Tuesday, July 8, 1975
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Three
Ford recommends drastic
cut in highway trust funds
WASHINGTON (P)-President
Ford asked Congress yesterday
to drastically reduce the size of
the highway trust fund and to
dedicate the fund only to the
completion and the maintenance
of the country's Interstate high-
way system.
All other highways would be
funded from general Treasury
revenues if the President's pro-
posal is enacted into law.
IN ADDITION, the President
proposed giving states new rev-
enue by allowing them to raise
state taxes on gasoline by one
cent without increasing the over-
all state-federal gas tax.
Under this provision, the fed-
eral government would agree
to reduce the current four-cent-
per-gallon federal tax to three
cents in states which raised the
state tax by one cent.
The Ford proposal is similar
to the proposal the administra-
tion planned to send to Congress
in February. That proposal was
held up to allow incoming Sec-
retary-of Transportation William
Coleman time to review the
legislation and make comments.
THE ADMINISTRATION pro-
posal calls for one cent per
gallon of the current four-cent
tax on gasoline to go into the
highway trust fund to be used
for finishing the 42,500-mile-
long Interstate system.
The Ford proposal would give
high priority to completion of
Interstate segments b e t w e e n
systems but relatively low pri-
ority to completing segments
within cities.
Two cents of the current four-
cent-per-gallon tax would be
transferred to general revenues
and could be used for building
non-Interstate roads. The final
cent would be diverted to the
states for use on transportation
projects or for any other state
program.
THE ADMINISTRATION said
it would encourage states to
use the one-cent-per-gallon rev-
enues for transportation pur-
See HIGHWAY, Page 7
State employes still
Sittin'on the dock of the bay
A man sits on the dock of Cleveland's bay overlooking Lake Erie. As the late Otis Reading put
it, he's "wastin' time, watchin' the ships roll in."
striking in
By The Associated Press
Officials in Santa Clara
County, Calif., were faced
with a decision yesterday on
whether to send dismissal no-
tices to 5,0040 striking county
employes, while in Pennsylvan-
ia state officials were consid-
ering court action to block con-
tinuation of a strike by some
10,00 state workers.
The Santa Clara workers
have been on strike since July
1, and a county work rule al-
lows the board of supervisors
to send dismissal notices to any
employe absent three consecu-
tive daws without excuse.
Pa., Calif.
A spokesman for Gov. Mil-
ton Shapp said the state might
seek a court order ending the
walkout by the Pennsylvania
Social Services Union on
grounds it "is affecting the
health and safety of the Com-
monwealth."
A spokesman for the state's
Justice Department said today,
'We're monitoring she strike
activities to gather up-to-date
information. If we find the sit-
uation warrants it, the depart-
ment o justice will seek an in-
junction tomorrow"
Citizen.
proposed
By ANN MARIE LIPINSKI
In protest of Mayor Albert
Wheeler's plans to amend the
city's Community Development
Revenue Sharing (CDRS) funds
proposal, several community
representatives last night ad-
dressed Council, asking for sus-
pension of the mayor's review
which they say would cause
"harmful delays."
The proposal was approved
by the federal Department of
Housing and Urban Develop-
ment (HUD) last month.
0 N E Democratic Council
member, however, said the
citizens' appearance was a "co-
ordinated Republican perform-
ance."
The first-year CDRS money,
which totals nearly $2.5 million
was approved by the City Coun-
cil last February following re-
commendations made to the city
by a 25-member citizens com-
mittee.
The appropriations included
$742,500 for housing programs,
$495,000 for social service pro-
jects, $247,000 each for eco-
nomic development, environ-
mental protection and public
works, $185,625 each for con-
tingencies and evaluation and
$74,250 for historical preserva-
tion.
WHEELER, in a letter to
HUD in May issued a request-
"to review and probably re-
commend some changes in the
housing component, and also in
the housing assistance plan,"
adding, "My basic concern is
to coordinate as much as pos-
sible the use of CDRS funds and
other city monies in a project-
ed plan . . ."
s protest mayor's
CDRS amendment
His request drew heated prq- delay. I don't think the pro- ""-' 'iV""''' THREE union representing
test from Council Republicans gram should be bullied. It THE EMPLOYES are pre- the Santa Clara workers --
who claimed the Democratic must go forward." sumed to have resigned. about half of the public em-
mayor was "fascistically hold- In reference to Wheeler's an- The board has held no nego- ployes in the San Francisco
ing up the whole CDRS proceed- nouncement last month that he tiations with the employes' un- Bay area county - are de-
ing." will begin restructuring the ion since the strike for higher manding an 11' per cent wage
Last night community repre- CDRS citizens committee by wages began, but board chair- increase, a better retirement
sentatives also voiced opposi- filling "inactive positions,"' man Dominic Cortese said the plan and reduced workload. The
tion to Wheeler's review plan, Lotz said, "I don't think you board was willing to hold talks supervisors had offered a 7
which he says is merely a ful' should take people off of the if a format for negotiations per cent raise.
fillment of "campaign commit- committee just because of a could be worked out. Essential services other than
ments" he made before April's few absences. The city can no In Pennsylvania, the wel- police and fire protection have
city election. longer afford a further delay." fare, unemployment and social been curtailed, including issu-
Mark Quimet, president of workers planned to remain on ing of licenses and medical
DICK LOTZ, chairman of the the State St. Merchants Asso- strike despite a decision by care.. The county hospital has
Ann Arbor Chamber of Com- ciation, defended the citizens' most state employes to return had to move most patients else-
merce, told Wheeler, "If you panel appointed by former Re- to work under a new wage where.
change the opinions that were publican Mayor James Steph- agreement. Bus drivers affiliated with
passed by the (CDRS) citizens enson and chaired by former
GOP councilman William Col- SOME 45,000 of Pennsylva- Amalgamated Transit Local 625
committee and Council as you burn, which was strongly cri- nia's 120,000 state employes said they would join picket
suggested in your letter to ticized by Democrats and the walked out last week, paralyz- lines if the strike still was in
HUD, you will cause a harmful See CITIZENS, Page 5 ing the state's daily operations. effect today.
U' clericals, administration resume negotiations
By ELAINE FLETCHER has upped its offer to a figure between we can come out of negotiations with a
After nearly a month away from the six and seven per cent. reasonable offer along the lines of eco-
bargaining table, members of the Cleri- The University had previously offered nomics-it would be nice to avert a
cals Union-UAW local 2001-resume con- a contract with a 5.6 per cent salary in- strike."
tract negotiations today with the Uni- crease-with benefits-to the clericals. Jones, along with administration offi-
versity while administrative reports in- But the clericals overwhelmingly reject- cials, refused to comment on the specific
dicate that economic differences between ed the proposal in a ratification vote on economic demands which still separate
the two groups have diminished. June 11 and made plans to strike. the two grounds.
Prof. Harold Johnson, chairman of the However, the bargaining teams, with Although various noneconomic issues
Senate Advisory Community on Univer- both sides indicating greater flexibility in still need to be resolved, Jones expressed
oity Affairs (SACUA), said, "The eco- their positions, made one more effort to certainty that, following an economic
nomic gap has been narrowed consider- resume negotiations "and we really do settlement, "the issues could be ironed
ably-there certainly seems to be more want to negotiate if it is fruitful," em- out."
optimism than in the past weeks." phasized Union Bargaining Chairwoman Jones further stated that, although she
Jean Jones. had no idea when a resolution would
JOHNSON added that the clericals' come, today "obviously is going to be
contract demands include an eight per JONES INDICATED optimism for a important to us. And I do'expect a reso-
cent pay hike and that the University settlement, stating, "We're hopeful that lution before September."