The Brownsville Herald from Brownsville, Texas • Page 2

PACE. 2A--THE BROWNSVILLE HERAl.D-Sunday. April '4. 1977 WUliam Tells Beauty Or Beast? ByBILLSALTER Herald City Editor SOME RATHER INTERESTING correspondence has been directed lo Ihe County Commissioners Court by the chief of its new "Voting Machine Division," Margal M. Vicars, who is also County Parks Director.

As you may remember. Vicars drew Ihe additional assignment from the Court some months back atlor il refused allocation of the usual $3,000 elections budget item submitted by County Clerk Joe Rivera. After it became apparent the Court was not going to approve the $3,000 expenditure the same which had been allotted in 1976 for travel and maintenance relating lo the machines -Rivera told the Court something to the effect. "It's your problem now." The Court then passed the ball to Vicars. Reason for the double handoff, allhough it has been somewhat veiled, was the near war that erupted during and following November's general election.

The issue then -pushed most holly by County Republican Chairman Bill K. Perrin was voling machine malfunctions. While statements from Ihe clerk's office and olher sources never poinled toward all that big a problem with the November ele "on. the allegations dragged on. And, apparently Ihe Court becjme convinced a change was in order, so Vicars entered Ihe scene.

According lo a "Voting Machine Training Program Progress Report" seni on April 5 to the Court, 10 county employes were first given "three iull days of extensive voling machine training, under the direction of two factory technicians from International Election Systems Corporation of Burlington, N.Y." That company's workers also inspected and repaired the county's machines, as needed, while they were here. A resultanl letter to Vicars from Ihe New Jersey firm's service manager slated, "During our inspection, we found that the machines have not been maintained to ensure efficient operation." A copy of that leller was passed on lo the Court April 7 with a memo from Vicars indicating, "The report speaks for itself, and certainly bears out the facts I have placed before you in my earlier progress report." Some of those "facts from the 'April 5 report in question included: "Voling machines arc without covers. The factory representatives said each machine was provided with a cover when they were shipped to the County. None can be found anywhere." "The conditions (hat were allowed to exist in Ihe voting machine setup is, to say the least, terrible. There are no inventories to be found, covering anything What few extra parts we have been able to find are scattered everywhere.

Seldom have I seen anything like this completely disorganized situation. "Of the two storage locations utilized, the best is the 14th Street location (Pet. 1 The old building across from the Courthouse is in shambles and a potential fire hazard. Mice and rats are at both places, we have managed to kill a few." Most recent use of the county's machines, of course, was in April 2 school and city voting here and throughout the county. Some 56 machines were utilize and Vicars says things went well.

In another April 7 missive lo the Court members. Vicars said, in part, "We had all voting machine technicians on duty Ihe clay of the election. Very litlle difficulty was experienced as Ihe result. I am sure, due to the fact all machines had been checked and operated prior to being sent out lo Ihe various polling places." Vicars also indicated, "all things being considered, 1 am quite pleased how well the vast majority of the machines functioned." He also said he was "equally pleased" with the "performance of our technicians, (hey are great." So, for the moment, it would appear all is well on the voting machine front. iAnd.

perhaps, score a preliminary round win for the Commissioners Court and Vicars. However, the next big primary or general election will probably be needed to setlle the issue once and for all. And, las! Thursday the Court ordered a District Attorney's probe to settle any question relalinglotheallegedlv missingdust covers. 0-- -IT HAS BEEN suggested that someone should sponsor a contest to find the "biggest chughole in Brownsville." then follow up wilh another contest to name it. You know, something like "Cameron County Cavern." "Brownsville Abyss," "Cracked Car Crater." "Gone Gasfeet Gulch" or "Oil Pan Pit." This is not lo belittle the efforts currently underway lo patch the countless crevasses in local streets, but perhaps if it could be made into a game, the suffering would not be felt so acutely.

FOLKS OVER IN Precinct 3 who need lo contact their County Commissioner after hours might have a little trouble looking the number up in the new telephone book. Ma Bell listed Ihe last name of AdolphThomae Jr. as "Thomas." However, despite the spelling, the residence number is listed. as are the home numbers of Commissioners D.J. Lerma (Pet.

1) and R.H. Fowler (Pet. 4 1. No residence numbers are listed for (he other two members of the Court. In fact.

William Tells understands Pel. 2 Commissioner Mike Cortinas has not even made his unlisted home number available to his staff for emergency situations. Poor William supposes that's to keep Ihe comish from being bothered by pesky constituents. columnists. EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S turning into a "plastic world," so to speak, but reference in a Herald story last week to "plastic handcuffs" probably caught a few folks by surprise.

The items were mentioned in Ihe story about the two public intoxication suspects who fled from a sheriff's car in front of county jail while a deputy chased down a juvenile who had bolted from Ihe same auto. The youth had freed himself from a sei of the celluloid cuffs. The plastic items somewhat like large garbage bag ties which can be pulled tight-- usually work very well, officers pointed out. But, occasionally even with metal cuffs, an unusually limber prisoner wil I manage lo free a hand. II mighl also be pointed out that almost all agencies use the plastic cuffs when there aren'l enough metal ones lo go around.

Television footage of the Starr County roundup last week clearly showed a large number of Ihe federal prisoners cuffed in such fashion. If they couldn't have been so cuffed, any Starr-Hidalgo supplier with a large inventory of the more conventional ones would have become instanlly rich! WILLIAM TELLS HEARS quite a few gripes, both by mail and by phone aboul dogs running loose. No doubt cily officials hear Ihe same angry complaints, just like their counierparts in every city across the nation. In facl, Poor William would bet such complaints head the list, volume-wise, almost everywhere. And, perhaps the only solution is something like what recently happened in Kerrville.

There a six-person jury 'ound a resident of thai city guilty of letting his dog run loose and hit him with a $25 fine plus court costs. For sure, it's the only "loose dog" jury trial William Tells has ever heard of Perhaps a fear of winding up in court would help keep owners of unpenned dogs in line. But. il must be admitted such fears in reference to other offenses haven't appeared to reduce their incidence. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE SECURITY guards were shaking their heads in disbelief lasl week after being queried by a couple of "incomers" for First the.

duo looted over thefr new post office box. then farced in order, "Where's the food stamp office?" and "Where's explaining; new in town." JSfich oowrlalion increases really aren't needed here. Groucho's Guardian Ousted LOS ANGELES (AP)-Seven years ago, a slruggling ac- Iress with a background in Shakespeare and off-Broadway theater headed West to see if television could give her career a boos I. Instead, Erin Fleming abandoned the stage and attached herself lo a retired comedian who is among the world's grealesl. She look it upon herself lo rejuvenate his career and wove herself so Ihoroughly into his life (hat.

according to court testimony last week, she once declared: "I am Groucho Marx I made him I am Groucho Marx." Hardly since the most successfully zany Marx Brothers pictures were made before the 37-year-old actress was even born. But those around the Bft-year- old Groucho credit Miss Fleming with infusing his old age with a new vitality. "He was withering on the vine until she entered the picture," said a Marx relative. But on Friday. Miss Fleming was suspended as Marx's temporary conservator, ending a spectacular and at times shabby court battle.

The judge said testimony showed "an extraordinary degree of domination and control over Mr. Marx's mind and his will." The judge named Nat Perrin, a long-time friend of Groucho, to handle his affairs, and sel a hearing for May 13 on petitions by Miss Fleming and Marx's son. Arthur, to become permanent conservator of the comedian and his estate. Perrin said he did not know whether Marx, in failing health and frequently confused, knew "the depth of what's been going on here, the seriousness and the ugliness of it. And I don't intend to acquaint him with that." The piclure lhat emerges of Miss Fleming is so divided thai observers oflen wondered if she were one person or two.

As described in testimony by former a nurses, the greerieyed actress was a badgering, obscenity-shrieking tormentor, who left the frail comedian terrified and trem bling. Attorneys for Arthur Marx produced witnesses who told of finding concealed hypodermic syringes and drugs at the comedian's home. which they viewed as possible evidence of an attempt to improperly drug Marx. Some of the former nurses claimed the drugs were to keep Marx quiet and submissive, and said they sometimes Ihrew Ihe drugs away rather than administer them as Miss Fleming instructed. Others described her as the woman who kept Marx alive.

Zcppo. 74. Ihe only other surviving brother, said: "1 think she is Ihe greatest girl in the whole world. Groucho's in love with her." Groucho used to tell interviewers that "the relationship between Miss Fleming and myself is purely physical." But accoreing to her, this was a myth, a part of ihe leering Groucho image it became tier life work to produce and sell. "She has made him a half- million to a million dollars since she has come into his life." says a source close to Groucho and has taken 15 per cent as his manager.

Once a music student al the University of Toronto. Miss Fleming pursued a career on Ihe slage. Al Stralford, Ontario, she grounded herself in Shakespeare. Laler, in New York, she acted off-Broadway and was involved in stage production. Who Explains Your Insurance Claims To The Computer? INOEPWOWT INSURANCE AGENTS Of MOWNSVULE Some small movie parts came and went, along with a husband.

LOSES JOB Erin Fleming was suspended Friday as Groucho Marx's temporary conservator. Looking for new opportunities in Hollywood, she enlisted a friend lo gain her an enlre. II was talk show host Dick Cfivett, a Groucho enthusiast, who asked the comedian to help tier out. "When I first met him, he a a i retirement," she told an interviewer in 1972. "His mail was a mess, unanswered, unopened.

He kept forgetting ihings. operate like a computer around him," she went on. "When he can't remember something, I remember il for him. I soon found thatGroucho needed "I watc'n him like (museum i Tommy Hoving guards hin paintings at the New Metropolitan she once said. "Somebody's got lo do it, I enjoy doinn: it.

He enjoys me." At one time, there were plans for Cl roucho to adopt her and, although it never went through, i a sign of the nature of their relationship. "Whatever I want to do. he can do it. NO I I WERE REPORTED Saturday morning when a vehicle, driven by Miguel Salomon Sarkis of Matamoros, veered off the southbound Expressway access road in front of Rodeway Inn, burst through a chain link fence and plunged into a storm drainage ditch. Owner of the vehicle is Rosalia Sarkis, 5 Camino del Rey, and the two passengers in the vehicle were Martin Sarkis, 14, and Miguel Angleh Sarkis, 6, of the same address.

The driver claimed that the vehicle's brakes failed and that he subsequently lost control of the vehicle. (Herald Photo) World's Known Smallpox Cases Down To 48 NEW DELHI, India (AP) -Medical officials on Saturday declared smallpox eradicated in India, leaving only 48 known cases in the world of a disease that has killed, blinded and scarred millions of people. The World Health Organization (WHO), which has led the campaign lo wipe out the ancient disease, made (he official declaration after finding India smallp ax-free for almost two years. As recently as three years ago. a virulunt outbreak of a severe type of smallpox swept northern India.

It afflicted 188.000 Indians an killed.11.000. WHO officials said the East African count ly of Somalia is now the only runion with known smallpox They said they were optimistic that those A I HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS BROWNSVILLE: Jeanine Gonzalez. Janie Garcia. Albertina Nunez, Abrama Guerra. Epifania Valdez.

Aminla Garcia. DISMISSALS BROWNSVILLE: Adelita Zapata, Robert L. Ewing, Maria Magdalena Rodriguez. Maria Teresa Rodriguez. Ericka Mendoza, Juan Velez.

Herlinda Alanis, Royal Cassell. Raul Silguero, Celia Ureste. Maria Elena Ureste, Thereina Torres. Benita Gutierrez, Maria Frausto. Walter Gill, Eleazar Ureste.

BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Mike Gonzalez, boy. Apr. 22.

MEDICAL CENTER DISMISSALS I Ignacio Andrade, Ric.ardo Anzaldua, Juan Norma D. Carranza. Guill urmo Espinosa. Cirila Flores. Hamon Gamez, Alberto Huaracha Martha Jasso.

Amparo Loredo. Kelly Miles. Maria L. Moses. Delicia Ochoa.

Maude Pulvermiller. Jack Maria H. Suarez. Maria Edith Torres. a a i Rolando Vasquez.

cases could be contained and cured and that smallpox could be declared completely eradicated by the end of the decade The disease is caused by a virus and transmitted only among humans. For centuries it caused blindness, disfiguring scars and death in frequent outbreaks around the world. But in 1796 an English physician named Edward dev a vaccine a i provided immunity against smallpox. It was wiped out in North America and Kuropc in the early 1950s and in Latin America in 1973. Its eradication from this huge nation of 620 million people is considered a key victory in the war against tire Disease and one of the most remarkable accomplishments in medical history.

Many health experts have said India presented the greatest hurdle to the attack on smallpox because of its im mense size, its difficult terrain. the remoteness of many of its 550.000 villages and the size of its population. But WHO and Ihe Indian gov- mobilized Indian workers on a basis and another 150.000 a i workers into an a i a i a i by 230 health specialists from 30countries. The workers fanned out across India lo vaccinate villagers, educate rural health workers aboul smallpox sjinp- toms and end villagers' and superstitions. After centuries of smallpox outbreaks, many Indians had come to accept ihe disease as a part of life.

Hindus even worshipped a smallpox goddess called Mala and oflen resisted a i a I i on religious grounds. The effort paid off and on May 24. 1975. the workers found whai is believed lo Ix 1 India's lasl smallpox victim. The organization pul India under a rigorous surveillance program a i included rewaros of S125 to reporting what proved to be a smallpox case.

There were many such ro- ports. WHO officials said, but in each case wlial was tlioughl lo bo smallpox lurned out to be chicken pox or some oilier disease. This month a 16-mcmbcr international commission of public health specialists came to India to evaluate the smallpox surveillance system "Since the requirements for smallpox eradication, as defined by Ihe WHO expert comm i a eradication, have been met. the commission concludes that smallpox has been eradicated from India." the group's final report said. Obituary QUIIUNO TREVINO Quirino (El Killie) Trevino.

77. of 83J Kilmore died a at Brownsville Medical Cenler. He was a bus driver for Victoria Transportation Company for 25 years and was preceded in death by liis wife. Mrs Vicenta A. Trevino in 1972.

i include daughters. Mrs. Hortencia G. Reta of Morris. 111., and Eslda Perez of Madras.

two brothers. Elias and Leonardo Trevino: a sister. Mrs Paula Rivera, all of Brownsville: five a i a four great-grandchildren. A rosary i be said today at 8 al Trcvino Delta Funeral Hume Chapel. Funeral services will be held Monday at 4 p.m.

at Our Lady of Guadalupc Catholic Church i i at City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Refugio Trevino. Ruben Trevino. Manuel Trevino. Francisco Rivera.

Felix Briones Sr and Gonzalo Garcia GARZA MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME S.nce 1915 A Complete dignified service Ai a price you can afford 1W5 Eail Jackson Brownsville, Texas 542-5511 Or 542-2300 White House, Hot Air Eliminated? HOUSTON I -A fan designer says a lot of hot air could be eliminated from the House this summer, if President Carter installed a cheap, pollution-free ventilations.ysteminthe executive mansion. John Feller, a mechanical engineer, feels so strongly about the subjecl. he wrote the President afler his energy message to Congress Wednesday and offered to install the equipn ienl. "Ventilation has been around since Nibian slaves fanned people up and down Ihe Nile. Palm fronds were used in (he Roman Empire, and our parents used hand fans i'n church on Sunday.

Moving air is not something new. It's been around for years. People have just forgotten it." he said. He told the President: "Moving air will make a person feel seven to .10 degrees cooler. This brings tire lemperature down into comfort area.

The reduction in electricity is enormous. Air conditioning systems use thousands of watts, while whole-bouse fa; is use hundreds." Fclter. presidenl of ihe American Ventilation Association, has been waging a campaign around the country several years, reminding people (hat. yes. life did go on before air-conditioning.

"Offering President Carter a chance to ventilate fhe White House is serious. A lot of people could use ventilation without refrigeration." "I would like lo educate the people Dial they can be comfortable without being refrigerated." he said. "You don 1 havclo be a porkchop to be happy." "There's a lot rich people pulling fans in their houses who can afford it. but it's the poor people who can I afford il that need to do it." Feller began designing and selling fans 25 years ago. even became a millionaire at it.

He still uses a whole-house ventilating fan in his Houston home and .11 his lake house outside Austin. "Air conditioning is a luxury and not necessity." he said. "Young people don'levenknowlhesefans exist. That is why we arc trying to educate the public. We could install fans inthe White House that could pull a lot of airihroughthere." he said Feller figures if Carter can advocate a 'rmperalure of 65 degrees for the winter, he could hanfi in there al 82 in (he summer--with the whole-house fan concept.

"You don't sacrifice comfort: you just use it differently." he said. "Thefans are very cheap. Iwouldlikelo furnish Ihe equipmenl and could do it for maybe less than SIO.OOO. but with union labor and regulations I don'tknowwhatthe cost would be." Thought for Today I. THEVI.VO I1 i 1 an tcltn trill nnlhiitfi The obvious reason for analyzing ils cause's avoid failure.

Here we learn thai failure can stem from the manner which we react to whal we are Sid On Hie one hand we have the failure who refuses lo list UC he feels ho accepted norms memorial service. It continues for as long as can te MO Jfeine TIIK Dim HOME I31H IT N.tHKISON A A I S12-2222 JOE A. BESTEIRO J.B. GRIFFIN BROWNSVILLE FUNERAL HOME "Offering Afore Than Is Expected" Phone 542-3402 505 OLD ALICE RD. BROWNSVILLE Straight Talk about Funerals from people who want you to know.

U'u ymi'n: lo know tlin i alfrnt your ilension.s when planning a fimrral. "niinf lrin MV'7 lili lan B' funn TM.r^^ This booklet doesn't a to sell you a i hul will Rivc you enough i a i so you ran plan wisely. Mail the coupon or i i us for your copy today, Mouser I A Please send me free copy of "A Helpful Guide lo Funeral Planning." Atldrciss Cily -Stale-.