The El Dorado Times from El Dorado, Arkansas • Page 1

Other Officers Take Bumpers Sworn In As 38th State Governor By ROBERT SHAW Associated Press Writer LITTLE ROCK (AP) Dale Bumpers was sworn in today as the state's 38th elected governor, succeeding Winthrop Rockefeller. Bumpers was sworn in by Arkansas Chief Justice Carleton Harris before a joint session of the state House and Senate. Bumpers' assumption of office caps a meteoric rise in which the 45-year-old Charleston lawyer emerged from political obscurity to win the Democratic gubernatorial nomination last summer and then defeated Rockefeller in his bid for a third term as the state's first Republican governor since Reconstruction. Bumpers took the oath of office after Harris swore in the state's other constitutional officers. They are Lt.

Gov. Bob Riley, Secretary of State Kelly Bryant, state Treasurer Nancy Hall, Auditor Jimmie "Red" Jones, Land Commissioner Sam Jones and 1 Atty. Gen. Ray Thornton. All are Democrats.

Before handing over the gavel to Riley, outgoing Lt. Gov. Maurice Britt, Rockefeller's running mate for two terms, wished the Bumpers administration well. hope they likewise will have great Britt said. Bumpers made a short acceptance speech.

His inaugural address will be delivered at 6:30 p.m. today from the steps of the state Capitol after a day filled with inaugural festivities. In his brief remarks, Bumpers plugged his legislative program and said he wanted to make the legislative session "meaningful." He said the legislators' constituents would judge them not on how many bills they offered, but on the quality of their measures and on whether they supported constructive legislation. "What we accomplish or fail over the next 60 days will have broad impact on future generations," the new governor said. He said the public had placed great trust in himself and the legislators.

"History will accurately record how we treated that trust," Bumpers said. The new governor received a warm welcome from the joint session and a packed gallery as he entered the chamber and made his way to the dais. In the chamber were U.S. Sen. John L.

McClellan and Reps. Wilbur D. Mills, William V. Alexander and John Paul Hammerschmidt. Absent were Sen.

J. W. Fulbright and Rep. David Pryor. In urging support of his bill to carry out a major reorganization of state government, Bumpers said passage of the measure was "only the beginning." He said choosing the right people to head each of the 13 major departments that would be established by the bill, establishment of cooperation among agencies and implementation of economies must follow.

In an apparent attempt to allay some legislators' fears that the measure would vest too much authority in the governor because 12 of the 13 department heads under the measure would serve at gubernatorial pleasure, Bumpers said the bill established legislative safeguards by requiring Senate consent to the appointment of of agency directors. He said all state agency consolidations effected by the bill were legal under the state Constitution. He said creation of a comprehensive merit system, proposed by one of his bills, was "absolutely essential" if the state is to have any coordination in the hiring and firing of state employes. Bumpers said his bill to establish a Public Building Authority was designed to construct a state office building on the Capitol complex. He said such a building to house agencies that are now renting office space was needed to bring the agencies closer together.

Bids Farewell To WR Says Cornerstone To Era Of Excellence Laid In State LITTLE ROCK (AP) Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller bade farewell to the Arkansas Legislature today and said he believed "the cornerstone for an Era of Excellence has been laid in In remarks prepared for his farewell address before a joint session of the legislature, Rockefeller said the state is now a different than when he moved here almost two decades ago. "In many ways, we were like a beautiful antebellum home the doors and windows bolted as though to deny the coming of change; the curtains drawn in fear, somehow, of discovering what change might bring with it." the outgoing governor said. Since then a generation has passed and we are constructively a different he said. "There is much to do, but now the fresh winds of new and exciting change are blowing across our beautiful state.

I am proud and happy to have been a part in helping to open the doors and windows, bolted too long to allow these fresh winds to penetrate our homes and yes, even our minds." Rockefeller, who served two terms as the state's first Republican governor since Reconstruction, relinquished office today to Democrat Dale Bumpers, who defeated Rockefeller in the general election. Rockefeller said he did not leave office with a sense of failure. He said the goals he had set on his inauguration in January 1967 were not ordinary goals "to be achieved overnight or without extraordinary "I believe that as the years roll by, we will see that, indeed, the cornerstone for an Era of Excellence has been laid in Arkansas," the governor said. He said the state had not achieved all that he had hoped for, but that he had not expected that it would. He said, however, he believed the state had accomplished what had to be achieved before "real and lasting progress could begin to build in Arkansas." Rockefeller said the state's economy was stronger than Dies At Rites Are Slated For Mrs.

Bennett Mrs. Venita P. Bennett, prominent El Dorado club woman, died unexpectedly at her home, 615 N. Washington about 9 p.m. Monday.

The widow of 0. A. Bennett, Mrs. Bennett was born in Greencastle, Ind. She had lived in El Dorado since 1923 and had MRS.

0. A. BENNETT been in the forefront of numerous civic endeavors. Mrs. Bennett was especially active in the American Legion Auxiliary and the El Dorado Self Culture Club, having served as president of both organizations.

She was also active in district and state organizations of the Auxiliary and the Federation of Women's Clubs. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church. In 1960 Mrs. Bennett was named Arkansas Mother of the Year. She is survived by three sons, Col.

John S. Bennett, USAF, of Hot Springs, Bruce Bennett of El Dorado, former attorney general of Arkansas, and 0. A. Bennett who is attached to the U.S. Air Force in Weisbaden, Germany; a daughter, Mrs.

Robert Buckalew of El Dorado; 12 grandchildren; and a great grandson. Funeral services have been announced for Thursday at 10 a.m. in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David Shepperson and the Rev. Charles Brown officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rumph Mortuary. Inside The Times Blanda Male Athlete Of Year (Page 7) Firm Hikes Steel Price (Page 9) Groups Claim Indian Funds Misused (Page 10) Meadlo Defends Calley (Page 10) Page Index Classified 9 Obituary 10 Comics Society 10 Sports 7-8 Editorial Markets 10 TV Programs 2 1 The Weekly Founded 1 1889 -10 Pages Vote Count Light Voting in the highly controversial fluoridation election was fairly light Tuesday morning when a total of only 1,437 votes had been cast by 11:30 a.m. A total of 6,875 votes were cast when the issue was brought to a vote on November 9, 1956. The issue was defeated at that time by a vote of 1,477 for and 5,398 against. Voting by wards Tuesday morning was: Ward 385; Ward II, 217; Ward III, 256; and Ward IV, 509.

There were 70 absentee votes cast. Deadline for voting absentee was 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The polls opened at 8 a.m. and will close at 7:30 p.m.

Abortion Hearing Underway By BARRY SCHWEID Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court took up today the District of Columbia law prohibiting abortions unless they are "necessary for the preservation of the mother's health." In the first abortion case argued before the high court, the two-hour hearing centered on whether the law is clear enough for physicians to know when they legally may end a pregnancy. Stacked behind on the docket are challenges to abortion laws in Minnesota, Texas, Georgia and Louisiana. The cases reflect a nationwide drive against laws restricting abortions. The court's ruling in the DIStrict of Columbia case, expected by June, may have only limited impact, however. The issue of whether women have a constitutional right to end a pregnancy is not directly involved in the case.

Secondly, the court directed the lawyers to debate the procedural question whether the appeal should have been put to the U.S. Court of Appeals here rather than appealed directly to the justices. The key figure is Milan Vuitch, a Yugoslav-born physician who was arrested in May 1968 for violating the District's turn-of-the-century abortion statute, his 12th Washington area arrest on abortion charges since 1964. When the case reached U.S. District Judge Gerhard A.

Gesell, the son of a noted child psychologist, the indictment was dismissed and the law declared unconstitutional. El Dorado Times P. Tex. On Harassmer Del Stern Oral Protest Is Lodged With Russians Established As Daily 1925 EL Inc. Center, PRICE 10 CENTS 0.

45436. 75235 Microfilm By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Follow Identical Measures On ever, partly because his administration had proved "what is morally right in the first place is best in the long run, both socially and He said evidence of this was the crackdown on illegal casino gambling at Hot Springs. Other achievements, Rockefeller said, were the suppression of "unscrupulous insurance and investment operators;" removal of "the monumental hypocrisy" of illegal mixed drink sales by legalizing the sale of cocktails; beginning prison reform; enactment of a 1 freedom of information law to bring government "out of the private, smoke-filled rooms and into the open where the people rightfully can see it;" and the calling of a constitutional convention, which the outgoing governor called a milestone. "These gains were a long time coming," he said. "We must never forget that they can be quickly lost unless we continue to work and fight for their protection and build upon them for an ever better Arkansas." Rockefeller said young and old were understandably "uptight" because of wars, poverty, rising crime and campus unrest.

the 50 per cent of our population who are now 25 years old or younger, through their vocal spokesmen, find the answers through negative criticism, dissatisfaction, dissention and even revolt?" Rockefeller asked. Parole Are Introduced ed LITTLE ROCK (AP) Identical bills were introduced in the Arkansas House and Senate Monday to make parole impossible for convicts whose death sentences had been commuted by the governor. The measures were introduced by Rep. Jimmie Don McKissack of Star City and Sen. Hendrix of Prescott because of Gov.

Winthrop Rockefeller's commutation of the death sentences of 15 Arkansas inmates two weeks ago. A further reduction in the sentences to a term of years would make the inmates eventually eligible for parole and Rockefeller announced Monday that he was commuting to 48 years the sentences of two of the 15. The two could become eligible for parole as early as 1976. Bills were introduced in both the Senate and House that would authorize the merger of the University of Arkansas and Arkansas College at Monticello. The boards of trustees of both schools are working out details for a merger.

Rep. Leon Holsted of North Little Rock introduced a bill to create a university system in which all eight state-supported colleges and universities would be a part. They would be designated the University of Arkan- sas at whatever city they are located. Rep. A.

J. Troxell of Greenbrier introduced a bill to prohibit the sale of beverages in nonreturnable containers. Troxell's bill said the nonreturnable containers contributed to solid waste pollution. The legislation would prohibit the sale of beverages such as liquor, beer and soft drinks in nonreturnable containers, but the bill would not apply to the selling of beverages for onpremises consumption or of beverages in containers which are made of paper products. To be submitted later is a bill by incoming Gov.

Dale Bumpers to give broader powers the state Turnpike Authority to finance the construction of toll roads along the more feasible routes. The authority was created in 1967, but studies showed no toll road corridors in the state that were feasible enough to support financing under the 1967 legislation. Bumpers also plans to submit a bill to amend the state election code to require at least one candidate of a political party to have received 15 per cent of the vote in the preceding general election in order to qualify the party for ballot positions in a succeeding election. In the 1970 general election, the American party candidates received less than per cent of the vote. Other bills introduced in the legislature Monday included: -A bill by Sen.

Virgil Fletcher of Benton to repeal the 1969 child care facility act. -A bill by Fletcher to appropriate $30,000 for the preinaugural expenses of a newly elected governor. -A bill by Fletcher to reduce to 55 cents per $500 value the real estate transfer tax, now set at $1.50 per $500. -A bill by Rep. B.

G. Hendrix of Fort Smith to ratify the Arkansas River Basin Compact setting out the uses and development of the basin along the newly navigable Arkansas River. -A bill by J. B. Smith of Marianna changing the deadline for payment of property taxes from Oct.

1 to the second Monday in November. -A bill by Hendrix to appropriate $84,000 in each year of the coming biennium to pay Arkansas' portion of the cost of operating the Ozarks Regional Commission. -A bill by Rep. Art Givens of North Little Rock to increase the size of mobile homes which may be moved on the highways from 12 to 14 feet in width. Depreciation Business Given Break In Move By President By EDMOND LeBRETON Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) President Nixon has found a way to give business a tax break without involving the Democratic-controlled Congress.

But the move may hurt chances of his project to share federal revenue with the states. Nixon's announcement of new regulations allowing faster writeoff of investment in machinery and other production facilities was hailed by businessmen and greeted with skepti- Introduced As 68th Assembly Bumpers' Reorganization Proposal Gets Favorable, Guarded Reception By ROBERT SHAW age from 21 to 18 in all elec- weeks, and then the trouble will "long overdue," but that most zation for a University of ArAssociated Press Writer tions in the state, but the rest begin," Caldwell said. legislators with whom he has kansas-Arkansas College LITTLE ROCK (AP) The of the 25 administration bills Smith told the House that the talked want to reserve judg- merger, repeal of the Child Bumpers administration's pro- made public Monday did not legislators were in an "envira- ment at the moment on the Care Facility Licensing Act and posal for extensive reorganiza- hit the legislative hopper on ble and unique" position Bumpers proposal. a lowering of the real estate tion of state government the first day. start with no friction and no "Most of them don't want to transfer from $1.50 per per received a favorable but guard- and Sen- factions," he said.

get out on a limb right now," value to 55 cents per $500 valfrom members of Both the House the The bill is ed reception ate met for little than an reorganization ex- he said. ue. more the Arkansas legislature before ad- pected to become one of the The House received a bill to Monhour each Monday controversial Sen. Max Howell of Little day. await today's most of the ses- appropriate $499,910 for House journing to Rock was one of those who Several said they liked the in of and sion.

State agencies that would expenses of the session, includswearing Bumpers wanted to study the bill before idea of reorganization, but they other constitutional officers and be affected by it already are ing an expense allowance of up themselves the farewell address of Gov. making their opposition known. commenting fully, but he said to $140 per week for each repdeclined to commit the Most who that "with one or two excepto legislation yet. Winthrop Rockefeller. Most of The measure would reduce to resentative, provided a voucher tions" he could support the rewere asked about the proposed session filled 13 the number of major state is turned in for the money.

The reorganization said they had with Monday's and the was election departments by consolidating organizational ideas with which Senate expenses will would formality he is familiar. apnot yet had a chance to fully of officers. than 60 state agencies, propriate $362,700. more study incoming Gov. Dale boards and commissions.

The Rep. George E. Nowotny Jr. Outgoing Lt. Gov.

Maurice bill. was formally director of each of the of Fort Smith said he thought Britt gaveled the Senate into Hendrix named Bumpers' president pro tempore of the departSen. Olen Hendrix of Pres- ments, except the Department the Bumpers bill was "on the session and then announced Senate and Rep. Ray S. Smith right road to desperately needcott said, however, he thought Jr.

of named of Correction, would serve at that Dr. Bob Riley of ArkadelHot Springs was ed reorganization" but that he it would pass, although perhaps the pleasure of the governor. phia, who is to succeed him as not in its original form. speaker the thought it would run into con- lieutenant governor, would be of House. Hendrix said he looked for a Rep.

G. W. "Buddy" Turner siderable opposition "because "Some compromises may constructive, basically uncon- Jr. of Pine Bluff called the sworn in today rather than have be worked but I each of the boards and agen- Monday, as had been schedto out, troversial session. proposal of "immense impor- cies will think fight for their au- uled.

it has a good chance," "There will be tance." He said the bill would some contro- tonomy." In his farewell speech, Britt Hendrix said. of said. vest "a lot of power" in the versy, course," he "But He said he hoped the legisla- said he was thankful to the The reorganization measure I think compromises can be governor's hands. tive session did not become because his senators in four and Bumpers' consumer pro- worked out, agreements "I have an open mind on it, bogged down because of a Senate pro- years as president they tection legislation were intro- reached." but I certainly would take a longed fight over reorganiza- "could have embarrased the duced in the House Monday as Sen. Jim Caldwell of Rogers, good look at it," he said.

"I al- tion. presiding officer, but you stood the 68th General Assembly the only Republican senator, so would like to hear from the A total of 17 bills were intro- by him." started its 60-day session. said, however, that "all hell is agencies before I make a de- duced in the House and 10 in "Much was accomplished," Also introduced was Bump- going break loose." cision." the Senate. Among proposals of Britt said. "It certainly blazed ers' proposed constitutional "'They'll give him (Bumpers) Rep.

Ode Maddox of Oden a controversial nature that a new trail in Arkansas histoamendment to lower the voting a honeymoon of about two said major reorganization was were introduced were authori- ry." The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has lodged a stern oral protest with the Kremlin over the harassment of Americans in the Soviet capital. Monday's protest came as President Nixon, Mayor John V. Lindsay of New York City and 50 Jewish leaders denounced the anti-Soviet campaign by American Jewish extremists. The Moscow anti-American campaign began last week in response to the harassment of Soviet representatives in the United States by the militant Jewish Defense League which seeks a more liberal emigration policy for Russian Jews.

Rabbi Meir Kahane, founder and leader of the JDL, said Sunday that his group would begin a campaign to harass Soviet diplomats working in New York City. A spokesman for the Soviet mission to the United Nations said Monday that Soviet diplomats had been followed on foot and by car by "gangs of hoodlums" from the JDL for the second day. Nikolai N. Loginov, the press spokesman, said the JDL members carried signs calling the diplomats "pigs" and used derogatory names including "the dirtiest four-letter words in the Russian "We in the Soviet mission express our surprise over the U.S.A. authorities' inability to check the rampage of the gang of hoodlums toward the Soviet offices 1 in New York City," he said.

In Moscow the U.S. protest was delivered orally by Thompson R. Buchanan, the embassy political counselor. He said the Soviet Foreign Ministry replied that Americans would not suffer such harassment if Soviet citizens were left in peace in the United States. Three correspondents' automobiles have been damaged, two Pan American World Airways representatives have been threatened, two diplomats have been lectured and threatened, and two diplomats' cars have been vandalized.

Informed diplomatic sources in Moscow said the harassment of Americans is expected to taper off as soon as the Russians become convinced that sufficient protection is being provided by New York and Washington police. They also noted that no senior U.S. diplomats have been bothered, indicating an effort on the part of the Russians to keep the retaliation on a comparatively low level. In California, President Nixon endorsed a telegram from Jewish leaders in 27 cities that condemned acts of violence against Soviet properties, such as last Friday's bombing of the Soviet Embassy's press annex in Washington. "This administration, in cooperation with local authorities, will use every means at its disposal to prevent such acts and to bring to justice those who perpetrate them," the President said in a statement issued at the Western White House in San Clemente.

The telegram signed by 50 Jewish leaders said in part: "The handful of reckless and dangerous men guilty of attacking Soviet installations in this country stand condemned as imperiling the cause of Soviet Jewry." In Washington, the State Department disclosed that it was consulting with the Justice Department on possible steps that might be taken against the JDL because of its harassment threat. cism by congressmen. The new rules, announced Monday in San Clemente, allow businesses to shorten by as much as 20 per cent the period in which they write off for tax purposes investment in machinery. They also will be able to concentrate more of the writeoff in the first year. The regulations will be promulgated under the Treasury Department's authority to set reasonable depreciation guidelines.

No legislation is required. "It won't make it any easier to persuade Congress to approve revenue commented Rep. Wilbur D. Mills, D-Ark. "It makes it -because it adds to the deficit." Mills is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee where any revenue-sharing legislation would begin.

Although a consistent opponent of the sharing plan, Mills said in a telephone interview from Searcy, he will hold hearings on the proposal after the 92nd Congress convenes, but not early in the session. Weather ARKANSAS Considerable cloudiness through Wednesday with occasional periods of light rain or drizzle, mainly east portion tonight and Wednesday. Chance of freezing drizzle extreme northwest portion early tonight. Low tonight near 20 northwest to near 40 southeast. High Wednesday 30s and 40s.

LOUISIANA-Night and early morning fog, otherwise partly cloudy to cloudy through Wednesday. Mild except turning somewhat colder extreme north portion late tonight and Wednesday. Low tonight 44-54 extreme north and 54-60 elsewhere. High Wednesday in the 70s except 54- 70 extreme north portion..