The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 23

The Indianapolis Star SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 1984 Section 13 sc. Dan X. Carpenter A Speaker poised, to reform legislators9 work schedule Refugee's world now brims with purpose Iff The biggest problem facing Indiana's "part-time" legislators is the short time they have to educate themselves on legislation and vote on it. Although the legislature has used nine session days already, few bills have made it to the floor for final votes. ROORDA AND Phillips agree that complex legislative matters that interim study committees have dissected between sessions should be referred to the legislative committees that will pass upon them.

"That way, the people who have a direct role in the bill will be the ones working on it," Phillips said. At present, many proposals are assigned to committees that meet during the summer. Many members of those committees are not members of the actual legislative committee that must approve the bill. "The reason why people don't go to interim committee meetings, is they have no interest in it. Let's get the people with responsibility involved," said Sen.

Louis M. Mahern, Indianapolis. Opposition to permitting legislative committees handling legislation between sessions could be expected from business lobbyists, who are eager to keep the legislature out of session. The fewer the laws, the better the state is, they argue. By PATRICK J.

TRAUB The Star's Political Writer As Indiana legislators labor under perhaps the heaviest workload yet for a short session. House Speaker J. Roberts Dailey, R-Muncie, appears poised to take steps to reform the way the General Assembly schedules its work. During a meeting of the House Rules Committee, Dailey freely discussed reform of the process with House Minority Leader Michael K. Phillips, Boonville, and Rules Committee Chairman Walter J.

Roorda. R-Demotte. "I felt like John the Baptist," said Roorda, a longtime advocate of session reform.1 "I saw a Speaker get a gleam in his eye. "IT WAS the first indication I have ever had that there was any interest in the leadership to restructure what we were doing." Dailey pledged at the committee meeting to discuss reform of the process with Senate President Pro Tempore Robert D. Carton, Colum-bus.

Until 1972, the legislature met only once every two years. A constitutional amendment that took effect that year now allows annual sessions. The length of the sessions is set by statute and can be changed by a majority vote of both houses. Roorda chaired a study committee in 1974 that examined legislative reform. DAILEY SAID Friday he had not yet been able to speak to Carton, but planned to.

Phillips and Roorda discussed with Dailey changing the present system of 60 day and 30 day sessions to annual 45-day sessions or scrapping the idea of session days completely and setting a final day for legislative action. Phillips also proposed "unhitching" the Senate and the House from having to meet on the same day. One day in 1983, the Senate met and the House did not and thus, by law, the House lost a session day. Last session, the leadership of the two houses battled frequently on when the legislature should meet. It appears, at least up to now, that Dailey and Carton are in agreement on this year's schedule.

ROORDA DISCUSSED establishing annual 45-day sessions and moving the budget from the first session to the second, to assist freshmen legislators. "I don't have that hard a feeling for a 45 day session, because we might need a 60 day session to set a budget," Jtoorda said. "We also would need to change the dates for primary elections and for state conventions, because these legislators won't stay here that long in an election year." SUE VANG likes country music, loves to hop on the bus and go to work, and much prefers carving meat and counting money to mopping floors. A little more than two years ago, Sue! Yang could not hear music, had no idea what buses and money were, and had room in his life for little besides grief and terror. What happened in between is one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, which has had its share.

"IF I'VE ever seen a miracle with my own eyes," says Deane Ruetsch, director of food service training for Goodwill, "I've seen it in Sue Yang since he came here." When the 45 year old refugee from Vietnam arrived at Goodwill in August of 1981. he could not hear or speak. He knew no English and could not communicate by sign because there is no international sign language. Interpreters were enlisted but they could not reach Yang either because of a difference in dialect or because of the effect of his deafness on his intonation. FOR DAYS after his arrival, the silent, brooding man clutched a suitcase containing his deceased wife's clothing.

Persuading him to give it up was a major step forward. When and how Sue Yang's wife died is not certain, except perhaps to him. Indeed, he has been able to provide few details of his background at all. Yang tells of soldiers and fighting and many people swimming to boats under cover of night. He Star plots Sue Yang Vietnamese likes US Just as slowly and steadily, the culture gap narrowed between urban America and this native of the remote highlands of Vietnam.

Yang learned about money, about clocks, about the mysteries of crosstown bus travel. By accident, he learned to hear. He accompanied a staff member to church one Sunday and happened to try on a set of earphones installed in a pew for the hard of hearing. For the first time in his life, he realized his impairment was not total. "WHEN HE got his hearing aid, he came in, peeked around the door, and said 'Hello, Mrs.

Ruetsch recalls with a chuckle. The succession of victories over fear and frustration transformed Sue Yang. He became buoyant, confident, puckish and employed. While living in the dormitory at Goodwill's headquarters at 1635 West Michigan Street, Sue Yang takes the bus daily to Indiana Central University, where he works in the cafeteria through a training arrangement with ARA Services Inc. His bosses marvel at his intelligence and quickness to learn; they say he shows the makings of an excellent meatcut-ter.

YANG'S STRUGGLE is a long way from over. His hearing aid has only partially corrected his deafness, and his language works only with those who know him well. He communicates with a sparse mixture of English and Vietnamese words and signs, pencil and paper, and pantomime. But no one who's worked with him doubts Sue Yang will make it. "He came here with nothing," Mrs.

Ruetsch says. "It may be now that he'll have the best of both worlds." BY MARCH, she says, Yang is expected to move into the work force on his own. The plan is for him to obtain a job in Fort Wayne, where he and Nuu, who knows English and some sign language, will live with an American family in a "transitional setting" until they get their bearings. That may not be long. Sue Yang already is talking about buying a house for himself and his son.

He says he only has to unravel one more American mystery: "Broke." Star phata Gr Crltta In memory of King says two of his children, when With the spirit of slain civil rights leader We Shall Overcome, and watched as last Winter Festival marked the dedication of Dr bi i-wtuvi xif, iiMi, 4 ii ui wuiiiwu I'luuiii buiiivf rviii jr. qtk or irn o'reeT more than 100 people joined hands, sang honor. Saturday's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Broadway.

Miffed Demo mayor gives jobs to Republicans vary young, aiso aiea. ne waves his arms in front of his chest, trying to ward off the subject. CONVERSATION ABOUT Vietnam makes Sue Yang extremely agitated. He is afraid he will be sent home. Yang and his only surviving relative, his son, Nuu, now 9 years old, were brought to Fort Wayne under the auspices of a church.

The Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Division sent Sue to Goodwill, while Nuu remains in Fort Wayne with a sponsoring family. Nuu sees his father only every six weeks or so, which, at this point, is about the only thing that isn't perfect about Sue Yang's life. Step by step, beginning with the suitcase. Goodwill staffers helped Yang out of solitary confinement FIRST THROUGH simple pantomime, later through more abstract sign language, communication was developed. rlnrriH 1 JJ John E.

Drapull 1 RixTtlXSliir. City Attorney (RJ 1 (RJ By WILLIAM J. SEDIVY Star Staff Reporter Martinsville, Ind. The spoils are supposed to belong to the victors. But political booty from the last mayoral election here hasn't been distributed as one might expect.

Since taking office Jan. 1, Democratic Mayor Guy F. Fogleman has named Republicans to seven of nine influential city jobs. Fogleman defeated incumbent Republican R.K. Selch by 380 votes Terry TCddlc PolicoChiaf (RJ I Tn St.Clar trie F.

MuKinncy Superintendent (CO I Sanitation Superintendent Timrithy Fhikcr ew FimChief (R.) Ll AhrahamWalfc lAickMcriikth I Meter A Sewer Dept. Sunt. I SU eel CorTTTHSskKW (P.) (RJ ilk .11 Adams plans changes in IPS administrators fof' county GOP official. "After all, the Republicans elected him." INDEED, MANY longtime Martinsville Republicans contributed money or worked for Fogleman during the campaign, leading to the belief that Fogleman may feel indebted to them. Still, Democrats feel slighted by their new mayor.

And Morgan County Democratic Chairman Emma J. Buis is troubled by more than just the politics of Fogleman's appointees. They are "Jimmy Gardner men," Mrs. Buis said. "If he wants to appoint cans, I guess that's his prerogative," Mrs.

Buis said. "But several of them were connected with Jimmy Gardner. I feel that that puts our mayor in a very bad light." JAMES D. GARDNER was Mar tinsville mayor from 1964 to 1980. He lost his bid for a fifth term to Selch in the May 1979 Republican primary.

Gardner ran the city in a brash, partisan and heavy handed fashion, friends and foes of the former mayor agree. He also was corrupt. Last August, Gardner pleaded guilty to charges of accepting a $1,000 bribe from a chemical salesman in exchange for purchasing See MAYOR Page 12 last November. After the election. Democrats saw a chance to take charge of city departments which for years had been staffed and operated almost exclusively by Republicans.

Fogleman's victory marked the first time in 20 years that Democrats gained control of city hall. UNDER FOGLEMAN, however, GOP loyalists again will serve as city attorney, city engineer and as directors of five municipal departments. The mayor's only major Democrat appointments were City Manager Merle F. McKinney and Street Commissioner Abraham Walls. Fogleman defends his Republican appointments by "I tried to pick people who know the jobs and can do them." Fogleman's appointments did not shock some Martinsville political observers.

"It's not surprising," said one -y. Mayor (D) Ex meyor (RJ 'tj-l LI. 3L elementary education; William E. Jones, assistant superintendent of secondary education, and Patricia L. Alexander, assistant superintendent of special services, could be affected by the changes.

Adams has made no changes in top administrative positions since he took over as superintendent in July 1982. Nuttall declined to confirm or deny the reports but suggested a reporter call Adams or school board president Mary Busch. Similarly, Mrs. Alexander would only say, "I cannot confirm any of that." Because all three administrators have tenure, it would require a vote by the board to demote or fire them. Indianapolis Public School Superintendent James A.

Adams confirmed Saturday that he will make changes among his top administrators this spring. The changes will not go into effect until the 1984 85 school year. Adams declined to say any more about the changes because he has not had time to confer with school board members about his plans. Board member Lillian Davis, chairman of the board's personnel committee, said the matter has not come up at any personnel hearings. However, there have been rumors that Adams is considering restructuring his Cabinet, she added.

Reports indicated that Richard Nuttall, assistant superintendent of Star illintratian Martinsville's new mayor; Guy F. Fogleman, upset fellow Democrats when he appointed Republicans to seven of nine influential city positions. Some Democrats were especially bothered by the fact that many of those Republican appointees had ties to former Mayor James D. Gardner. The thick solid black lines in this chart show Fogleman's appointees.

Thin solid black lines show those who also served in Gardner's Cabinet. The broken block lines point to Fogleman appointees who are long-time Republicans. PUBLISHER'S memo White River Park leaping out of brochures and into reality Open records The commission essentially completed the planning process last year and "1984 symbolizes the year in which actual development begins," Watt said. Advances for the park are seen several areas this year The park commission will start negotiations on two key sites, the family entertainment and commercial centers, believed to be the areas that most interest private developers. Gov.

Robert D. Orr will personally lead the effort this year for more See PARK Page 9 Park Development Commission has been buying property and planning for the 267 acre, 200 million park that will straddle White River and reshape the west end of downtown Indianapolis. BUT IN the mind of Commission Chairman William J. Watt. 1984 is the year the emphasis on planning stops and the building begins.

"I think it's fair to say that the White River State Park project now has as its primary focus the active development of several key projects." Watt said. By ROB SCHNEIDER Some call it the largest public works project that will be completed in Indiana this decade. Those who live and work on the near-Westside of Indianapolis know it as a force that is ripping out homes and other buildings along Washington Street and in Stringtown. Perhaps those residents have learned sooner than anyone else that the White River State Park project is no longer just words and pictures in glossy brochures. For four years, the White River There's no question that some information gathered by government agencies needs to be confidential.

But there also should be no question that the public is entitled to know how its government operates and how it spends taxpayers' money. Some changes, some improvements undoubtedly need to be made. But the legislature and its committees should go slowly and carefully. Taking care of one specific case often can cause unnecessary secrecy in a lot of other instances. Indiana has a good Let's keep it that way.

Indiana has a good, if not perfect, open records law. And the Indiana General Assembly, in recent years, has operated openly. But every session of the legislature, the present one included, gets embroiled in all manner of suggested changes. Those who keep "confidential" records always want more records kept secret. These include school boards, businesses, hospitals, personnel offices and on and on.

And there are the usual single issue requests. One proposed bill, for example, would make highway department land acquisition files confidential..