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Image Of Congress Worsens

You are a taxpayer.

You, 08 an American, rank among the most conscientious taxpayers in a world full of taxpayers. Sometimes you have to do without, or even borrow, to pay those taxes; but you do it.

Taxes, you are aware, pay for necessary things.. things Just as necessary as the grocery bill, the dentist's bill, the utilities bill, etc. You even pay a very large salary to lawmakers in Washington. They, incidentally, get a larger paycheck than do most of your friends and associates; and probably a much larger paycheck than you.

Thats understandable. They have bigger responsibilities; and the cost of living in Washington is something more than in your hometown.

And then, a public accounting of a $2,000 expense account given members of the House makes you see red. It reads a lot like a swindle sheet The fact is, Mr. Taxpayer, in addition to paying Congress a large salary to do its lawmaking, you have also been footing the bill for such personal things as cmicert tickets, bar association dues, car insurance, country club assessments, a staff

Christmas party, and even for the renting of a tuxedo.

Back h(ne, among the people, such personal expenses are bom by the Individuals checkbook, credit card or weekly budget. The House expense account, by contrast, resembles Just one more opportunity for a rip-off.

True, those petty swindles are attributable to the actions of something less than a majority of the House; but the entire membership is tarred by the conduct of that minority. It is especially true since the House this week voted against a reform plan after abuses had been disclosed.

We are more than ever cOTvinced that going to Washington is somehow equivalent to leaving the real world of hard-working employees, straining businessmen, worried farmers, and professional people who feel a host of uncertainties in their everyday lives. Congress simply does not see the world as do the pe(^le it is supposed to represent.

The image our Congress bears today is not good; and It grows worse as disillusion spreads over its record as a responsible governing body.

Accessibility in New County Clinic

The Pitt County Community Health Department opened a new satellite clinic in the old town hall at Ayden Friday.

The satellite clinic makes county health services

THiS AFTERNOON

more accessible to citizens of the area.

Anytime government services are carried closer to the people, we have gained.

Much-Changed Document

ByBnX,NCUTT

RALEIGH - While con-sideraUe pubUc attention is fociiaed on the question of whether the governor of North CaroUna dMuid be able to run f- a second tmn, voters on November 8 will find a number of other items on the ballot as well.

There are in all five amendments to the State Constitution proposed, and two bond issues to be decided.

The subject of gubernatorial succession wiil appear in third place on the state ballot, and is the briefest of the amendments to be decided.

Changes

The other amendments are;

To allow the husband to succeed to his deceased wifes hmnestead. This is simply to eliminate sex dtotinctkm from the Con-sUtution. In 1868, the authors exempted $1,000 in real property to protect a widow

from her husbands creditors. The amendment would give a husband the same protection. The provision requires that the survivor not own a separate homestead; that there be creditors; and that no children survive.

To allow a wife to Insure her own life for the benefit of her husband, with the money free from creditors. Another sex-neutering amendment, the husband can already do the same for the wife.

To allow municipal governments owning power distribution systems to issue revenue bonds to finance power generating and transmitting systems. This amendment is designed to avoid a court test to determine the "public purpose qualification for funds used by municipalities to buy into a power generating system jointly owned and operated by private companies. A group of cities is considering such a move.

To require a balanced budget for the State government. Most Tar Heels think the Constitution already requires that. There are restrictions on deficit financing, and the Executive Budget Actbut not the Constitutionmandates a balanced budget. The amendment would require that total state spending for a period must not be more than the total surplus in the Treasury and actual income during the period. If it seems likeiy that an imbalance will occur, the governor must cut spending to keep things in balance.

The Record

The original Constitution of North Carolina (1868) was amended 49 times untO it was rewritten and ratified in 1970 to become the Constitution of

1971. At the ratification vote, six amendments were submitted, with five adopted. In

1972, five more amendments were approved.

In 1974, voters approved changing the title of solicitor to district attorney, but rejected revenue bonds for industrial development and pullutkMi control. In 1976, a rewritten amendment on the revenue bonds won approval, along with another allowing such bonds for health-care facilities as well.

'The bond issues on the November 8 ballot are fw $300 million in highway bonds; split $175 million for primary roads, $75 million for secondary roads, and $50 million for the urban system, and $230 million in clean water bonds; ^lit $112.5 million for sewage facilities; $110 million for water supply facilities; and $7.5 million for contingency and administrative purposes.

From 1868 through 1977, North Carolinians have faced 88 proposed amendments to the State Consittution. So far, all but 30 have been ratified . . .not counting the five on Novembers ballot.

THE INSIDE REPORT

MislobbyingBy President

^ ROWLAND EVANS and ROBERT NOVAK WASraNGTON - Proof that President Carter has not quite mastered the art of CongressHaming came when his lobbying efforts for unobstructed foreign aid resulted in embarrassing failure, ending in a presidential exit from a meeting with more than 60 Congressmen.

Whetbo- Mr. Carter was wise to summon House members to the White HotKe to be lobbied on a less than transcendent issue ig doubted even by his own congressional siqiporters. That can be excused on grounds of inexperience. But his error was cooqiounded by a blunder on the part of a vastly experienced Congressman: House majority leader Jim Wright. During the meeting, Wright

asked for a show of congressional hands siq>porting the President and got an embarrassing response.

At issue are amendments blocking U.S. funds to international financial Institutions (such as the World Bank) for loans to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Uganda, Cuba, Angola and Mozambique. The odds are heavily against the Presi-doit for the forthcoming House vote.

Some 60 House members on each side of the question were surprised with invitations to meet the President Sept. 30. The obvious tactic: presidential magic to turn the situation around.

But that magic is none too potent these days. After Mr. Carter finished his speech, a sponsor of the key amendments Republican Rep.

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Bill Young of Florida -delivered a long rebuttal. He was Mlowed by blunt-iqjoken Democratic Rep. Charles Carney of Ohio, who said he never liked foreign aid anyway and opposed it all the more with steelworkers being laid off in his home town of Youngstown. Im worried about human rights back in Youngstown, Carney rasped.

Rep. Silvio Conte, a liberal Republican from Massachusetts who opposes Youngs amendment, rose to defend the President. I dont know whats the matter with these Democrats who dont support you, Cimte told Mr. Carter. That poisoned matters with Democrats still bristling over the Presidents praise of Republican Congressmen a day earlier.

At that point, Rep. Wright got iqi in his best prayer-meeting style, said one Democrat and asked for a show of hands siq^rting the President. Almost no hands went up. Wright then asked his colleagues to quit fooling and show their stqiport. Less than half obeyed, and-there were no converts for

By ART BUCHWALD

Real Canal Claimants

the President.

The President then said, Ive got to go to another meeting, urged the 0)n-gressmen to stick around to hear UN Ambassador Andrew Young and walked out. Some Ckmgressmen felt Mr. Carter showed irritation in leaving the meeting, but others Wd us he was merely keeping his schedule. At any rate, once the President was gone, the Congressmen began drifting out before Young could ^>eak.

I would say it was at least a mini-disaster, one Democratic Congressman who has supported the President on the aid question told us. But thai were getting used to those.

Baker To Byrd

The hand behind Senate DentHKratic leader Robert Byrds decision to put Vice President Walter Mndale in the Senates presiding officers chair during the Democratic civil war over ending the energy filibuster was none other than that of the Republican leader. Sen. Howard Baker.

(OooOauedcapageS)

Strength For Today

WORSHIP IS AN ATTITUI

BumeJones was one of the

wmids greatest designers of stained-glass windows. He was a man who believed that life should be beautiful and who insisted that beauty should be carried into all the details of life.

Rather surprisln^y, in the

view of his friends, he put one of his very beautiful windows depicting the search lor the Holy Grail over the kttdien sink where bis kitchen maid worked. Althou^ he did not say so, he seemed to fed that

WASHING'TON - The hottest issue for the conservatives in this country is the Panama Canal. The big ques-tion is who owns the American political rights to the canal?

There are some people who feel the canal belongs to Ronald Reagan. One of his people told me, Ronnie discovered the Panama Canal before anybody else. No one even knew it was there until he raised the issue in his try for the Presidency. Its Ronniee canal and were not going to let anyone take It away from him.

Friends of Sen, Jesse Helms insist the canal belongs to him. A supporter said, A senator should have

precedent over a defeated Republican candidate for the Presidency. Jesse is willing to go to war before he will allow the United States to sign a treaty with Panama. Its a personal thing with Jesse and has nothing to do with politics. He loves that canal. When he was a kid he used to sail toy boats on it. Some of his best friends live in the Canal Zone. The thought of anyone but Americans running that canal makes him sick. Ronald Reagan doesnt have the emotional investment in it that Jesse does; and were serving notice that if anyone tries to take this issue away from Helms theyre going to have to fight for it.

Other Editors Say: After Nine Months

(Henderson Dl^tch)

Bight to nine months haVe passed since the bitterest of the bitter weather last winter. In Washington they have been debating the measure all year. The House has passed a bill, which is now being considered by the Senate.

We havent read the measure; have not even seen a copy. But no law at all would be about as good as one full of additional taxes. There wont be much improvement if the method of achieving it is by imposing added excises upon consumers. You cant tax your way into solution of problems.

Moreover, we cannot see the benefit claimed by reducing oil imports. If more can be brought in than is being consumed, it ought to be taken and stored for the winter months.

Little is being said about relief that has been or is anticipated from the Alaskan pipeline. The west coast is getting more oil, presumably, but what is happening to the amount over and above requiremenU in that part of the country? Is there any way eastern States can share in the abundance?

Neither a five cents per gallon tax nor a $5 per barrel levy on imports will solve the problem. If the Arabs cannot sell normal amounts here, they will market it elsewhere. It will consumed as long as it lasts.

We have no idea as to the storage capacity available in the United States. But every tank in the sight should be filled for reserves against the time of need. Whether this reasoning is logical, it is at least an idea.

'The energy bill passed by the House, and whatever may eventually be approved by the Senate will contain imposition of hardships on consumers.

A measure ought not to be enacted merely for the sake of doing just something. It needs to be practicable and effective without higher taxes to increase inflation that makes life more miserable for the people.

Sen. Strom Thurmonds man ridiculed the idea that the Panama Canal belonged to Ronald Reagan or Jesse Helms. "Stroms been worried about the Panama Canal from the moment he came Into the Senate. Hes been expecting something like this to happen ever since he fought with Teddy Roosevelts Rough Riders in the Spanish-AmericanWar.

That long ago? I said. Longer than that. The Panama Canal is Stroms baby, and Reagan and Helms better keq) their cotton-pickin hands off it .

A newcomer who has suddenly laid claim to the Panama Canal issue is Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas. Dole sees it as a chance for a shot at the Republican nomination for President in 1980. He even went so far as to release a State Department classified cable to stake his rights to the canal.

Bob, said a friend, was heartbroken when former President Ford came out for the treaty. It hurt him deeply and had he known at the time where Ford stood, he would never have accepted the vice-presidential nomination in 1976.

'Do you think hell speak to Ford any more?

Would you speak to someone who wants to give up an American-built canal? There are, of course, others who are maintaining that the Panama Canal belongs to them. Former Secretary of the Treasury Bill Simon, who also has presidential ambitions, has been organizing the financial fight to defeat the treaty, but so far he cant get any television time.

John Connally wants a piece of the Canal issue Just in case he decides to run, but as his man told me, Johns not greedy. Hes willing to share it with the Daughters of the American Revolution. One of the big surprises is that William Buckley, the conservatives writer-in-residence has endorsed (CotttiiHiedoapageS)

Salute To Old Friend

By PETER MATTUCE Associated Pros Writer

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. (AP) They came by the hundreds for one last fling, a loyal band of guests bidding farewell to a fond friend they had grown old with the Marlborough-Blen-heim Hotel.

Its been a ^orious and a beautiful place. Im sad be-

(CaMttuedoapage^)

40 Years Ago Today

October 14,1937 Leonard Ayres, internationally known economist, said to the American Bankers Association no credit collapse like that of the great depression is now possible.

Ayres declared that prospects for profits in the banking business were fairly bright.

Greenville policemen and firemen were measured for their new winter uniforms.

The Board of Aldermen authorized the purchase at its October meeting.

France lessened European tension to some extent by agreeing that the Spanish civil war vcriunteer question be submitted to the non-intervention committee as demanded by Italy, but on the other side of the world the Sino-Japanese conflict remained as menacing as ever.

While the French council of ministers were ai^roving a plan of isolating the Spanish war so it would not cause a general European disaster, giant projectiles were exploding in the Shanghai international settlennent killing and injuring more than 100 civilians.

LynnfJavarly

Minimum Wage Is Still Argued

holy as the ceremonies in cathedrals.

We have often heard the statemait, to labor Is to pray. We might go further and say that to do ones Job well is to worship. This is by no means a full definitk of the word worsh^>, but bade to all religious thinking is the conviction that the whole life is sacred.

The (rffice and the altar both accMd us opportunities for worship. We beard God in the cathedral only if we have experienced His presence in

ByWALTERR.MEARS AP ^ledal Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) - It started at a quarter an hour 40 years ago, and now the minimum wage is about to go to $2.65, with economists and politicians still arguing amcMig themselves over its real impact on the job maiXet.

The question that hasnt been answered yet is whether a higher minimum wage is Justice or folly; a boon to the working poor or a menace to their Jobs.

There is no shorUge of studies, dissertations and analyses of that issue. They abound in the fine print of the congressional debate, on both sides.

Given the facts of life at the supermarket, the current mhiimum wage of $2.30 an hour doesnt add up to much of a living for anybody who makes it and no more. It adds iq> to $4,784 a year.

Even at the increased rate, the minimum will be lower than the governments poverty line for an urban family of four. The minimum

- ..I J ,<o> tX 419

expected to be about $6,200.

That would seem to make it all very simple: boost the rate and help the low-paid, unskilled worker. But theres more to it, for as the cost of labor goes up, so does the prospect that employers will decide to make do with fewer workers.

Economist Edward M. Gramlich assessed that risk in a paper published by the Brookings Institution:

As the minimum wage is increased beyond its historical range of 40 to 50 per cent of the median wage, more and more workers confront the grab-bag combination of a hi^er wage but a reduced probability of having a job.

The younger the worker, the worse it gets. Unemployment in September stood at 6.9 per cent of the labor force but at 18.1 per cent for teen-agers, and at nwre than twice that for black teenagers.

For all their differences on the broader question of minimum wage effects, the economists graeraily agree thut 11 H<v>nt Iwiln the vouth-

likely to be unable to find a job, or to lose one, than to get the higher hourly wage.

The liberal Republican Ripon Society likens it to attempts at healing by bloodletting.

Political Washington is about to administer to young Americans a remedy just as pernicious as medieval bloodletting, the Ripon analysis said. For while the law can raise the wage, it cant raise worker productivity. And if the price of an hwirs work exceeds the product, the job isnt likely to last.

By a single vote, the House rejected an amendment that would have set a special wage rate, below the adult minimum, for workers under the age of 20. The Senate rejected four attempts to write in differentials so as to make it easier for young people to get or hold jobs.

Spcmsors of the bill argued that there are better ways to generate work for unemployed youths. They also contoxled that cut rates for young worko's would lead .some emnlovers to hire them

It is unjust and discriminatory to assign a value less than the minimum wage to any persons labor, said Sen. Harrison A. WiUiamsJr.,DN.J.

But it is also unjust for somebody who wants to work to be earning nothing at all, for lack of a job.

But those arent the only issues involved. The minimum wage is a factor in the welfare equation. If welfare pays better than work, the administrations reform package is not going to accomplish mudi.

The arguments will continue, on those and other points, even though the law is set for at least three years, and pertaaps four. Die House and the Soiate agree that the rate should go to $2.65 an hour next year. The Senate bill wmdd increase it in stages to $3.40 in 1981. The House version would raise the minimum to $3.05 in I960. Congressional negotiators are working out the differences now.

For the econnnists, theres never a last word. If there was, it should be assigned to