The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 1

STATE OFFICIALS BALK AT $186 MILLION CAPITOL RINOVATIOH I'll CRUPUBLl SUING U.AST YANDELL I. 'L PASO, TX 79V 07, ti Friday Morning, November 22, 1991 TEXAS' OLDEST NEWSPAPER Vol. 149, No. 226 Daily 50 Cents Sunday $1.00 Bush signs civil rights bill amid furor over preferences Associated Press WASHINGTON President Bush signed a civil rights bill Thursday that he said would "fight the evil of discrimination," and tried to silence a new furor over race by withdrawing a tentative order to end government hiring preferences for blacks and women. "For the past few years the issue of civil rights legislation has divided America," Bush said.

"No more." But the political divisions that sustained a two-year congressional fight over Who's running things at the White House? Page 5-A. the civil rights bill, and prompted Bush to veto a similar measure last year, remained sharp. The new law negates Supreme Court decisions that made it more difficult for minorities to win lawsuits charging job discrimination by employers. It also expands the rights of women and religious minorities to sue and collect damages for job discrimination, including sexual ha- rassment, It was Bush's agreement to support a modified version of the bill, and drop his potent political argument that it would prompt employers to resort to racial quotas, that brought overwhelming congressional passage. However, Bush signed the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a Rose Garden ceremony that was overshadowed by the storm of controversy over a proposed presidential affirmative-action order circulated Wednesday evening to government agencies.

Most Democrats stayed away from the signing in protest. The order would have ended preferential hiring and promotions for women and minorities and dropped federal guidelines for hiring practices that the courts apply to private businesses rules that had their start in the Nixon administration and have been in place for two decades. White House spokesmen said Bush had never seen the document. They said it was written by his legal counsel, C. Boyden Gray and circulated without Bush's approval.

Gray accepted total blame for creating Pride eyes Miss, vote on casinos By ROY MAYNARD The Dally News GALVESTON The Pride of Galveston could once again become the Pride of Mississippi if voters in Gulfport and Harrison County, approve dockside gambling in a January election. The crippled casino cruise ship, at anchor in Galveston but still in stormy financial seas here, could be to Gulfport and set up at a dock there, according to Pride Cruise Lines officials. It wouldn't be as expensive to operate, and business wouldn't be at the mercy of the 39-year-old ship's mechanical problems. The Pride came to Galveston from Gulfport in late 1989. still in bankruptcy and in debt to Mississippi firms.

"If they legalize dockside gambling, there are some thoughts about going back," said Pride spokesman Sam Clark. "But "if it passed there and the ship went, it wouldn't throw us out of here. We could still look for a new ship here if we can work things out with the federal government." Former U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh ruled that for a gambling ship to be legal, it must dock at a foreign port or stay out overnight before returning to its home harbor. Pride officials are attempting to fight that ruling in court, but a federal judge earlier this month threw out their suit seeking shelter from criminal prosecution.

Pride officials now expect criminal indictments to be handed down by a federal grand jury. Still, the state could legalize offshore gambling, just as Mississippi legalized dockside gambling on a local-option basis. Harrison County, with the city of Gulfport, has voted down the issue once, but it was close. On Dec. 4, 1990, 18,554 (51 percent) of the county's voters cast ballots against allowing dockside gambling, while 17,600 (49 percent) cast ballots in support.

Former Gulfport Mayor Leroy Urie, who was in office when the Pride left Mississippi for Texas waters, said the measure now has a good chance of passing. Other counties, such as Hancock County and Adams County, recently approved dockside gambling. And if it did pass, Urie said, the Pride likely would be welcomed back "I think there might be a few mixed emotions," he 'said. "But these were good local people. I've known (Pride owner) Terry Green's family for years.

I've known the boy and his family to be of high integrity. They left under some bad some bills arid things they owed, and a court order relating to a state tax lien, but to my knowledge they've paid all that off." In fact, the Pride recently emerged from its Mississippi, bankruptcy case with all creditors' paid off, officials have said. But it might not be easy to leave Galveston. More than 100 former crew members have filed suit for wage and injury claims. The company owes about $500,000 in back property taxes for 1990, although Pride officials dispute the company's assessment.

And an undetermined number of creditors are "lined up at the dock," according to U.S. District Judge Sam Kent. Kent has ordered the Pride to stay put for now. PASSING THE BUCKS sMWfc Galveston x)oe Max receives a check for more than $11 7,000 Stall photo by Kevin.Bartram from U.S. Rep.

Jack Brooks Thursday afternoon. Feds give county sheriff seized drug money to fight traffickers By ROY MAYNARD Tho Dally News GALVESTON The U.S. Customs Department handed over nearly $118,000 to Sheriff Joe Max Taylor Thursday as part of a program to use money from drugs for law enforcement. A federal law allows the Customs Department to share seized assets with local agencies that helped in the busts, said Customs Special Agent Steven Hooper. "The good thing is we're using money from drug trafficking to help fight it," Hooper said after he gave Taylor a check for $117,929.

Taylor said the money be used to buy a piece of undercover equipment, something not found at all along the Gulf coast. "I can't really say what it is, but it's going to help not only our efforts, but the efforts of the county narcotics task force and the Drug Enforcement Agency," Taylor said. Sheriffs deputies aided Customs on two occasions, Hooper said. The first came in May 1990, when officials in Panama seized 100 pounds of cocaine. Customs agents kept the seizure secret, and arranged to meet the New York buyers in a sting opera- tion.

The two buyers came to Galveston County from New York; they were arrested, and the money they'd brought to trade for the cocaine was seized. The second incident began as a routine traffic stop in April 1990, Hooper said. When the driver's vehicle was searched, $228,971 in cash was found, along with a stolen pistol. Later, another $28,000 was found in the suspect's home. "This is an outstanding example of what federal and local agencies can do when they work together," said Rep.

Jack Brooks, who was on hand for the ceremony. Gulf reef likely will be granted sanctuary status By BOB WHITBY The Dolly Nows GALVESTON After 15 years and three attempts, the Flower Garden Banks coral reef is likely to become the first marine sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. And at least one person who has been working toward that designation thinks that's good news. SM REEF, 15-A United Way campaign tops $600,000 GALVESTON The United Way of Galveston campaign has topped the $600,000 mark with about $135,000 remaining to reach the goal. Cainpaign chairman Dolph Tillotson, publisher of Galveston Daily News, told United Way division leaders Thursday the total pledged and collected so far is He said that is 82.3 percent of the goal of $740,000.

"We're within reach of our goal, but it's going to be a tough final month or six weeks of campaigning to be sure we reach it," Tillotson said. He outlined expected giving in each of the 12 United Way divisions, which would put the campaign at or slightly above the goal for this year. Those giving estimates based them on contributions from previous years. "We have to work very hard in the closing weeks of the campaign to be sure we touch every base and give everyone in Galveston an opportunity to contribute," Tillotson said. "If we can match last year in all divisions and have some small gains in a tew divisions, we can go over goal." Tillotson also said the campaign under way now on the campus of the University of Texas Medical Branch will be a key to the success of the overall drive.

"Dr. Al LeBlanc is doing a wonderful job of chairing that campaign," he said. "We are making contacts at UTMB this year which have not been made in the past." UTMB's giving at this point stands at about $40,000 on a division goal of $75,000. The last, regularly scheduled United Way report meeting is set for noon Dec. 5 at The Galveston Daily News building.

Tillotson said there will be other meetings as needed to close out the campaign after that date. the flap. "I regret it. If it's the only mistake I make, I won't be doing too bad," he told The Associated Press. He said he did not realize how the statement would be interpreted, and that it was never intended to target affirmative action or the setting aside of federal contracts for minorities and women.

"That's a mistake I should have anticipated," he said. White House officials said Bush was unhappy about the incident. "He was clearly distressed that what should have been a fairly clear signing ceremony had been clouded," one senior official said. McGinnes, activists seek time for talks By ANNE COMSTOCK The Dally News GALVESTON McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corp. officials and environmentalists have asked the state to delay hearings on a company permit to allow the two sides to negotiate.

If the Texas Water Commission grants a six-month delay in its permit process, McGinnes and its opponents will negotiate a plan for operating and ultimately closing the waste pits. The request was made after attorneys for McGinnes and opponents of the company's wastewater discharge permit met in Galveston Thursday. "We will seek a six-month stay from the hearings examiner and ask for the examiner to allow any party to request at any time in that period to have the hearings reconvene," said Molly Cagle, an Austin attorney representing McGinnes. McGinnes is seeking to renew the wastewater discharge permit for its pits, located about six miles southwest of the Galveston Causeway on Halls Bayou Ranch. The facility discharges a million gallons of wastewater a day into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which flows into West Bay.

McGinnes treats sludge shipped to the pits from the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority Washburn Tunnel Facility in Baytown. The company's representatives met with 11 opponents of the permit in Galveston Thursday to iron out a way to keep negotiations open. "I don't think any party has backed away with this agreement," said Tiki Island Mayor Dick Hensley, an opponent of the permit. "I think (the opponents) are seeking one thing. The immediate closure of the existing pits is our ultimate target, along with mitigation and cleanup of the pits." Last week, state Rep.

Mike Martin called for the pits to be closed because McGinnes attorneys were disputing a Water Commission order to file an application for a solid waste permit application. The deadline for filing the solid waste permit application is today, and Cagle said the company will follow the commission mandate. Both permits call for McGinnes to file a closure plan with the Water Commission, but only the solid waste permit forces the company to purchase bonds for cleanup expenses. United Way division chairmen are: big gifts, Annin Cantini; general east, Carlos Pena; general west, Janice Hallisey; hospitality, John Zendt; pacesetter, Gene Curry; port, Don Gartman; professional, Madeline Baker; public service, Dr, Marc Nigliarao; special gifts, Vinnie Nesbitt; UTMB, Dr. Al LeBlanc, Hensley said there was much discussion about the solid waste permit at Thursday's meeting.

"It is an intricate part of the closure," he said. "We don't want McGinnes to walk away from this thing. We didn't make money off of it, so we shouldn't have to pay to clean it up." GULLIE'S FORECAST THE DAILY NEWS WEATHER GULL PREDICTS: Sunny and mild today. Partly cloudy tonight. High in Ihe low 70s.

Low In the low 60s. QALVESTON BAY Southeast wind of 10 to 15 knots today and tonight Bay watora slightly choppy. BEACH WATER 66 degrooa PASSING PARADE Happy birthday D0rrlck Walker, Barbara T. Myles, Mary Alice Buchannon, Mary Destln, Ceclele Maxey, Lnverne Jonas, Bee Jackson, Mrs. W.J.

Jinklns Sheryl Watson, Barbara T. Myles, Cynthia Rodriguez, Mamie Crlstelll, Trey Plcard, Samanlha Bon no, Cheryl Francois, Effle Harrison, Loula Harrison, Kamlsha Banks, Donnle Nelson, Evalyn See PASSING, 16-A WEEKEND SPOTLIGHT They're back From fruit stands to art galleries, businesses are creeping back to Postoffice Street, an area that was hit by hard times in the 1980a. A story on the revitalization of the area will appear In Sunday's Galveston Dally News. INDEX SB Business 68 Classified 10-188 9B EnUflatnrtwnt Horoscopes Movies Obituaries 4A Opinion 8A People Police, Courts 2A 1-48 TV 7B Weather 2A Hava ho dalveston Daily Yotif Only.