor whether (President) Ford has a future.”

production would be quickly affected by a coke slowdown. Republic Steel says a coal strike would force “immediate curtailment of iron and steel production.” Inland Steel says supply problems and preparations for the strike already have affected operations. A United States Steel official has testified to Congress that a two-week coal strike would cut his company's steel production in half. The bureau reports that electric power plants have an average 8(klay supply of coal, but some are far below that average The bureau said 35 power plants could run out of coal in 15 days, and another 38 could run short within a month. The TV A is urging its customers to voluntarily reduce electricity consumption 20 per cent, or face mandatory curtailments. Government economists estimate a month-long strike by the 120.000 UMW

The Arab summit recognized the PLO as the government of a future Palestinian state on the West Bank, and King Hussein of Jordan said that ended his participation in negotiations for the end of the Israeli occupation there. But Israel refuses to negotiate with the guerrillas because of their war of terrorism against the Jewish state. Israeli sources said their government wanted a more clearcut statement on the subject from Kissinger. The secretary of state and his spokesmen have said repeatedly during his fast tour of the Middle East that he was assessing the situation in the wake of the Arab summit to determine the possibilities for getting Arab-Israeli negotiations going again. One U.S. official said it was not a "time for reflection," indicating no major decision would be forthcoming.

Indianapolis (AP) — Gov Otis R. Bowen, in a delayed announcement. has named three new members to the State Fair Board and reappointed three others. Bowen, now vacationing in Jamacia. reappointed to twoyear terms Lola Yonder of Goshen. Guy Beer bower of Grabil and John I,. Fox of Shelbyville. Appointed to serve two-year terms and replace members who had served the maximum periods under state law. were Robert McKee of Lafayette, Kenneth Harris of Greencastle and Frederick J. Bumb of Evansville. McKee replaces Donald W. Brown of Battle Ground: Har-

Mahe said he is confident that if Ford runs in 1976 “he would be accorded the nomination and he would win." Keefe said the election results were approximately what Democratic leaders had anticipated. But Mahe said. “We were surprised and somewhat shocked at the extent of our tosses in the House.” The GOP tost a net total of 43 House seats. Most Republican leaders had hoped to hold loss-

members could force layoffs of an additional 280,000 non-coal workers. Based on preliminary reports. the Bureau of Mines says a coal strike lasting two weeks to one month might create fuel problems for schools in Colorado, Idaho, New York, North Dakota. Ohio. Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Some hospitals could face coal problems in Colorado, Kentucky. New York, Tennessee and Wisconsin, while state institutions could run short of fuel in Colorado, New York and North Dakota, the bureau reported. Only three of those states — Ohio. West Virginia and Wisconsin — were reported to have legal authority to allocate existing coal supplies for priority needs. IBM hiring freeze NEW YORK (AP) - International Business Machines Corp. has instituted a temporary hiring freeze expected to last until the end of the year to “reassess total manpower requirements." an IBM spokesman said Thursday. The giant corpora ton. the world's largest maker of computers. had 274.108 employes worldwide as of Dec. 31, 1973. The spokesman said the hiring freeze, initiated about Oct. 1. would be used to take a current look at the economy and assist in planning for 1975. IBM chairman Frank T. Cary disclosed the belttightening action Thursday.

es to about 25 and some had talked of keeping them as low as five. Mahe said it would have been even worse, except that “we did hold the Republican vote." He said that more than 80 per cent of Republicans stuck with GOP candidates, just below the normal 90 per cent support level, a sharp contrast with the considerable Republican defections in special Republican elections last spring. Votes continued to be counted in the cliff-hanger race for governor of Alaska. Incumbent William A. Egan held a 129-vote lead over Republican Jay Hammond with 412 of 434 precincts reporting. The result of North Dakota’s Senate race also remained uncertain. As canvassing boards began going over election returns, GOP Sen. Milton R. Young was leading Democratic Gov. William L. Guy by less than 100 votes out of more than 236,000 cast. Republicans were leading three undecided House races in Louisiana, Nebraska and Maine. Husband arrested SHELBYVILLE. Ind. (APtA computer programmer for the Indiana State Highway Commission was arrested on a preliminary charge of first degree murder Thursday in the beating of his wife. Jean Annette John, 37, died in an Indianapolis hospital of a skull fracture, a deputy coroner reported. He said she was beaten on the head, shoulders and arms. The husband, Lowell G. John, 43, was arrested at his Shelbyville home. Police said Mrs. John was on the floor of the garage after they were called by f e of the couple's three children. Investigators said a bloodstained iron pipe was found in the garage. Prosecutor Jerry J. Lux said the grand jury will meet Wednesday to investigate the

the trial. Lawyers familiar with the practice say the use of videotaped testimony is becoming common in courts in a number of states, especially California. The only testimony Thursday was given by former White House lobbyist Powell Moore. Sirica said Thursday he may allow Nixon to be cross-exam-ined at his San Clemente, Calif., estate after the former president is well enough to answer questions about his role in the cover-up. A videotape of his testimony would be played for the jury. Sirica indicated his thinking on the issue of how to get Nix-

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP)The Indiana Supreme Court has dissolved its order temporarily blocking pay increases for employes of Hamilton Circuit Court. The high court acted on a motion filed on behalf of G. Melvin Featherston, county auditor, who sought the writ originally. The writ was issued Oct. 22, the day after Hamilton Circuit Judge Edward F. New Jr. ordered the auditor to pay most of his court’s employes raises

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Democrats have less time this year than in the past to decide what they will do with their swollen majority in Congress. The reason is that recently adopted procedures look for the House members to "hit the floor running" — as one Democrat put it — when the new Congress convenes in January. The time-consuming business of electing leaders, setting up committees and choosing chairmen, which formerly delayed serious legislative

on’s testimony after the former President’s lawyer, Herbert J. Miller Jr., reported that it would be two or three months before Nixon would be able to do anything as strenuous as answer questions in a criminal trial. Watergate prosecutors, meanwhile, are planning to play a small portion of Haldeman's videotaped testimony before the Senate Watergate committee in the summer of 1973. The former White House chief of staff is accused in one of the counts of the indictment against him of lying in sworn testimony before the Senate,

totaling about $4,950 a year. The raises have not gone into effect. Harry L. Sauce, attorney representing Judge New, said Thursday the case is now "at a standoff. There has been no decison on the part of the judge to proceed any further at this point” Sauce said both sides had agreed if Featherston would move to withdraw the Supreme Court order both parties would not delay any further proceedings in Circuit Court.

work for weeks, now is to be done in advance. Leadars are expected to set the machinery of organization in motion Dec. 2 with party caucuses in which the newly elected members will participate. The Democratic session could lead to controversy, although Speaker Carl Albert said in an interview that he knows of no major problems. Nearly a quarter of the House Democrats — 75 members — will be newly elected

but there are conflicts in the official transcription of his words as published by the committee. The prosecutors, side-step-ping technical conflicts over the printed word, are planning on using videotape, a procedure Sirica has indicated he will probably allow. As expected Thursday, Sirica dismissed objections from defense lawyers to the admission of 26 White House tapes that prosecutors plan to play for the jury beginning Monday. Although none of the participatns in the conversations on the 26 tapes are to testify, the judge ruled that the prosecutors had done enough to prove that the tapes are accurate recordings of actual meetings Nixon had with his aides. Associate prosecutor James F. Neal has described the 26 tapes as being "what this case is all about.” The first of them to be played Monday records a June 23, 1972, meeting at which Nixon approves a plan to use the Central Intelligence Agency to thwart the initial FBI investigation into the break-in. Neal said Thursday that the live testimony of former CIA Director Vernon Walters and former acting FBI Director L. Patrick Gray III will be used to support the evidence in the tapes.

ones. They are predominantly young, on the average 15 years younger than the members they replace. This points to an infusion of new ideas and demands. One likely target is the system Democrats have used for years to recommend members for committee appointments. The Democratic members of the Ways and Means Committee serve as a committee on committees that recommends the assignments, usually for automatic approval by the caucus of all House Democrats. There have been repeated demands for a group elected by the whole caucus to make the selections that have much to do with a member’s career. Albert said he knew of no specific plans to make this change this year, but sources said there are plans to push for an elected committee on committees. They said additional proposals could include election by the caucus of subcommittee chairmen. On some committees, notably Appropriations, these are powerful posts. Other demands could include election of the majority whip, the third-ranking member of the leadership. Republicans elect their whip, but Democrats leave the choice to the speaker and majority leader. Albert said the influx of young Democrats “is a good thing.” “I have already talked to a number of the new members,” he said. "They represent a true cross-section; they are not all alike. They want to be re-elect-ed and we will help them get reelected.” He agreed the election results mean Democratic leaders are expected “to push pretty fast” on economic and other legislation and said his party will be in better position to do so. “With the Nixon landslide behind us, we had trouble moving few ward,” he said. “Now we’re in the saddle - and also we have the respor, sibility.”

Bowen names three to State Fair Board

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. District Judge John J. Sirica says he believes he can permit videotaped testimony by former President Richard M. Nixon at the Watergate coverup trial without creating a circus atmosphere. It is possible that the images of Nixon and cover-up defendant H.R. Haldeman will be flashed on a screen at the courtroom some time during

ris replaces William W. McClamrock of Crawfordsville, and Bumb replaces Robert S. Harper of Chandler. In other action, Bowen named Dr. William Greene of Jeffersonville to a four-year term on the Indiana Emergency Medical Services Commission. Grt'ene will be filling out the remainder of Dr. John S. Farquabar’s term. Named to a four-year term as Marion County Municipal Court Judge was Patrick J. Barton of Indianapolis. Judge M. Walter Bell of Indianapolis was also reappointed to a fouryear term on the Municipal Court bench.

Coal strike threatens steel, power, hospital, school operations

Kissinger assures American Middle East policy not changed

Study recommends mental ¥ health dept, reorganization

case.

Judge John Sirica to permit videotape testimony by ex-president Nixon

Pay hike ok temporarily