'U' study confirms dangers of tandem tankers
By GERALDbTIMMIS
Preliminary studies by the University's
Highway Safety Research Institute have con-
firmed that double bottom tankersbtend to
wander and flip over, but they can be made
safer with a few minor design changes.
Several recent dramatic double bottom
tanker crashes in Southeast Michigan have
stirred up a heated controversy on the safety of
the big rigs.
Robert Ervin, director of the study, presen-
ted the Institute's findings Tuesday to a state
House subcommittee probing the double bot-
tom tanker controversy. Currently, there are
at least ten bills seeking to ban the double bot-
tom rigs pending in the legislature.
ACCORDING to the study, a wider wheel
base, a lower center of gravity, more space
between the front and rear axle and a rigid hit-
ch for the secondary or "pup" trailer would
create a safer cargo vehicle.
Ervin is currently running tests on a com-
puter simulator to gain insight into the
problems of the double bottom tanker. This
spring, the Institute will test its design modifi-
cations on tankers at the Chrysler Proving
Ground in Chelsea.
Ervin said current state law is a
"hodgepodge" that constrains better tanker
design. The current design problem stems
from state highway weight distribution laws,
he said. Additional axles, which reduce weight
per square unit, cause lateral instability, Ervin
added.
ERVIN SAID reducing the number of axles
or lengthening the fuel cargo carrier would in-
crease the tankers' safety. However, many
motorists and the American Auto Association*
(AAA), oppose any attempt to lengthen the
tankers. Lengthening the tankers, the AAA
claims, would make them harder for motorists
to pass.
Another proposed solution to increasing axle
spread would be to reduce the number of axles.
This would cause the tankers to exert even
greater pressure per square inch of pavement,
and could only be possible with higher weight
limits, Ervin said.
But state Rep. Perry Bullard (D-Ann Arbor)
said Michigan's weight limits are already the
"highest in the country, as a result of the
powerful trucking industry in Michigan."
BULLARD said eliminating the double bot-
toms and other heavy tankers from state high-
ways "May be an answer to our declining rail
system.".
State Sen. Gilbert Bursley echoed Bullard's
sentiments, but added that, "fair time" should
be given to developing other methods of tran-
sport.
Jim Edwards of the Michigan Trucking
Association said the switch-over from the
heavier, larger capacity double bottom to a
smaller single bottom would save the truckers
very little money at the fuel pumps. Also, Ed-
wards predicted that the independent double
bottom tankers owner will suffer from a ban on
the rigs, but not the consumer.
CONSEQUENTLY, Edwards said his
organization favors a bill sponsored by Rep.
John Bennett that would require the Motor
Vehicle Highway Fund to provide two-year in-
terest-free loans to trucking companies adver-
sely affected by a double bottom tanker ban.
In short, the Trucking Association, like the
citizens of Michigan, "is prepared to support
any reasonable legislation," Edwards said.
I-EdiHigh.290
'A SUPREME rf LIGHT SNOW
COP-OUT 0Low igh- 160
See ditoial ageSee Today for details
11. I A V l11 #7_ t ~ i nn k *
N
Vol. LXXXVIII, No. 120
Ann Arbor, Michigan-Thursday, February 23, 1978
Ten Cents
10 Pages
Carter Seafarer
decision stalled; 150
protest
By LEONARD BERNSTEIN
with wire reports
In a memo sent yesterday to Sec-
retary of Defense Harold Brown, Presi-
dent Carter indicated he would delay
any decision on the Navy's controver-
sial Project Seafarer, a communica-
tions system slated to be buried under
Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Carter asked Brown continue trying
to sell the plan to officials and residents
of the state and also to explore other
possible sites.
OFFICIALS SAID no decision would
be made until "after these studies and
consultations were made.
The issue went to Carter last month
for a final decision following a Penta-
gon review board's recommendation on
Navy proposals that a scaled-down
system be installed.
nvinn th l',nrnn t ropnan d fnr
proje(
explain the rationale for the system to
officials and residents of the state and
said the reduced version would have a
"minimal impact" on Michigan.
MICHIGAN residents, however, are
still trying to make it clear that they
want no part of the project, scaled down
or not.
Carrying a 560-foot rope, waving
signs and chanting slogans, about one
hundred and fifty people yesterday
marched from the Diag to the Ann Ar-
bor Federal Building to protest both
Seafarer and an extra low frequency
(ELF) communications system.
The rope, equal to the length of one
Trident nuclear submarine was decked
here
with 408 purple flags. The flags sym-
bolized "each of the nuclear warheads
carried by the sub," according to
protest organizer Kevin Duke.
SEAFARER is a four thousand
square mile antenna grid which would
communicate with Trident subs by
means of ELF electrical impulses.
Seafarer opponents charged the elec-
trical impulses would be harmful to
plant, animal and human life wherever
it is built. Protestor Wlasyslaw Narow-
ski claimed Seafarer could be used only
to initiate a nuclear attack and not to
respond to one.
"Because the facility is not built to
See SEAFARER, Page 2
Doily Photo by WAYNE CABLE
About 150 Project Seafarer opponents braved yesterday's cold to march from the Diag to the Federal Building downtown.
Seafarer, an underground antenna grid system designed to communicate with submarines, is proposed for construction in
Michigan's upper peninsula.
Miners say no to coal
zang eie was an urgent nee orU
tne system, Carter directed Brown to
SOUTH AFRICA REPORT EXPECTED SOON:
'U, panel may
i2. nW, Yr fl ,V frrl
By RENE BECKER
A majority of members on the Senate
Assembly Advisory Committee on
Financial Affairs are apparently
leaning toward recommending the
University not divest holdings in cor-
porations operating in South Africa, ac-
cording to a committee member.
A number of groups on and off cam-
pus including the African Student
Association (ASA), South African
Liberations Committee (SALC), and
the Washtenaw County Coalition
Against Apartheid (WCCAA), have
demanded the University cut all ties
with South Africa.
THE COMMITTEE, an advisory
panel to the Faculty Senate, is respon-
sible for investigating the financial ties
with South Africa which include stocks
and bonds in corporations with South
African operations and make a recom-;
mendation.
That recommendation, which has
been in the formulation stage for about
two weeks, would first be submitted to
James Brinkerhoff, the 'U's r chief
financial advisor, who would in turn
pass it on to the Regents. The Regents
will decide in March what should be
done with the investments.
THE COMMITTEE is now putting
together the third draft of the recom-
mendation. Btit a committee member
has indicated the core of the recom-
mendation has been decided.
the committee would recommend the
following to the Regents:
o that the University learn the inten-
tions and policy toward South Africa of
those corporations with South African
operations and in whom the University
owns stock;
" that the University issue a public
statement revealing its position on the
South African situation;
jeet di*ve
" that the University propose
shareholder resolutions concerning the
corporations' role in South Africa -
* that the University publicly vote its
shares on resolutions concerning the
corporations' role in South Africa.;
' that if a corporation would continue
expansion of their South African,
operation, or if a corporation refuses to
adopt the Sullivan principles, the com-
mittee on financial affairs would
recommend consideration of divest-
ment of stocks and bonds in that cor-
poration.
?sttture
- The Sullivan statement is an affir-
mative action policy recommended by
Rev. Leon Sullivan, a member of
General Motors' board of directors. The
six principles included in the statement
provide a corporate commitment to
desegregated within the corporations
South African plants, equal pay for
blacks and whites, and upward mobility
for blacks.
According to Allen Emory, commit-
tee chairman, the recommendation will
be completed in time for the March
Regents meeting.
plan; talks
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United
Mine Workers bargaining council
promised last night to accept any in-
dividual or industry-wide offers to set-
tle the 79-day coal strike based on a ten-
tative agreement reached earlier with
an independent coal producer, the
White House said yesterday.
The union rejected an industry call
for arbitration to end the crippling
walkout and made it clear it would ac-
cept nothing less than a deal made with
the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining
Co.
AS LABOR Secretary Ray Marshall
resumed intensive efforts at
negotiating a settlementof the
economically damaging strike, the
union bargaining council voted 25-13 in
favor of the tentative agreement with
P&M.
White House Press Secretary Jody
Powell said the P&M agreement was
the union's bottom line for any in-
dustry-wide contract.
"It's safe to assume we would not
discourage acceptance of this
proposal," Powell said.
POWELL SAID Marshall conveyed
the bargaining council's decision to the
coal operators and that "we are presen-
tly . .. awaiting their response."
Meanwhile, leadership of the in-
dustry bargaining team changed han-
resuming
ds, with Nicholas Camicia taking
charge.
Administration officials regarded the
changeas encouraging. Camicia,
chairman of the Pittston Co., is regar-
ded within the industry as a more prac-
tical and realistic bargainer than his
predecessor, U.S. Steel Vice President
J. Bruce Johnston, according to in-
dustry sources.
the administration has said the strike
must be settled by the end of this week
if government intervention is to be
avoided.
ASKED ABOUT the prospects for a
settlement, Marshall told a White
House briefing, "I hope for it. You can't
tell at this point."
But presidential press secretary Jody
Powl, citing the strike's worsening
economic impact, said the government
"cannot permit the stalemate to con-
tinue indefinitely."
Union President Arnold Miller turned
down the arbitration proposal by the
Bituminous Coal Operators Association
shortly before meeting with Marshall.
A key district leader of the union also
said binding arbitration would deny
union members their "constitutional
right" to vote on a contract proposal.
Kenneth Dawes, an opponent of
Miller's, said industry executives were
"pigheaded -people who will not sit
down in good faith and negotiate."
City crime. falls
by 8 per cent
Students delay ruling
on free light bulbs
By DENNIS SABO
Special to The Daily
DETROIT - Decision on whether to
end Detroit Edison's free light bulb
program was delayed in Detroit
Federal District Court yesterday when
three Wayne State University law
students were recognized as consumer
representatives.
With recognition, the students have
three weeks to determine the impact
C 4
City Porno
propos
the light bulb program's curtailment
would have on consumers. They will
report their findings to the court March
17.
FEDERAL DISTRICT Court Judge
John Feikens declared WAU law
students Ken Tyson, Constance Allen
and William Lamping spokespersons
for consumer interests.
Tyson, speaking for the group, said
Edison attorneys did not represent the
consumers, but rather the company's
shareholders.
"The only people who will be affected
by this ruling are Detroit Edison
customers," Tyson said. "Therefore we
have the right to intervene."
JUDGE FEIKENS repeatedly
By R.J. SMITH
The overall crime rate in Ann Arbor
dropped a healthy eight per cent last
year, according to Police Chief Walter
Krasny and a report to be released
today.
The annual police report sent to the
FBI says serious crimes in the city
decreased by 16 per cent. This was
somewhat offset by an eight per cent
rise in so-called "secondary crimes,"
such as fraud and petty larceny.
"FIRST OF ALL," Krasny said, "it's
just because of better general police
work. It's better investigations of
cases, better follow-ups. A lot also
depends on whether you can just get a
person to talk."
Krasny said the control of crime on
campus had a lot to do with keeping the
statistics down. "The general
awareness of the student population
about their vulnerability has been
raised. The full-scale security system
and better liason to relay information to
the people of the University, especially
around the dorms, has helped. A lot
more precautions are taken in those
cotics, a large increase from the 295
cases in 1976. "A lot more people are
reporting to us," said Krasny. "Very
little of it is pot-most of it is generally
in the area of the so-called hard-drugs."
" 148 robberies, a drop from-the 151
the previous year.
" Burlaries decreased from 2,111 in
1976 to 1,788 last year. Thieves took over
$2.5 million worth of private property
last year, an increase from the $2.4 that
was stolen in 1976.
KRASNY CREDITED a federal
grant given to the force in 1973 to com-
bat burglary as a primary reason the
burglary rate has been steadily drop-
ping for the last five years, from 3,276 in
1973.
Thursday
* Final arguments were heard
on suspended Community High
School teacher Jerrel Clark. See
story, page 2.
* National Organization for ,
Women has a major impact on.
l j