The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 54

Sunday Morning, May 1, 1977 Jlailjj The Capitol Report By DOUGLAS MCLEOD State Representative Although President Carter campaigned heartily for less bureaucracy and against more government, it appears that in the first encounter between the president and the entrenched Washington bureaucracy, the bureaucracy won overwhelmingly. In the opinion of most state officials, the people of Texas seem to be the losers and will bear a disproportionate share of the burdens imposed by the proposed energy plan if it is adopted by Congress. Three areas of the plan Carter's Energy Proposal Has Got A Lot Of Texans Worried AC Mr 1 JL which seemingly have drawn the most criticism are federal control of prices in the intrastate natural gas market; the proposed requirement that all electrical utilities be converted from gas to coal or some other alternative fuel by 1990; and the tax on gas consumption on a graduated scale. Regulation of intrastate gas drew strong criticism from Gov. Dolph Briscoe, who stated that he was very disappointed in the President's proposals and would fight them vigorously.

Prior to Carter's announcement of the energy plan, the Governor had made several tips to Washington during which he pointed out to federal energy planners that an attempt to regulate gas in the same state in which it was produced would fail. He stated that the federal government has not been successful in regulating interstate markets and would therefore not be able to successfully regulate intrastate prices. An additional argument against regulation of intrastate gas is the possible effect such regulation would have on the economy of the Gulf Coast. Bringing intrastate gas under federal regulation could endanger thousands of jobs, especially in the chemical and refining industries, many of which are in the Hous'ton-Texas City area. The accelerated growth of petrochemicals as a Texas industry can he attributed in a large measure to the dependability of the supply of Texas gas intrastate, although at a higher price than would have to be paid at interstate rates.

Refinery managers tVtm. mat van operate in a free market and be assured of the volume of supply they require. Under Federal Power Commission, regulator of interstate gas rates, an industrial user, whether for fuel or feedstock, is about the fifth category of priority in the event of a shortage of natural gas interstate. Being in a low category, industrial needs, which affect jobs and layoffs, are therefore endangered by the expansion of price regulation. Correspondingly, as the laws of economics reflect, reduced employment runs hand in hand "with cutbacks in production.

Not only could federalization tend to discourage exploration and development intrastate, but, ironically, it may also tend to encourage ex- portation of Texas gas needed by Texas industry to other states. The proposed requirement that all electric utilities be converted from gas to coal or some alternative by 1990 drew its toughest opposition from Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby. II was Hobby's opinion thit the ultimate goals of tne plan to reduce consumption by conserving energy, increasing reliance or coal, promoting utility rate reform and developing solar and nuclear power resources are highly commendable; but the methods employed to do so must be Sears SAVE Classic plush carpet stows its true colors- all them! Soft Shadows HI comes in colors that sizzle or tones that play cool! And this dense all-nylon pile carpet responds beautifully to light by creating subtle shadows with highlights! Easy to clean and resistant to soiling and showijtf wear, this carpet is ideal for most any room.

We make calls. Come to Sears or call to see carpet samples )ur home! Reg. SI3.99 sq. 8 99 sq. yd.

Also on SALE SAVE Grand Finale Regular $3.50 sq. yd. SAVE Enduring Beauty Regular $15.99 sq. yd. SAVE Soft Shadows I Regular $9.99 sq.

yd. SAVE 13 99 sq. yd. 799 sq. yd.

6 99 Artistry I Regular $7.99 sq. VF yd. We make house calls. Call Scars and we will bring samples to your home. Free estimates.

Semi-sheer panels or texture! M- all sizes on sate! TftWWIl Many other sizes on sale! Size 96x84-in. 120x84-in. I'riri! 37.98 46.98 SALE 32.97 39.97 Lyric textured draperies juynarliHie washable! Tumble ma-Presl" draperies need ironing! In choice fashion Regular 48 84-in. Larger sizes are special order All sales end May If Ask About Sears Credit Plans 1 rod-pocket panel 1 Macron polyester batiste yon iin lachine wash and tumble dry. ahle in a of color-! Regular 84.99 40 84-in.

panel 10vf)3 in. Ki-cnLir $4.19 84x8 -t-in. Viilancr. 51x12 in. 1 S22.W 8.

1') 13.23 17.7) 2.2 3 36 panel Sears Where Amerio shops OAI.VK/PI.A/AMAI. ftl.i Hllrhrorl H.lomi-r. (iill 9 P.M. STORK mn Guaranteed or Your He further stated that the call for mandatory elimination of natural gas and oil for utility use represents "a drastic curtailment, especially In Texas." President Carter failed to address the means by which this massive use of coal can meet present air quality requirements. Hobby predicted that federally imposed conservation standards would inevitably lead to the creation of a massive federal bureaucracy which will be largely incapable of providing the regional variation which this type of program demands.

Finally, the "gas- guzzler" tax provision of the Carter plan will affect Texans detrimentally. Although the plan would impose a five cents per year tax on gasoline, tax so- called "old oil" until Its price is consistent with that of imported oil, and use the tax revenues for social legislation, it seemingly would Increase the prices of fuel to everyone in the country without giving an incentive to the people who Slide-Talk On Alaska Scheduled Dick and Pat Buffler, three-year residents of Alaska, will present a slide- talk entitled "Alaska: Our Last Frontier and Wilderness" to the regular meeting of the Sierra Club, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, in the William Temple Community House. "Legislation now pending in Congress will set aside 100 million acres of Alaska as parks, refuges, wilderness, and scenic rivers," says Dick Buffler. "It needs the support of the American public." Some problems facing Alaska today will also be discussed, Including the cultural changes being experienced by the native peoples.

Samples of the Buffler's collection of native crafts will be on display. The public is welcome. Potential members are invited to attend. May 15-22 is membership-recruitment week for the club. are concerned gas exploration.

In addition, Texans would pay an estimated $7 billion of the estimated $27 billion in increased federal taxes as a result of the over-all energy plan. It is no wonder that Texas officials have expressed feeling of betrayal by the new administration. If you should have any comments on pending legislation, please write us at P.O. Bos 2910. Austin, 78769.

or when visiting the Capitol, come see us in Koom4ll-A. Boys Club Applies For Assistance The Boys Club of Galveston has applied for monetary assistance for a summer food program at Camp Jack Brooks from the U.S. Department of Agrlcuture food and nutrition service, according to Wayne Combs, executive director of the club. Combs will be the acting camp director this summer and said that if funds are improved "we will be able to take more children to camp that otherwise might not get to go due to the lack of funds and rising food costs." This program is not the free lunch program which the Boys Club offers during the summer at 1G01 Strand. That program provides lunches for children at the Boys Club at Magnolia Recreation Hall each day.

The camp program will provide campers with free food while they are at camp, Combs said. ORTIZ'S BRIDAL I. FORMAL SHOP FOR THE PERFECT WEDDiaO THE FINEST IN FORMAH ACE TAILORS 763-9374 or 1 I Ufl OUI I ANTAli I I i I I I 323 -23rd STREET PORTABLE TV by 7i IK), inches of viewable picture area ding. (nlid-Ktitle chaM Decorator cabinet in colored high-impact jjlnllic. 99 95 COLOR PORTABLE by 13-inch diagonal color picture tube AFC Holl'l HUII-.

of brown colored hi((h-impiicl pUmu 299 95 PORTABLE TV bY 184 H. inchm of viewftbltt picture area (19' ding. Opliorml irtftU-hmtf Nlnnd. Decornior cabinet colored plmtn-, $13995 COLOR PORTABLE by 19-inch diagonal color picture tube tolid of wnlnut linnh on hiKh.imju 399 95 NO MONTHLY PAYMENTS 'TIL JUNE '77 TMIT Ctrl! monthly pcynwit an mffUmtttt. TV.

end when you kvy on (KorM Vum h-oo of chvaM rafun.M on FIRESTONE STORE 3302 BROADWAY 765-7781 OPEN to 6 MON. thru FBI. SAT. to 5.