Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 20

ineapoiss, 2B. State news Wednesday October 31979 ent to rr iihtar Use mm i'n i i i ui in iii urn i in nun ium iii iji nil mi I vs. i in L.1.,,., --r-ip. ftyvf (i vr, i. VV w4f fie iurv Staff Photo by Richard Olsenius An ore boat pulled out of the port of Duluth as a fishing boat, left, entered.

Long stints on lakes cut supply of ship officers case of Michael and Barbara "njar, accused of using federal S6ney Tor political purposes, went to 'etry late Tuesday afternoon. 'lihal arguments, government pros- mora claimed alleged political ac-ity In the Duluth office of the Up- -Great Lakes Regional Commls- IfPA.trbm 1871 to 1977 interfered plnW agency's ability to function. Wjfr; 44, headed the Duluth office (he Upper Great Lakes Regional fbtrfmlsslon from 1971 to 1977. His Barbara, 39, was commission Kkeeper and secretary during the it (j'fv mcy were margeu p.rWt 19 counts of conspiracy, mail embezzlement and violation titUte Hatch Act, which restricts po-Wfail activity by government em- ipF Ptatars were accused of using Sjeommtsslon resources to work on the Kmpalgns of at least four DFLers, Pnpitfding former Gov. Wendell and James Oberstar, Eight Isttlct Congressman.

filial argument, Andrew Reich, distant prosecutor, told the jury -other commission employees i'Med hi "a remilnr nattera r- iTTO-O" I -O itar course, of political activity un- Uie supervision of the defendants ijv.sniiu guvci mucin nine aim guv nr(icnt money." to a trip by Michael Plntar Democratic National Contention in Miami, Reich asked: r'fides the defense believe that we hA be so naive as to think that the Lejerwhelmlng purpose of a trip to a Motional political convention could continued on page 6B By Patrick Marx Staff Writer Duluth, Minn. Michael DeSanctis is earning top dollar as a engine officer aboard the Great Lakes iron-ore carrier The Edward L. Ryerson. But his salary isn't enough to keep him on the, Ryerson's weekly lake route from Gary, to Duluth. DeSanctis plans to quit in December because spending 24 hours a day, 10 months a year on the lakes isn't the kind of life he wants to live.

His dissatisfaction exemplifies a problem that has crippling potential for the Great Lakes shipping industrya major shortage of trained and qualified officers. partly because of officer shortages. "On several occasions a month we've been short of crew," said William Buhrmann, general manager of U.S. Steel's fleet which is headquartered in Duluth. "It's been a constant checker game of moving people around," said Buhrmann.

He and U.S. Steel personnel managers have spent hours upon hours calling officers off of vacations to work additional shifts. Because of an unexpected softening in the national demand for steel products, the shortage hasn't been as acute as shippers had anticipated, according to Buhrmann. "All at once we've had a surplus where two months ago it was different," he said. "But that's a short term situation which doesn't take away from the longer term problem." Reasons for the officer shortage are varied.

A U.S. Coast Guard clampdown on manning practices brought the situation to light. "In past years we let them sail short-handed, but this year the Coast Guard said no and that has aggravated the shortage," said Coast Guard Lt. Commander Michael Perkins. The industry did not anticipate the "relatively new trend of mariners choosing to take substantial portions of their paid vacation during the sailing season as opposed to the winter months," said the maritime administration's report.

And many veterans are reaching retirement age when few young men Seamen continued on page 6B Imtrak shifts route to St. Cloud order on Hiawatha Legislative panel puts off decision on firing of Stoehr fter court News Services KL At least for this week, St. Cloud, Has two Amtrak routes run-ihinr throush it and Willmar. as none. If Amtrak sets its wav.

St. will soon have only one route, MUt, Willmar will still have none. aFW the last several years, Amtrak's IkEmplre Builder from Chicago to Se- naa stops in wuimar, Morns and: Breckenridge, while the route Canada may raise gas export price percent, according to the Maritime Administration. Federal "If officer shortages continue to persist and become more severe, it is very possible that entire segments of the Great Lakes fleet will be prevented from sailing," warned a recent maritime administration study of manpower needs on the lakes. "If this occurs there will be major disruptions in the movement of iron ore, coal, limestone and grain," which would threaten the economies of the Great Lakes region, continued the report.

The steel industry would be the hardest hit because 60 percent of its raw product iron ore is carried on lake ships. The 23-ship U.S. Steel Corp. fleet has laid up two of its smaller carriers Income rises at municipal liquor stores Associated Press Minnesota's 384 municipal liquor stores showed a net income of about $10 million last year, a slight increase iron 1977, slate Auditor Arne Carlson reported Tuesday. The increase reversed a downward trend of the three previous years.

However, there were 29 municipalities which reported a net loss from their liquor operations in 1978. The largest loss was $24,100 by Blaine, according to Carlson's report, followed by a $14,252 loss in Com-frey and a $14,148 loss in New Hope. The losses ranged down to $21 in Tri-mont. Total liquor sales of $123,564,380 were up $9 million from 1977, while operation Income Increased by $250,000. Operating income as a percentage of sales continued to decline to 8.1 percent of sales, compared with 8.5 percent in 1977 and 12.2 percent in 1974.

The gross profit margin dropped to 32.3 percent from 32.9 percent in 1977. The annual report said that municipalities transferred slightly more than $8 million from liquor store profits to finance other municipal operations during the past year. This compares with $8.7 million in 1977. There were 14 communities In the state which showed a net profit of more than $100,000, according to Carlson's report. delayed recessed until Oct.

9. An antiabortion amendment has been placed on the appropriation and the resulting controversy is adding to the delay, the agency said. The $10 million would finance a crisis intervention program to be handled by Community Action Program (CAP) agencies in the state. The program would assist low-income people on an emergency basis In paying for fuel bills. According to the energy agency, Minnesota is the first state to have submitted plans to the federal government for using the money.

called the North Coast Hiawatha stopped in St. Cloud, Staples and Detroit Lakes. As part of its proposed restructuring of its routes, the federally subsidized rail system had planned to eliminate the North Coast Hiawatha, and shift the route of the Empire Builder from Willmar to St. Cloud. Amtrak had to concentrate on the heavier ridership areas, Amtrak spokesman Pam Dickson said.

tablished in June and no longer relates to the world price of petroleum, to which the Canadian pricing system is hinged, Towe told reporters. Speaking of the U.S.-Mexican agreement, he added it is well understood by both American and Canadian governments that it would be impolitic for Canada to sell its gas for less than other exporters were receiving. This same consideration once prompted former Energy Secretary James Schlesinger to reject Mexico's plan to sell gas at 2.60 per 1,000 cubic feet because the Canadian price was then $2.16. That rejection of an agreement already negotiated between Mexico and American gas distributors became an intense embarrassment to the Mexican government and led to a deterioriation in relations between the two nations. Minnesota purchased 269 billion cubic feet of natural gas from Canada in 1978.

This was about one-third of total Canadian exports of the fuel to the United States. Canadian gas sup Michael DeSanctis The current shortage is about 15 per" cent, but by 1987 it could exceed 40 That change was to take effect this week and the presumed last run through Willmar occurred Monday. But a federal judge in Wichita, Friday ordered that the North Coast Hiawatha be kept operating for at least another 10 days. The judge's order also applied to the Lone Star and the Floridian routes through the South. Amtrak has requested a hearing Thursday to ask the judge to lift the order.

plies about 10 percent of Minnesota's demand. Speaking of a Canadian visit President Carter has scheduled for November, Towe said that he expected energy and environmental matters would dominate Carter's meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark. One of the most pressing environmental issues is acid rain, the process in which oxides from industrial and automobile emissions are changed into nitric and sulfuric acids and fall to earth in rain, snow and fine debris. Much of this pollution comes from the United States and affects Canada. But the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is threatened by Canadian development.

While little Is known about the impact of acid rain on humans, it is believed to be responsible for killing fish in lakes in eastern Canada and the United States. appropriation is expected to play a part in that decision. Meanwhile, a welfare program started Monday to help Minnesotans with no money and no heating fuel. The program helps only the poorest citizens. An aide in the Minnesota Energy Agency working closely with energy legislation, said most state officials close to the situation have not been expecting the federal money until later in the month.

The reason for the delay, the aide said, is that action on the appropriation has been held up because the U.S. House of Representatives has Associated Press A six-member subcommittee of the Legislative Audit Committee Tuesday put off a vote until Oct. 31 on whether Legislative Auditor Eldon Stoehr should be fired. However, three of the subcommittee members said they did not think the charges made against Stoehr were serious enough to warrant removal from his position. "I don't believe the materials we have are sufficient legally," said Sen.

Ed Gearty, DFL-Minneapolis, subcommittee chairman. Sen. George Pillsbury, IR-Orono, and Rep. O.J. (Lon) Heinitz, IR-Plym-outh, agreed with Gearty's conclusion.

But Rep. Fred Norton, DFL-St. Paul, and Sen. Roger Moe, DFL-Ada, said they needed more time to study the matter. House Speaker Rod Searle, IR-Wase-ca, the sixth subcommittee member, did not attend the meeting.

Rep. Donald Moe, DFL-St. Paul, chairman of the 16-member commission, has said that Stoehr violated state law in connection with the demotion and appointment of two deputy auditors in Stoehr's office. Moe also said Stoehr violated state Department of Personnel rules In authorizing the permanent payment of 15 hours of overtime weekly to Patrick Spellacy, who is performing the duties of a deputy auditor but has not been promoted to that position. Stoehr, who can be removed only for cause, was appointed to a six-year term in 1977.

Gearty said his research showed that there was no legal precedent for removing an appointed state official for cause. The only cases Involved civil service employees. "There is neither fraud or criminal conduct here," said Gearty. "I think we can lay that to rest." Pillsbury agreed and added: "I'm persuaded we do not have a situation here that will stand up In court Heinitz agreed, but was critical of Eldon Stoehr Stoehr for what he termed "some mismanagement and a lack of communication" with legislative leaders. Heinitz said the overtime arrange-' ment with Spellacy, even though he put in the extra hours, "smelled to high heaven." "When you're in charge of watching this thing you shouldn't be down in the muck yourself," Heinitz told Stoehr.

The legislative auditor serves as a watchdog of state government with 1 responsibility for auditing the flnan-; cial records and practices of state agencies. "He's doing the things he ought to be looking for not perpetrating," said Heintiz. 2 Pine River residents carbon monoxide victims United Press International Walker, Minn. Two young 'Pine River residents, i whose bodies were found Monday in a parked car, asphyxiated by carbon monoxide, Cass County authorities said. The bodies of Jean Bye.

19, and Steven Taray, 24, were found in the car parked near Pine River at 4:40 p.m. 4I a. -or 41 mcionagna E'f Staff Correspondent niton. D.C jpriflda probably will raise the price natural gas exported to the United Instates, Its ambassador told reporters tuft pter Towe said the nrice now 1,000 cubic feet at the bor- J5d likely to be raised to about dfter the established Canadian ibnee formula takes into account nJrjew world oil prices. jHUie ne was indefinite about the rfaifr of the Drice increase.

Towe In- "itt.iAsl that tha lnMacA la HlrAllr tt IVUIVU HIV I'll. i 1 1 v. i 'otage. place before the first of the 7W, when a new u.s. contract for jytexko gas takes effect.

Kltte U.S.-Mexican contract sets a ice of 13.625 per 1,000 cubic feet, we said that contract will lead to jfeaip additional increase In Canadian Kjjjdces as Ottawa seeks price equity Mexican exports to the United The current Canadian price was es- $10 million Tribune News Services Burkes lie state was hoping to receive $10 titin fmm th-i A4Arct 1 onwarnmonf tJujiiiH ii win niv ivun ui guTviiuiivm Be fdr -emertencv fuel aid early this but Gov. Al Quie is still looking Mhe check. Although the money hasn't arrived, t-the governor says things won't be pjtrjllcal until November. ')3e''federal funds are to help low-ln-satHi! families oav fuel bills. who is pondering whether to special session of the Legisla-itiifw fis (iMI with tmereencv fuel aid.

in federal fuel-aid funds counting on the federal money to carry low-income families through the early part of the heating season until the Legislature can act in January. He had cited the federal money as a reason a special session might not be needed. The fuel aid is caught in a battle between the U.S. House and Senate over the appropriation for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare which contains the fuel assistance money. Bob Anderson, a Quie aide, said action is expected next week.

Legislators have been pointing to Nov. 1 as a deadline for deciding upon a special session. The federal Tribune State Minneapolis (6 1 2) 372-4542 News Bureaus Rochester 708 Marquette Bank Building (507)288-1417 Duluth 405A Lonsdale Building (218)727-7344 14 predicted the federal assistance Mid be on hand by Oct. 1. Quie is 4.