The Hearne Democrat from Hearne, Texas • Page 8

Ilcarne (Texas) Democrat. July 11, The Consumer Alert by John L. Hill Attorney General The mobile home industry, with its low-cost alternative to conventional home-buying, exercises a growing appeal for many Texas families. As evidence, there are approximately 100,000 mobile homes in this state now, and sales are increasing by 25,000 units each year. Recently, we organized a new labor division within the Attorney General's Office that will have responsibility for enforcing consumer laws lated to mobile homes, as well as labor-related statutes.

This division represents the Texas Department of Labor and Standards, the agency with regulatory power over mobile homes in the state. 7. Our labor division attorneys settled the first case arising out of the 400 complaints they have received mobile homes. They r'Jhave found that many dissatisfactions arise not only from misunderstandings about -'mobile home construction, but "about terms of the sales contract, regulations regarding the mobile home, moving the home, locating the home, and -mobile park restrictions. Some mobile home complaints could be prevented if took time to investi- gate all these things, before buying their mobile home.

Any sales contract should include a description of the mobile home furnishings, appliances, and any other items to be included in the purchase. Mobile home purchasers should understand the contract and the method of financing and are urged to sign the "placement certificate" only after the mobile home is delivered and in place. One area of concern is "tie-down" of mobile homes, since, in 1973, the Legislature amended the Mobile Home Standards Act to require these restraints to prevent mobile homes from being blown or knocked over. Under the new law, all mobile homes purchased after March 20, must have approved tie-down systems if they are less than 300 feet from another structure. Mobile homes in coastal counties must meet more stringent requirements for tie-downs because of the danger of hurricanes and resulting high winds.

The labor division warns that some persons are selling tie- down systems that do not meet standards. It is important to get all claims about such systems in writing, to check A Weekly Report Of Agri-Business News arm-facts Compiled From Sources Of The Texas Department of Agriculture John C. White, Commissioner with the Performance Certification Board of Uie Texas Department of Labor and Standards to make sure such claims are valid, and not to pay a fee for installation of the system until it passes inspection. Mobile home purchasers should keep in mind that local zoning ordinances may determine where within a city they can locate their home. If a purchaser plans to buy a city lot for his mobile home, it is absolutely necessary to check this in advance.

To move a mobile home over Texas roads, the home must be registered with the Texas Highway Department through a county tax collector. A fee is charged based on the weight of the mobile home. Moving a home out of state will require checking with each state's highway department, since each state may have different regulations. If a mobile home is to be located in a mobile park, there is the possibility of special park rules as to how the home may be used. It is important to understand exactly what will be provided for the monthly rental or lease fee, and what other charges, if any, can be to get it all in writing.

Some parks have special requirements about children and pets, overnight guests, parties, curfews, additional storage, repairmen, deliveries, mailboxes, garbage pick-up, and other things. Knowing about them in advance can prevent problems later. If you have questions about mobile homes, contact the Department of Labor and Standards, the Attorney General's Labor Division, or your local Better Business Bureau. Cotton, Wheat Outlook Screwworms Moving Pond Control Talked Many Frozen Desserts OUTLOOK FOR agriculture in Texas is not as rosy as it was in 1973. The wheat crop-already harvested-is about a third less than it was last year, and the cotton crop is not expected to be as good.

The reason is the weather, mainly drouth in the Low and High Plains, but also some floods and hail in the Lubbock area. According to "Howell's Cotton Letter," printed in Lubbock, a survey of ginners shows they expect this crop to yield about 1,502,000 bales on the High Plains, which is about 52 per cent of the 1973 crop. USD A had predicted that 14,500,000 acres would be planted to cotton in the United States, compared to 12,400,000 in 1973; but Natural Fibers Economic Research at the University of Texas said that was high and that cotton acreage in Texas is lower in 1974 than it was in 1973. "At the present time a severe moisture condition exists on the Texas Plains, where nearly 80 per cent of the Texas cotton was produced in 1973-74." On the other hand, the cotton crop in the Blacklands is three to four weeks ahead of last year and growing conditions are reported ideal with little insect infestation yet. SCREWWORMS have been found recently in Comanche, Somerveil, San Saba, Hill, and Parker County, according to Dr.

M.E. Meadows who runs the screwworm eradication program at the plant in Mission. This is the fartherest north the pests have been reported this year. Gulf Coast ticks are on the increase, and July, August, and September are their most active months. That may contribute to the spread of screwworms unless cattlemen are especially careful of their herds.

They should check cattle as often as possible, and if there is an infestation, samples should be taken and sent to the laboratory at Mission. The Screwworm Eradication Program releases sterile flies in the area of known infestations. MORE CONTROL of farm ponds is in the talking and studying stage at present, and may be something farmers and ranchers want to watch. The Water Resource Conservation and Development Task Force is studying recommendations of the Professional Engineers Society. Purpose of the recommendation is to save water which would be lost to seepage, evaporation, and transpiration from unnecessary tanks.

A task force report asks that unregulated ponds be limited to 10-acre feet with less than two acres of surface area. The plan asks the Water Rights Commission to issue permits, or control, all ponds larger than 10-acre feet. FROZEN DESSERTS in Texas last year totalled 61,511,000 gallons, and in that amount was 31,632,000 gallons of ice cream. The Texas Crop and Livestock Reporting Service says that there were 7,996,000 gallons of ice milk produced in Texas in 1973, 2,875,000 gallons of milk sherbet, 18,813,000 gallons of mellorine. The Reporting Service said that manufactured dairy products used 24 per cent of the Texas milk production last year, or the whole milk equivalent of 771,658,000 pounds.

That included 3,805,000 pounds of butter, 19,323,000 pounds of cottage cheese curd, 24,502,000 pounds of creamed cottage cheese and 6,349,000 pounds of partially cream cottage cheese (less than four per cent milkfat). COMMERCIAL vegetable growers in the Rio Grande Vafley are getting land ready for fall vegetables, as the harvest of spring crops is nearly over. There are some okra and tomatoes still available in the Valley, and a few honeydews and bell peppers are still being harvested in that section. Visiting Wednesday and Thursday of last week in the home of Mr. and Mrs.

Leon Wilson and family was Miss Becky Elders of Waco. Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Langston of Dallas were weekend visitors with her parents, Mr. and Mrs.

Frank Fridel and children, Derace and Jana. Dr. David Ram by and children, Bubba, LaDonna, Billy and John, of Pasadena were Hearne visitors on Sunday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. V.

D. Ramby. The children returned home with their uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. George Cox, who have been visiting in Hearne from Russellville, Arkansas.

Their son, Charles, who is serving in the Air Force at San Antonio was also a visitor. All Share Blame For Energy Crisis, Oil Executive Says All segments of U.S. society have contributed to current energy shortages, and all must cooperate to work out a solution, according to John Swearingen, chairman of the board, Standard Oil Co. of Indiana. "For generations, unlimited supplies of low-cost energy have been taken for granted in this country the whole economy has been geared to provide ever-larger and more luxurious vehicles, more heat in the winter and more air- conditioning in the summer, and a range of power-consuming appliances that staggers even sophisticated Europeans," the Standard Oil executive told a Congressional committee.

He emphasized the oil shortage is real "for both the short and long term" and warned, "ex post facto attempts to assign culpability for what has happened will do nothing to get the nation back on the track." In 1871, Texas passed a law which imposed a fine of not lets than 125 nor more than ISO on any cutting down or otherwise destroying or injuring any walnut tree on land not his own without authority in writing from the owner. S.TATE CAPITAL SB AND Sidelights by Lyndell Williams Firemen-Businessmen Barbecue Monday "Never wild yow ttOD. AUSTIN, Convention delegates approved a new approach to state revenue raising and sent delegates' hopes rising for a painless tax source. The Convention authorized the legislature to levy a petroleum products manufacturing tax that will not (like three-fourths of gasoline taxes) go into highway building. Sen.

D. Roy Harrington of Port Arthur already is preparing for introduction next year a bill to impose a two cents per gallon gasoline tax at the refinery level. At the same time, Harrington will propose reduction of the gasoline tax at the pump from five to three cents a gallon if the new constitution is approved. Since 75 per cent of Texas- refined gasoline is sold out of state, proponents of the tax claim the two cent levy would raise $686 million in additional revenue without increasing the burden on Texans. Although such a tax probably could be levied now, most of the money would go to highways instead of general revenue.

The convention went into its windup stages this week. Delegates began voting on the entire revision package, including proposed separate submissions five alternative propositions. When and if a two-thirds majority is mustered, the document and the "side issues" will go to the voters in the November general election. HEATLY CUT OFF-The Constitutional Convention Compensation Committee served notice it didn't intend to allow Rep. W.S.

(Bill) Heatly of Paducah to charter airplanes at state expense. Convention officers said they won't approve any more such charges. However, Heatly indicated he won't take that without a fight. He produced an attorney general's ruling saying renting of aircraft by state employees on official trips is authorized, and called on officials to consider his bills legal. Heatly blamed his troubles on a "personal vendatta" against him by Convention President Price Daniel Jr.

and Executive Director Jim Ray which Daniel promptly denied. A check of House records showed Heatly, as of May 31, ranked 24th among state representative-convention delegates in total spending since last January. NEAR RECORD PAID- Oil companies paid a near record $24.6 million in bonus payments for oil and gas leases on Texas public lands at the third largest oil and gas lease sale in history. Bids were received for more than 336,037 acres and brought the permanent school fund to more than $1,074,743,900. Texas will receive a substantially higher royalty for oil and gas produced from the state lands under new terms in effect for the sale.

All royalties will be at least one- fifth. The state may also take its royalty "in kind" which assures top prices for the state's portion of oil and gas and ability to sell the resources in areas where they are needed. Three bids exceeded $1 million. One was for $9 million by Transocean Oil Incorporated of Houston for 25 tracts, most of them in the Gulf of Mexico. TEXANS PLEDGE Democrats committed themselves to a record total of $508,000 during the June 29-30 party fund-raising telethon.

Two-thirds of the take enough to pay off debts and last a few months into the future will be retained by the state party after deductions for overhead of the telethon. More than 1,000 volunteers manned 350 telephones in 16 Texas cities during the fundraising extravaganza which brougnt in $7 million in pledges to the national party. More than 3,000 pledges were received in Texas. LIQUOR AGENTS CLEARED-An investigation by Atty. Gen.

John Hill's staff found no evidence of mileage expense account padding by Dallas district office Alcoholic Beverage Commission inspectors. Hill did recommend better record keeping procedures in the office to remove suspicions and concerns." He found irregularities in the manner in which the records are maintained and said that inspection tickets were in "a state of disarray." AG OPINIONS- States and subdivisions are required to include equal employment opportunity clauses in federally-assisted construction contracts exceeding $10,000, Attorney General Hill held. In other recent opinions, Hill concluded: County may expend county funds for service pins to reward county employees, and pins may include a replica of an unofficial county seal. An act extending workmen's compensation benefits to employees of political subdivisions is constitutional and applies to housing authorities. A Texas Municipal League and Texas Association of School Boards plan for self-insurance would not be subject to State Board of Insurance regulation.

APPOINTMENTS-Gov- ernpr Briscoe appointed Natt Burke Holman of Houston to the Texas Water Rights Commission, effective July 15. Larry Combest is Sen. John Tower's Austin office aide for agricultural matters. Robert Hardesty of Austin will serve as a member-at- large to the 1974 delegate assembly of National Urban League which will meet in San Francisco July 31. COURTS SPEAK-Attorney General Hill is seeking to file with the U.S.

Supreme Court a complaint that New Mexico is failing to deliver adequate waters on the Pecos River to Texas as required by the Pecos River Compact. Appeal of two Bay City boys from a 10 year sentence for statutory rape of a 15- year-old girl was turned down again by the Court of Criminal Appeals. A Harris County district judge ordered Atlantic Richfield Co. to pay $50,000 in penalties in a Pasadena water pollution case. SHORTSNORTS The American Party has petitioned for a place on the November general election ballot and promised an active campaign.

New oil and gas well completions are running ahead of 1973. The chairman of the House elections committee, Rep. Ed Harris of Galveston, called on Secretary of State Mark White Jr. to purge unqualified persons from voter registration lists. Texas Department of Agriculture has inaugurated a program to honor farmers and ranchers whose families have lived on and worked the same land for a century.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission heard conflicting arguments as to whether it should halt or increase shell dredging operations in San Antonio Bay. Twenty key state agencies report substantial employment increases for blacks and Mexican- Americans. More than 175 Texas areas are eligible for flood insurance through a new special program administered by the National Flood Insurers Association. BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS MADE Seven cities received Governor's Community Achievement Awards for outstanding community beautification projects during the last year. Winning cities were Stanton (under Eastland (2,501 Athens and Jacksonville (5,001 Lufkin (10,001 New Braunfels (20,001 60,000) and San Antonio (over Eighty-six communities submitted entries in the competition.

Awards were made at the seventh annual meeting of the Beautify Texas Council here. BUDGET HEARINGS START Hearings of the 1976-77 state budget the first to use the new zero-base system are under way. Some of the early requests by state agencies reviewed by the Legislative Budget Board and the governor's office are running almost twice current spending. Requests, under the new plan, are divided into three levels bare minimum, middle bracket and highest feasible. Leon Martinez Haskell Rites Funeral services for Leon Martinez, 44, of Haskell were held at 11 a.

m. Saturday, July 6 from St. George's Catholic Church in Haskell with the Rev. Sheen Sheeran officiating and burial following in Willow Creek Cemetery. Mr.

Martinez died about 12:30 a. m. Thursday, July 4, after being shot at a dance in Haskell following an argument. His alleged killer, Jesse Sanchez is being held without bond in Haskell County Jail. He was born in Hearne on November 27, 1929 and married Patsy Rivera April 21, 1949 and they moved to Haskell in 1950 where he was a farmer and a member of St.

George's Catholic Church. Survivors include four sons, John Martinez of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Leon Martinez Jr. of Dallas, Rudy Martinez and Ruben Martinez of Haskell; one daughter, Mrs. Luz Dias of Haskell; two grandchildren; his mother, Mrs. Luz Martinez of Hearne; three brothers, Marcello Martinez of Austin, Herman Martinez and Ray Martinez of Dallas; and five sisters, Julian (Homalda) Sifunetes and Mrs.

Vincente (Frances) Sifuentes of Hearne. Mrs. Mary Vela of Irving, Mrs. Nica Comacho and Mrs. Lupe Rosalas of Dallas.

Library Listings (Smith-Welch Library) Books checked out for week ending Friday, July The library is open from 15 p. m. until 5 p. m. Monday through Friday.

Mr. and Mrs. Doug Mandrell of Houston were visitors on July 4 with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.

G. Mandrell and Mrs. Liz Jutson and children, Jacky and Janet. Mr. and Mrs.

Pete Garner and son, Bob, welcomed their son and brother, Randy Jay Garner and his fiance, Miss Rosaline Spurel both of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, at the weekend. A highlight of the visit was celebrating the birthday of his father, an event of Saturday, July 6. Michell and Denise DeVeries of Angleton, who are visiting their grandparents while their mother is ill, also joined in celebrating with the family. Mrs. Kate Mathews and Mrs.

Ethel Ellis enjoyed a July 4th visit from their sisters, Mrs. R. S. Stewart of Dallas, Mr. and Mrs.

O. B. McKee of De Sota and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Roberts of Houston, and their nephew, R.

S. Stewart Jr. of Dallas. A family covered dish luncheon and visitation at the home of Mr. and Mrs.

C. W. O'Neal made the pleasurable day complete. Mr. and Mrs.

H. M. Mathews of Baytown, Ronny Luster and Curtis Vermilion of Clute were weekend guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. R.

E. Luster. Joining the family group on Sunday was Mrs. Letha Mathews. Mrs.

R. M. Smith spent Monday in the Luster home in celebrating her 83rd birthday. Mr. and Mrs.

Albert N. Koch recently attended a reunion for his family in Gatesville. Mrs. H. A.

Young spent the July 4th holidays with her son and family, Mr. and Mrs. James E. (Jerry) Young and children, Jennifer and James at Spring. Mr.

and Mrs. Joe L. Wilson and Jeffrey of Gonzales were guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.

C. Judkins of Calvert during the July 4 holiday. They also visited in Hearne in the Leon Wilson home. Robert Stephens of Dallas was a Fourth of July guest with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.

Leo Stephens. The trio joined another son and his family, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Stephens Jr. and daughters, Leslie and Shannon, of Bryan and their house guests, Mr.

and Mrs. Robert Rost and Tracy and Miss Tammy Grindle, all of Pensacola, Florida, for a day of swimming, boating and picnicking at Lake Someryille..