VOTING RIGHTS
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Vol. LXXXVIII, No..94
Ann Arbor, Michigan-Tuesday, January 24, 1978
Ten Cents
10 Pages
Township 20
don't have
to reveal mayoral
votes
By JULIE ROVNER
In a unanimous decision, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled yesterday that 17
people who voted illegally in last April's mayoral election, including two Univ-
ersity students, do not have to reveal how they voted.
The decision, which reversed an Appeals Court ruling issued last November;
said that the constitution provides a right to a secret ballot which cannot be
abrogated unless there is evidence of intended fraud.
YESTERDAY'S DECISION was the latest in a series of legal intricacies
which began last April, when incumbent Democrat Albert Wheeler defeated Coun-
cilman Louis Belcher (R-5th ward) for the mayor's seat by one vote.
After a number of recounts, Belcher sued Wheeler, charging he was holding
the mayor's post illegally because of a number of disputed paper ballots and a
voting machine which had allegedly been read wrong.
Then, last summer, it was discovered that due to the use of incorrect street
guides by some city registrars, 23 township residents-ineligible to.vote in city
elections-had accidently been registered and had voted.
DURING THE FIRST hearings last October, 20 of the voters who had been
located and subpeonaed were brought to the courtroom and told they would be
asked to tell which candidate they had voted for.
Three revealed their votes, but University junior Susan VanHattum refused
on the grounds that she had a constitutional right to keep her vote a secret.
VanHattum was cited for contempt, handcuffed, and detained brielfy in the
judge's chambers. Another student, Diane Lazinsky, also refused to tell. She too,
was cited for contempt. '
The trial came to an abrupt halt as lawyers for VanHattum and Lazinsky
took their case to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
On November 10, the court ruled that the right of secrecy in voting does not
extend to those who cast their ballots illegally and that the so-called "township
20" would have to tell.
THE LAWYERS appealed again, and yesterday's ruling was the result.
"It's just real important that the vote be secret," VanHattum said. "I thought
maybe I'd have to go to jail for a day and then get out because of all the reaction
it would cause . .. It really wasn't all that much of a hassle. I'm glad I did
it and if I had to I would do it again.
VanHattum credited her willingness to stand up to the judge to the knowledge
of legal proceedings she has obtained in her work for the Ann Arbor Tenants Union.
"A lot of people would have thought 'well, that's the law so I have to tell,'
but I knew it was my right not to have to," she said.
"THIS CASE SETS a precedent because it clarifys a cloudy issue in this state,
especially with the unanimous decision," said Jonathan Rose, VanHattum's
attorney.
Edward Goldman, an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawyer who
has been represnting Lazinsky, agreed with Rose. "If they can ask you to reveal
your vote, the next step it to try to check and see whether or not you're telling
the truth. They'll subpeona your roommate and your neighbor and even ask how
your mother voted. It's such a dangerous precedent, it's inappropriate to open
the door even that little bit," he said.
Lazinsky has refused all along to speak with the press, but Goldman said
that they were both very happy with the decision.
BOTH WHEELER and Belcher also indicated their satisfaction with the
decision.
"I'm very happy," Belcher said. "Maybe now the wish I've had all along,
that the election will be voided. will be acted on."
See TOWNSHIP, Page 2
University junior Susan Van Hatturn smiled yesterday when she heard tha
the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled she does not have to reveal her vote
Carter presents $500
Hot dog tuber Daily Photo by BRAD BENJAMIN
Bumps render MoJo tuber Jeff Vincent airborne during a recent ski weekend in Northern Michigan.
Gunmenki*dnap Bega
G s
industrialist in ambush
billion h
WASHINGTON (AP) - President
Carter sent Congress yesterday a $500.2-
billion budget for fiscal 19711 that
provides for new spending for defense,
education and health, and leaves a
deficit of $60.6 billion, the third largest
ever.
If Congress approves, the budget will
hike spending by $38 billion over $978
and will be the first to hit the half-
trillion-dollar mark. Spending would be
equal to about $4,200 for every
American.
BUT IN HIS budget message, Carter
said the real increase in fed ral pur-
chasing power would be only percent,
and that the budget will actually reduce
the federal share of the nation's gross
national product from 22.6 percent to 22
percent.
The budget doesn't provide for any
major new programs, but a contingen-
cy fund of $3 billion could be used to
start a national health insurance
program or asnew urban aid program
that Carter said he will propose to
Congress in March.
Even so, the magnitude of the
proposed spending brought critical
comment from some key members of
Congress.
"I WOULD LIKE to see us under $500
billion," House Speaker Tip O'Neill told
reporters.
Rep. George Mahon (D-Tex.),
chairman of the House Appropriations
Committee, applauded Carter's an-
nounced intention of working with the
private sector of the economy toreduce
unemployment. But he said accom-
panying proposals for spending and
large tax cuts to stimulate the economy
involve considering risks and "the
greatest risk appears to be inflation."
The budget includes Carter's
proposed $25-billion in tax cuts that the
udget fc
administration contends are needed to
generate one million new jobs in the
economy in 1979.
THE BUDGET IS for the fiscl year
beginning Oct. 1 of this year. The
projected outlays of $500.2 billion com-
pare with outlays during the 1978 fiscal
year of $462.2 billion.
Carter's budget estimates $439.6
billion in receipts against the outlays.
This would leave the government
Milliken backs
'U' budgr hike
r 1979
operating in the red by $60.6 billion,
only a little less than the estimated
$61.8 billion deficit for the present year.,
Chairman Rbbert Giaimo (D-Conn.)
of the House Budget Committee said
the contemplated deficit is "much too
high in times of solid economic
growth."
PRAISING CARTER for calling for
restraints on spending, Giaimo added,
See CONGRESS, Page 2
PARIS (AP) - Masked gunmen
ambushed an automobile carrying
Baron Edouard-Jean Empain in
central Paris yesterday and abduct-
ed the Belgian nobleman, one of
Europe's wealthiest industrialists,
police sources said.
Hours after the late-morning ab-
duction, the 40-year-old baron's fam-
ily still had not received a ransom de-
mand, authorities said. There was no,
firm clue to whether he was kid-
napped for money or for political
motives.
POLICE WERE mobilized nation-
wide and at borders in the hunt for
Empain, father of three and scion of
a long-powerful family.
Police said Empain's chauffeur
was in shock after being beaten by
the four or five kidnappers in the
well-organized operation. The gun-
men used two trucks and a motorbike
to trap the industrialist's car just
outside his apartment building near
the Arc de Triomphe.
Empain, whose mother was Ameri-
can music hall star Rozell Rowland,
is president and managing director
of the French-Belgian E m p a i n-
Schneider industrial group of 150
companies.
THE CONGLOMERATE, which
has an annual turnover of "$4.5 bil-
lion, is France's only nuclear power
plant manufacturer, building U.S.
Westinghouse plants under license,
and has large steel, shipping, bank-
ing and machinery production inter-
ests.
It employs 120,000 workers world-
wide, is a major shareholder in the
U.S. company Phoenix Steel and is
believed to have other large North
American holdings.
Police, recounting what the chauf-
feur and other witnesses told them,
said Empain drove from his apart-'
ment building on a quiet, fashionable
street paralleling the Avenue Foch at
about 11 a.m. yesterday.
A FEW YARDS away a small truck
had been parked out from the curb.
As Empain's driver tried to ma-
neuver around it, a man on a motor-
See GUNMEN, Page 10
By DENNIS SABO
with wire reports
The University will enjoy a record
$123.4 million budget next year if Gov:
William Milliken's recommended 9.9
per cent appropriation increase
receives legislative approval.
The University, with its proposed
$11.1 million increase, heads the list of
state colleges and universities which
are expected to receive increased ap-
propriations for the 1978-79 fiscal year.
STATE BUDGET Director Gerald
Miller said the state's healthy economy
is responsible for the governor's
requests, which may not gain
legislative approval until June.
"I would not expect the legislature to
give Michigan any less than the gover-
nor requested," Miller said. "At least I
would hope not."
University Chief Financial Officer
James Brinkerhoff, although pleased
with the increase, said he expected the
University to receive slightly more af-
ter legislative proceedings.
"WE STAND A good chance of get-
ting a little more from the legislature,"
Brinkerhoff said. "That's how it's
usually been in the past."
Here is a run-down of other state
:universities 'and their expected 1978-79
budgets:
" Michigan State University; $128.9
million, up $9.5 million.
" Wayne State University; $87.8
million, up $5.9 million.
* Western Michigan University; $43
million, up $4.8 million.
" Central Michigan University; $27.0
million, up $3.1 million.
" Eastern Michigan University; $30.4
million, up $2.2 million.
* Oakland University; $17.6 million,
up $2 million.
" University of Michigan-Dear-
born; $8.6 million, up $1 million.
" University of Michigan-Flint;
$7.3 million, up $418,000.
SACUA listens to
recommendations for
Union's renovation
'HOL OCA US T COULD COME AGAIN:
Grauel suppori
By MICHAEL ARKUSH
The Rev. John Grauel, a leading
figure in establishing Israeli indepen-
dence in 1948, strongly denounced the
emphasis placed on the question of Pal-
estinian sovereignty during the recent
Mideast peace talks before a crowd of
100 at the Undergraduate Library last
night.
Grauel, a member oi the Haganah,
Israeli defense movement before inde-
pendence, asserted the Palestiniansy
possess the freedom to observe their
own religion and can live in their own
homes on the West Bank. :
GRAUEL'S SPEECH was sponsored
by Hatikvah, a student drive to raise
funds for Israel. The campaign offici-
!s Israel
Council
approves
CItygov'
shuffle
By KEITH RICHBURG
Ann Arbor City Council last night
unanimously approved a major city
hall reorganization plan which will
create two new positions and take
most city departments out of the city
administrator's direct control.'
The new reorganizationplan calis
for two assistant city administra-
tors: one for budget and finance, and
a newly-created assistant city ati-
ministrator for engineering services.
By MARtK PARRENT
A student-developed plan which
could convert nearly 100 rooms in the
Michigan Union was among the
major proposals for renovating the
structure heard yesterday by the
Senate Advisory Committee for Uni-
versity Affairs (SACUA).
Thomas Shaker, student president
dent, two UAC members, two Michi-
gan Student Assembly (MSA) mem-
bers,,three alumni, three faculty and
two ex-officio administrators. The
Regents have ultimate say in Union
Decisions, however.
" De-emphasizing the hotel nature
of the Union and providing addition-
al student housing in the process.
rn.