The Clarksdale Press Register from Clarksdale, Mississippi • 8

Page 8 TheClarksdale Press Register Friday Afternoon, January 18, 1988 ch delivers fare 9RB rill 1 1 address 'mmin. ,,4 was "to provide leadership and make bold recommendations for solving tough problems." "1 did not shirk this duty nor was I reluctant to take the heat on politically unpopular or difficult issues," he said. He said he had tried to "break new ground and focus on the merits of crucial issues." "In so doing, we incurred a lot of powerful opposition but we overcame many barriers," the governor said. "Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to overcome them all." "We must leave the rest to you, but I think we have made it easier for you to finish the job of creating a lay board of education, of establishing a state Department of Administration, a state Department of Revenue, of enacting a realistic highway program, based on sound management, equity and innovative approaches to highway financing." By ROBERT SHAW Associated Press Writer JACKSON (AP) Gov. Cliff Finch bidding farewell to the Mississippi Legislature amid a new furor thinks history will find his administration produced a "sound record of achievement" that broke tradition by broadening the voices in government.

Finch told a poorly attended joint session Thursday night that his administration had "laid the foundation for tremendous progress for our state." "I am excited because we have finally captured the vision that all great people must have," Finch said. "The natural resource has always been here, but we have not always realized that our greatness is limited only by our own minds." Legislators were angered earlier in the day by Finch's insistence on the joint session Thursday night and only about half the 174 lawmakers showed up for the speech. He leaves office next Tuesday. Legislative leaders tried to talk Finch into a Friday morning joint session so they could honor their commitment, made weeks ago, to attend a student-sponsored function Thursday night at Mississippi State University. Many skipped the speech and rode buses to the university for a banquet and basketball game.

The governor told a reporter he would "certainly have tried to accommodate" the Legislature if he had known about the conflicting events. dominance in government and said: "Let them perform their duties and work closely with each of you. "I encourage you to strengthen the executive branch of our government and then hold it accountable for carrying out the policies you he said. He renewed his call for the Legislature to propose a constitutional amendment that would allow a governor to succeed himself. The Legislature rejected his gubernatorial succession proposal in 1H78.

Finch said he had accomplished or made big strides in the six goals of his administration: To create more and better-paying jobs, to improve health care, to provide the best possible living conditions for Mississippians, to provide a "decent subsistence" for every person who could not provide for himself, to operate programs at maximum effectiveness and lowest cost and to make it easier for succeeding governors to build on what was started. "Solid foundations for progress have been laid in almost every area of need that our people have," he said He said Mississippi now was considered the state with the most favorable industrial climate. He said the state had increased support for education while cutting taxes He said investment as at a record level, that there had been 2,188 new or expanded manufacturing plants in the last four years, that the state had taken important steps by creating the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The achievements were the work of the Legislature and the people as well as his administration, Finch said He said he and the Legislature had disagreed but that the governor's duty But legislative leaders said they had told him Wednesday of the conflict. Finch, just returning from a two-day trip formally announcing his presidential candidacy, received only polite applause from the lawmakers and the sparse gallery during the 30-minute speech carried on the educational television network.

He had attracted enthusiastic and crowded galleries in previous speeches to the Legislature. Finch told the lawmakers: "This administration has broken the oldtime political tradition that has held our people back for over 125 years. We have given more people more voice in state government than ever before." He added: "We have spread the voices of all our people, black and white, rich or poor, young and old." He acknowledged the battles he has had with legislators over the last four years but praised House Speaker C.B. Newman of Valley Park, one of his foes, and turned and shook hands with Newman during his speech. Finch, whose term has been marked by controversy and federal investigations into some programs, declared: "My head may be bloodied from the attacks by the special interest groups, by the old line politicians who held this state back in 50th place for over 125 years, and from some yellow journalist stories." He said his head was not bowed because he was elected "by you, the people, and every night I go to bed with a clear conscience knowing that I have done everything in my power to aid you because I care." He praised new Lt.

Gov. Brad Dye and William Winter, whose name he misprounced as Winters, as "capable and talented individuals." He decried anew the Legislature's WMIlriiiitinif i i i in- n.nni i 8L-A Seas spare Gov. Cliff Finch, right, addresses about half the Mississippi Legislators in his last speech to them as governor. At left is Sen. W.B.

Alexander of Cleveland, one of the lawmakers who atended the special evening session Thursday. The others didn't make it because of a prior commitment. -AP laserphofo State House on bills intro begins work duced early Personnel bill passes By NANCY Y. STEVENS Capitol Correspondent JACKSON Sevel members of the House of Representatives have gotten busy in the few opening days of the 1980 session with bill introductions, including a few of the freshman representatives. Close to 100 pieces of legislation had been introduced the first week in the lower chamber, much of it worked on in the weeks prior to the convening of the session and some of it re-introductions of unpassed legislation of recent years.

Among the bills already introduced and assigned to committee by House Speaker C.B. "Buddie" Newman are ones to allow local governments to purchase items valued at up to $500 without competitive bids (Charles Williams of Senatobia); to authorize appropriation for a new school of business building at Jackson State University (Fred Banks of Jackson) to provide that a simple majority may approve school bond issues (Dick Hall of Jackson); to require school boards to institute school breakfast programs (Banks of Jackson) and to create the Mississipi Commission op Human Affairs Banks of JackwjM.C Other bills, fcjie to strengthen the child ibuse law (Wes Mclngvale of Batesville); to change the method of appointing members to the State Board of Health (Banks of Jackson); to prohibit tfce College Board from imposing minimum ACT percent of alcohol in blood for drunk driving (J.D. Price of Quitman); to restrict foreign investment in state farmlands and require reporting Guy Williams of Drew); to limit the speed of railroad locomotives through towns to 30 mph (Home of Meridian) to help fund available industrial buildings in cities and counties (Hall of Jackson); to allow a state income tax deduction for wood home heating (Johnson of Hankin County), and to authorize a state study on converting solid waste into an energy source. Gandy turns down offers from Winter JACKSON (AP) Former Lt. Gov.

Evelyn Gandy says she turned down an offer from William Winter to take a job in his administration. "We were unable to agree on a mutually satisfactory position," said Miss Gandy, who left office on Wednesday. She did not say what posts were offered or what posts she would have liked. Miss Gandy said she had appreciated the opportunity to serve in government for 32 years and the interest of her friends in her plans for the future. "I intend to take a few days off and take care of some personal business in Hattiesburg before discussing what I will do in the future," she said.

Two former state officials are indicted JACKSON A A special federal grand jury investigating alleged corruption in state government has indicted two former officials of the Governor's Highway Safety Program. The indictments named Jerry E. Wilkinson, 37, of Poplarville, the former chief planner for the financially troubled program and Lester M. Porter, 35, of Brandon, the program's former administrative assistant for planning. The men worked for the agency in February 1978 when it awarded a $61,500 contract to Audio-Visual Education Corp.

of Jackson to produce a series of slide shows on highway safety. The indictment alleges that the contract was awarded without bids or proposals being advertised, and that Porter requested bids and proposals to be submitted in August 1978, several months after the contract had been awarded. The indictments, returned by the grand jury last week but not made public until Thursday, followed a year long investigation by the FBI and a Department of Transportation task force into white collar crime in Mississippi. John Kelly, special FBI agent in charge of Mississippi, said most of the investigation centered on the highway safety program. The FBI said one count of the indictment specifies 13 overt acts, of which Porter is named in six and Wilkinson in eight.

A second count of the indictment specifies three overt acts. A third count states that on or about Sept. 22, 1978, Porter and Wilkinson knowingly concealed certain facts from the Transportation Department and had submitted documents to the agency. Both men were released on $1,000 bonds after a hearing before U.S. Magistrate John R.

Countiss III in Jackson. Each charge carries a maximum fine of $10,900 and a maximum prison term of five vears. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OUR SPECIALTY WITH A SPECIAL PRICE PRIME RIB: SALAD-BUILD YOUK OWN -'ROM OUR SALAD BAR BAKED POTATO WITH ALL TH TRIMMINGS HOME BAKED BREAD COI'EEE OR TEA DELTA SUNFLOWER SQUARE 00 $400 60 by the governor. Sen. Theodore Smith of Corinth tried unsuccessfully to amend the measure to delete language mandating service by legislators so their appointment would be optional But.

Sen. Robert Crook of Ruleville. who handled the measure, said the House would not go along with the bill unless the four legislators were included. Crook said the believed legislators should not be on the board but said "if we don't pass the hill with the board like it is there won be a bill." Sen. John Waldrop of New Albany said it was important that legislators were represented on the board because the personnel system will spend millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.

The bill would consolidate the responsibilities of the Classification Commission, which administers the personnel program for the majority of state agenecy workers, and the Merit System by February 1981. It would provide for uniform policies affecting such matters as vaations, hiring and employee training, among others. It would also provide that a worker could not be fired without cause after he had been on the job for a year and would set up appeal procedures for dismissed employees. In addition, the bill would prohibit agency heads from exercising political influence over his employees. $8.

1 million however, recommended a $6.7 million increase. A board spokesman said the additional $8.1 million would be the absolute minimum if the universities are to make progress during 1980-81, bringing the total on-campus new funding to $14.8 million. "This $14.8 million represents only half of the requested needs that are necessary to bring the universities into parity with their southern counterparts," the spokesman said. JACKSON (AP) A Senate-passed bill awaiting House action would create a uniform personnel system for state employees to protect workers against political influence and summary dismissal. The Senate voted 50-1 Thursday to approve the measure, which Is almost identical to one vetoe last year by Gov.

Cliff Finch. The bill would set up one uniform system for about 15,000 employees who do not now enjoy job protection and about 11,000 workers of federally funded agencies who are protected by Merit System rules. In other action, the Senate voted unanimously to approve a resolution paying $3,000 to retired Lt. Gov. Evelyn Gandy for presiding over the Senate for the first six days of the 1980 session.

Lt. Gov. Brad Dye succeeded Miss Gandy on Wednesday. Sen. Henry Kirksey of Jackson was the only senator voting against the personnel bill, opposing the measure on grounds the proposed personnel board is to include two senators and two presentatives.

Kirksey said the Mississippi Constitution forbids legislators from serving on such executive bords, adding "It's long past time we started obeying the law rather than breaking it. The people of the state did not elect us as excutives but as representatives." The bill would create an eight-member board composed of the four legislators and four persons appointed He said the $8.1 million proposal would include a seven percent increase In addition to the first installment of a three-year plan to bring faculty salaries in line with those in Southern Regional Education Board states. The first installment is $2.2 million. Officials said also being sought was another $800,000 to cover needs in the areas of scholarships, maintenance supplies, drugs and chemicals and the like. The board said the list also included items that had been pushed upward by inflation, including utiities, office and instructional supplies, travel, and contractual services.

The college board requested an increase of $28.4 million for on-campus general support from the Budget Commission. The commission, Glass Markets scores for colleges 'Banks of Jackson); to create a Housing Development and Finance Authority Banks of Jackson to approve a constitutional amendment to limit 'lie amount of ad valorem tax or. property (Joe Blount of to pass a resolution calling on Congress io construct a Tennessee Tombigbee port at Epes, Ala. (Tommy Home of Meridian to make per capita grants to public libraries Tommy Campbell of Yazoo City). Others include bills allowing counties or cities to finance the medical education of persons agreeing to practice in the county or city i Charles Williams of Senatobia); making physical education mandatory in public schools illillman Frazier of Jackson by request): reducing the pupil-teacher ratio to 24 in the fifth grade (Frazier of Jackson limiting pay raises to classified state employees to 15 'Lonnie Johnson of Rankin County by request); increasing state employee mileage allowance from 16 cents to 22 cents (Kenneth Williams of Ciarksdalei and from 16 cents to 25 cents Hall of Jackson Also among the House bills are ones to prohibit the killing of wild turkey with other than a shotgun i David Green of Glosten to require continuing education for insurance agents (Johnson of Rankin County); to require proof of financial responsibility before issuance of drivers license (Home of Meridian); to reduce the TFruTs Thursiay theChicago Boaraof Trade: own Hi9n low ch cha S.OOOBu.; dollars twrbu.

Mar 4 ss-- 34' 1 53. ia 4 45 4 41 4 44 4 62 Jul 4 53': 4.52 4 67' i 14' Sep 4 65 4 32 4 65 4 2 4.w 4 82 4 i6 Mar 4.99' 5 15 4 99' 7 5 13 faies wed is 921 Total open interest wed 48.424, up from JoyN 5,000 sonars per tu lfv.lT.Vo?' jui 29c 29s 77 Mles wed 44.280" 3 3 3" Total open interest wed 159.895, 174 s.ooodu. wnarspertu IT, I u- lit jUi 143 4 1.6 1 63 1 6 roi i i Will ll saiei' weo 427. a' Wea 4 85''-off 6 "cm Tu" SOY DC AN 5 5,000 dollars pert. J4n 6 39 66 7 6 38 66P4- 23 var 454 ,662 6 54 677 22 4 676 '-r' im, In seo 710 734 710 731 IT XT sales wed 34,330 ooe" 2 W' Johnson Co.

Inc. Life Insurance Aso College Board asks for JACKSON (AP) The state College Board says if state universities are to continue to prosper, an additional $8.1 million will be needed over what has been allocated by the Legislature for the next fiscal year. The board, which held its full meeting on Thursday after committee sessions the previous day, said an additional $5 million over the funding level recommended by the Budget Commission would be needed if the schools are to maintain operations at their current level. With an additional $5 million "the progress of Mississippi's eight universities would be halted, and Mississippi would fall farther behind in terms of faculty salaries, equipment, programs and other essentials," said Travis Parker, chairman of the board's finance committee. Auto CHICAGO (AP) Prices for grain and soybean futures were propelled sharply higher Thursday on the Chicago Board of Trade after gold hit $800 an ounce.

Soybean futures, a market in which speculators like to trade, scored price gams of up to 26 cents per bushel, br- inging tO almost Zero the price lOSSeS over a two-week period from the grain embargo against the Soviet Union. Traders said prices started to soar when gold broke the $800-an-ounce mark on the board of trade. Brokerage houses use tomputers to determine price points at which they buy or sell a commodity to minimize losses. The computers called for buy- ing when soybeans hit about $6.63 a bushel, traders said, because if prices went that higher, commission houses reasoned that they would go higher. Commission and local traders bought to cover previous contract com- mjtments mnmenis.

At the close, soybeans were 21 to 26-4 cents higher, January wheat was 13 to 18'i cents higher, March corn was 4 to 7 cents higher, March and oats were 2 to 3'. cents higher, March $1.48. J.H. BUYING U.S. SILVER AND GOLD COINS SILVER DOLLARS 1935 and before $1 700 IMMEDIATE INSTALLATION HALVES 1964 AND BEFORE QUARTERS 1964 and before DIMES 1964 AND BEFORE CU RVED WINDSHIELDS IN STOCK GENERAL INSURANCE SINCE 1894 ONE DAY ONLY JAN.

19-1 0a.m. TO 2p.m. We sell Health And For Your Convenience Also Stock Window Glass Mirrors Furniture Tops Call Is For Estimates CLARKSDALE GLASS CO. HWY. 49 SOUTH CLARKSDALE.

MS 38414 PHONE 427-7455 CLEVELAND SOUND CENTER WESTERN PLAZA UBmnfMENTy CLEVELAND, MS. DIAL 624-6571 118 THIRD Sf..