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."