The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 3

Cos Angeles (Times Wednesday, February 25, 1981 Part I 3 Campbell to Fight Brown's PUC Choices Senate GOP Leader Calls 2 Ecologists Foes of Business, A-Power Governors OK End to Border Agency Four States Support Reagan Proposal to Cut Funds for Regional Commission By ROBERT FAIRBANKS, Times Sacramento Bureau Chief K-VU mm mmm 1 i Debris being carried from the charred remains of the 17-room landmark mansion in Piru. Historic Mansion to Be Rebuilt Popular Setting for TV Shows Was Destroyed by Fire Texas Gov. William P. Clements a Republican, told Brown and the other governors he believed the commission could be saved with some federal funding if the states were willing to begin picking up about half the cost. But Brown objected.

"That would fly in the face of fiscal frugality," he said in mock horror, adding later that he wished to make the commission the "first federal agency that will self-destruct by its own vote." Shortly after, the four governors voted for a resolution supporting abolition of the commission. However, a second part of the measure urged that the four states unite to maintain another commission function: liaison between the four governors and a similar regional commission on the Mexican side of the border. Brown endorsed preserving links with the Mexicans and said travel or similar expenses, expected to be relatively minor, could be handled through existing state programs. Left for New York Brown left Washington for New York shortly after the commission meeting, ending a nearly four-day stay at the nation's capital and an active role at the governor's meeting. Brown soon will form a committee to begin raising money for a 1982 U.S.

Senate race. And his actions at the governor's meeting broadly sympathetic to budget cuts but calling for new programs to help stimulate business growth cast him in the kind of conservative mold that could be clearly helpful in winning another statewide election. Today and Thursday Brown will meet with several business leaders in the New York area. He will return to Washington for a Friday morning breakfast with California Democrat leaders who will be at the capital for a meeting of the Democratic National Committee. WASHINGTON The four governors including Gov.

Edmund G. Brown Jr. who comprise the Southwest Border Regional Commission agreed Tuesday that the federal-state agency should be abolished. The governors, supporting one of President Reagan's proposed budget cuts, voted for a resolution calling for abolition of the commission, which provides economic aid along the Southwest border of the United States. "If this can't be cut.

nothing in the federal budget can be cut," Brown said during a commission meeting that was held at the close of the winter meeting of the National Governor's Assn. here. The commission had received some attention in California earlier because of Brown's appointment of political activist Tom Hayden as the governor's alternate on the commission. Senate Confirmation However, the Legislature then approved a bill requiring Senate confirmation for the alternate retroactive to Hayden's appointment. Rather than face a difficult battle for confirmation, and citing a desire to devote more time to grass-roots political organizing, Hayden resigned late last year.

The commission is composed of the governors of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Created in 1977, it is supported almost entirely by federal funds, now running at about $5 to $6 million a year. In addition to handling some relations between Mexico and the Southwest border states, the commission has given grants to border farmers to propagate guayule, a plant that produces a substance similar to rubber, and to place solar units in low -income housing. President Reagan would save about $44 million annually in federal funds by cutting the commission and seven similar regional agencies. Bids for Conservative By JOAN SWEENEY, Times Staff Writer A historic Piru mansion, which had been popular for filming television episodes and horror movies before its recent destruction by fire, will be rebuilt in the same Victorian style, the owner's son said Tuesday.

The circular stone tower and chimneys of the landmark, built in the 1880s, were all that was left standing after flames, apparently touched off by a painter's torch, swept through the house last week. The 17-room mansion has been the home of Scott Newhall, editor of the Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise, who bought it in 1968. Newhall's son, Tony, said the rebuilding would take "at least a year and less than five." He said the Newhall family has a set of plans for the original house, which will be used in the rebuilding. The house's distictive stone tower, which survived the fire, was cracked in the Feb. 9, 1971, San Fernando earthquake, and was taken down stone by stone and reassembled at that time, he said.

It will be incorporated in the rebuilt structure. The house has been used as a setting in episodes of such television series as Charlie's Angels, Mannix and Mission Impossible as well as in horror films, the younger Newhall said. Newhall, who estimated the loss at about $1.2 million, said a restoration of the house, which has been under way for the last 13 years, was within four months of completion when the fire started. Ironically, a sprinkler system was being installed as part of the restoration. The pump had been installed and the pipe was being laid when the fire broke out, he said.

star uT imiiir By JERRY GILLAM. Times Staff Writer SACRAMENTO Senate Republican Leader William Campbell Tuesday pledged to lead a fight against confirming Gov. Edmund G. Brown appointment of two environmentalists to the Public Utilities Commission, calling them both Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights) told a Capitol news conference that former Democratic Assemblyman Victor Calvo and state conservation director Priscilla C. Grew also are "anti-nuclear power and anti-growth." "I intend to lead strong opposition to them." Campbell said.

However, Democrats control the Senate by a 23-17 margin and confirmation requires only 21 votes, so Campbell faces an uphill fight. Special Session Sought On other subjects, he said: He will ask Acting Gov. Mike Curb, a Republican, to call a special legislative session on crime while Brown is out of state because it is "one of the more pressing issues of our time." Senate Republicans will propose an alternative to Brown's state budget for 1981-82 by the end of March because they think the financial proposal is too high. He will try to get the Reagan Administration to ease a freeze on $850 million in federal construction aid to California imposed because the state has failed to enact a yearly vehicle smog inspection program. "There is going to be a big battle in the Senate," Campbell said regarding confirmation of Calvo and Grew for the PUC jobs.

Five-Member Commission The five-member PUC regulates electrical, natural gas, telephone, interstate commerce and trucking rates. "The governor should check with the people who have to live under PUC decisions," Campbell said, "and he should have consulted with the business community." The executive secretary of the state Chamber of Commerce, John S. Hay, earlier called Calvo and Grew "anti-business." But Brown defended his appointees as objective and well -qualified. Campbell said the special session would enable the Legislature to enact anti- crime bills more quickly because such measures could take effect in 90 days instead of the following Jan. 1.

Atty. Gen. George Deukmejian, a potential 1982 GOP gubernatorial candidate, earlier this month purposed the special session. Brown to Weigh Request Brown, scheduled to return Friday from an East Coast trip, said he would consider the request. Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) and Senate President Pro Tern David A.

Roberti (D-Los Angeles) said the session would be a waste of money. Meanwhile, Curb, who also is expected to seek the Republican gubernatorial nomination, requested a meeting today with Democratic and GOP leaders of both houses to discuss calling a special crime session. Aides said the leaders would attend if there were no schedule conflicts. Curb has said he might call such a session while he is acting governor. An aide said the lieutenant governor wanted to discuss the issue face to face with the lawmakers.

Brown plans to meet with Deukmejian after he returns to California to discuss a variety of anti -crime bills. An assistant said Brown has "suspended judgment" on a special session until he talks with the attorney general. Meanwhile, Sen. Daniel E. Boat-wright (D-Concord) said California voters should be asked to add a penny to the six-cent state sales tax to help local law enforcement and fire officials.

A potential Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor next year, Boatwright said this would raise $1.9 billion in the first year. Wilson Takes Stand Against Rent Control i A 1 I hit ''MIS Mi 'v "JMJf 3 1 Vicki, the Scott Newhall family's Great Dane, standing guard Image Associated Press Pete Wilson just about everyone else in the business community, that he is a solid Republican conservative. He probably did not have to tell them he wants to be governor. Most of the audience had been involved in past political campaigns and most were abundantly aware that the incumbent, Democrat Edmund G. Brown is not considered a friend of the real estate community.

But Wilson had more in mind. He wants to establish his credentials as a conservative. Please see WILSON, Page 27 Showers Expected Today, May Linger Over Weekend BY RICHARD BERGHOLZ, Times Political Writer Everywhere it has been tried, rent control has proved to be "an egregious failure," said San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson. The audience, the Pasadena Board of Realtors, applauded. It was what they had gone to hear.

Pasadena has a rent control initiative on its April ballot. Wilson was a leader in a successful fight against a somewhat similar rent control proposal in San Diego last November. He alone among all the big-city mayors of the state vigorously supported Proposition 10 on the statewide ballot last June, which would have banned a state rent control law and repealed existing local ordinances. The measure was defeated. Role as Reagan Adviser And Wilson, as a key figure in President Reagan's urban affairs transition team, plumped for a strong stand by the incoming President against rent control.

Rent control, he told the Pas-adenans at the Monday meeting, is just another example of government interfering with private business. Just the mere threat of rent control can result in "a shrinking inventory of rental units," he said. Not once in his half-hour speech did the 47-year-old Wilson mention that he is planning to run for governor again next year and that he intends to convince the Realtors, and LARRY BESSEL Los Angeles in front of the burned house. 2 Bills Would Aid Renters Legislators Take Aim at Arbitrary Evictions By JERRY GILLAM, Times Staff Writer SACRAMENTO Legislation that would prohibit arbitrary eviction was introduced Tuesday in both the Assembly and Senate. The bills would protect month-to-month renters from eviction except under specified conditions, such as failure to pay rent, damaging the premises, disturbing other tenants or removing the property from the rental market.

If tenants were evicted without just cause, they could seek damages of three to five times the monthly rent and could move back into the unit. No Reason Required Current law allows landlords to evict renters without any reason with a 30-day notice. Similar tenant protection bills have been defeated in the past, but some cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Monica and Berkeley, already have just cause eviction ordinances. Mobile home park tenants and residents of federally subsidized units also have the same protection. "We have seen too many cases in which long-term and law-abiding tenants were evicted for reasons which are simply frivolous, unjustified and inexplicable," said Assemblyman Tom Bates (D-Oakland), author of one bill.

"Once evicted, displaced renters are forced to find new places to live in a critically short housing market. Months of painful searching may be Please see EVICTIONS, Page 28 By GEORGE RAMOS, Times Staff A 70 chance of rain showers was predicted for today by the National Weather Service in the wake of scattered sprinkles that were reported Tuesday, ending the Southland's recent trend of summery weather. And, the weather service added, the chance of rain might continue through the weekend. The inland high-pressure ridge that protected Southern California resulting in 10 consecutive days of 80-degree weather has dissolved, opening the way for Pacific storm systems to move into the area, forecasters said. Winds In addition to the probable showers, the Southland should get winds gusting up to 40 m.p.h.

in some areas today. A small craft advisory was in effect Tuesday from Point Conception would have a "broad, adverse national impact." California formally asked the justices to issue an injunction preventing Texas from adopting the quarantine, which is scheduled to start on Sunday. The justices could act upon California's request when they meet in their weekly conference Friday. The proposed quarantine, announced last week by Texas Com Writer in Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border. West to northwest winds of 15 to 20 knots with occasional gusts to 35 knots and 6 to 8 foot seas were reported.

The chance of rain should decrease to 50 by tonight, but another Pacific storm was in the wings, waiting for a chance to move into Southern California, the weather service said. Rainfall Below Normal The sprinkles reported Tuesday dampened some parts of the Los Angeles Basin, particularly coastal communities. No measurable rain was reported at Los Angeles Civic Center, but other cities had measured some precipitation. Among those were Torrance, .01 of an inch, and Hawthorne, .03 of an inch. In any event, the forecast of Please see SHOWERS, Page 26 missioner of Agriculture Reagan V.

Brown, would bar all produce from California that has not been either treated by cold storage or fumigated with the chemicals ethyl dibromide or methyl bromide. The so-called Medfly infested parts of Santa Clara and Alameda counties in Northern California last June. The fly can destroy crops, causing infested fruits or vegetables Please see CROP, Page 26 State Sues to Block Texas Ban on Produce Argues Move Against Fruit Fly Would Harm Agriculture Economy 20 Drop in State College Rolls Expected by 1991 SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -Because of the declining birthrate, the number of students enrolling in California colleges is expected to drop by at least 20 in the coming decade, according to a statistical study presented to the regional meeting of the College Board. By 1991, the study said, the West as a whole will have 16 fewer high school graduates than it had in 1979, according to the organization of high school counselors and college admissions officers. Utah is a statistical exception.

The Mormon Church has encouraged large families and, by 1995, Utah is expected to see a 58 increase in high school graduates over 1979 figures. The number of high school graduates in California is expected to drop by 17 in 1986 and by 24 in 1991. The number of high school graduates is expected to drop by 60 in the District of Columbia by 1994, and by 43 in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The students about to enter the nation's colleges in the next two decades are part of the same group whose small numbers forced school districts to close elementary and secondary schools over the last two decades. By JIM MANN, Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON-California filed suit in the Supreme Court Tuesday, seeking to head off a Texas quarantine on California fruits and vegetables that is intended to keep the Mediterranean fruit fly from crossing its borders.

In papers filed with the high court, California officials said Texas' quarantine would impose a "severe burden" on California's $12-billion-a-year agricultural economy and I.