4The Dllv Reflector. Greenville, N.C.Wednesday, March 26, 1975

Disaster On One More Front

BOUND TO NEED MORE LETTING OUT!

Disaster appears to be shaping up for American diplomacy on almost every front these days.

The latest bad news is Sec. of State Henry Kissingers announced failure to achieve a permanent peace settlement in the Middle East.

The secretary of state had been shuttling back and forth between Egypt and Israel in an effort to arrange an agreement. The peace talks were said to have collapsed over the inability to obtain an agreement on how far Israel would withdraw from captured Arab territories.

So now things look bad, indeed, in the Middle East. It was a personal failure for Henry Kissinger and a national failure for the United States.

The collapse of the talks was followed by statements from President Ford expressing regret and pledging continued efforts toward obtaining a permanent peace. A spokesman said Ford, reaffirms the commitment of the United States to

THIS AFTERNOON

continue its efforts to assist the parties in reaching a just and lasting peace.

There is little to be hopeful about right at this point. The collapse of the talks represents a major failure for Kissinger diplomacy and opens the way for another Middle East War. Then the United States will have to decide whether or not to fully support Israel with military supplies and risk another oil boycott by the Arab countries.

The most hopeful thing seems to be that Egypt is in no hurry to go to war, since its foe may not be able to get stronger militarily. There is plenty of time for Egypt to play a waiting game.

Maybe through some miracle the talks could be revived, if not through Kissinger, then in some other forum. It is possible the problems still may be settled without war. At this point, though, the prospects for peaceful settlement of the Middle Easts differences does not seem to be bright.

GroupHomeldea Opposed

By BILL NOBLITT

RALEIGHIt seems most everybody is for the idea that people with mental, emotional, or physical problems are better off being eared for and treated in a community setting rather han in a big impersonal institution

The advantages are many: it costs about $10,000 a year to keep a person in a formal institution, compared to about $4.000 in a group home; theres a sense of family belonging in a group home; theres the opportunity to keep the client close to home, friends, and family instead of way off somewhere; and the experts say an even bigger plus is The opportunity to work with the client in his own surroifndings instead of treating him in an idyllic setting; then dumping him back into the community later to cope with the pressures.

Further, group home activities can call on community resourceschurches, ^ social and civic clubs, schools, existing mental health and other human resources agenciesfor help.

Official Goal

So overwhelming are the

arguments in favor of community treatment that the concept has developed into official state policy, backed by regulations removing people from the big. forbidding mental hospitals and mental retardation centers, and legislative action pumping millions of dollars into group home development.

It seems that everybody is for doing all you can to provide that kind of community treatment group home, says State Rep. David M. Blackwell, D-Rockingham County, until you talk ^out putting one in 'heir community, and then all those good intentions fly out 'he window.

Blackwells legislative proposal which would stop the community resistance to such group homes is running into a buzz-saw of opposition from a number of city officials across the state.

His proposal now making its way through the General Assembly is that group homes licensed by the State Department of Human Resourcesfacilities used for the retarded, the mentally or emotionally disturbed, the elderly, or foster children can not be kept out of a

community by the whims of local zoning and building code interpretations.

Single family dwellings destined for group home use must meet strict

requirements under state law for licensingincluding safety and health

provisions but some communities have blocked them by labeling them boarding homes or institutions rather than homes, and some have applied stricter building and safety codes to such facilities than to other structures in the community.

Many Fights

The results are well known around the state as one community after another has gone through the group home battle. Duncraig Manor in Southern Pines is perhaps the best known case, but there are other fights recorded in Charlotte, Greensboro, Roxborp, Reidsville, Mebane and elsewhere.

The state currently has 24 established, licensed group homes, and betweeii 15 and 20 now in the works.

Some municipalities will search and comb the codes and regulations to find anything to keep them out . . . there must be uniformity. No

municipality should be allowed to thwart the intent of 'his General Assembly by using zoning ordinances, building codes, or other regulations to exclude these homes, Blackwell said.

Blackwells proposal applies only to those group homes which provide fulltime residency programs, and not to centers established only for counseling services or day-care. He has carefully avoided extending his proposal to community treatment homes for the states corrections system pre-release programs for adult and juvenile offenders. Opposition would be even stiffer if the proposal embraced those additional uses.

The bill would establish the definition of a single-family dwelling licensed as a group home, and permit them in residential areas under the same standards applied to other houses in the area.

For those municipal officials who argue that the proposed state law interferes in local zoning affairs. Black well says state law originally gave cities the power to enforce ordinances, and has the duty to oversee local operations.

The INSIDE REPORT

By ROWLAND EVANS and ROBERT NOVAK WASHINGTONAlthough some politicians have written him off as a White House power, presidential counselor Robert Hartmann retains enough influence to override President Fords other senior aides on a step of dubious political and economic wisdom: expanded highway construction to fight the recession.

Hartmann was Mr. Fords top aide during his nine years as House minority leader, but he has not fitted easily into 'he more formal, tightly organized world of the Ford White House. Although he is assigned top political responsibility as cabinet-level presidential counselor, administration insiders consider him largely eclipsed by White House chief Donald Rumsfeld as Mr. Fords principal political adviser.

But the Presidents decision to release $2 billion in impounded highway funds.

announced Feb. 12 at Topeka, Kans., reveals that disorganized Bob Hartmann still can be tuned closer than super-organized Don Rumsfeld to Mr. Fords own political mentality.

For weeks prior to Topeka, the President was under intense pressure from the highwaymenbuilders, construction unions, auto men and, especially, state governorsto release the rOad money. That coalition, having given highway-building top priority among all public works for the past generation, remains potent.

But the highwaymen were running into trouble inside the White House. Their opponents included such top brass as Rumsfeld, Treasury Secretary William Simon and chief economic adviser Alan Greenspan, an opposition that would ordinarily doom any proposal, particularly when buttressed by impressive political and economic arguments.

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Politically, it was argued, spending another $2 billion hardly eased Mr. Fords herculean task of controlling outlays voted by the overwhelmingly Democratic Congress.

Economically, it was argued, the trouble with all public works spending to combat recession, highways included, is the time lag of spending the money. Of the $2 billion released by Mr. Ford, only $50 million will be spent by June 30. Another $1 billion will be spent in the next fiscal year, with the remaining $950 million spent after June 30, 1976, presumably long after the economic upturn when inflation is likely to be the major economic issue.

Finally, there is wide consensus inside the administration that, given the need to conserve energy and the deplorable inattention to mass transit, highway building should now have much lower priority. Using road construction as a primary anti-recession weapon contradicts that consensus.

But Mr. Ford, himself a highwayman during 25 years in Congress, was susceptible to arguments of the governorsand Counselor Hartmann.

Hartmann, who deplores government-by-memoran-dum, wrote no tightly reasoned argument for high

way spending. Nor did he have much to .say in meetings, which did not amount to much (with antispender Simon absent because of congressional hearings). Rather, Hartmanns influence on the President was exerted privately and personally.

I got the idea the Presidents mind was made up before the meetings began,*one official told us. If so, a far-from-dead Bob Hartmann was largely responsible.

The Samoan Question

The left-right split in the Republican party has reduc^>its thimbleful of governors to haggling over this esoteric question: can the appointed governor of American Samoa vote in the caucus of Republican governors? Or is he a civil servant barred from such political activity by the Hatch Act?

The answer could decide the surprisingly intense struggle over the next chairman of the National Governors Conference, rotating to the Republicans this year. The 13 elected Republican governors are split between two highly regarded figures in the party, the conservatives backing Gov. James Holshouser of North Carolina and the liberals supporting Gov.

(Continued on page 5)

Strength For Today

UNUSUAL DEVOTIONAL Five business men living in a small town in northern New Jersey car-pool into New Yofk City every weekday morning when they work. What is unusual alwut this arrangenient is the fact that every morning as they ride into the city they hold an informal devotional service. One man each day afumes the responsibility of reading a portion of scripture and commenting upon it. Then they all discuss it at length. After this all the mi except

By ART BUCHWALD

A Mistake In The Books

WASHINGTON - Last week the Ford Administration announced it had found $21.5 million for Cambodia military aid that it didnt know it had before. It seems that because of sloppy bookkeeping in the

Defense Department we had shortchanged Cambodia that amount of money and, therefore, without the advice and consent of the Senate, the aid was being dispatched immediately.

President Ford was furious

Public Forum

Hartmann A Highwayman

To the editor:

I think it is a shame that intelligent peop%cannot understand how annoying dogs are to us who do not wai^to be bothered with them. People should have a right to hav^a dog or dogs only if they don't bother others. Others would rather have a clean yard, and dont we have that right? I get the distinct impression that some members of the Humane Society think that people who dont like dog droppings in their yards are cruel and evil and would not miss a chance to do a dog in. I, for one, do not believe in cruelty to animals, but I dont believe in cruelty to human beings either. God in His wisdom gave man dominion over animals. (Genesis 1:28) Who is the Humane Society to infer that animals are superior to people?

Mrs. Merrilee Harrison Greenville

To the editor:

With the recent change in our weather in Eastern North Carolirfa, it seems we have been reading and hearing more about tornadoes. As chairman of the Safety Committee for The Pitt County Association of Insurance Women, I would like to stress some important facts about tornadoes and what to do about them.

A tornado begins with a funnel-shaped cloud that forms high in the air and then roars down to the ground. In the center of the funnel, air is moving up at high speed, sometimes as fast as five hundred miles an hour. The center of this upward-rushing air makes the tornado act like a giant vacuum cleaner. It can pick up a house or truck as easily as an ordinary vacuum cleaner picks up pieces of paper or dust. Because it sucks up large amounts of dust from the ground it crosses, the funnel of a tornado is dark and can be seen miles away.

Knowing what to do when a tornado is approaching may mean the difference between life or death. If you are near a tornado cellar, go to it if time permits. When in open country, move at right angles to the tornados path. If there is not time to escape, lie flat in the nearest ditch or ravine. At home, the comer of the basement toward the tornado usually offers the greatest safety. If you do not have a basement, you can get protection by taking cover under heavy furniture against inside walls. Doors and windows on the sides of the house away from the tornado may be opened to help reduce damage to the building.

Whatever you do, keep calm. It will not help to get excited. People have been killed by running into the streets and by turning back into the path of the tornado.

Keep listening to your radio or television for the latest tornado advisory informatioa Do not call the Weather Bureau, except to report a tornado. This may tie up the telephone lines urgently needed for special reports to relay to radio and television

Mrs. Joyce King Chairman of the Safety Committee Pitt County Association of Insurance Women

when he heard the news and said he would not condone that kind of bookkeeping again. What he didnt say was that he had ordered his staff to check the Defense Department and find out who was responsible for the bungle.

It turned out it was Glockstern who was in charge of the Cambodia account.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff called him in. Glockstern, a general said, you have blotted your copybook. How could you possible have made this error which has embarrassed us and caused anguish in the high circles of government?

Ive been going over my books and I cant find any way we owe the Cambodians $21 million.

An Air Force general said, -We have evidence from other sources that we shortchanged the Cambodians by $21 million.

What other sources? Glockstern demanded.

Henry Kissingers brother, an Army general retorted.

I brought my books with me, Glockstern said. You can look at them. We paid the Cambodians every cent that Congress voted in 1974. You can go over them if you want to.

Were not interested in your books, an admiral told him. We know you made a mistake, and the manly thing to do is own up to it. Glockstern refused to budge. Im a graduate certified public accountant. During all my years of working for the Defense Department I have never made an error, and I refuse to admit that my Cambodian accounts are not in order. The Marine general said, Glockstern, the Cambodians have accountants, too, and they maintain we still owe them $21 million. The United States never questions the accounting methods of a friendly sovereign power. If they say the books are in-(Continued on page 5)

Easier

Credit

Today

By G. DAVID WALLACE Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) The crippled housing market has seen interest rates decline recently. Mortgage lending institutions report more and more money is available for home buyers. But the markets still waiting for the buyers.

While the number of starts on new houses remains about 40 per cent below a year ago and the mood of home buyers remains cautious, officials are encouraged by the developments in the lending markets.

The latest encouragement for home buyers, home builders and the economy in general came Tuesday in the Federal Home Loan Bank Boards report that in February people deposited $3.1 billion more than they withdrew at savings and loan institutions for the second month in a row. A third $3 billion month is expected for March.

As recently as last September deposits were shrinking by $1 billion a month, drying up what is the industrys largest source of loans. The flood of new money now means easier credit for buyers and builders.

But the Federal Home Loan Bank Board report showed that the new money has not prompted a rush of home buyers eager to get loans.

The volume oil loans for February was up only $122 million over January and still $201 million below a year ago.

The small number on loans means the consumer just isnt in the home-buying mood, said Kenneth J. Thygerson, an economist for the U.S. League of Savings and Loan Associations.

Our people are actively promoting loans. Were willing and able to lend the money, Thygerson said. But we still have an awful lot of uncertainty in this economy.

Thygerson said he was encouraged by the increase in February of nearly $1 billion in loan offers by savings and loan associations. It was the first significant increase in loan commitments since April.

But he said consumers still (Continued on page 5)

40 Years Ago Today

March 26,1935

The Greenville Music Festival will be held in the Campus Building of East Carolina Teachers College Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Fred S. Allen of Kinston will direct the program. Allen has been working in five towns in Eastern Carolina to combine them for the festival.

The other four directors of the North Carolina Milsic Festival Association members will be presented in the afternoon performance. Each will have a part in the program and will sing and direct one of the group numbers on the program.

They will also be heard in a quartette number.

Fred Allen, local director is a first tenor; Lewis S. Bullock of Goldsboro is the second tenor; Alton Hampton of Wilson is a baritone and Smith Bogart of Fayetteville is basso profoundo.

Susan Price

No Pressure From The People

the driverand he probably to the extent that it is possibleuse the rest of the time for quiet meditation and prayer.

There is a lot of deviltry in the world today, and sometimes we are led to believe that humanity is in a pretty d^perate situation. But as long as there are praying groups of men and women, here and there, acting as salt to savor human life, there will still be considerable hope.

by Elisha Douglass

By JOHN KILGO

Senator McNeill Smith of Greensboro, a strong advocate of food tax repeal, says its going to take some prodding from the people back home before the tax is killed.

--^About one-fourth to one-third of the legislators have indicated theyre ready to vote for repeal of the food tax, Sen. Smith told me. If the people want this tax taken off, then theyre going to have to tell about 60 members of the House and 25 Senators that in very clear language. The Genaral Assembly isnt taking any action on the issue at this time.

Smith says there are plenty of bills that have been introduced that would offer people relief from the food tax, a tax he claims is unfair. But he says those bills are languishing in committee.

The leadership of the Senate and the House arent urging them to get those bills out of committee, Sen. Smith says. They must feel its safer for them to let the people keep on paying the tax.

Smith says he feels the public wants the food tax repealed.

Gov. (Jim) Holshouser has certainly made an issue out of it, Smith said. But the Governor has no power, he has no green stamps left. He must, however, have some polls indicating that the tax is unpopular with the people.

Gov. Holshousers people are circulating petitions which ask for the repeal of the food tax. However, Smith says the petitions are misleading, because they dont say anything about repealing the tax in 1976, wch Gov. Holshouser

earlier had suggested.

The food tax can be repealed right now, Sen. Smith said. There are other ways to raise the revenue, like a change in the income tax, an increase of the tobacco tax and other ways.

Sen. Smith feels the opponents of food tax repeal have been successful in clouding the issue.

They offer all kinds of excuses, he says. They say maybe because of the economy we shouldnt repeal the tax now. They say they dont know where the money would come from to make up the money lost from repealing the tax. If this thing is to be repealed, the people are going to haye to write the legislators in their own districts and tell them they want it off. Thats the only reason Nixon resigned as presidentbecause the guy

in the street said hed done wrong and the country was going to have to get rid of him.

Smith favors repealing the three per cent sales tax on food that goes to the state, and also an additional one per cent that goes to local governments. He says the total money involved would be about $90 million a year.

Sen. Smith says some legislators have crawfished on the food tax issue, while others say theyll support repeal if you can show us where we can make up the money.

But some who campaigned on no new taxes, Smith says, arent doing anything to get this tax off the books. Weve had all the debate on the subject that is needed, because nothing suits opponents of repeal better than more debate.