44L p michigan DAILY Ann Arbor, Michigan Ten Cents Vol. LXXXVIII, No. 48-S Friday, July 21, 1978. Sixteen Pages I -Ar Mail talks stalled, pact still unsettled WILU UUHEN, former. University School of Education dean, talks with Governor Milliken as he presents the mental health task force's final report in Lansing yesterday. Plymirouth report confirms .abuse WASHINGTON (AP)-Postai negotiators moved swiftly last night toward a contract set- tlement that could avert a threatened mail strike at mid- night. One source close to the bargaining said the U.S. Postal Service and three unions were "very close" to agreement on a new contract covering more than 500,000 postal employees. This source, who asked not to be iden- tified, said he was confident there would be a settlement before the mid- night deadline. He said that by late evening, negotiators had disposed of the hotly cdntested job security issue and were trying to narrow differences on wages. Both sides were described as being in a loose, jovial mood and working hard for an announcement sometime before midnight, so postal employees could be alerted to report as usual for midnight shifts around the country. The two sides resumed face-to-face negotiations under the auspices of federal mediators yesterday for the fir- st time in three days. The breakthrough in the talks repor- tedly came at midday, when the Postal Service expressed willingness to grant a critical union demand that employees remain protected against job layoffs. Through three months of bargaining, union negotiators had insisted retention of the no-layoff clause was crucial to agreement on a contract replacing the one expiring at midnight. Until yester- day, management had insisted with equal determination that the clause must go. ACCORDING TO sources close to the negotiations, the principal concern of the mediators was the possibility the unions might push harder for management concessions in other areas if the,.no-layoff question were resolved well before the midnight deadline. Meanwhile, Army officials said local commanders have been told to be ready to activate detailed plans for helping the government move and protect the mails. But the officials, declining to be identified publicly, stressed that no troop alerts have been ordered. The military plan would provide as many as 96,000 troops if a strike paralyzed movement of the mail. But officials said the introduction of ser- vicemen and reservists would be done on a phased basis as conditions warran- ted. In another development, U.S. District Judge Gerhard Cesell denied a request for a temporary restraining order against the threat of a wildcat strike. Federal law prohibits strikes by postal workers. GESELL LISTENED to about 90 minutes of arguments on the request by the Public Service Research Council, a self-styled citizens lobby. After deliberating for less than a minute on the bench, he said, the case did not "warrant any intervention of the court at this time." But, Gesell pointedly observed, "I'm See MAIL, Page 14 By MICHAEL ARKUSH A special task force appointed by Governor William Milliken to in- vestigate charges of abuse and neglect at the Plymouth Center for Human Development issued its final report yesterday, confirming that problems at the state-run institution have been "real and serious,' and the "full range of improvements necessary will take a longer time to accomplish than first seemed apparent." The report, culminating a five-month investigation, recognized "progress has been made at the Plymouth Cen- ter," but recommended several changes for the center. THE REPORT'S recommendations include calls for better hiring policies for the center's employees, more com- munity placement homes to accom- modate. Plymouth residents and greater opportunities for the center's attendants to report suspected or actual ahuse Headed by former University School of Education Dean Wilbur Cohen, the committee was established by Milliken in early March after a series of articles in the Detroit Free Press listed documentedcases of abuse and neglect at the center. Milliken also asked the task force to investigate the state's nursing homes, homes for the aged, adult foster care facilities and other institutions. COHEN, WHO presented the report to the governor yesterday, said he was "very pleased" with the initial reac- tions of the governor and represen- tatives of various state agencies but cautioned that it would take a few years See FINAL, Page 2 ANTI-SOVIET TALK COOLED: Carter dismisses vendetta' WASHINGTON (AP)-President Carter yesterday renewed his criticism of Soviet trials of dissidents but said he has "not embarked on a vendetta" against the Russians and remains hopeful for better relations. The president also said at a news conference that he hopes the imprisoned Soviet dissidents will be released, but he declined to discuss any negotiations in which the United States might play a role. ASKED IF HE were aware of any talks underway for the release of Anatoly Shcharansky and other Soviet dissidents, Carter said, "not specifically." The president said cancellation of the sale of a sophisticated computer to the Soviet news agency Tass is "all the action I intend to take for the time being" to express U.S. displeasure with the treatment of Soviet dissidents. "We have a deep commitment in our nation to the enhan- cement of human rights not only here but around the world," Carter said, but he stressed that he has "not embarked on a vendetta against the Soviet Union ... We cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the Soviet Union." CARTER ALSO said he continues to feel very deeply about the inequity of proposed reductions in capital gains rates-proposals gaining increased support on Capitol Hill-but he declined to say flatly that he would veto a bill containing any reduction of capital gains rates. "I have to wait until the final tax package is on my desk ... At that time I have to decide whether it is in the best in- terest of our country," Carter said. At his last news conference, Carter was much more vehement in his opposition to a cut in capital gains rates, describing the proposals as providing a windfall for the rich and only pennper middle income taxpayers. Dr. Peter Bourne, white House expert on drug abuse, resigned yesterday after he admitted to writing a prescription for a potent sedative to a fictitious name. See page two for details.