The Michigan Daily Vol. LXXXVI, No. 6-S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Wednesday, May 12, 1976 Ten Cents Twelve Pages Reagan victor in Neb.; Church upsets Carter Carter passes Udall in close Conn. race ,y The Associated Press Ronald Reagan beat President Ford in the Nebraska presidential primary election last night. President Ford won in West Virginia. In Democratic competition, Idaho Sen. Frank Church scored an upset he called a miracle, defeating front-run- ner Jimmy Carter in Nebraska. That outcome stalled, at least temporarily, the nomi- nation drive of the former Georgia governor. Carter won narrowly over Rep. Morris Udall in the Connecticut Democratic primary. Two contests were sure to nourish the stop-Car- ter hopes of Democrats who want somebdy else atop their party ticket. AND THAT could point to a revival of the long-shot effort to promote Sen. Hubert Humphrey, who has shunned the primaries but has declared he's still available should the party want him to run again. The day's Republican balloting pointed to a likely split deci- sion, an outcome that would not produce a major change in the GOP picture as President and conservative challenger headed into a crucial contest in Michigan next Tuesday. Reagan, in Boise, Idaho, said he had won "a legitimate test in the Republican Party" with his Nebraska victory. He refused to speculate about the possible outcome in Michigan next week. REAGAN already had established himself as the Republican leader and Rogers. Morton, the Ford manager, said that momen- tum was a key factor in the Nebraska verdict. Morton said he hoped it wouldn't carry over into Michigan where, he acknowl- edged, Ford will have to win to prove himself a viable candidate. Church said a Nebraska win in his first primary test would be a miracle, a showing that would establish his credentials as a real See REAGAN, Page 2 AP Photo SEN. FRANK CHURCH (D-Idaho), who beat Democratic front-runner Jimmy Carter in the Nebraska presidential primary, called the win a "im i r a c 1 e" for his fledgling campaign. Church is shown with his wife Bethine during yesterday's primary race. President signs FEC bill WASHINGTON 'P) - President Ford signed a bill yesterday restructuring the Federal Election Commis- sion and restoring its power to release up to $3.8 mil- lion in federal funds for money-starved presidential candidates. Ford, who said he opposes some provisions of the bill, will be the chief beneficiary. He has a pending request for $1.4 million in matching funds before the commission. HIS REPUBLICAN challenger, Ronald Reagan, has requested $603,000. Among other presidential contend- ers, Jimmy Carter is on the books for $525,000 and Morris Udall for $386,000. In his signing statement, Ford said the bill com- manded widespread support in both houses of Con- gress but "I still have serious reservations about cer- tain aspects of the present amendments." He said that after the 1976 elections he will submit legislation "that will correct problems created by the present laws and make additional needed reforms in the election process." THE PRESIDENT said his main concern is that the amendments jeopardize the independence of the Fed- eral Election Commission by permitting either house of Congress to veto regulations which the commission, as an executive agency, issues. He said this provision not only circumvents the original intent of campaign reform, but, "in my opin- ion, violates the Constitution." He said he has directed Atty. Gen. Edward Levi to challenge the constitutionality of this provision at the earliest possible opportunity. Ford said that despite weaknesses in the bill he concluded that it is in the best interest of the nation that he sign the legislation. "HOWEVER, further delay would undermine the fair and proper conduct of elections this year for seats in the U. S. Senate, House of Representatives and for the presidency," he said. Ford signed the bill more than three months after the Supreme Court invalidated the original FEC, claim- ing it was not constitutionally constructed because Congress had appointed four of its six members. The President had urged Congress to make a sim- ple reconstitution of the commission so he would ap- point all six members, leaving other more controver- sial changes in the campaign law for next year. THERE HAD been some speculation that Ford would appoint the commissioners yesterday. However, White House aides said the appointments will go to the Senate within the next faw days. Thomas Curtis, chairman of the original commis- sion, had submitted his resignation to Ford last month, contending that the legislation before Congress would cripple the agency by reducing its independence. Once the new members are confirmed by Congress and sworn in, they will be able to authorize claims of the various candidates for matching funds. The FEC staff tentatively has certified applications for $2.1 mil- lion for release on reconstitution of the agency. An- other $1.7 million is awaiting approval. THE SUPREME Court ruling halted the payment and the last funds were handed out March 22. Many candidates said this has severely hampered their cam- paigns. Although Ford is in the best shape financially, his campaign manager, Rogers Morton, Monday announc- ed a 25 per cent cut in the staff of the President Ford Committee to save money. Morton said the firings were necessary because th* Ford campaign is at the upper end of the legal spend- ing limits and must conserve funds for the primaries yet to come and the Republican Convention in August in Kansas City.