The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 3

THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Aug. 23, 1975 J. CITE AIRPORT J-S5 RELOCATION PACT ack Caucus Urges State Require Joint Ventures By CLAUDIA TOWNSEND contractor was never actually hired, and the subcontractor's bid on the portion of the 1-85 contract was rejected because it was not the low bid. "It is our policy to use the lowest price a subcontractor submits," Matthews said. "If his price had been low, he would have been used.

In all fairness to the people that give as prices, we're honor-bound to select the lowest price that comes in." State Transportation Commissioner Tom Moreland said Friday that he contacted the Matthews firm after hearing complaints from legislators about the 1-85 contract' and that the firm's explanation of the black subcontractor situation was project the "first test of this joint-venture concept" The caucus members charged that black firms are participating in only one-half of 1 per cent of Georgia's total contracts, adding: "We cannot allow the state to continue to operate in this fashion." "Our concern is to get the governor and state officials attuned to joint ventures," Brown said. "We're concerned about the black businessman having an opportunity to participate in the process. "We are supportive of what the mayor and the city of Atlanta have done with this concept We hope the state will be generous enough to follow that route." At present Matthews said, there" are no black subcontractors working on the $13.5 million project, though there are black minority firms working on other Matthews projects. The black caucus members present at Friday's press conference were reluctant to discuss the controversy that has surrounded the City of Atlan-ta'sdecision to require joint ventures. "It's not for me to get into the evaluation of how the Atlanta joint ventures were arrived at," Brown said.

"Our concern is the concept. It is a good one-it has worked in other states." established capability for delivering a quality product on schedule." McKinney charged Friday that there was "deviousness" involved in the letting of the 1-85 contract and threatened to go to court if necessary to insure black participation in the project He accused Marietta contractor C.W. Matthews, the successful bidder on the project, with hiring a black subcontractor, Dave Parrish Hauling then firing the firm after getting the massive highway contract. "He used that firm to get the contract then excluded them," McKinney said. But Bob Matthews, president of C.W.

Matthews said the black sub "It is not inconceivable to me that the time will come when white-owned and minority-owned firms will team up to bid for state business," the governor said. "It is not up to me as governor to dictate the composition of any consortium seeking to do business with the state or to solicit bids from any individual firm or group of firms. "It is important to me that all firms, including those owned by minority interests, have equal opportunity to bid on state business including building and highway construction contracts," he continued. "However, in these times of tight state revenue, it is my primary responsibility to see that state government gets the most for the taxpayers' dollar from firms with Members of the legislative black caucus said Thursday they want the state to begin requiring "joint ventures" to boost black participation in state contracts, beginning with the $13.5 million airport relocation of I-J5. Eut Gov.

George Busbee said he "could not sanction any state mandate requiring that all firms and corpora tions have joint ventures or consorti-urns with any group in order to bid on state projects." At a morning press conference, state Rep. Billy McKinney, D-Atlanta, flanked by black caucus chairman Ben Brown and Rep. Mildred Glover, said the caucus intends to make the 1-85 Coke Buys mm ft lAII 1 i TjyT XeF lEa 3jE Lrn rruj EH 8:00 ML 'TIL 6:00 SATURDAY ONLY 3 supeh SAVINGS OF 0 to 7.0. AY ONLY! ROSTURE III SLEEP SET By Southern Cross Double Size Set EARLY ALIERIGAN ROCKER 1 "CUMBERLAND" BEDROOM SUITE By American of Martinsville Triple Dresser and Twin With Gold Corduroy Seat Reg. $189.63 ALL STORES Mirrors, gueen Head fa r-i BoardandDoorChest.

0 Kffr.i223.C3 TfULU Rez. $219.1 ALL STORES ALL STORES 'Parent Bottler' By DeWITT ROGERS Conilllulion Business Writer The Coca-Cola Co. paid $35 million in cash Friday to buy the Thomas company of Chattanooga, the last of the independent "parent bottlers" through which Coca-Cola had sold syrup to its local bottlers. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (Thomas) as it was officially called, did not actually bottle the soft drink.

Under provisions of a contract signed in 1899, it had been given the right to buy syrup from the Coca-Cola the Atlanta-based soft drink giant, and then resell it to bottlers in a specific region of the country. The" agreement by which Coca-Cola bought the contract of the little-known "parent bottler" was announced last October, but was not finalized until this week. The acquisition will allow the Coca-Cola Co. to sell syrup directly to all of its bottlers. The Thomas company was founded at the turn of the century by two Chattanooga businessmen Benjamin F.

Thomas and Joseph Whitehead. Legend has it that they paid only $1 to Asa Candler, the founder of Coca-Cola, for the exclusive right to sell his already popular secret-formula syrup to bottlers. At that time, according to a company spokesman, Candler, felt strongly that Coke's real future was as a drink to be prepared at drugstore fountains, and he didn't put much faith in the bottling business. But Thomas and Whitehead actively sought out individuals 'all over the country who set up locally owned and operated companies to bottle and market Coke. The Thomas company acted as a middle-man for syrup sales, buying syrup at a 12.5 cent discount per gallon from Coca-Cola.

Through a long series of' business deals, Thomas and Whitehead eventually sold the contract rights for some parts of the country to six other These "parent bottlers" served the same function as the Thomas company and also had overall marketing and quality control responsibilities in their territories. They sold only Coke and 'none of Coca-Cola's other recently developed products. Each "parent bottler" had a 'specific region, but the company kept the largest territory for itself ad 'area that stretched from Rome, Ga. north along the Eastern Seaboard to New York and west to That region included a fourth of the 800 bottlers in the. country and served almost 40 per cent of the U.S.

Beginning about 50 years ago, the Coca-Cola bottling company began buying up the bottlers" in what a company spokesman said was an effort to consolidate operations and "simplify the lines of communication." Medic Gets Year in Jail In Tax Case An Atlanta-area doctor Friday was sentenced to one year in federal prison to be followed by three years probation for failing to file income tax returns. The U. S. attorney's office identified him as Dr. Emil V.

Spillman III of 1631 Timber-lake Road in Kennesaw. The physician pleaded guilty in June to three counts of willful failure to file the for the years 1968, 1969 and 1971, though he had income of more than $294,000. Spillman, 44, is a graduate of Emory University's medical school and a specialist in medical hypnosis. if STEWART-LAKEWOOD 0EILY Reg. $979.00 Fox 3 Piece Den Group Covered in Red and Black Scotch Guard Fabric.

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Ideal for any den. Sale Priced $578 Reg. $499.00 Red and Blue Plaid Early American Sofa and Chair by Brookwood. Sale Priced $249 Reg. $298.00 Broyhill Dark Pine 48" Student Desk with matching Sale Priced.

$149 Reg. $949 Bassett Modern Bedroom Suite with Chrome and Suede Trim, Suite includes Triple Dresser, Twin Mirrors, Chest and Queen Head Board. Sale Priced. $474 Reg. $399 Brookwood Traditional Sofa Covered in Pastel Floral.

Sale Priced $199 Reg. $1,149.00 Dark Pine Bedroom Suite by Lea. Includes Triple Dresser, Large Hutch Mirror, Double Bed, Chest and Night Stand. Sale Priced. $574 Reg.

$927 Contemporary Herculon Stripe Sofa with Chrome Trim and Two Correlating Burnt Orange Tub Chairs. Sale Priced. $463 Reg. $269 Spanish Oak Four Drawer Desk by Riverside. Sale Priced $134 mtucmonmrmsma Sale priced! Refreshing new Spanish Talencia" bedroom groups with a rustic, fresh country air! Reg.

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Sale $30 eav Reg. $599.00 Spanish Bedroom Suite by Lea. Includes Triple Dresser, Twin Mirrors, King Headboard and Chest. Sale Priced. $299 Reg.

$299 Bernhardt Spanish Dining Room China with Glass Shelves and Light. Sale Priced $149 Reg. $199.95 Green Vinyl La-Z-Boy Rocker Recliner. As is. One Only.

Sale Price $98 ALL STORES You get Triple Dresser, Twin Mirror, Queen size Headboard, Door Chest. Wt new; ft'i different! It's Spanish with a fresh, country took. American of Martinsville has taken Spanish In more casual direction with heavy, straight moldings, thick over -hanging tops with rounded edges, and larger bracket1 bam. Oak veneers and solids have been given a warm semi-dark tone. Heavy fixed bar brass hardware has an antique finish.

Wooden pegs add a rustic accent to the design. You get triple dresser and twin mirrors WITH doublequeen headboard and chest OR king site heedboard and two commodes, 0 BELVEDERE STORE ONLY Reg. $69 Contemporary Walnut Finish Desk by Frank Son. Iri Carton. Sale Priced $34 Reg.

$499 Brown Vinyl Contemporary Sofa and Chair by Brookwood. Sale Priced $249 Reg. $649 4 Piece Natural Pine Bedroom Suite by Bassett. Includes Dresser, Mirror, Chest and Queen Headboard. Sale Priced $324 Reg.

$239 5 Piece Modern Dinette. Includes Pedestal Table and Four Swivel Chairs. AS IS. Sale Priced $49 Reg. $129 Lane Walnut Contemporary Cedar Chest.

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$899 American Drew 5 Piece Bedroom Suite. Spanish Style that includes Triple Dresser, Twin Mirrors, Door Chest and Queen Headboard. Sale Priced $449 Our delightful pompeian green 4-pc. conversational set is on sale today! Ret. $169.00 83 SUE Sale priced now! A 5 pc.

all-weather patio set styled for carefree fun! SALE 04 The sunny yellow wrought iron group is protected against rust corrosion. 30x48" sq. ta-' ble with glass top, 4 side chairs cushions. ALL STORES STEWART-LAKEWOOD 2779 Stewart Av.S.W. Phone 766-2729 This elegant set includes a 43" love seat, 2 arm chairs, a 26" round cocktail table.

The set is built of sturdy, durable wrought-iron to last. ALL STORES BRIARCLIFF VILLAGE 2080 Henderson Mill Rd. Acm frm Nerihlakt) Phone 939-1474 BELVEDERE PLAZA 3439 Memorial Drive Dtcitur, Ola. Phone 289-9893 rrn niroj.