0 -HIM a;i c v nnn-Tkreo I n c lvl t%- 1 Vrl N, Vr1. L, I rage ! nree Welfare lists hit all-time high point By The Associated Press The government announced yesterday that unemployment pushed welfare rolls to their biggest monthly jump in three years during January, and spokesmen said the rolls now are probably at an all-time, high. At the same time, the Labor Department said first time claims for unemployment took another weekly drop to their lowest point since November, and American Motors Corp. (AMC) announced losses that put the American auto indus- try's net first-quarter loss at $94 million. THERE WERE ALSO these economic developments: -An Agriculture Department report said poor weather this spring has caused serious delays in planting corn and other crops essential to the nation's food supply next year. The report said unless weather improves, food prices might take an up- swing in 1976. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) said welfare rolls in January were up 1.3 per cent. It said the 11,147,071 persons receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) in January was just 8,888 short of the all- time high in March 1973. ROLLS HAD dropped steadily from March 1973 until last Au- gust, when they began rising. The pace accelerated as the economy worsened, with addi- tion of 123,100 recipients in De- cember and 141,447 in January. January is the latest month for which AFDC figures are available. Unemployment was 8.2 per cent in January and 8.9 per cent in April. HEW officials said welfare rolls now probably are at all- time record highs although ex- act figures won't be available for months. "OBVIOUSLY, the welfare rolls are being affected by pre- sent economic conditions, espe- cially the job market for low- skilled mothers with families who are the principal family heads on the rolls," said James Dwight, outgoing administrator of HEW's Social and Rehabilita- tion Service. Meanwhile, the Labor Depart ment said initial claims for job- less benefits under state pro- grams totaled 429,700 during the week ending April 26, a drop of 26,300 from the previous week and the lowest number in any seven-day period since the week ending Nov. 2. Thirty-six states reported fewer first claims. Initial claims have been dropping steadily in recent weeks but still are near- ly double the rate of a year ago. OVER-ALL, THE department said 6,352,100 received unem- ployment insurance benefits in the week ending April 19, a de- crease of, 25,400 from the pre- vious week. Among states pay- ing fewer claims were Michi- gan and Ohib, where recall of laid-off auto workers improved the picture. In Detroit, AMC followed. Ford and Chrysler in reporting first-quarter losses. General Mo- tors $59 million earnings were its worst performance in 29 years, and the industry had net losses of $94 million and before- tax losses of $274 million Spring-time siesta This weary tyke seems on the verge of nap time as she reclines near the fountain in between the Modern Language Building and the Chemistry' Building, PolitiCS didn'tencourage appointment - Lindemwer By BARBARA CORNELL pointments demonstrates that a) the state Constitution requires University Regent Lawrence it won't take politics out of the him to run for election in 1976 Lindemer ,(R-Stockbridge) last courts, and that b) it won't to complete the remainder of night denied charges of party work." Kavanagh's eight-year t e r m. politicking that have clouded his LINDEMER said he "under- Some Democrats were unsure recent appointment to the state stood the charges. Mr. Wino- that Lindemer, who has no real Supreme Court. grad has a job to do." But he statewide backing, could ever Governor William Milliken ap- added that working with the win the election, but Lindemer pointed Lindemer to fill the seat University's Hoard of Regents is confident. vacated by the death of Justice has apparently proven to him Everybody in a campaign Thomas Kavanagh. Charges of that he can be non-partisan. has a hard time. There have partisanship stem from Milli Whereas Lindemer often votes been good incumbents that have ken's replacement of Kavanagh, along Republican conservative won and good ones that have a Democrat, with Lindemer, a lines on Regental rulings, he lost. I have lost two elections Republican claims, "Partisanship is one and won one so I've got another THE MOVE gives the Repub- thing, philosophy is another." victory coming to even up the licans three of seven seats on score. the high court-their greatest Criticism also centered around He learned of the appointment number-of justices in five years. the appointment of non-judge last Saturday, and plans to as- State Democratic Chairman to the Supreme Court. Lindemer sume the post "within the next Morley Winograd voiced the is a partner in one of the larg- 30 days." Lindemer must also strongest criticism. He was es- est law firms in Lansing so he resign as a Regent. Milliken is pecially critical of the Gover- is not without judicial experi- currently considering several nor's proposal that all judges ence, and he refuted the argu- names to fill the vacated posi- be appointed by him (Milliken) ments of those opposed to his tion and a decision is expected in an effort to take partisanship appointment on this basis. "Cer- in a few weeks. out of the courts. tainly there are many preced- He said he has "deep regret" "The choice is obviously the ents across the country," he about resigning as a Regent. "I Governor's to make," said Win- said. have a great respect and affec- ograd. "But I think this ap- IF HE IS to retain his seat, tion for the University," he said. Oil forecast gloomy WASHINGTON (A') - The fed- rels of oil and 320 to 655 trillion eral government sharply revised cubic feet of natural gas. downward yesterday its esti- THE ESTIMATES are rough- mates of how much undiscover- ly half the size of those made ed oil and natural gas the Unit- by the agency one year ago. ed States can count on in its drive for energy self-sufficiency. The 1974 estimates, in turn, The U. S. Geological Survey revised downward estimates said new studies of potential made in the late 1960s and upon undiscovered petroleum re- which the government had re- sources in this country show an lied in formulating energy poli- estimated 50 to 130 billion bar- cies. University buildings: potential fire traps By CHRIS DYHDALO, apply to any campus structures. JEFF RISTINE and The state law supercedes the TIM SCHICK city code. First of two parts In a move to improve condi- Less than six months ago, the tions, the University's Depart- Economics Building suffered ment of Safety organized a Fire light damage due to a fire. This Safety Committee about two building and many other Univer- years ago to examine insuffic- sity structures are potential fire ient "early warning" systems traps, with minimal fire pre- and to correct fire hazards vention or early warning sys- where necessary. tems. AN OFFICIAL in the Safety Hundreds of students pass Department said the University each weekday through old class- will install fire alarms in those room buildings which have no buildings which do not have fire alarms, no smoke detection them now. devices and inadequate fire But, dangerous conditions per- hoses. sist. SOME OF the older buildings .Last December's Economics also lack dependable emergency Building fire started when a exits. While there has been no construction worker accident- major disaster in a University ally ignited the insulation on a building within memory, the radiator pipe. The incident un- possibility of severe injuries nerved many of the professors and deaths is real and often working in the century-old build- frightening. ing, which houses many irre- Althongh the city supplies fire placeable docunments. fighting services for the Univer- ONE PROFESSOR, W. H. An- sity, the city fire code does not See 'U', Page 10 Daily Photo by PAULINE LUBENS Many fire hazards simply stem from a building's old age. The main stairwell in Tappan Hall is narrow, unenclosed and constructed of wood.