City voters
to decide
By CHARLES STEIN
An advisoryi referendum calling
for institution of a city-wide income
tax will face Ann Arbor voters in
a special election next Monday.
The tax issue has developed into
a bitter political struggle between
Democratic Mayor Robert Harris's
administration and its critics, left
as well as right. The efficiency of
city government now has been
questioned, particularly by fiscally
conservative Republicans. A n d,
those to the left of Harris question
the entire nature of the present
tax system.
- The controversial measure would
establish a one per cent tax on
the income of all Ann Arbor resi-
dents and a one-half per cent tax
on commuters who earn their liv-
ing in the city.
In addition, the city's current
property tax of 14.85 mills, or
$14.85 per every thousand dollars
of assessed property value, would
be reduced by 7.5 mills.
Estimates of additional revenue
the .new tax package would gener-
ate vary, with most city officials
predicting it would be approximate-
ly $850,000.
Proponents of the tax claim it
provides the best available means
to alleviate the city's "severe"
fiscal problems. City Public In-
formation Officer Jack Mack pro-
jects this fiscal year's deficit at
$400,000 and warns that next fiscal
year's deficit may reach twice
that sum, if the new tax structure
is not adopted.
In explaining the city's rising
gap between revenues and expendi-
income
tures, officials often cite the re-
lationship between the city and
the University.
In the past, the University has
paid 18 per cent of the city's po-
lice budget-which last year was
$1.1 million. But Gov. William Mil-
liken last year ordered that these
payments be phased out, calling
Ann Arbor the only city in Mich-
igan which exacted such payments
from a locally-based university.
Thus, the University last year
paid $350,000 to the city for police
services, and this year it will prob-
ably pay nothing.
Additional increased expenditures
beyond the police budget, according
to Harris, are needed to compen-
sate for inflation, rising salaries,
increasing population and problem
areas-like garbage collection and
tax
issue
I'on day
crime-that grow faster than pop-
ulation.
Even if the, tax measure is ap-
proved, officials say city services
will be reduced somewhat, but a
rejection of the proposed package,
they claim, will result in "sub-
stantial" service cutbacks.
Officials are hesitant to pinpoint
the threatened service cuts, but
it appears, that nearly all city de-
partments could be affected.
Harris lists the police, the city's
largest department, with a budget
exceeding $2.5 million, as a prob-
able source for cuts, however.
Police spokesmen predict a budget
cut would mean a reduction in po-
lice personnel and hence in police
protection, since the departmental
budget comprises mostly salaries.
The city's already minimal bus
service might be another prime
target for cutbacks, and this could
have an adverse effect upon the
city's lower income residents who
rely most heavily on public trans-
portation.
Closing the fire station' on North
Campus, plus large cuts in fund-
ing for parks, recreation and hu-
man r e s o u r c e s including drug
programs are other possible areas
where money might be lost, ac-
cording to Harris.
"If we are forced to lay off per-
sonnel," Harris adds, "a larger
percentage of minority group em-
ployes will be hit, because they
have generally been the ones hired
most recently."
Harris's opposition on the left,
the Human Rights Party (HRP)
opposes the income tax passage,
calling it regressive.
HRP argues that a flat-rate tax
discriminates against poor people
to the benefit of landlords, large
property owners and corporations.
Party spokespersons say the city
should be lobbying for a steeply
graduated tax instead, a tax that
is illegal under present state law.
Landlords and corporations will
indeed get a large tax break if the
mayor's tax package passes, be-
cause the reduction in property
tax will amount to about $2 mil-
lion. HRP people suspect that not
only will this savings not be trans-
ferred to consumers by lower
prices and rents, but that con-
sumers will bear the primary
burden created by the income tax.
Another area of the package they
See CITY, Page 7
Mayor Harris
ENDING CLASSIFIED
RESEARCH
See Editorial Page
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PROFOUND
High-35
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Vol. LXXXII, No. 108
Ann Arbor, Michigan-Thursday, February 17, 1972
Ten Cents
Ten Pages
- 1
Ten Pace
*State Senate
Milliken expected to sign
measure into law shortly
LANSING (I)-The State Senate by a vote of 34-1 yester-
day gave final approval to a proposal calling for a presidential
primary in the spring.
The measure, approved by the House on Tuesday, provides
' for, a May 15 primary election, and will combine the presiden-
tial primary with precinct elections.
The bill now goes to Gov. William Milliken, who is ex-
pec ed to quickly sign the measure into law.
Milliken's office issued the following statement on the bill
yesterday: "Legislature passage of the presidential primary
bill today writes the final chapter in one of the most im-
portant reform measures to be passed by the legislature. This >
will allow all eligible voters, including the newly-enfranchised
passes
primary
Prisoners
file
suit
against county jail;
cite. overcrowAding
Regents to'
hold open.
di seussion
Meeting today in only their sec-
ond open Thursday a f t e r n o o n
meeting, the Regents will discuss
classified research, the Public In-
terest Research Group in Michi-
gan (PIRGIM) and plans for the
University's Flint branch.
Commenting on the open meet-
ing format, Secretary of the Uni-
versity Richard Kennedy said, "We
felt the topics in that part of the
agenda were appropriate for pub-
lic discussion."
"It's part of an evolutionary
process," Kennedy added, "whereI
we bring issues into public dis-
cussion when there isn't any need
for private sessions.
Kennedy also said that future
young voters, to have a direct
influence in the selection of
presidential candidates. This
bi-partisan effort is clearly a
victory for the people, and a
tribute to both parties."
The Michigan primary will be
the 16th in a series of preference
ballots starting March 7 with the
New Hampshire primary.
Michigan has 48 votes at the
Republican National Convention
and 132 Democratic votes at Miami
Beach, making the Michigan pri-
mary important to all major con-
tenders.
President Richard Nixon is as-
sured of Michigan's Republican
support, while Sen. Edward Mus-
kie appears to be the top Demo-
crat because ofbprobable backing
by the powerful United Auto
Workers union.
However, last-minute legislative
changes in the primary bill im-
prove prospects for less-prominent
contenders.
To be eligible for a share of
party convention delegates, a can-
didate would need only 5 per cent
of the total vote in either party.
Earlier versions of the bill called
for figures as high as 10 or 15
per cent.
Waiting for action
Wheelchairs await some University administrators today as they prepare to carry out their daily
routines in them. As a response to invitations by Student Government Council's committee on
problems of the handicapped, four of the Regents-Gertrude Huebner (R-Bloomfield Hills), Robert
Nederlander (D-Birmingham), James Waters (D-Muskegon) and Paul Brown (D-Petoskey)-as well
as several administrators will participate in the demonstration to dramatize the problems of the
handicapped on campus.
GRADE-SCHOOL 'PAIRING':
School board defeats
plan for racial balance'
By WILLIAM LILLVIS
On behalf of the approxi-
mately 125 prisoners in Wash-
tenaw County Jail, t h r e e
inmates now awaiting trial
yesterday filed suit in Circuit
Court charging illegal and un-
constitutional administration
of the jail facility.
Named as defendants in the
suit, which! will receive a prelimi-
nary examination before Circuit
Judge William Ager next Thursday
morning, are Washtenaw County
Sheriff Douglas Harvey, Captain
and Chief Turnkey K e n n e t h
Shultz, the County Commissioners
and the County Board of Auditors.
The suit cites, among other
things. "illegal overcrowding,"
"unlawful restrictions on com-
munication and privacy," "grossly
inadequate medical care" and "the
total lack of an exercise facility."
Some of these conditions were crit-
icized last year by the State In-
spector.
At a press conference held by
the plaintiffs' legal counsel and
supporting organizations, N e a 1
Bush, an attorney with the Ann
Arbor Lawyer's Guild, noted that
the large majority of prisoners
have not been convicted of a
crime. He called the conditions in
which they must live "intolerable."
The suit contends that the in-
adequate sanitary facilities and
overcrowding violate both the Ann
Arbor Building Code and the Mich-
igan Correctional Institution Code.
A cell in which prisoners are
placed for punishment called by
inmates the "hole" is cited in par-
ticular by the suit as unlawful.
According to Bush, inmates are
sometimes placed there with no
clean clothes, and the cell is not
furnished with running water.
Bush also 'noted that prisoners,
are given but 'one change of clean1
clothes a week.
Toilets and cells often overflow
and backup causing unhealthy,
conditions and foul odors which
the ventilation system cannot al-
leviate, the suit alleges.
According to Bush, representa-
tives for the plaintiffs wantaccess
to the jail "at reasonable hours"
See INMATES, Page 6
Thursday meetings may be open
"depending on the issues to be
discussed."
In a typical monthly round of'
meetings, the publicly elected Re- This provision could be an en-
gents meet for about 14 hours, in- couragement to hopefuls such as
cluding a two-hour long Friday Rep. Shirley Chisolm (D-N.Y.),.
chiinga to-hur ongFriayNew York Mayor John Lindsay
morning meeting which is open to:ndwAYarkmayov.JorgL day-
those who request passes in d and Alabama Gov. George Wal-
vance.
Additionally, the Regents meet
in closed session most of Thurs-
day, Thursday evening and early
Friday morning.
Today's discussion on classified
research will mostly involve ques-
tioning faculty and student rep-
resentatives on various plans to
restrict such research on campus,
Representatives of the Senate
Advisory Committee on University
Affairs will speak about the Sen-
See REGENTS', Page 6
lace.
The bill also provides for. simul-
taneous election of party pre-
cinct delegates. Precinct contend-
ers would run uncommitted or
pledged to certain hopefuls. Suc-
cessful precinct - delegate candi-
dates would choose county dele-
gates, who would in turn select
national convention delegates.
The Senate vote came after an-
other serious roadblock had been
t h r o w n in front of the long-
delayed measure.
I
By SUE STEPHENSON
The Ann Arbor Board of Educa-
tion yesterday voted 5-4 not to
accept Superintendent R. Bruce
McPherson's pairing plan for ele-
mentary schools.
The decision was reached after
the members of the board had
listened to hours of various com-
munity members' opinions.
McPherson's "p air in g" plan
through second grade students,
now attending the overcrowded
though racially balanced Clinton
school, would be bused to the new
Southeast elementary school. All
third to fifth grade students would
be bused to Clinton school. The
Clinton school district includes both
elementary schools, divided by In-
terstate 94. Students in thedistrict
now attend the Clinton school.
i
would involve the busing of stu-I
dents between two of the city's ele- Board Trustees Charles Good,
mentary s c h o o 1 s. Kindergarten Henry Johnson, Ron Bishop, and
WOMEN'S, MINORITIES' UNITS
U'
may
end
commissions
Paul Carrington voted in support
of the pairing plan.
Trustee Johnson commented be-
fore the vote that he saw "no
other way for the board to act but
in support of the pairing plan,"
and he added that he felt that
"failure to do so would result in
regression from positive thinking."
Bishop, also in favor of the pair-
ing plan, commented that he was
in favor of the "neighborhood
school concept" but he added that
he felt "we have a problem which
supercedes this one," and that only
the passage of the pairing problem
will solve it.
One of the three non-voting stu-
dent members of the board com-
mented that he felt there was a
"need for segregation in the lower
schools in order to alleviate the
racial problems encountered in the
high schools."
Ann Arbor Board of Education
President Cecil Warner, Vice Pres-
ident Ted Heusel, and trustees
Robert Conn, Ralph Bolhouse and
Duane Renken rejected and thus
defeated McPherson's pairing plan.
Trustee Bolhouse, in commenting
before the vote, said that he felt
"the neighborhood concept was a
great value in helping a child de-
velop an identity," and he ccn-
tinued questioning how any child
could "prefer a system of pahing
as opposed to the security of
home.
HP2,gPIcc'1caihP v,'p.8 -rn A oavt the
By MARY KRAMER
Special To The Daily
CHICAGO - The University is con-
sidering phasing out' its women's and
ninorities' commissions as coordina-
tors of its affirmative action plans to
end job discrimination.
At a conference on equal employ-
ment opportunities for women here yes-
terday. The Daily learned from Univer-
sity officials that the commissions may
be replaced by a single administrator.
The conference discussed the impli-
cations of the Department of Labor's
JOHN FELDKAMP, director of housing, and South Quad Minor-
ity Council member Lee Gill, attend a meeting last night on
the proposal for an Afro-American and African Culture Residence
Unit in South Quad. About 25 dorm residents attended the
session.
Residents discuL
blaclVig A unit
By HOWARD BRICK
The objections of some South Quad residents to an Afro-
American and African Cultural living unit proposed' for the
dormitory next term may be overcome by the relocation of
returning residents in other houses of that dorm.
The possibility of relocating returning residents of Gom-
berg and Bush Houses, the houses proposed for the unit, in
South Quad's Huber and Thronson Houses is seen as a viable
solution to the problem by both South Quad residents and
Director of Housing John Feldkamp.
Approximately 25 residents of the dormitory met with
Feldkamp last night. Though no official compromise was
worked out, r presentatives of Gomberg and Bush house gov-
---- _------- - - Iernments admitted that relo-
cation would be an acceptable
solution.
The cultural living unit was
approved "in principle" by the
Housing Policy Committee Feb. 10.
Though the committee must re-
affirm its decision in a "second
reading" tomorrow, the Housing
Office has already begun plans for
implementing the plan.
- ' Bush and Gomberg houses, adja-
cent houses on the fifth and sixth
floors of South Quad, have been
proposed as specific sites for the
cultural living unit. This proposal,
-. however, has initially met unfav-
orable response from present resi-
dents in those houses.
The living unit, though it will
consist predominantly of black
students, will be open to any stu-
dents "who have an interest in
Afro-American and African cul-
ture without regard to race, color
and religion," according to the
applies to the University only in
"spirit", not the "letter of the law."
HEW is currently reviewing the Uni-
versity's affirmative action plan, which
was drawn up after HEW withheld
several University contracts in Nov.
1970.
In addition, University Attorney
William Lemmer said that the phasing
out of the women's commission was
only "a possibility."
President Robben Fleming has ap-
pointed Lemmer to explore the applic-
ability of the order to the University.
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