The Daily Capital News from Jefferson City, Missouri • Page 1

Colder Partly cloudy today and colder with highs near 50 Fair tonight and Friday! Warmer Friday. Low tonight in the upper 20s. High Friday in the 50s. VOL. LXV, NO.

171 JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 4, 1976 Winning family John Afhcroft POMS with his family fallowing a prau conference Wednesday In Jefferson City. With Afhcroft li his wife, Mrs. Janet Asheroft, who Is legal counsel for the Missouri Department of Revenue, his daughter, Marty, 7, and three-year-old son, jay. (News and Tribune staff photo) PSC changes pledged KANSAS CITY (AP) Governor-elect Joseph Teasdale renewed his promise Wednesday to ask for the resignations of four.members of the Public-Service Commission but sidestepped most policy, questions until his January inaugural address. Promising to plan an "orderly transition" and say- ing he was not surprised by his victory, Teasdale said, "I've waited and worked for this opportunity for many years." 1 Teasdale said he would call four of the'five PSC members and ask" for their resignations during his first day in office Jan.

11. "I hope they have the said. But Teasdale put off questions about his plans if the members don't resign. Although his victory was by less than 15,000 votes, Teasdale said the election was a mandate against the commissioners partly because of the passage of ballot Proposition 1. The governor-elect pointed to the passage of the measure that prohibits utilities from raising rates for new electric plants until they are producing electrici- ty-.

Teasdale has said he wants James Patrick Mulvaney retained on the PSC, but wants to get rid of Charles J. Fain, A. Robert Pierce Hugh A. Sprague and Stephen B. Jones.

Fain, Pierce and Sprague declined to say whether they would resign and Jones was unavailable for comment. Teasdale said he would meet with state Auditor George Lehr to discuss the timing of Lehr's promised resignation. Lehr, "fellow has said he intends to resign for family reasons, and if Lehr delays his resignation until Teasdale is in office, Teasdale could pick the replacement. But Teasdale. declined to comment further on ap- pointments, promising to plan an orderly transition during the next 70 days.

The governor-elect, who will become the first native of Kansas City to take the state's highest office since Missouri joined the union in 1821, said he wasn't overly concerned with the unusual prospect of. working with a Republican lieutenant governor. "Luckily, Bill Phelps and I have been friends for some time," Teasdale said. Although saying he was deeply saddened by the defeat of Democrat Richard Rabbitt, Teasdale said, "A Republican lieutenant governor may keep me on my toes." Despite Teasdale's frequent criticism of the Bond administration for alleged improprieties in the aborted selection of a prison site near Kansas City, he said any further investigation of wrongdoing was "up to the grand jury." Initiative reaction varies By Associated Press) Voters in two states say you tan have guns and In six others they say that you cannot limit the growth of nuclear power plants. In two states they say you can require returnable bottles and in two others that you cannot.

These are the results of dozens of initiatives on various state ballots around the country in Tuesday's election. The measure to suffer the most resounding defeat was that to limit the growth of nuclear power plants by imposing strict safety standards. Such a proposal was turned down handily in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Oregoi and Washington. A measure to ban the sale of handguns fared little better. It was defeated by a more than 2-to-l margin in Massachusetts, which was believed to be the first state with a referenda on such a measure.

New Jersey citizens voted, meanwhile, to allow legal casino gambling in the state's Atlantic City, inown mostly in recent as the home of the Miss America pageant. Some supporters bf the measure say it will turn the decaying resort into a "Las Vegas of the And in Maine and Michigan, voters accepted pro- posals to require deposit beverage bottles. Similar measures met defeat in Colorado and Massachusetts. The nuclear measures were mostly patterned on a California plan that was defeated by the voters in June. While differing in detail, they generally would have required that nuclear facilities be proved safe by equipment testing before they may be built or operated.

The nuclear and electric utility industries spent heavily to defeat the six measures on the ballot Tues- day. In Ohio alone, their budget was $1 billion 25 times the funds available to supporters, who were largely from environmental or consumer groups. Opponents had said the measures would, in effect, ban further nuclear power development and could lead to electricity shortages. The returnable bottle measures were based on an Oregon law adopted four years ago that bans sale of no-deposit bottles and pull-top cans. It too met heavy opposition from industry and labor groups who main- tained it would do little to solve the problem it was in- tended for litter and would raise prices on soft drinks and beer.

See INITIATIVE, page 7 President-elect Carter preparing for transition WASHINGTON (AP) President-elect Jimmy Carter will begin quickly with his designs to reshape government and fill a cabinet mostly with "people you've probably never heard of," aides say. An extensive pre-election transition opera- tion has done the groundwork to enable Carter to begin even before he takes office to press his budget ideas on Congress. And the framework for major legislative programs already has been drafted. The other immediate task is staffing his new administration. "I'd say there'll be a lot of new faces," said Hamilton Jordan, Carter's campaign manager, who is likely to be a key member of the new administration himself.

"Probably some people that are ex- perienced and whose, names are well known," Jordan said in an interview, "but I'd say most of them will be people you've probably never heard of before." The first Carter imprint is apt to be felt in the White House staff structure, which he has pledged to reorder. "I think it's very likely that President Carter's White House staff will be smaller than the staffs that we have seen under both President Nixon and President Ford," said Jack Watson, the young Atlanta lawyer who has headed Carter's transition office. "I think that we will see the White House staff operating in a staff capacity rather than a' command role, and that's a signifi- cent difference," Watson said. "Their role is not to command the departmental and agency heads." Carter's political advisers predict he will restore 'the historic status of the Cabinet posts and grant his secretaries autonomy to run their own departments. "You'll find him appointing strong people from all over the country and giving them a great deal of authority, letting them unders- tand that he expects them to manage whatever department or agency they take over," said senior Carter adviser Charles Kirbo, an Atlanta lawyer.

"If they don't, he'll relieve them." Jordan predicted there would be a high percentage of young persons in top jobs, and Watson anticipates a heavy weighting toward women and minorities. Watson, who is considered likely to con- tinue as transition chief, has prepared lists of likely appointees to the top offices, although he insists the real recruiting hasn't begun. The one category for which there is no list is Carter's personal White House staff, which is likely to be based on the group of close aides who have been with him through the campaign and before that in his Georgia roles as legislator and governor. See CARTER, page 7 Ashcroft points Teasdale pledges to ballot place (ax re orm Attorney General-elect John Ashcroft said Wednesday that his position on the ballot had a lot'to do with his close race with state Rep. James Baker in Tuesday's election.

Polls favored Ashcroft by 10 percentage points or more going into the election, but as the vote counting continued into the wee hdurs Tuesday, Ashcroft fell behind Baker and appeared to be on the verge of defeat at times. The former state auditor rallied, however, and received a call from Baker at 9 a.m. Wednesday, conceding the victory. The attorney general candidates were listed seventh on the ballot, and Ashcroft said it was hard up a half million votes" the margin by which Democratic-President; elect Jimmy Carter carried the state of Missouri. Ashcroft, who two years ago was defeated bv George Lehr in the race for state auditor, said he no explanation for the demise of what state Republicans attending a fund-raising dinner for Ashcroft in September were calling the "most attrac- tive slate of Republican candidates ever offered in Missouri." "It's so 'simple," Ashcroft said, shrugging his shoulders.

"We just didn't get the vote." Ashcroft ad- See ASHCROFT, page 7 Voters approve wildlife tax bid ST. LOUIS A A program to purchase more than 370 square miles for conservation purposes has been approved by Missouri voters, as they gave ap- proval to a one-eighth per cent increase in the state tax. Another measure concerning utility rates was also approved at the polls; but an exemption for food and drugs from the sales tax was defeated. With 98.per cent of the state precincts reporting, the conservation measure had received 883,714 favorable votes or 51 per cent, while those in opposition to it col- lect 148,365 or 49 per cent. The utility proposal was overwhelmingly approved.

It prevents electric companies from charging customers for the financing of longrange, expensive power plants, until those plants provide service. With 98- per cent of the precincts tabulated, 62 per cent of the votes were favorable and 38 per cent were against. The food and drugs sales tax exemption was lost by a 56-44 per cent margin. With 98 per cent of the state's vote counted, op- ponents collected 945,798 votes compared to 728,772 in favor. Supporters of the sales tax exemption said it would result in a more equitable form of taxation, but op- ponents said the state would find it difficult to make up the expected loss of S140 million if it were approved.

The utility proposition was the most complex of the three issues, which were brought to voters' attention through initiative petition drives. KANSAS. CITY A Despite the overwhelming defeat of the ballot pro- position that would have lifted the sales tax on food and drugs, Joseph Teasdale promised Wednesday that tax reform would be a part of his legislative program. In his first news conference after his 1 2 0 0 0 i Christopher S. Bond, Teasdale said he would not give specifics of his program until he makes his inaugural address.

Teasdale, a Democrat, said he plann- ed to form a committee soon' to begin making.policy decisions and help him recruit people for his staff. Teasdale held a news conference Tues- day night but declined to declare victory i Bond conceded. Wednesday. Teasdale said Wednesday he had yet to hear from Bond but promised to invite him to the Governor's Mansion i i i i government. Teasdale, a former Jackson County prosecutor, took an early lead Tuesday night in the vote tally over the Republican governor and then held on for a narrow victory as the gap closed Wednesday.

Bond, who had been mentioned as a potential GOP vice presidential choice this year and a possible presidential con- tender in four more, finally conceded defeat late Wednesday morning. He Teasdale his cooperation in tnaking the transition between their two administrations a smooth one. But while returns even late into the night indicated the Democrats might sweep all five statewide offices on the ballot, GOP Lt. Gov. William Phelps and former Republican state Auditor John Ashcroft overcame substantial deficits to post GOP wins for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Teasdale, however, as governor-elect, will also a a successor to Democratic State Auditor George Lehr, who is planning to resign with two years left in his-term for personal reasons. Teasdale has scheduled a news con- EerenceWednesday athis Kansas campaign headquarters to make his first formal statements as governor elect. Bond had held out hope into the early 'morning Wednesday that late returns Jrorn St. Louis County and Southwest where he.has traditionally run would pull the election out ij his favor. While he won in both those areas was able to substantially cut into Teasdale's lead, the margins were not enough to negate Teasdale wins in Kansas City St.

Louis and elsewhere in the state. With virtually all the votes counted, unofficial totals showed Teasdale with 961,017 votes to Bond's 948,554. Phelps tallied 938,265 votes to Democratic House Speaker Richard Rabbitt's 923,575 votes in gaining his se- cond term while Ashcroft, who served as an assistant attorney general until his. campaign began, polled 949,653 votes to Democratic State Rep. James Baker's 909,385 votes in taking the attorney general's office.

The two Democrats now holding statewide office--Treasurer James See TEASDALE, page 7 Apathetic attitude failed to develop Jobs, inflation said big vote issues "NEW YORK (AP) The national agenda of voters who- elected Jimmy Carter is dominated by pocket- book concerns which mirror the strengths of the next president's campaign themes. An Press nationwide election day poll asked voters to identify the one or two issues of most concern to them personally. Slightly more than 41 per cent of those who voted for Carter cited jobs and unemployment. Just under 41 per cent named inflation" and high" prices, and 17 per cent said tax reform. The onlv noneconomic concern pushing into this top rank was trust in government, cited by 19 per cent of Carter voters and another principal thrust of his cam- paign agajnst President Ford.

Notable by their absence among leading concerns were foreign and defense issues, which were named by less than 6 per cent of Carter's supporters. Abortion, an issue which to cause Carter trouble with some Catholic and ethnic groups, was a principal concern of less than 3 per cent of his supporters. This placed it far behind such second-rank issues as crime, government spending, drug abuse, busing and pollution, which drew comment from 11 down to 4 per cent of Carter voters. Voters who backed President Ford also showed purse-string priorities, but from different persective. Inflation and high prices topped list, mentioned by 39 per cent.

Government spending was second at 25 per cent and jobs and unemployment was third at 22 per cent. Trust in government was a principal concern of 17 per cent and 15 per cent listed tax reform. Ford pitched part of his campaign strongly- on his leadership experience in foreign affairs, but only one in 'five of his supporters listed any of the defense or foreign issues as pre-eminint in their concerns. The poll, conducted at 100 scientifically selected voting locations across the country, indicated, however, that voters are less than certain about what kind of performance they'll get from Carter on these issues. When asked which candidate "promises more than he'll be able to deliver as President," even voters identifying themselves as Democrats picked Carter, 35 to 28 per cent.

An additional 27 per cent said there wasn't any difference between the two. Asked which candidate better fits the description that "it's hard to tell where he stands on the issues, 29 per cent of the Democrats said Carter, only point less than picked Ford. Most of the rest again said there was no difference. Republicans by an overwhelming margin and in- dependents by a substantial edge both picked Carter as the overpromiser and as fuzzier on issues. Carter voters belied the Georgian's campaign state- ment that people don't really want their taxes lowered, that they are more interested in tax equity.

The 2,489 respondents to the poll were given a list of typical annual incomes and asked whether households at those levels should pay more taxes, less taxes or the same taxes. The amount of taxes paid could be shifted See JOBS, page 7 (By Associated Press) The experts predicted that Americans were too apathetic to vote this year. But the experts reckoned without the deter- mination of the public. "There was so much darn talk about apathy, that people decided not to be apathetic," said one politician in Ken- tucky, explaining the heavy turnout in his state. On a nationwide basis, the turnout was about 53 per cent of the voting age population above the level predicted by many experts, but lower than any year since 1948.

The percentage of the voting age population balloting in presidential elec- tions has declined steadily since a record 62.8 per cent turned out for the the 1960 race between Richard M. Nixon and John F.Kennedy. "For the fourth consecutive election, voting as a percentage of eligible popula- tion declined," said Curtis Cans of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate. The committee said in July that its poll showed voter turnout might be less than 50 per cent of those eligible. That would have been the lowest turnotit since the 51.1 per cent showing in the 1948 race between Harry S.

Truman and Thomas E. Dewey. The all-time record low tur- nout, 43.5 per cent of the voting age population, was in 1920 when universal suffrage was in effect for the first time. Cans said. Wednesday that the com- mittee had cited three factors that could boost the turnout: the presidential debates, a race that appeared close and Carter's appeal to the South.

He said the debates had little effect on the turnout, but said that the number of people voting in the South was larger than normal. The narrowing of the gap between Jimmy Carter and President Ford also brought out more people, Cans said. As of midafternoon, the News Election Service reported 79,398,843 votes cast for Ford, Carter, independent Eugene J. McCarthy and American Independent party candidate Lester Maddox. Totals for other minor party candidates were not immediately available.

That figure, based on nearly complete i i a a represented 52.9 per cent of the voting age population, estimated at 150 million persons. And the number was certain to grow as complete returns were tallied. i i a a a and the candidates themselves talked about apathy this year and worried about the turnout, despite a later Gallup poll show- ing that the closeness of the race and the presidential debates might send people to the voting booth. The Gallup poll apparently was right. "Everybody read that voters' were apathetic and most people probably said, 'I don't want to be the apathy said Jack McDermott, an election commissioner in Boston.

"People resolv- ed to get out and vote. Also, they read it was close and they figured their vote might make a difference.".