The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 25

Associate Editors ADELE VINCENT JOHN HART BERTEMKF. WILLIE C. RIDDLE JAMES NOLAN" HUGH h.WKlE, Cartoonist BARRY BINGHAM JR Editor and Publisher ROBERT T. BARNARD Opinion Page Editor THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1975. FOUNDED 1826.

Opinion Ford's auto emission plan a ticket to more stale air Indiana's new ethics law: just window-dressing? IT WILL BE a serious disappointment if the ethics and financial disclosure law passed by the 1974 Indiana legislature amidst some fanfare and much skepticism turns out to be nothing more than window dressing. Unfortunately, the resignation statement of Richard Regnier, chairman of the ethics commission set up to monitor the conduct of executive branch officials, suggests that the legislature was more interested in polishing up state government's image than in making it more honest. Mr. Regnier said he resigned for personal reasons. But he severely criticized the legislature for "making a fool of the commission and the people of Indiana" by failing to provide him the means to carry out his responsibilities.

No funds provided Under the law, the commission is supposed to prepare a code of ethics for top officials of the executive branch, investigate charges of conflict of interest and other types of misconduct, and process financial disclosure statements. Two other ethics commissions with similar duties were set up for the House and Senate. The idea was to make elected and appointed state officials more sensitive to possible conflicts between their public responsibilities and private interests, and to reassure the public that action would be taken against those who are unable to discern any difference between the two. The General Assembly's failure to provide funds for the commission may have been an oversight. But it is fair to suspect that many legislators regarded the ethics law as a way to counter the wave of cynicism that swept through the electorate after Watergate.

Once it had served that purpose, they apparently lost interest. A test of sincerity What they don't seem to realize is that politicians won't regain or, more importantly, retain public confidence unless they set high standards of official behavior for themselves and see that those standards are enforced. The suspicion that public officials are enriching themselves while transacting public business will not die simply because there is a new administration in Washington, or a paper commission with a fancy name in Indianapolis. The commission will get enough money from the governor's contingency fund to cover such expenses as office supplies and secretarial help until the next legislative session begins in January. At that time the assembly can expect to get some well-deserved heat from Common Cause of Indiana, a citizens' organization, which has decided that effective ethics laws will be a primary lobbying goal in 1976.

If the legislature is serious about ethics in government, it will make sure during its next session that the commissions it created get enough money and support to serve as some IV X. gusher! PRESIDENT FORD'S proposal to relax auto pollution standards for five years while Detroit strives voluntarily for greater fuel efficiency shouldn't evoke much sympathy this week in the smog-shrouded Ohio River Valley and Central Kentucky. The stale, eye-burning, Los Angeles-type air that has forced many residents of Kentucky and Indiana indoors for nearly a week, and that has prompted this state's first air pollution "alert," can be blamed largely on a heavy concentration of car-exhaust pollutants. Bigger urban areas have been living with this health hazard for years and wouldn't be much better off even with the strict auto-pollution standards already on the books. But for those in the rest of the nation who still cherish what clean air looks and smells like, the current foul air in this part of the country may be only a suggestion of what's to come if Mr.

Ford's five-year freeze on emission standards becomes law. The original deadline for final auto-emission controls was to have been this year. But Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency have extended that timetable three times at the behest of the automobile companies, which claimed technical problems. The new auto-emission standards proposed by Mr. Ford are considerably weaker than the relaxation he offered in January as part of his comprehensive energy package.

Freezing existing standards for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide for five years, as the President suggested last week, would have the effect of allowing four times as much pollution from automobiles as the regulations now scheduled for 1978 would permit. Faulty assumptions Mr. Ford says the freeze is necessary because the nation's health would be endangered by increased use of catalytic converters on new cars, and because meeting the pollution-control deadline in 1978 would hamper the industry's voluntary drive to improve fuel efficiency by 40 per cent. Both assumptions are either erroneous or at least highly suspicious. EPA Administrator Russell Train granted a one-year extension to automakers earlier this year after preliminary tests by the agency showed that converters those tail-pipe devices that trap pollutants emit another dangerous chemical, sulfuric acid, in the process.

While the action seemed wise then, that conclusion since has been attacked by other scientists and by another EPA study, which suggests that the first study overestimated the danger of sulfate emissions. As for hampering fuel efficiency, what about those EPA mileage figures that showed fuel performance went up by an average of 13.5 per cent from 1974 to 1975 when catalytic converters were added to 85 per cent of the new models? Moreover, other EPA, Department of Transportation and National Academy of Science reports contend that Detroit can meet the 1978 emission standards without giving up on better gas mileage. And foreign cars on the U.S. market are getting high mileage and are meeting pollution standards without converters. Given so much skepticism about auto industry claims that "it can't be done," it's hard to escape the conclusion that Mr.

Ford is acting more like a former Michigan congressman than a chief executive truly concerned with a That TARC 'surplus' "They now have an interim plan: Hold your breath for five years" complicated environmental and energy problem. President Ford is properly concerned about placing too many restraints, during this recessionary period, on the nation's bellwether industry. But under his proposal, nothing would compel the manufacturers to push ahead with ways to curb pollution. "The danger," said EPA's Train, who opposed the freeze on standards, "is that in 1980 we'll be back here arguing the same questions again." Congress shows little sign of rushing to embrace Mr. Ford's five-year moratorium.

But the way it has acted on other energy and environmental problems this session makes one wonder if the lawmakers are willing to do more than compromise on a two- or three-year freeze. That may be the best the nation can hope for. But it would be infinitely better if Congress would for once put some teeth into an environmental or energy bill. For example, Senator Muskie, chairman of the Senate's environmental pollution subcommittee, wants a strategy that would impose tougher emission standards on cars with the poorest fuel performance. The motivation of profit Another tack would be for Congress to establish a penalty schedule on the 1978 emission standards.

If manufacturers didn't meet the standards for any of the three major auto pollutants, they would be fined a specific amount for, say, each tenth of a gram of pollutant in excess. The testing could be done by EPA, with fines being levied on a manufacturers' entire fleet. In the end, the public holds the key. If it would quit buying cars that burn too much gasoline or pour too many poisons into the air we breathe, the automobile manufacturers would start falling all over themselves to make what will sell. Until then, unless Congress shows an unexpected courage and writes such economic penalties into law, we'll go right on inventing excuses for more years of delay.

readers' views memorize it, and think of it when they go in that little booth on election day and close the curtain behind them. Oh, God, give us the courage to act before it is too late. HENRY H. SCHLINKER 6308 Fegenbush Louisville Disappointing park visit On the evening of June 23, my son and three friends drove across the county to the new E. P.

Sawyer State Park to swim. Only after they arrived did they learn the pool is closed to the general public on Monday nights, and open only to season-ticket holders. This was not mentioned in the story in the previous Sunday's Courier-Journal Times. We've visited many of our state parks and have never heard of the practice. Was the park built only for people in the eastern part of Jefferson County? Did the park advertise this season-ticket sale? Mrs.

JAMES H. COONES 3901 Sparta Liouisville tetters Louisville, on topics signatures the right frequent thing more than flowers around the garbage heap. submitted for publication must be addressed to: Readers' Views, The Courier-Journal, Ky. 40202. Best-read letters are brief (under 200 words) and of general interest, letters must carry the and addresses of writers.

Editors reserve to condense or reject any letter and limit writers. million. The unspent revenues will be invested. According to TARC's long-range financial projections, however, this money will not remain invested long. It will be needed within two or three years as bus service expands and operating costs begin a sharp rise.

By 1977 or 1978, in fact, operating costs will exceed TARC's income from fares and occupational tax receipts. Federal operating subsidies will be available to make up the difference, at least until the middle of 1980, when the law authorizing the subsidies expires. TARC General Manager Al Meinze expects that the federal subsidy program will be extended indefinitely. The urban constituency for federal transit subsidies has grown remarkably in recent years, and financial encouragement for transit improvements fits in nicely with federal efforts to conserve fuel and control air pollution. Moreover, with the notable exception of New York, the number of people riding buses and subways in major American cities is rising after decades of decline.

In Louisville, for example, ridership for the week ending June 21 was 12.1 per cent higher than during the same week last year. This is encouraging. So is the news that TARC is accelerating its planned service Improvements throughout Jefferson County. Voters who approved the transit occupational tax last fall will welcome these signs that their tax dollars are producing results. Lauds Kilpatrick column I wish to commend the column by James J.

Kilpatrick in The Courier-Journal of June 24. Some school officials seem like some federal judges short on common sense. If a student can pass an examination at a high mark, it ought not matter where the education was acquired, whether in a private school, a public school, or with a private tutor. I mentioned judges because in Dade County; Florida, a judge issued an order stating that a church school could not bar Negroes. If black people set up a private school that only blaclt people can attend, that is their business, not White people would not become aroused over The Rosenwald fund is going to black schools.

There is no doubt that they need it. The federal courts overturned a man's will (Stephen Girard's), because the beneficiaries under it had to be in certain class of while people. I wonder if it would have done so if some well-to-do black man had' endowed the same amount for a black school? I certainly would not object, for black people should have an equal opportunity for education. H. C.

MOONINGHAM 144 N. Main Greenville, Ky. busing defended ported but also educated at the expense of the taxpayer. Thus, a saving of about $600,000 would cost about $1.5 million from a different pocket of-the taxpayer. I am not aware of any convincing reasons for" editor (June 26) to state with such certainty that parents "sooner or later must end to the program." The issue of public school desegregation (and' ultimately neighborhood desegregation) is many-faceted problem which is causing every re:" sponsible person a great deal of But to label non-public school patrons as those1 seeking to avoid desegregation ignores at least two evident facts: (1) Private and religious schools predate the desegregation order and have served this community for over a century; and (2) The churches are sincerely trying to resolve the same problems of social justice and equal opportunity with which the courts are concerned.

(Rev.) JOSEPH M. McGEE Superintendent of Catholic Schools 435 S. Fifth Louisville MANY TAXPAYERS in Louisville and Jefferson County doubtless greeted with skepticism and resentment the news that the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) expects to end up the coming fiscal year with a $2 million "surplus." TARC, after all, is supposed to use the citizens' hard-earned occupational tax dollars to improve service and lower fares, not to set up an investment portfolio. But this "surplus," on closer inspection, turns out to be a very temporary phenomenon, like the layer of fat on a hibernating animal. In its budget for the coming fiscal year, TARC expects to spend $4.28 million.

It will receive in fares, occupational tax revenues, and federal operating subsidies about $6,2 SENATOR SOAPER says: TODAY you still have to pay the piper. And not only that, three men to work the amplification system, a lighting expert and five back-up musicians. Just when we were beginning to wonder when Washington would do anything really helpful for us, the government comes out against castor oil. Queen Elizabeth doesn't know why women traditionally wear gloves. Well, a girl never knows when she may have to change a tire.

If this babbling idiocy remained on the college campus, we might not have much to worry about. But what makes anyone think it is left there? On the contrary, it goes out into the world to spread its gospel. That is why in business we face the meetings that go on for hours because the person speaking can neither get to the point nor understand the person next to him, and the memoranda, which float from desk to desk vaguely read and rarely understood because they need to be sent to some special office for decoding. The wonder is not that people are complaining about our use of language; the wonder is that it has taken so long for them to do so. MARGOT DIMOND 816 Milford Ct, Louisville Poses a question "To the victor," but not so in this case.

I am referring to the six-day Israeli-Arab war. If this war were won by the Arabs, how much land would they concede to Israel? I can tell you. Just about as much as a small bird can stand on. MORRIS LOESER 1535 S. Shelby Louisville Private-school pupil I am thankful that Fiscal Court is accountable not to The Courier-Journal's editorial board but to the citizens of this community, all of whom stand to be losers should publicly supported transportation be denied bow or later to private school patrons.

The court is right in funding a program which has been already ruled constitutional and legal by the highest local and federal courts. The court is right in looking on the private schools as a welcome asset to Jefferson County. These schools save the taxpayers upward of $20 million per year, and have strong educational programs to complement the work of the public schools. The court is right in listening to the voices of people who care enough to write, phone, or visit their elected officials. The court is right in considering the safety and traffic problems which would result if this essential and basic service were withdrawn.

The court is right in judging as a critical factor the transfer of "only 1,500 to 2,000" students to public schools, who then would not only be trans to the Eliminating all 'no-goods' To the Editor of The Courier-Journal: Concerning James Askew's Letter (Readers' Views June 27): After having open-mindedly examined Mr. Askew's beliefs that certain "born wrong no-goods" should be "legally destroyed" by the United States Army, it is indeed most refreshing to hear that human extinction is the answer to man's problems. Why didn't someone think of it sooner? It is certainly logical to believe that killing persons whom you don't like is no doubt the solution! After all, that's what Neanderthal man did, and look how successful he was. In fact, lower forms of life still behave that way. Evidently, Mr.

Askew has struck the nail on the head. Unfortunately, Mr. Askew inadvertently failed to mention which particular individuals he would like to see destroyed. Living in Georgetown, I'm sure that Mr. Askew would find it fitting that an atomic bomb be dropped on that city.

I'm sure that would certainly do away with the majority of persons Mr. Askew doesn't like including those "weak, silly men on the pulpits" no doubt a reference to his local clergy. Far be it from me to be wry, but after taking a closer look at these "solutions" offered by Askew, I'm sure there is no connection between his views and fact that Webster defines "askew" as to one side; awry; crookedly." Just a thought. REV. BARRY CURTIS STEIGER 4708 Van Hoose Louisville, Ky.

Recalls Jefferson's words I have just read a quotation from Thomas Jefferson which every American should know. It is as follows: "I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our choice between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debts, we must be taxed into our meat and drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labors and our amusements.

If we can prevent our government from wasting the labors of our people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy." I pray that those who read this quotation will Quality, integrated education Thank God for the Sharon Sizemores of Jefferson County. Her appeal in her June 13 letter for quality education and peaceful, orderly desegregation of our schools express my sentiments. My four children have been educated in an integrated school. Their lives and the lives of their parents are richer because of it. for one, want to focus my creative energies toward peaceful and orderly support of the legal and moral obligations of the educational process.

Mrs. MARTHA M. ROGERS 3614 Windward Way, Louisville Semi-literate freshmen Hurrahs for Samuel Freeman (Readers' Views, June 21) and others who lent support to your recent editorial, "Why Johnny ain't literate Round 2." Anyone who has ever taught freshman composition in college has experienced that awful sensation when the first batch of themes comes home to be graded. "You'll get used to it," says a seasoned freshman theme reader. "My God, I hope not!" you think.

What a teacher faces in the first semester of college is the result of years of neglect by his either lazy or intimidated forerunners. His challenge? a student who obviously has never been criticized or who has and has repeatedly intimidated the critic. How else can one explain "student's" outraged sensitivities when "teacher" points out the highly autistic nature of his overcharged ramblings? Indeed, the student is a product of the "feeling" generation. He has been led to believe or "allowed" to believe that emotion is sufficient for communication. It is not.

Emotion is important. Emotion can mean the difference between persuasion or loss of interest in an argument. But feeling must be interlaced with some universal cohesive logic, substantive evidence, statistics, yes, and grammar to win anyone over to any point of view. Otherwise, people end up sounding like babbling idiots. The pool in Tom Sawyer State Park.