Seventy-Third Year EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNiVERSITY OF MICHIGAN -UNDER AUTHORITY OF BOARD IN CONTROL OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS "Where Opinions Are Fm STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BLDG., ANN ARBOR, MICH., PHONE NO 2-3241 Truth WRi Prevail.. Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers or the editors. This must bA noted in all reprints. NDAY, MARCH 31, 1963 NIdHT EDITOR: ELLEN SILVERMAN Should the Proposed Constitution Pass-? Regents Election: An Important, Choice TOMORROW'S Regental choice is probably the most important election decision effect- ing the University community. The proposed constitution may pass, or a Democrat may be elected mayor of Ann Arbor -things which may remotely affect the lives of the 24,500 students, and a little more directly the lives of the 10,000 University staff members. But the election of two Regents has direct bearing on the entire University. There are six candidates to choose from: two are incumbents, two have made a public appearance on campus and two admit they have no chance of winning. Even narrowing the field down to four possibilities, voting- students and parents of University students have little idea of what to look for in a Regent or even what the candidates' views are. A SLIM 10,000 votes may spell the difference between which candidate is elected and which is not. In the last Regental election in 1961 one candidate was defeated by a margin of 9,000 votes. The problem is that the public doesn't really know for whom to vote. Perhaps they simply follow party line. Perhaps, if they favor the new constitution, they wil support the Regental candidates who back the new document. Per- haps, they vote for incumbents who would have a more intimate knowledge of the Uni- versity. Perhaps, they vote by where the can- didate lives or whether he is a University; graduate. This year, however, the public is pretty lucky. The candidates have run a fairly vig- orous campaign. Even so, how many people know candidates' views of the University or thdir philosophy of what makes a good Regent? TWO OF the candidates have taken very few stands on questions specifically concerning the University. They have rested their cam- paign on a vigorous support for the adoption of the new constitution. But is the adoption of the new document central to the functioning of the University? Another candidate has taken the position that a Regental candidate's stand on the new constitution should have no effect on whether he is a good Regent. An ideal Regental candidate would take a definite stand on the document but would not rest his campaign on this stand. The public must know what the candidate thinks of such important sections of the constitution as the education article and the taxing provisions-- these areas definitely have specific applicability to the University. However, the passage of the new constitution as a whole is certainly not going to make or break the University. The public should note the candidates' stands on the constitution, but should be more con- cerned with their views on subjects of more intimate concern to the University. WHAT ARE some of these areas of concern? The voters should be cognizant of how the candidate plans to prepare the University for the enrollment boom; how he relates co- ordination to expansion of facilities; what type of a "master-plan," if any, would be useful UNDERSCORE: to the institutions of higher learning; what his conception of the role of Regent is, how much he values academic freedom; how he plans to finance University education; and how much importance he places on high faculty salaries. In this election the candidates have not taken firm stands on some of these issues, either because they feared sticking their necks out or because they lacked sufficient informa- tion about the University to take an educated position. The public is left with the difficult job of trying to figure out which two of the four major candidates has the most potential for guiding the University, since the platform statements have not been clearly indicative of the candidates' qualifications. It would seem to be important to elect Regents who have an adequate knowledge of the University's programs and objectives-men who have taken a consistent interest in the University. THE UNIVERSITY and the state would bene- fit most from Regents who are willing to question the status-quo-ones who are not sat- isfied with the high tuition rate and would work towards lowering the price-tag on education without selling-out the University's quality. Regents must be concerned with attaining high faculty salaries to maintain the present faculty and lure quality instructors to the University. Only two of the candidates ex- pressed real interest in maintaining the qual- ity of the University through high salary rates. The public should look for Regental candi- dates who understand the value of coordina- tion, but who will guard against its imposition by alien agencies. They must realize that any so-called "master-plan" for education in the state must be flexible and must recognize the different capabilities of the various state edu- cational institutions. A Regent must be willing to cooperate with the new State Board of Edu- cation if it passes, but must be wary of its powers. A Regent must not think that coordination of the facilities is the cure-all of the educa- tional crisis. Orderly expansion of plan facili- ties, coupled with coordination, is the only way to meet the growing demands. VOTERS SHOULD BACK candidates who are willing to allow student participation in academic and student affairs policy-making. The University is a place for students to learn to govern their lives. Thus, a good Regent would allow latitude for student participation in policy-making. Several of the candidates in- dicated a willingness to look into this matter. The public should elect Regents whose lead- ership they will respect. Conversely, Regents should consider their role as primarily one of leadership rather than mere responsiveness to their constituency. A couple of the candidates have taken the opposite position. However, it is imperative that a Regent be one of the pri- mary defenders of academic freedom. Interest, experience, knowledge and open- mindedness must mark a University Regent. Hopefully, the public will choose the best two candidates. -GAIL EVANS Document A Decided Improvement1 By GERALD STORCH THE NEW constitution should be endorsed tomorrow. In many respects, it is a far- reaching and visionary document which should help to solve the problems of Michigan government. It introduces some sanity into the executive branch by reducing the number of agencies from 120- 20; it strengthens the legislative branch by establishing a more equitable system of apportionment and giving four-year terms for senators; it improves the adminis- tration of justice by means of a uniform court system and a court of appeals to relieve an over- burdened state supreme court. r * " THERE ARE many other im- provements, as both sides will agree. Unfortunately, however, there are also some potentially very serious steps backward. Through vague and incompetent wording, the growth of higher edu- cation would be snarled as no one presently quite knows whether the state board of education or the individual institutions would have the final say on the means of uni- versity expansion. The proposed constitution also limits financial flexibility by pro- hibition of a graduated income tax and a requirement that the state cut appropriations if it turns out that revenues were not as high as expected. A third drawback is the mud- dling of executive lines of author- ity by setting up functional boards (in education and highways) in- stead of having individual admin- istrators responsible to the gover- nor. s*a*a HARMFUL as these provisions are on paper, however, things may well work out better in practice. For example, Michigan's univer- sities, despite many incidents of meddling by the Legislature, have a long tradition of autonomy which the proposed state board would have to take heed of before instituting some "super-plan" of expansion. Similarly, the financial clause can be side-stepped by a flat-rate income tax with heavy exemptions for lower income groups; granting the governor a four-year term would give him time enough to establish informal lines of power to pierce the boards and agencies. His authority would also be in- creased by an item veto on ap- propriations bills. In bringing up other supposed calamaties in the document, state Democrats have been quite in- consistent and myopic. For ex- ample, they attack the apportion- ment provisions for perpetuating a mal-districted Senate. * * * THE FACT IS that a big Im- provement has been made. Demo- cratic and moderate Republican representation would be increased as urban areas would have 18 of the 38 seats, compared to 12 of the 34 seats in the present cham- ber's makeup. Given the political realities of this state, the Senate provision is the best that can be expected. (The House is also better appor- tioned, but the Democrats avoid mentioning this point, too.) Opponents of the new document contend that executive agencies could be sabotaged by a clause allowing a joint legislative com- mittee to suspend regulations set down by these agencies between legislative sessions. This is a reasonable provision which discourages executive boards from establishing what could be, in the legislators' opinion, tyran- nical and unfair rulings. The clause does not give the Legisla- ture any powers summarily to re- strict agency rulings while the chambers are in session. * * * THE DEMOCRATS reach the height of absurdity when they urge defeat of the new document, promising to resubmit afterward the provisions having bi-partisan support as amendments to the present constitution. The articles most heavily de- bated have been on apportionment, the revisions of the executive branch positions, financial pro- visions and several civil rights clauses. These are obviously among the most important issues of the pro- posed document. So what the Democrats really are proposing is that constitutional reform be done only on the articles less vital to the operation of Michigan's gov- ernment. And while the Democrats take delight in trying to make a "yes" vote appear intellectual treason, it should be pointed out in reply that University political scientists and other intellectuals were utilized extensively by the Constitutional Convention as research personnel. In addition, more than a few Democrats, including professors, have publicly stated that they'll Con-Con Botched It, Let's Try Again Can't Have Good Without Bad By MICHAEL HARRAH City Editor IT IS INDEED regrettable that 144 intelligent men and women wereunable toframe a good con- stitution for the State of Michi- gan, given the time and money at their disposal last year. For nine months in the season of 1962-63, the Constitutional Con- vention puttered about attempting to improve upon a 55-year-old document which, while not perfect, was quite serviceable. However, its critics assailed it as "rusty, musty. dusty" and "a crazy patchwork quilt," and nothing would do until they had succeeded in calling a costly constitutional convention to overhaul it. For this phenomenon the state spared no expense or spectacle. Often the convention was a politi- cal showcase, and money poured into its operating coffers like water from an artesian well. * *.* BUT THE RESULT was disap- pointing; the end product was not the sleek, smooth document the voters had been expecting. Ratl)er it turned out to be little more than another "patchwork" itself, characterized by a lot of odd ideas slung together. True, in some area it improved upon the existing document, but in too many other areas it just destroyed or mutilated a perfectly good institution of the state. The proposed constitution offers several improvements. Its tighter election laws, four-year terms for the governor and administrative officers and appointment of the auditor general by the state Legis- lature are excellent steps forward. The ceiling on the number of state agencies at 20, the establishment of an intermediate appellate court and the provision for interim ap- pointments of retired judges are much needed. 'YOJIMBO': Eastern Western "YOJIMBO" puts "Have Gun Will Travel" to shame. Here's a town where men are sliced to pieces instead of neatly shot. A dog carries a man's hand in his mouth; a man loses his arm with a flick of the wrist; a whole vil- lage is almost destroyed. Two feud- ing badmen, Seibei and Ushi Tora, And unlike the usual bland west- ern, there aren't any good guys, or bad guys. Everyone seems to en- joy the swordplay, except for a few who keep inside. Into this scene of dust and blood comes a questionable hero-San- juro, a samurai with the skill to kill three men with a few swoops of the blade. He has come upon the perfect place to make a living and Sanjuro, it first appears, is willing to be a hired sword, or (as the sake seller calls him) a "yo- jimbo" (bodyguard). But what hired gun would with- draw from the fight just when it's about to begin? This Sanjuro does, leaving the two groups to destroy themselves. Apparently, Sanjuro plans to have the violents destroy each other, leaving the town in peace. Unfortunately, an official arrives and the battle is postponed. To make the future battles even more interesting however, Nosuke, Ushi Tora's younger brother has returned home with a revolver. * * * DESPITE THE GUN, Sanjuro's skill is still in demand, but he doesn't join either side until one of Ushi Tora's men takes a young bride as his mistress. Sanjuro, to save her, joins Ushi Tora. Sanjuro now appears to be a knight in shining armor. But is he? One of the most interesting fo- cuses of the film is on Sanjuro and what he represents. Unlike most western heroes, Sanjuro is bloodthirsty. Unfortunately, the drawbacks to the new document are so great as to nullify the good effect it might have had. Outstandingly poor among the various clauses is the education provision, which creates an om- niscient super "board of educa- tion" and then turns right around and sets up three sepaate, and supposedly independent, govern- ing boards for the University, Michigan State University and Wayne State University. The infighting which would re- sult between these three boards and the superboard is obvious. With the superboard charged with "general planning and coordinat- ing," it seems apparent the three provincial governing boards will not care to be "planned and co- ordinated." What's more, the superboard "must advise the Legislature as to financial requirements" for the state's education system. This flies in the face of the three universities not under the superboard, as they will be subjected to the whims of that board. If the superboard is to advise the Legislature concern- ing all educational finances, the Regents' own words on the subject will be not nearly so effective, and the economy-minded Legisla- ture will obviously play one board off against the other and take the route of least expensive. Too often this route is penny wise and pound foolish. * * * EQUALLY MUDDLED is the ad- ministrative mess loosely described as a highway commission. Com- prised of four members, who will appoint an errand boy called the highway commissioner; the ar- rangement invites chaos. High- ways are a constant source of con- troversy, and it seems inconceiv- able that any four people could agree on a really effective high- way program. To make matters worse, the commission has to be bi-partisan, which in Michigan is just inviting trouble. The pros- pects are for a partisan deadlock producing little more than charges and countercharges, but no roads. Apportionment of the Legisla- ture presents still another sore spot. Ideally, the lower House should be apportioned strictly ac- cording to population, and the up- per house should be divided solely by area with only a minimum pop- ulation base. The proposed constitution makes up the two houses from a confused muddle of both. a*.s THEN TO TOP the whole mess off, an apportionment commission is established to take the func- tion of apportionment from the Legislature and vest it in the pre- carious clutches of eight politically appointed commissioners. Their plan, no matter how insane, would have the force of law. To make matters worse, this commission is appointed, not elected, so if the electorate doesn't like the end re- sult, it has effective recourse- quite an undemocratic arrange- ment at best. In spite of the all important provision for an -intermediate ap- pellate court, the judicial section is burdened down with a clause to abolish the vital justice of the peace system in favor of some vague arrangement for "local courts." This will probably create chaos in the outstate townships, which depend so heavily upon the JP courts to handle the traffic vio- lations and other minor problems that abount. To be sure, the JPs must be reformed. But abolition is not the solution. "Local courts" could never be supported by the tiny townships and villages which utilize JPs, and this would force centralization of the "local courts." The result would be a large back- log of minor cases, enc'imbered by the slow mechanics of justice, and a needless morass of litigation would be perpetuated. * *. * THERE ARE numerous other drawbacks including intrusions in the name of eminent domain, search and seizure and rights of citizens to seek elective office, but any one of the four major objec- tions listed are sufficient to make By PHILIP SUTIN THE ADOPTION of the proposed constitution tomorrow would move Michigan sideways. While making some advances, the docu- ment sidesteps several major prob- lems and heads the state back- wards in other areas. The major fault of this docu- ment is that it gives the Legisla- ture too much power, then reap- portions it to keep at least one house perpetually in the hands of minority interests. Modern govern- ment requires executive leadership with a strong central administra- tor answerable to the voter for all the state's operations. The present constitution hamstrings this concept and the proposed document, by giving the Legisla- ture sweeping review powers, does little to improve the condition. THE MAIN WEAPON given the Legislature is found in Article IV, Sec. 37, allowing it to review ad- ministrative ruling and to suspend them while the Legislature is not in session. This power weakens the gov- ernor's authority and the workings of administrative agencies, espe- cially if the governor and the legislative majority are of opposite parties. Administrative rules need flexibility to meet constantly vary- ing situations. They deal wih matters that are often too flexible and too specific to legislate. A backward looking Legislature can nullify the efforts of a state agency to meet a serious problem, delay- ing its solution many needless years. The Legislature is also left to fill out the proposed constitution. While this is good in some in- stances, the procedure is bad in the civil rights area where strong provisions are needed to make the civil rights section of the docu- ment effective. A failure to provide strong, definitive language almost negates a section which contains important advances. * * * A MALAPPORTIONMENT of the Legislature has been the most controversial failing of the docu- ment. Under the 80-20 population- area factors scheme, one person, if he occupies 10 per cent of the state's area could vote himself into the Senate. Under the scheme the current 30th Senatorial Dis- trict-Menominee, Delta, Alger, Schoolcraft, Mackinaw, Luce and Chippewa Counties-accrues 13.72 area factors maintaining a senator while having only 1.65 per cent of the state's population. Oakland County, on the other hand, has 8.82 per cent of the population and also receives one senator. This inequity, which will grow as the rural areas empty and suburban areas mushroom, could not be corrected by reapportionment. The spread is too great. The principle of "one man, one vote" tentatively imposed by the Michigan Supreme Court Scholle vs. Hare decision was recently en- dorced by the United States Su- preme Court in the Georgia county unit system case. This casts serious doubts on the validity of the Con- Con apportionment scheme. Further, the partisan, district eight-man apportionment com- mission places partisan politics in apportionment-a job best left to population measuring experts. The commission is as badly apportioned as the Legislature, with 25 per cent of the members representing 71 per cent of the population. THE NEW DOCUMENT also fails to meet squarely the state's major problem - inadequate fi- nancing for governmental services. It maintains the 15 mill property tax limitation, making local gov- ernment financing difficult. On the state level it retains earmark- ed funds and prohibits a graduat- ed income tax-the fairest way of raising new revenue. While the borrowing limit has been increased to 15 per cent of unearmarked funds, the state must repay it within the same year, creating encumbering difficulties and rob- bing the state of needed financial flexibility. Nor does the proposed constitu- tion recognize, the problems of metropolitan areas. The old court house crowds are maintained by requiring a county sheriff, clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, pros- ecuting attorney and cumbersome board of supervisors. All-urban Wayne County does not need them. These county officials dup- licate services provided by the various municipalities and their presence inhibits regional metro- politan government spreading over many counties. Metropolitan government is not fostered by the new document either. Although counties are al- lowed to merge, there is no way to abolish one in favor of regional government without standard county forms. The Legislature, not the people in the area, have the final say in determining the form of metropolitan units. With a rurally - apportioned Legislature, this provision will hinder the growth of necessary urban ser- vices. *. * * THE PROPOSED constitution strengthens the state's court sys- tem by abolishing justices of the peace, but weakens it by creating an appeals court elected by dis- tricts. This extends the state's malapportionment to the judiciary where it does not belong. Like the supreme court, the appeals court should be elected on a state-wide non-partisan ballot. This makes them reflective of popular senti- ment, but maintains high quality without parochial views. It is not enough just to oppose the proposed constitution. Further action will be needed if the state is to prosper. The current consti- tution is archaic and cumbersome, but its suggested successor does little to improve the situation. In extending legislative power, it ret- rogresses. So. the opponents of the propos- ed constitution should form a per- manent organization to suggest systematically amendments to the 1908 document, a subject at a time. This organization would utilize Con-Con documents and the tal- ents of the state's political scien- tists to come up with specific re- forms. A' long-term timetable of issues will eliminate choas in the initiative amendment process. Opposition wil suffice for the election, but future reform is needed. Let us hope the job is not botched again. JUDICIAL CANDIDATES: Party Blocs Hurt Court T HE WORLD is The individua states-are seeking which comes in nun The theory of T dividuals, in order security and chanc voluntarily surren obsolute authority leviathan, since it i exists outside thef subject to no limi to insure that soci to chaos where eac other men for survi THE WORLD to individual levia autonomous and re than themselves in nature which Hob of all against all. It appears as th reduce the numberc to achieve more sta unities which cros is a step in this dire Even though th never admit that'i autonomy, the for NATO, SEATO, th States, the United, tion of Malaysia, th munity, and a pr the Latin American make the leaderso ther' inidal in Leviathan World Hope in a period of consolidation. of the entire body-such as when President l leviathans-the nation Charles de Gaulle of France, earlier this year, the protection and security effectively blocked Britain's entry into the nbers. EEC. This is why real authority must be given Thomas Hobbes is that in- to those groups which override the national r to achieve the maximum boundaries. They must have the power to e for personal advancement, squelch capricious states-which, of course, der their freedom to the is what those states fear. of the leviathan. And the It's a real paradox. What the nations of the s created by the individuals, world want is more security. They tried to get framework of power and is it by being totally free and unconnected to tations. Its responsibility is each other-this didn't work. Now they are ety doesn't degenerate back going to try to find it in unity with others. h man is pitted against all But they are afraid this will destroy security val. if their union gets too strong. The general world attitude towards the day with the hundreds of United Nations is the best example of this. thans who feel themselves All members think there is merit in the world cognize no higher authority body and that its authority should extend over ba senseis in the state of all the other members. But national ire is )bes describes as the war raised when the UN authority comes in their own direction., ough the world is acting too of independent nation-states THERE CAN be no real peace or stability in bility. The creation of larger the world until nations see that they must ss national boundary lines unite themselves with other nations. ction. e concerned countries will The first step is in the formation of nations it means a loss of national such as the planned Federation of Malaysia, *mation of such groups as which will include under one flag: Malaya, e Organization of American Singapore, and the British Borneo territories Arab Republic, the Federa- of North Borneo, Brunei and Sarawak. .e European Economic Coin- After the miniscule countries join at this oposed trade block within first level, the final step is forming an organ- a countries, cannot help but ization which would truly encompass the whole of the countries aware that world. ntersts will sometimes h f :nnoas fnthonih the nnly hnne nr the BY WILLIAM BENOIT TOMORROW'S voters will have an opportunity to break a long- standing deadlock in the Michigan Supreme Court. Two seats are up for grabs. There are eight positions on the court and in the past two years, that body has contained four Re- publicans and four Democrats, even though justices are elected on a nonpartisan ballot. This split results in a number of deadlocked decisions because, although they are elected on a nonpartisan ballot, the justices usually vote in party blocs. And in case of a deadlock the final say goes to the next lower judicial body, the circuit court. As one Republican and one Democrat leave t h e Supreme Court tomorrow, if one justice from each party is elected, the effect will be that of giving the circuit courts the powers of the Supreme Court. Both parties must capture both seats to hold a ma- jority. * * * THE TWO Republican candi- dates, chosen at the last GOP state convention, are RichardG. Smith of Bay City and Donald E. Hol- brook of Clare. Smith has a history of work in Michigan's judicial system. He 1-_ _otxA ,nf ,e aM itivlr circuit since 1947. 'Holbrook was also Clare County prosecutor and headed the Michigan Judges Asso- ciation. * * * THE TWO Democratic candi- dates, Paul L. Adams of Sault Ste. Marie and Eugene F. Black of Port Huron, both have previously served on the Supreme Court. Adams lost his seat last Novem- ber to Michael D. O'Hara. A form- er Sault Ste. Marie mayor, he has served as state attorney general and at one time was a Regent. Eugene F. Black is a veteran in Michigan politics. Elected attor- ney general.on the GOP ticket in 1946, Black was also appointed circuit judge for the 31st judicial district in 1954 by Williams. Black studied law at the Detroit College of Law and later at the University. .Delusion IF ITS DOMESTIC life can some- how be modernized, Britain will more easily find its proper place in the world at large. The coun- try must base its relationships with others on reason and not on pow- er or the illusion of power. The attempt to retain an inde- pendent nuclear deterrent, wheth- er y naancof, inr,. chians. ,,