Las Vegas Optic from Las Vegas, New Mexico • Page 1

Uwned-Hftme Operated-Price: I5c Per Ooo Nominee to HUD job testifies WASHINGTON (AP) Patricia Roberts Harris has angrily defended her sensitivity to problems of blacks and disadvantaged Americans during hearings on her nomination to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A verbal wrangle erupted Monday when Sen, William Proxmire, chairman of the Senate Banking Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, suggested the department "needs someone sympathetic to the problems of the poor." Mrs. Harris, a member of a prestigious Washington, D.C., law firm and former ambassador to Luxembourg, snapped back: 'You do not understand who I am. I am a woman, the daughter of a Pullman car waiter. I am a black woman who even eight years ago could not buy a house in parts of the District of Columbia.

I didn't start out as a member of a prestigious law firm, but as a woman who needed a scholarship to go to school. If you think I have forgotten that, you are wrong." "It's not enough to be black or to be a woman or to be poor or to have any particular kind of disability to understand the problems of so many people." said Proxmire, D-Wis. Proxmire, who later said he was. undecided whether to support or oppose her, predicted the Senate would confirm Mrs. Harris, Carter's only black Cabinet nominee, as the new HUD secretary.

Her nomination received enthusiastic support from other committee Democrats, as well as Sen. John Tower, the ranking Republican, who said he was "enormously impressed by Mrs. Harris' background and intelligence." Proxmire opened the hearing by criticizing Carter's failure to appoint someone to the housing post who had a background in housing and urban affairs. "Do you have that 'kindTM of track record? Frankly I can't find it," he said. But Proxmire then toJd the nominee: "You are nevertheless going to be confirmed overwhelmingly.

Because anyone in the Senate these days who calls for qualifications other than brains and character for Cabinet officers is regarded as somehow unrealistic, and you certainly have both brains and character." Mrs. Harris, in her opening statement and under questioning by the committee members, said she supports: --Public housing "so long as there is a disequilibrium between housing supply and housing demand." --The federal income tax deduction for mortgage interest payments. --Expansion of the urban homesteading program in which rundown center city housing -is made available at practically no cost to persons who renovate it. School out early Wednesday Schools in East Las Vegas will be letting out early Wednesday so that teacher in-service training can be held, Lidoro Maestas, assistant superintendent, said. Buses will be running at 12:30, with all schools serving lunch as usual.

Regular classes will resume Thursday. Board of Education meeting scheduled The East Las Vegas Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the board room of the administration building on Douglas Avenue. The meeting is open to the public. A nay a returns to state Wed.

SANTA FE (AP) Atty. Gen. Toney Anaya is to return home Wednesday from Washington, D.C., where he met with Vice President-elect Walter Mondale. Anaya aide Shirley Scarafiotti said the attorney general met in private Monday with Mondale. Anaya is under consideration for a top Justice Department post in the administration of President- elect Jimmy Carter.

Anaya is expected to announce his plans later this week. If he takes the job, Gov. Jerry Apodaca will name a new attorney general to serve the remaining two years of Anaya's elected term. KMXN TV managers facing suit for fraud ALBUQUERQUE (AP) -A suit still is pending against three managers of the Spanish language KMXN television station after a judge dissolved a receivership action against the station. Finance 'kickbacks' under fire WASHINGTON (AP) If you bought a car from a dealer who arranged the financing, you may have spent several hundred dollars more in finance charges than you had to.

The extra money went.as a payment from the lending institution to the dealer in return for steering the business its way. Chairman Frank Annunzio, of the House consumer affairs subcommittee, said Monday in an interview that such payments "were under-the- table kickbacks" that "have cost consumers millions in the past few years." Under pressure from Annunzio and others in Congress, the Federal Reserve Board is expected to require disclosure of the payments, beginning next month. Then, the lending institution will have to inform you that the car dealer is getting a cut of your finance charge. disclosure rule would apply to any credit arrangement used to finance autos or other consumer goods. Annunzio said the system works like this: A car dealer tells a customer, "Don't go to a bank for a loan.

I have someone I always work with. I'll arrange it for 1 -The dealer doesn't-say there is an extra cut in it for him. The lending institution gives the dealer about one-third of the interest charges or the bank may set an interest rate and tell the dealer that he can keep anything over that amount. In one case discovered by the subcommittee, a car buyer spent $791 in finance charges that included $272 that went back to the dealer. Annunzio said, "A consumer has a right to know his dealer is getting a kickback from the lender a kickback that the consumer pays for.

With this knowledge a consumer would know he can probably get a lower finance charge through direct financing." The finance industry disagrees with Annunzio. A spokesman for the National Consumer Finance Organization said, "I doubt if it will amount to the millions that Congressman Annunzio is talking about. If dealers didn't get this money, they would have to charge more as the basic cost of the car. "This is a way of business that has gone on for many, many years and these payments are not kickbacks," he said. Rader named to Highway Commission SANTA FE (AP) Paul Rader of Mesilla, a former vice president of New Mexico State University, was named today by Gov.

Jerry Apodaca to the state Highway Commission. Rader succeeds Bob Martin of Lordsburg for a six-year term ending Jan. 1, 1983. Both Rader and Martin are Democrats. Rader was vice president for developmentalNMSU from 1967 to 1971.

He now is a consultant for universities. He also is a writer, with several published novels. Rader came to New Mexico in 1936 and attended Hondo High School and Las Cruces High School. He attended NMSU (then New Mexico AM) and received his bachelor's degree from UCLA. He has a master's degree from Columbia University.

Rader in the past has been in management positions with television stations, including KROD in El Paso, and WGBH, the educational station in Boston, Mass. He was development director for New York University before taking the position at NMSU. Rader presently is on the board of directors of the Southwest Mental Health Center, the Mesilla Board of Adjustment and the Mesilla Historical Review Board. His wife is a member of the board of trustees for the Town of Mesilla. The three managers named in the suit are State Sens.

Odis Echols of Clovis and C.B. Trujillo 'of Taos, and Highlands University president John Aragon. It was filed by a former secretary-treasurer for the station, Herbert Taylor, who contended the three were fraudulently using its funds. District Court Judge Gene Franchini had earlier granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the three from managing the business affairs of the station, and appointed John Freeman to act as temporary receiver. However, District Court Judge Phillip Baiamonte set aside the receivership and temporary restraining order Monday, saying an attorney for Taylor didn't give proper notice of the hearing to the defendants.

Baiamonte also said the attorney, Steve Mazer, requested an insufficient amount of time to hear the matter. The judge said the suit still is pending and another request for a restraining order would be considered, probably next week. Taylor's suit contends Aragon, Echols and Trujillo might cause the station, Channel 23, to lose its license. He alleges in the suit that they have used the station for political purposes and have violated Federal Communications Commission regulations. The suit also alleges the three managers have been "engaging in a series of illegal and fraudulent transactions involving kickbacks to officers and directors and employes for advertising, kickbacks to advertisers, kickbacks in the form of goods and services from New Mexico establishments to officers and employes in the form of accomodations, food, liquor, fuel and travel services." Court says hashish penalty justified SANTA FE A The law's provision for a stiffer penalty for hashish distribution than for marijuana seemed justified by evidence in an Albuquerque case, the state Court of Appeals said today.

Randy George Lucero, in his appeal from conviction for distributing hashish, contended there was no rational distinction between distribution of the two substances. He contended a higher penalty for hashish distribution violated penalties violates equal protection of the law. The court also said there was substantial evidence the substance involved was hashish. It affirmed Luccro's conviction. In another action, the court affirmed the judgment and sentence of Rudy Montano, convicted in McKinley County on two counts of trafficking in heroin.

Montano contended the trial court erred when it granted the state an amendment his rights to equal protection under law. to the in di ct ment subsequent to reaching At a npnnnw nn rno pmint 11 r- At a hearing on the equal protection issue, Chief Judge Joe Wood wrote, there was evidence that hashish is stronger than marijuana, less bulky and harder to smell and thus harder to detect. In light of the evidence, Wood wrote, the court cannot say there is no rational distinction between hashish and marijuana. He also said the court could not say the legislation providing for different the verdict. The motion for the amendment was made by the state prior to the trial.

The Appeals Court said the trial court's formal order was entered after the verdict but that the docketing statement showed the court had granted the amendment on the day of the trial, before the verdict. Dental hygiene building approved by regents SANTA FE A Construction of a dental hygiene building at the University of New Mexico was approved today by the State Board of Finance, with one stipulation. The $1.65 million building will be located on the north campus of the university. Dr. Donald Stuart of the Board of Educational Finance told the Finance Board the dental hygiene building has been UNM's top priority project for the past year.

The project is ready to go to bidding, Stuart said, although the funding with state bond issue monies has not yet been approved. New Mexico voters in November approved a $25 million general obligation bond issue to finance construction and equipment acquisition at the public institutions of higher learning. The BEF has not yet made an allocation of these funds. If UNM does not receive an allocation for the building, the project will be financed with revenue bonds issued by UNM, Stuart said. He added it is probable UNM will receive funds from the state bond issue.

The project has been approved by the BEF's executive committee, but not by the BEF itself. The Finance Board ap- Public forum set by Chamber The Las Vegas' San Miguel Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a public forum with area legislators at 7 p.m. Friday at Sala de Madrid. Three of the five area legislators have agreed to attend, according to a Chamber spokesman. Sen.

Ray Leger and Representatives Sam Vigil and David Salman have 'accepted the Chamber's invitation. John Morrow said he svas unable to attend, and Sen. C.B. Trujillo has not yet replied. The public is urged to attend, to discuss possible solutions to local problems with the legislators.

proved the project with the stipulation it receive BEF approval. State Finance Director Vincent Montoya said a special meeting of the BEF can probably can be called to approve the UNM project as well as other projects which to date have ben approved only by the executive committee. The Finance Board also approved three other university proposals with the stipulation that approval be given by the full BEF. These are: --Purchase by Western New Mexico University of 2.44 acres adjoining the campus in Silver City. The university has negotiated a price of $20,000 for the land, which was recently appraised at 525,400.

--Sale by Eastern New Mexico University of about four acres adjacent to the campus in Portales. The land was acquired by ENMU in 1968 for $31,588. It presently is appraised at $49,000 and will be sold at no less than this value. --Renovation of the library building at ENMU's Roswell branch. The $137,000 cost of the project will be paid with state funds approved in 1975.

Ballot spots told in school election The superintendent's office for West Las Vegas Schools announced Monday afternoon the selection of spots on its ballot for the two openings on the school board. Incumbent Filiberto Padilla drew the first spot on the ballot for Position One, a six-year term. Mrs. Bonnie Trujillo will be listed second, and Manuel Martinez' name will occupy the third. For Position Two, the four-year term left vacant by the resignation of Benny Flores, candidates Guadalupe Lujan, Ruben Trujillo and Leroy Ulibarri will appear on the ballot in that order.

Both school districts, as well as Mora, will hold elections Feb. i. The East election will include an item attempting to increase the mill levy in the district. C.B. Trujillo Trujillo worries about Highlands, state hospital A (This is the second in a series of stories probing the views of area i a on priorities in the legislative session scheduled to open next Tuesday in Santa Fe.) A A I A I Optic Reporter.

Rumbling about Highlands and the State Hospital may soon turn into legislation gravely affecting those Las Vegas facilities here, Sen. C.B. Trujillo said in a telephone interview from his office in Taos. "There may be a big move to make Highlands a Junior College and I don't know if we can stop it," Trujillo said. "i expect some effort in that direction.

Since the enrollment has dropped, and the school is a they say the a i i a i refuses to take action. It is being said that i a is not i i its function. "Highlands is overstaffed; they are (he most over-staffed university in the slate. When the enrollment decreased, there was no movement In decrease the staff and today they are staffed for 2,500 students even though there are only 2,000. "Another problem that will face are.

He indicated that expects legislation to be passed on some kind of tax relief. "An effort will be made to reduce income and gross receipts taxes," Trujillo said. "I'm in favor of reducing taxes so that the people can pay their gas bills this winter." He does not want the state to regulate prices because he believes that the federal government showed that it did not work. "Gas prices are in the hands of private enterprise, and I'm against the regulation of prices at the wellhead. The federal way is not the way.

It has proved inadequate. "The fact that the legislature holds that hammer (to regulate) over the private enterprise head, may mean they will come up with some voluntary program. Trujillo feels there is a "good chance fo reduce the income or gross receipts tax." He added at the end of the interview. "The other thing that we need to work on is to evaluate Luna Vocational Technical Institute. We need to see if it is doing the job it should be doing." He concluded.

"I'm talking about 1 1 i i i ill IdlUlllK aOOUt the legislature is what to do with the some of the rumblings around the State Hospital. The facility has been state. I don't know if anything will called inadequate to provide the happen, but that's what I've heard service and there will be a big push this interim for moving it to a more centralized Trujillo. a veteran legislator, has ar thrust in the Senate power structure. a be pushed to He is nn the important Senate retain the hospital, or some phasing Finance Committee and is majority out of it.

There may be a hospital floor leader. He represents District there, hut what it does, or what its Six. comprised of Taos and Mora functions will be. may be curtailed." counties and three rural precincts in He said that he hopes the session San Miguel County Only Saoello will not pass too many bills for "I Rociada and a are feel the less we pass, the better we involved in his district. French court frees alleged terrorist PARIS (AP) A French court today freed a Palestinian who allegedly commanded the slaying of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

France had been under heavy pressure from its Arab friends to release him. The Palestine Liberation Organization office in Paris issued a brief statement "welcoming the attitude of French Weather- North-central Mountains: partly cloudy at times today, tonight and Wednesday with slight warming; a few snow flurries over the mountain peaks: winds westerly to 20 miles an hour over high ridges. Las Vegas near 10 and low 40s. Los Alamos near 5 and upper 30s. Raton near zero and low 40s.

Santa Fe near 10 and upper 30s. justice." It said that "everyone sees that someone wished to harm the good relations between the PLO and France." In ordering Abu Daoud freed, the court ruled that requests from West Germany and Israel to hold him for possible extradition were unacceptable. His release was expected to bring protests from Israel and possibly France's European partners, who recently concluded a convention against terrorism. Daoud was arrested Friday night in Paris where he had come as part of an official Palestine Liberation Organization delegation to attend the funeral, of a Palestinian activist shot down in the street last week by unknown assassins. The court mentioned no limitations on Daoud's freedom when ordering him released.

There was speculation he would quickly be escorted to an airport and flown out for his own security. Kiwanis ice carnival announced The sixth annual Ice Carnival sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas will be held Sunday, according to John Leavenworth, chairman of the project. The site for this winter event will be the Montezuma ponds, where the ice is expected to be excellent for skating. There will be competition for all age groups and ribbons will be to the first six winners within each event. These awards will be presented for each age group a i i a i There is no registration before Sunday.

The skating events will to be judged i group and individual relays, dashes and 'backward skating. A King and Queen for the 197? Ice Carnival will also be selected. The Key Club will operate a refreshment stand where coffee, hot chocolate and hotdogs will be sold. The Mounted Patrol will assist with parking and traffic procedures..