Panama City News-Herald from Panama City, Florida • Page 35

NEWS-HERALD, Panama City, Friday, May 18.1973 Page IB Impeachment Fails Censure Passes ByANNHOUPT State Editor TALLAHASSEE "This is a strong reprimand. It serves notice that midconduct in office will not be tolerated," Rep. Earl Hutto said Thursday. Hutto, along with Reps. Billy Joe Rish and Wayne Mixson, the other two area legislators, voted for censure of Lt.

Gov. Tom Adams, after a move to impeach Adams failed to poll the necessary two-thirds vote of the state House of Representatives. The vote for impeachment was 61-55, failing by 17 votes. All three area representatives voted against impeachment. But the house turned around and voted overwhelmingly to officially censure Adams for using public employes for personal gain while secretary of commerce.

The vote for censure, needing only a majority, was 88 -26. Rish said at noon that he had been studying the sworn testimony all morning and "had not slept much the night before." He said all the representatives were upset and disturbed by the prospect of impeachment. Both Hutto and Rish said they've had few letters or phone calls on the impeachment from constituents. Rish did not say how he planned to vote at that time, with the session an hour away. But he did remark that the sworn testimony was not the same as the many allegations he had been hearing.

To a visitor, the galleries seemed crowded for the house session, throughout the nearly four-hour debate. But Hutto remarked that "there were many more there for ERA" (Equal Rights Amendment) debate. And, although most newsmen called Thursday's debate "emotional," Hutto said not seem so to him. "Frankly, I was not that emotional about it," he said. "I had much more emotion over ERA and the majority rights bill." In the galleries, debate brought some laughter, one mild burst of applause and some raised eyebrows, as the Articles of Impeachment first were read, then debated pro and con.

All the speakers said Adams was clearly wrong. But Rep. Kenneth MacKay, D-Ocala, called censure HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HEARS IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST LT. GOV. TOM ADAMS "totally inappropriate." He said it was either "meaningless or unconstitutional." "The issue is clear.

There is no question the facts occurred. The question is, are they serious FuelPinchTightens On Florida's Big Toe MIAMI (UPI) The fuel shortage pinched tighter in Florida today, threatening the tourist trade, hurricane season preparedness, tobacco growers, and schools. Service stations affiliated with the major distributing chains began joining the growing list of independents in the big Miami Area market, rationing gasoline to a GERRY GILMER Gerry Gilmer, PR Assistant, Leaving GCCC Gerry Gilmer, administrative of public relations at Gulf Coast Community College, has resigned his position, effective June 7, to become director of public information at Manatee Junior College in Bradenton. Gilmer, a graduate of Bay County High School, Gulf Coast, and Florida State University, has been employed in Panama City for five years, the past three at the local college. He spent two years at Mowat Junior High School, teaching English and advising students publications.

While at Gulf Coast, Gilmer's duties included advising the student newspaper the GULL'S CRY which received national recognition two years in a row. In 1972, the GULL'S CRY was honored as Gulf Coast's organization of the year. During his stay in Panama City, Gilmer was active in state and local activities. HP servpfl as state president of Florida's Junior College Publication Advisers and as chairman of publications for Diviion One of the Florida Junior College Conference. Gilmer was a member of the March of Dimes Board of Directors, a member of the executive committee of the Republican Party and active with the Kaleido-scope Theatre.

He was "the voice of the Commodores" for Gulf Coa.st basketball and baseball broadcasts, and was seen for two years on WJHG Channel 7 as master-of ceremonies for the Jaycee High School Quiz Bowl. He currently is serving as director of the Gulf Coast Football Officials A.ssociation, and was active as a member of the Gulf Shores Basketball Officials Association. Gilmer, is an active member of the First United Methodist Church, where he recently was selected to serve on the administrative board. He al.so served as a lay leader and Sunday School teacher. He is married to the former Cynthia Martinez, and they have a daughter, Natalie, five months old.

maximum of 10 gallons per customer. "It's bound to affect the economy here because people are not going to travel," said Al Jacobson of Coral Gables, an independent oil dealer. The Central and South Florida Flood Control District, which controls the water levels in 19 South Florida counties, said it failed to receive a single bid to supply its gasoline or diesel fuel requirements from 11 major distributors solicited. If the rainy and hurricane season, which begins June 1, turns out to be a "wet year," an FCD spokesman said hundreds of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel will be needed at the flood control pumping stations. Storage tanks are full now at the district's 14 pumping stations, but one major storm or hurricane would exhaust the supply.

K. C. Reed, FCD purchasing agent, said he had two verbal offers from Gulf and Standard Oil, fuel suppliers last year, with prices to be quoted later. "They also said they would ration the amount sold based on last year's use, last year was an extremely dry year and consumption of diesel fuel at the pumping stations was very limited," Reed added. In Washington Wednesday, Sen.

Ernest F. Hollings, urged federal officials to take emergency action to insure enough fuel oil and LP gas be supplied for curing the 1973 tobacco crop. Florida is one of the five southern tobacco states, growing the rich shade-grown variety in the, northern part of the peninsula. Hollings said tobacco farmers face "a real danger" of fuel shoi'tages this summer and that emergency action "is vital to the economy of the southeastern states." In Tallahassee, State Education Commissioner Floyd Christian reported several Florida school districts were having difficulty getting bids from distributors on their school fuel needs. Jacobson reported he had had to pass on to 90 independent Miami service stations he services a 20 per cent cut in gasoline supplies.

"I'm afraid to ask them how they're managing," he said. Jacobson added that he had received stiff cutbacks in lubricating oil supplies and iiad lost "three major accounts since Aprill." Chain affiliates also were beginning to feel the pinch. One downtown Miami BP station operator, in a big volume location, installed the 10-gallon maximum because he said his allocation of gasoline had been cut 10 percent. "I don't want to be stuck at the end of the month without any gas," he said. Standard Oil, Sunoco and Texaco representatives also announced new allocation formulas for Southeast Florida, which indicated cutbacks in supplies to dealers.

Some service station managers were planning to meet the shortage by operating shorter hours. enough for impeachment, said there was no question that Adams committed a misdemeanor in office, but that a speeding ticket also is a misdemeanor. Harris said "you wouldn't impeach all the legislators who got speeding tickets." Harris also held that successful censure would be better and mean more than an unsuccessful attempt at impeachment, which he called a "dim chance" in the senate. But MacKay declared that misappropriation of funds "is a felony, not a misdemeanor," and should not be compared to a traffic ticket. He said "leave history out of it," while calling for "standards now." Urging the representatives to vote for impeachment, MacKay said Adams had been censured when the committee voted (3-2) for impeachment.

Rep. Ralph Turlington, D-Gainesville, said, while there was some ''technical misspending of funds," at no time were there "more employes in the Department of Commerce than the legislature authorized them to have." Turlington asked "is this the case we want to make our stand on, looking back to 1897? That's not the offense on which I want to predicate the first impeachment in Florida (since 1897)," Turlington declared. Calling the Otford incident "most serious of the articles," Turlington said perhaps Adams was not completely to blame. "He's (Getford) one of those aides that can inundate you," Turlington said. He wants to help you so much he drives you up the wall." While Turlington was making announced an amplifier was out.

The situation was corrected, and debnto continued. One most emotional plea came from Rep. Jim Redman of Tampa, a Baptist Sunday School teacher from Tampa, who called for inipoachineiit. Redman, final speaker in debate, said it was a "tough situation for all of us." N.uiiiiif^ the charges against Adams: "allowing employes to travel at state expense for personal gain," overlaps in state employes, humiliating employes, keeping personnel on the payroll with no duties, granting annual leave retroactively, Redman said "Take any one of these, I couldn't vote for impeachment. But I ask you, how much does it take?" The legislator choked with tears as he spoke.

Redmon said public officials should have the standards of private individuals, and cited a citizen who "spent a year in jail for embezzling funds, even though he had paid back the money before officials knew it was gone." Redman headed the investigating committee that named, by a vote of 3-2, 22 grounds for ousting Adams, primarily for using an employe paid by the state to help run his nearby Gadsden County Farm. Chairing the committee, he said, was the "worst job I've ever had." House Republican Leader Jim Tillman, R-Sarasota, also urged impeachment, saying it would serve as an example to other office-holders and let the public know the legislature does not take such conduct lightly. But Rep. Ijoenzo Walker, D-Naples, used the hilical admonishment, "let he who is without sin among you ca.st the first stone," to oppose impeachment. Call for the question followed Redman's plea, and the vote was 61-55.

The attempt to impeach failed and the ciowds in the galleries began to leave, even as debate began on censure, which ultimately passed. The action which look nearly four hours, allows Adams to remain in office and become governor if anything should happen to Gov. Reubin Askew between now and 1975. "The house has acted," said Adams in a statement handed newsmen by a seci-etary in the debate, issued a terse wntten statement, saying, "in fairness to the lieutenant governor, it should be pointed out that he cooperated fully with my own investigation of this matter and with the legislature as well. He provided us with the facts, as they existed, knowing full well the effect they might have on his career.

"I think it also can be said that both the executive and legislative branches of Florida government took the initiative and acted firmly. "Hopefully, the standards of ethical conduct among public officials have been strengthened as a result," Askew said. The vote was taken at p.m., exactly three hours and 30 minutes after debate began. impeachment articles have been voted by the house again.st a number of public officials in the past, but none has ever been convicted a plea for censure rather than tJua Hdtitn office. "If any mistakes impeachment, his microphone MMa9 AJWll made by me, they were Down went out.

Harris offered his, but Turlington did not see him. Soon he was being offeied microphones from both sides. None worked, however, and House Speaker Terrell Sessums Indiana Man Arrested For Rohhery At Marina An Indiana man, said to be living in a van in Millville, was charged by Panama City Police Thursday with breaking and entering at a local marina. The man, Robert Lee Eltzroth, 21, of Panama City, was arrested and charged with the breaking and entering of Gulf Marina, 1500 E. 5th Panama City.

According to Detective Joe a 1 who is the investigating officer, patrolmen on routine patrol early Thursday morning spotted several jalousie windows missing from the north showroom door of the marina, and stopped to investigate. Officers refwrted finding a battery which apparently had been abandoned near the doorway and, looking into the building, said they spotted an office doorway broken into. The officers also said they found assorted burglary tools scattered around the door of the showroom, reports show. The detectives said they found footprints leading away from the building in the shoreline sand, and followed them until they ended in some grass. Thursday, Eltzroth was arrested and several items stolen from the building were recovered from him, Halford said.

Also found in Ellzroth's possession, according to police reports, was a microphone, and after- a computer check of the serial number a "hit" came back from Omaha, Neb. The computer reply said the microphone had been entered in the files as stolen, and the microphone was confiscated by Halford. F.ltzroth was scheduled for arraignment today, and was being held in the Panama City Jail Thursday night without bond. St a te Spending Plans Force New TALLAHASSEE (UPI) Speaker Terrell Sessums insistence on spending nearly all the state's recurring income could force new taxes next year, and wide between house and senate versions of a $2.2 billion budget could force an overtime session, says Rep. Marshall Harris.

The revenue includes $1.9 million in general revenue taxes, $286 million in surplus taxes unspent this i and $54.5 million in federal r-evenue sharing funds. The House Committee al.so adopted Sessums' position in providing $150 million for interstate highway construction a move opposed by both Harris and Rules Chairman J. Murray Dubbin, D-Miami, who felt the money SIKJUICI be used for school construction. Dubbin tried unsuccessfully to trim the interstate money to $120 million the figure originally recommended by Gov. Reubin A.skew.

The senate committee boosted the figure to $210 million, and dropped Cov. Reubin Askew's propo.sed $90 million for purchase of environmentally endangered lands. Harris said he voted for the road program in committee only after inserting a guarantee that the federal government will repay the money to the state by 1983. The funds provide $30 million for the 1-75 Bypa.ss near Tampa, $25 million for 1-275 near St. Petersburg, and the rest for 1-95 in Southeast Florida and MO in North Florida.

State Transportation Secretary Walter Revel! failur'e to provide the funds now could make the projects more expensive to the later. Federal funding on a 90-10 basis is available now, hut it might be 70-30 later, he said. The house committee al.so approved two other proijosals backed by Ses.sums to buy the Green Swamp near Tampa and to provide funds for a "safe schools act" aimed at cutting school vandalism. The school Security Hill was cut from $3.6 million to $1.8 million, but Roger Nichols, aide to Se.ssums, said the funding was a "step in the right direction." A $2.6 million provision includes $1.1 million to buy 2,200 acres of the Cirpcri.Swamp, with, the remainder going to AAultimillion Drug Ring Includes Former Police TAMPA (UPI) Federal officials said Thursday they cracked a multimillion-dollar drug traffic ring Wednesday with the arrest of persons including two former members of the Tampa police vice scjuafi and one suspended member of the squad. A.ssistant U.S.

Attorney O.scar Blasingame said during a bond hearing that the defendants were involved in a s( heme for importing cocaine and marijuana from Colombia for distribution throughout Florida. Arrested were Benny Lamar Baker, 37, Tampa; Ler- Adoiph "Sonny" iJurrn, 32. Land O'Lakes; Andrew Clayton Rigdon, Tampa; Ronald Lee Crocker, 26, and his wife Brenda, 25, both of Tampa; Gail Hazel Phillips, .37, of Tampa; and Lee M. Stepp, Tampa. All were named in a two-count federal indictment.

Baker and Rigdon are former vice squad members. Crocker. a five-year veteran of the police force, was su.spended May 6. Blasingame Crocker was "employed as a police officer at the time these events occurred." Hakcr already is facing sentencing in Hillsborough County Court on a conviction for delivrring marijuana. He was officer for 11 years.

Riyilon, a former vice membef who resigrwd from the force in February on the night Haker first was arrested on drug charges, reportedly was picked up by Colombian ixylirc last month in possession of a large amount of cocaine. Tampa Police Chief J. C. "Baire" Littleton said an investigation br-gun weeks ago by his department and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office uncovered a "large volume operation" of illegal drug im()orts from Colombia. purchase atout 800 acres of water recharge areas of the Cypress Creek, Lower Hillsborough River, Anclote River' and Withlacoochee River.

The Senate bill includes an acro.ss-the-board pay raise of 110 a month for' law enforcement officers of the Highway Patrol, Florida CJame and I-Veshwaler' Fish Commission and the Marine Patrol. The biggest money difference betweerr the hills pa by house a II (1 a 1 budget -writing comrriJtteeK Wednesday night is million in education funds, Harris, D-Miami, hoii.se apfiropriaiions chairman. The liou.sr' bill pi 'oposes million for ten through twelfth erlucaliori, whili' the fjilj provides $80 millinri less. The senate bill puts rrior'c funding into health and a li i i i a i services pi -ograms than Ihe house bill. The senate ways and means eorrimittee also apfiroved a separate bill differing significantly from the house version to make sure property lax a.s.sessors acr 'oss the stJite achieve "fair" assr-ssmenls to insure equalized education funding.

The senate bill coneeritrates on stale certification ol local property tax rolls before they are finalized, while the hou.se bill provides a post-audit system aimed at rejecting r'olls. Harris said all the differences could be wor'ked out TALLAHASSEE (UPU-The public and private life of Lt. Gov. Tom Adams has been one of highs and lows. Thursday.

May 17, had to be the lowest. While the rafters of the house chamber rang with oratory over whether he should be impeached or censured for using state personnel for private gain, Ad.ams went off to himself. He said he had "personrd errands" to run. Just 14 years ago, in his first term as a state senator, his legislative colleagues, of them still had voted him in a b.illot "most valuable member of the 1959 ses.sion." Before that, after' his first year irt the he was named "most outstanding" freshman Riding high, Adams ran fur and was elected to the cabinet, as secretary of state, taking office in January, 1961. After five months, the 1961 Legislature named him "most effective a(lministral ')r of a stale agency." He won Ihe same accolade in 1963 and When he was about to f)uit government and accept a job as vice president of a private university, Adams was tajjpcd by Askew then a little known state sen.itor from Peri.sacola to be his running-male.

Due in to Adams' strong organization and Ihe Askew Adams team stun (I I i I i I prognosi ieat ors and was elected defeating iiol only Ihe president of the senate and attorney general, but sidelining the incumbent Republican governor, Claude Kirk. Along Ihe way, though, there were problems, and censure fr'om press and some public officials. Prior to his election to Ihe he had Kone liankriitil trying to ofjer a family business. His own molher sued him. the he lost communication with his wife, Helen, and Ihe Ki anted a ilivdice IIKI lliisyear.

mistakes of the head and not of the heart." He thiuiked "my hosts of both in and out of Ihe legislature, for their- advice, coun.sel and support. Askew, who worked in his office with one ear cocked toward Ihe emotional house TOM ADAMS Cancer Society Hears Where The Money Goes District Four memliers of the Florida Division of the American Cancer Society held a nominating meeting Thursday to hear Dr. B. L. Stalnaker of Pensacola slah; Hull the society has spent million In one year' on lukemia research.

Dr. Stalnaker, who is vice-chairman of the 1 )ivision of Professional Ediica lion Committee of the Aiiiericari Cancer Society, slated thai has been builgeled by the committiM' lor educational films, exhibits and film projectors for use in a I i a dentists and nurses. He also slated thai, because of the uni problems and needs confroriling Ihe iialieni having lymphoma or' leukemia, Ihe society has special pi'ograms which ar-e availalile Ihi'ough local unit jn'ograms. Another speaker' at tlii- meeting was Dr. While of Blountslowii, member of Ihe Research of the Florida Division of the Aiiieilcaii Cancer Sociel.y.

He spoke on the society's progre.ss in research since it entered this field in 1946. At Ihe outset, the society was spending less a million a year for' resear'ch. Dr. White cor'iimeiited and hy 1971, Ihe annual cxpciidilure had ri.seii to million. The lese.i rcli involvement also has included a a i em i ol oj; i ca I research pr'ojecl cilled the "Cancer Prevention Study," said Dr.

While. Out of this lias come confii'malioii of the casual link belweeii cigarelle smoking and liinu c.incer, he as well as cancers of the month, larynx, pancreas and liladder. He said the stiirly has deriionst laleil the causjil i I environmental pollutants, such as asbestos dust, ami cancer of the liiiiu. It also li.is identified cla.sses of women with an especially high risk of cervical cancer, he said, addiiiti tliat this study, involving 118,000 American Cancer Society voliiiitecis one million siibjecls, is eiileiiiig a new (ihase to track down other envii oninenlal factors related to cancer. Today, Adams small office In the suite, with fi'w I esp-utisilHlllies official liiricliiMi, occupies a lioi's (liilies HIS onlv 'Side from tieliiL' a brealli away lioiri llic sliip in case Iia()()eris Askew, is 'lianint; the ('Diiimlssioii and Council, chores he once handled with one man staff In Ills spare time.

After the scandal over his use of public em()loyes In hcdp operate a 1 ,000 acre farm in nearby (ladsden County, which he last year, Adams moved out to tlir- far til. He lives alone in one-room shack he says "rriusi be 100 years old. It's nice inside but I li; fix up a house on the place when I gel time." With Ihe hel)) of his farm rnanagej', Adams builds fence and mows for 80 cows every day after- work, driving the 20 from the Ca))itol. "I was itchy logel out into Ihe country." heexfrlained. WHITK, M.I).

AM n. L. STALNAKER, Stories Come To Life Tonight The HarisClir Andersen" comes to life a I 7:30 In the Municipal Auditorium when the story of the i -aily fairy tale spinner unfolds. III the (h Cancer iJeiiefil presented by the Virginia Sweet of Dance. The r-ei-ilal will be a sfiecial tribute honoring the 'Mh benefit peiforrrianre for' Ihe annual Cancer Fund drive.

The i ri 1 i a performances from 1954 with Land of Make Believe, followed by Holiday Parade, The Teddy Bear's Tale, Manhattan Night Heal, Starlight Revue, Once Ufion a Fairy Tale, Tempest in a Toe Shoe, Flights of Fancy, Aladdin, Wizai'd of Oz, I'inochio, ('liiderella. Alice in Wondei lanri, I'led i'lpei of ilaiiiliii. Sleeping Heauly, Snow While Ihe I Is, I'etel Pan, Dre.iiii World, Disney Dream Woi Id I'erformers who sUirred in Ihe early benefit now watching their daiighleis perform In the speci.il productions. Tonight's show includes cliildluiod favorites of the Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea, and the iirifoi-getlable Little Match Girl, Snow Kmperor's New Clothes and Red Shoes. Tickets are $2 for' adults and $1 for' students with the entire going lo the c.inci'r- fiiiid..