The Tampa Times from Tampa, Florida • 1

Mm 83rd Year Tampa, Florida, Thursday, September 25, 1975 52 Pages-! 0 Cents -Home Edition says U.S. miliary aid id foe offered to Ford Egypt it's logical for us to make some commit-' ment it hasn't been refined of mill- tary sales to Egypt." n. Officials here, anticipating a storm of congressional protest, cautioned that nothing approaching the immense Amer-, ican arms commitment to Israel is even contemplated at this point. vtj Sadat's interest in buying military i equipment from the United States has been a matter of public record since before the Sinai agreement. Early in i August, the Egyptian president told aJ group of traveling congressmen of his in- jg terest, and he referred publicly to that conversation during the course of Kis-f5? Anwar Sadat visits the United States late next month.

"We will discuss with the Egyptians certain arms assistance for them," Ford said. "Our aid to them in the military area is under, discussion, and I would say (there is) to some extent an implied The President declined to discuss specifics, of a U.S.-Egyptian arms relationship, if one develops, and no details were immediately available here. But it is known the Egyptians have in the past sought unsuccessfully to buy such "nonlethal" material as navigation equipment for the Russian MIG-21s in their arsenal. More recently, the state department approved the sale to Egypt of 2,000 heavy trucks and 1,500 jeep-type vehicles- ment is certain to provoke heated opposition on Capitol Hill, where unexpected skepticism about the expanding American involvement in the Middle East is delaying congressional approval of the latest peace effort. The Israelis, who have strong support in both houses, have already expressed strong private disapproval to the admin-, istration about any U.S.

arms sales to Egypt. State department officials expressed surprise when informed of Ford's, disclosure, which occurred during a breakfast meeting with The Los Angeles Times editorial board in Los Angeles last weekend. But officials confirmed in guarded terms that discussion-of military aid is on the agenda when Egypt's President Because of the all-but-total break between Sadat and his former suppliers in the Soviet Union, Egypt has already turrted to Western Europe for some equipment. France has agreed tentative-, ly to sell Sadat 50 Mirage 3-F fighter-bombers, and negotiations for tanks and other equipment are under way with Britain and France. An order of 24 British-made Sikorsky Mark I and Mark II assault helicopters is already being delivered.

Because of the break with the Russians, Ford pointed out, Sadat "has taken a very strong position" that "his own national, security" will be endangered if Western sources of military sup-' ply are not found, and found quickly. In consequence, Ford said, "I think By OSWALD JOHNSTON Los Angeles Times Service WASHINGTON The United States is prepared to offer "certain military assistance" to Egypt, and formal discussion of this new arms commitment in the Middle East is likely to begin soon, President Ford has disclosed. Partly because of the Sinai accord worked out last month by secretary of state Henry A. Kissinger, partly because Egypt's new turn toward a peaceful relationship with Israel has broken all its ties with the Russians, Ford explained in an interview, his administration feels it has "an implied commitment" to supply some military equipment to Egypt. Any such move by the Ford administration this soon after the Sinai agree- Middle East specialists in and out of the government had anticipated that Egyptian requests for U.S.

military aid would be an inevitable result of the Sinai accord, not least because of the immense American military commitment to Israel that has emerged as an integral part of 'the accord. But they were surprised it has happened this quickly. "Sadat hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell to get arms aid approved by Congress," one high ranking official, a critic of Kissinger's latest diplomatic efforts, predicted recently. This official and skeptics like him fear that congressional balking at even token military supplies to Egypt could rupture what they believe is a dangerously fragile balance of peace in the Middle East. 1975-76 budget would set record mi byd fei? Tamp prop By JIM SEALE Times Staff Writer Tampa Mayor Bill Poe to'day presented to city council a record $104:7 million 1975-76 budget, and estimated city taxes would decrease from 9.5 to 9.2.mill3 The $104.7 million is a 15.5 per cent increase over last year's budget due mostly to rising salary and pension fund costs, Poe said, Salary costs for the fiscal year beginning Oct.

1 will go from $41.2 million to $45.4 million a year, while pension costs will increase from about $6.2 million to, $8.7 million. The budget is based on the "comfortable" estimation that the city will get $18.3 million in property taxes, compared to $16.1 million this year. singers shuttle negotiations later that month. Keeps looters away; National guardsman Willon Crawford of Chipley stands guard 3 in front of a service station and gift shop damaged by Hurricane Eloise. Guardsmen were called in i to set up road blocks to stop looters and spectators on the beaches 3 (UPI).

14 Storm repair bill climbs to $300 million! PANAMA CITY BEACH (UPI) A state executive surveyed the damage left by Hurricane Eloise and reported: "For all intents and purposes, Panama City Beach is gone." The bill for restoration and cleanup in northwest Florida alone will equal $200 million, state officials estimated. The Alabama gulf coast suffered another $100 million damage. W.T. Carlton, chief of the state bureau of beaches and shores, and Gov. Reubin Askew flew over the Florida Panhandle's "Miracle Strip" by helicopter yesterday.

Askew said he would ask President Ford to declare the 100-m ile strip of coast a disaster area. Eloise, which killed 42 persons in Puerto Rico and seven in the Dominican Republic last week, was the indirect cause of two deaths on the U.S. gulf coast. Jt Point Clear, man was electrocuted while attempting to store his boat, and a Fort Walton Beach, man died of a heart attack while in a storm shelter. Harmon Shields, state director of Natural Resources, said motels and residences from Panama City Beach westward for about 30 miles "are falling into the gulf or have been blown back across the highway." But the savage battering by.

wind and water did not end at the beaches, where See STORM, page 2-A 4 i Mr 7 1 The city must get the final property revenue figure from the county property appraiser, and if the revenue exceeds $18.3 million, city millage will be cut even further, Poe said. If "for some unknown reason" revenue is less than $18.3 million, the budget will be cut rather than raising city millage, Poe said. The salary increases come from an average 9 per cent raise effec-' tive last April plus and an average 4 per cent step increase raise for-employes in the coming year. Only 150 employes will be added to the city's present 4,709 employes and those positions will be funded under a special federal employe-ment program, Poe told the council. ft t0 im 1 be in Caosues Oil meet ends VIENNA, Austria (UPI) Oil ministers of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ended their second day of talks today on a proposed oil price increase, still deeply divided over the size of the hike.

"We are far away from a decision," Sheikh Ahmad Zaki Ya-mani, Saudi Arabian oil minister who has been opposing an increase, told reporters. "There is a complete dif--ference of opinion. We are facing terrible opposition." 4 jets crash BONN, West Germany (AP) Four Italian Starfighter jets crashed during a NATO training flight today near the West German-Luxembourg border, killing all four pilots, the' Italian Embassy reported. The American designed planes crashed on a hillside about 12 miles south of the U.S. Air Force base at Bitburg five minutes after their morning takeoff the embassy said.

Bodies of the four pilots were found amid wreckage strewn over a wide area of the heavily wooded region. There were four craters in a row where the planes plowed into the ground from their formation flight enroute back to their home base at Ghedi in northern Italy, the embassy said. Shapp joins race WASHINGTON (UPI) -Pledging to give Americans the leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, Pennsylvania Gov.

Milton J. Shapp today became the eighth Democratic candidate for the party's, 1976 presidential nomination. At least two more party hopefuls are expected to enter the crowded battle for the nomination before the end of this year. Shapp, 63, said the worst problem facing the nation is "economic stagnation" and promised to fight it with increased employment based on 25 years as a business executive and two terms in the governor's chair. Everest scaled KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) -Two British climbers have made the first ascent of Mt.

Everest by the Southwest Face, the Ne-palese Foreign Ministry announced today. A spokesman said Dougal Haston, 32, and Doug Scott, 33, reached the top of the world's highest mountain by the previously unclimbed route at 6 p.m. Nepalese time yesterday. m.xmm Hefty increases also went to the, police department which will get $16.2 million compared to last year's $13.7 million and the fire department which will be increased to $16.9 million from $11.3 million last The recreation department will be increased from $1.9 million last year to $3.5 million this year, which Poe said was necessary to hire added staff for new recreation facilities which would open in the coming year. The parks department appropriation will increase from $2.3 million to $3.8 million which Poe said was needed to hire staff for new parks.

The library will have $3 million in funds compared to last year's $2.5 million. ft 1 Busch Gardens plans $7.6 million expansion program The $14.2 million increase in the coming year's budget includes $1Q million in federal revenue sharing funds, $5 million of which was left over from this year. About $2.2 million of the increase is left over revenue from this year's budget, and a contingency fund of $2 million will be maintained next year, he said. Also financing the increase will moderate increases in revenue from the sanitation department and the utility and franchise taxes, plus a $3.7 million revenue in-, crease from water and sewer rates. This increased revenue will come from a 10 per cent increase utility bills which takes, effect in January.

The increase was approved this summer. public even more critical is the voters will be asked to pay for any future transit system. Transportation officials know that unless the public accepts mass transit, then public transportation is on a one way street to nowhere. "TBART won't go anyplace unless it has public support," says Norman Thompson, TBART executive administrator. "TBART just can't come up with a system out of the blue and then tax the people for it." Most transportation officials like Thompson admit they have no proven or magical formula for winning public support and convincing commuters to aban today an sporting Patty By HARRY COSTELLO Times Business Writer Busch Gardens officials announced plans today for a $7.6 million expansion of the 300-acre park in Tampa, with work scheduled to begin immediately.

Joseph C. Fincher, general manager, announced the expansion plans at a press conference today and noted the new investment in the gardens is to meet the goal of developing a "full range family entertainment center for Tampa." Highlighting the expansion project will be the construction of a new thrill ride called The Python. This is the latest in a "super-scream making thrill ride," which is known also as a Corkscrew. The ride carries passengers through several 360-degree loops at a speed of 50 miles per hour. Fincher said the ride should be in operation by the early Summer of 1976.

Substantial expansion of the Stanleyville area of the park is also planned in the project, he said. Highlighting this portion of the project will be a new Bengal tiger display. This new display will cost $1 millibn and will provide park visitors with a better opportunity to observe the park's 11 tigers as they move about the grounds within their new confines, Fincher said. He also noted the boat ride in the Stanleyville area win be expanded to triple the capacity and provide an extended voyage for passengers. Fincher announced the popular elephant ride, will be doubled in capacity, an elephant exhibit area added, and an attempt will be made to begin an Indian elephant breeding program for the park's 14 Indian elephants.

Completion of these segments of the expansion plan, along with extensive landscaping and food service improvements, are expected to be complete, by the end of 1976. The expansion of the park is part of a continuing program See BUSCH, page 2 A Harrises arraigned A smiling Bill and Emily Harris arc shown here leaving the San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City, yesterday. Under heavy guard, they flew, into Los Angeles last night and were arraigned on 18 felony charges stemming from alleged SLA shooting in a Los Angeles goods store. See related story on Hearst on page 4-A (AP). Mass transit needs public Pi-, 1 support don their cars.

They say they hope the energy shortage and inflation will do the job for them. Several Tampa officials involved in transportation say the energy shortage has been the single greatest impetus to action in public transportation. But while officials are waiting for gasoline and automobile car prices to push the car out of reach of the consumer as a major mode of transportation, they are facing financial problems of their own. Since its inception In 1973, TBART has been fighting for public acceptance of its own program as well as mass tran-See PUBLIC, page 7 A Inside The Times The champagne was flowing last night in Oakland as the three-time world champion A's clinched the American League West pennant with a 13-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. The East remained undecided as leader Boston was rained out.

See Sports, page 1-C. Ray Breezin' Deaths 11 A Bridge 4B Editorials 8A Classified 50 Jeane Dixon Comics Movie 5B Crossword 7C TV SB Dear Abby 4B WeatherScope student had almost a classic reason for wanting to keep his car. He told Ms. Winoker, a community services officer at the agency, that without his car he wouldn't have anyplace to "get naked" with his dates. With that, Ms.

Winoker had probably heard every excuse there is for motorists not making the switch from private automobiles to public transit. And, that is one of the biggest problems facing transportation officials today. "When I go to the schools the kids relate a bus to a school bus," Ms. Winoker said. "You have to show them the bus of the future." What makes the job of selling the Experts say mass transit systems are the answer to the nation's congested highways, its fuel shortage and environmental problems.

But locally, most efforts to Improve mass transit facilities are still in the planning stages. In a five-part series of articles, The Times examines these problems and the solutions that have been recommended. This is the fourth article. By ROBERT DODGE Times Staff Writer Sometime ago when Diana Winoker went to a local high school to present the Tampa Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority's (TBART) program to a class, one it.