The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 11

THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, May 18, 1971 Crime ENGINEER HAD A HEART 1 i Tots End Zoo Rail Strike I J' BIRMINGHAM Ala. (AP)-While Congress pondered the nationwide rail strike Monday a group of preschool children here took matters into their own hands and got their favorite choo-choo rolling again. A few sad faces and some tears did more in five minutes than negotiators have been able to accomplish in weeks in connection with the other strike. The train at the Birmingham Zoo is operated by Paul Ratliff, former engineer with Southern Railway. A veteran of many rail walkouts, he and fellow engineers at the zoo decided to join former colleagues by a sympathy strike.

But when 500 preschoolers showed up, little arms extended with green tickets clutched tight in their fists, the sympathy changed sides. "We just couldn't disappoint the kids," Ratliff said. The little four-car tain is pulled by a gasoline engine around one mile of twisting track. It carries its 48 passengers through tunnels, over bridges and past animal cages. The trip lasts about seven minutes.

It's the favorite facility of the zoo for many children. But Monday the little yellow cars stood still on their 16-gauge track. Grandfather men dressed in overalls paraded before the popular vehicle with signs saying "More pay, more benefits." The smallfry didn't understand that partly because many of them couldn't read. All they knew was the train was parked. So they resorted to the only form of collective bargaining they know about a spontaneous show of emotion.

The result was an overwhelming victory. mm Hi -Rails- lar and Cone Streets NW. He had been shot. Robbery is listed as the probably motive. Obediah B.

Reaves, a security guard, was shot and killed April 26 when he atempted to stop a robbery at a loan company office at 227 Mitchell St. SW. Larry Melvin Stanford, another security guard, was shot and killed May 6 when he attempted to question four robbery suspects in a Piedmont Road motel parking lot. These are the unsolved murders for Uie year. The only case in which robbery was not suspected as a motive was the death of Gail Mines, a young woman who was found fatally shot March 18 at the rear of a housing project on Pine Street NE.

These unsolved murders are the time-consuming cases upon which detectives spend endless hours of painstaking work. They are the end result of an endless flow of guns. Pawn records show an average of 25 to 30 guns are placed in pawn each day. Pawn brokers are required to obtain the name and address of the person who places the gun in pawn and report the transaction to police. Guns that are not reclaimed are sold to a purchaser who furnishes a name, address and proof of age.

The law-abiding citizen also contributes indirectly to the plethora of guns in the hands of criminals. He leaves his gun in the dash compartment of his car. He returns later to find the car broken open and the gun missing. WEDNESDAY in The Constitution: What can be done? However, a medical examination revealed he had been shot, apparently by a passenger in the back seat. Four days later, Roland J.

Hughey, a soldier stationed at Ft. Gordon, visited Atlanta and went down on Tne Strip. Hughey was lured behind a house in the Ten th Street area and shot and killed during an attempted robbery. On Feb. 8, A.

C. Carter was found fatally shot in his home at 1504 Hardee St. NE. Carter was reported to have kept large sums of money in his home. Police found his clothing stripped.

His pistol was missing. Miss Iber Wood was shot and killed March 16 during an attempted holdup of the store she operated at 523 Simpson St. NW. Robert Humphrey, said by police to be a dealer in narcotics, was found March 30 shot to death in his apartment at 385 Holly St. NW.

Police said Humphrey, also known as "Baby Ray," was known to carry large sums of money. Eugene Paden was found April 10 fatally shot in his automobile parked on Kendall Drive NE another apparent robbery. The same day, Bernard Ro-senfeld was shot and wounded in his place of business at 360 Jones Ave. NW. Rosenfeld collapsed while attempting to drive himself to a hospital.

His wallet was missing. The body of Jay A. Yaskin, a Georgia State University student, was found April 15 in his car in a parking lot at Pop VPS'. Prices on the New York Stock Exchange dropped sharply. "It is incredible that the half million employes of the rail industry should find themselves out of work and that millions of Americans should be subject to severe disruption by this action taken by a union representing a relatively few employes," Hogan told a news conference.

Chamberlain said in an interview his union would abide by whatever law Congress imposes. "Whatever they do, we will do it reluctantly but we'll do it," he said. The union struck after failing to win its demand for a 54 per cent wage hike over three years, retroactive to Jan. 1, 1970 when the last agreement expired. Wages for the men who operate the railway signal system now average $3.78 an hour.

Only three rail lines, unaffected by the strike, remained operating. They were the Pittsburgh Lake Erie and the South Shore South Bend, whose signalmen are represented by another union, and the Long Island Railroad, owned by the state of New York and also with another union. Hodgson said most other rail workers' unions had already settled for wage hikes of 43 per cent over 42 months and that a settlement should also be possible for the signalmen in line with that pattern. One other rail union, the AFL-CIO United Transportation Union, is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on a lower court decision that it could strike a few railroads selectively under certain conditions, rather than staging a nationwide walkout that inevitably brings action by Congress. The United Transportation Union was one of four that staged a one-day nationwide strike last Dec.

10 until ordered back to work by Congress. The three other unions have since settled. Hodgson said there are no complicating issues over work rules in the sign aim en's strike, such as in the case of the United Transportation Union which fears thousands of job eliminations if it agrees to industry demands. Nixon asked Congress to order the signalmen back to work until July 1 to allow time or further negotiatiins. backbone of the nation's raw materials delivery system-was already beginning to cripple industry.

First-class mail continued to move but an embargo on bulk mail beyond a 300-mile limit was imposed by the Postal Service. Detroit auto makers promptly announced job cutbacks and predicted plant closings if the strike lasted 48 hours. Government officials said some 300,000 big city commuters were affected and predicted snowballing effects on mining, meatpacking, chemicals, steel and other industries unless the strike were quickly ended. Suing Phone Company TAMPA, Fla. Little Robinette Price gulps down her bottle oblivious to the telephone overhead which her mother, Jea-ninnie, refuses to give back to General Telephone Co.

Mrs. Price said her service was disconnected in January when she refused to pay an added deposit of $110 a few days after installation. She has filed suit and refused to let repairmen in to take the phone out. (Associated Press Wirephoto) Effects nil PsUBd eunu To provide the voters with accurate information in response to their questions about DeKalb Schools, the Financial Institutions of DeKalb County have made a thorough investigation. Here are the results: strike not only is affecting the transportation of assembly parts to Atlanta but also the shipment of vehicles.

Many new cars are shipped piggyback on trains. Railroad officials said there was little concern about perishable foods in the Atlanta area. But it was a different story in other parts of the country. In Florida, a spokesman for the citrus industry said lhat rail strike has "definitely had an adverse effect. Every dayi the strike lingers on, a lot of fresh fruit that is packed sits waiting to be shipped." 1 He said about half the fresh oranges and almost all the grapefruit shipped weekly from Florida goes by rail.

Atlanta auto workers were luckier than most. In other states, General Motors and QUESTION: Why do DeKalb schools need additional funds at this time? ANSWER: When, in 1968, DeKalb tax assessments were reduced from 50 to 40 per cent by state law equalizing property taxes, a $2,463,000 income loss to the county schools resulted. It has not been possible to overcome this revenue loss; and on June 30, 1971, the deficit will be 3. QUESTION: Aren't we supporting our children's education as well as-. adjoining school systems? ANSWER: No.

Total income from all sources shows that DeKalb County receives $568.17 per student-compared with $785.24 for the City of Atlanta; $734.54 for Fulton County; $730.89 for City of Decatur. Of these total income amounts, DeKalb County locally contributes $266.50 as compared with $476.40 local revenue from City of Atlanta; $399.58 local revenue from Fulton County and $459.23 local revenue from the City of Decatur. (See Chart) Schools Chrysler Corp. cut back operations In eight plants and more than 6,500 workers at GM alone had their work time cut in half. The Ford Motor Co.

predicted a plant shutdown within 48 hours. While trains all over the nation were grinding to a halt, there was one cheery note in Georgia. CBS News called the Stone Mountain Park Monday to inquire whether the five-mile-long scenic railroad and its steam locomotive Yonah a Civil War replica would be affected by the strike. Rod Spicer, a park official, assured the national radio network that the train would continue to operate on schedule for visitors. The three principal railroads affected by the strike in the Atlanta area are the Southern Railway System, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Co.

and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Co. However, union picket lines also went up at the yards of the Atlanta and West Point Railroad the Georgia Railroad and the Western Railroad of Alabama. The three lines move about 1,000 cars of freight on a normal day. Southern moves about 4,500 freight cars a day; Seaboard, 5,000, and 4,000. Atlanta post office officials said the rail strike will have no effect on the delivery of first class mail and airmail.

However, all second, third and fourth class mail originating in the Atlanta region (the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida) for other states will be embargoed unless the post office destination is within the third parcel post zone of the post office of origin (or within about 600 mles). In addition, the post office said parcels will be restricted to size and weight during the rail strike. A parcel may not exceed 36 inches in length and 60 inches in length and girth, and may not weigh over 40 pounds. There will be no embargo of mail originating in an Atlanta region post office and destined within the region or to Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi or i i a a. There also will be no embargo on mail to military posts 2.

QUESTION: If action is nottaken now, will this shortage increase? ANSWER; Yes. Because of more students, increased sala ries for teachers and the elimination of the personal property tax, according to the proposed budget the shortage will amount to more than $5,000,000 by June, 1972. 4. QUESTION: Would the proposed tax increase affect only the home owner? ANSWER: No. By law, the increase would apply to all who pay ad valorem taxes on real estate -including apartment and commercial property.

City of Atlanta City of clarification of the busing decision. "The present statement is not my statement; I was not on the board when it was drawn up," said Mrs. Cofer. "I just don't feel a real commitment from all board members for doing what is right for the education of all children in this city. "My vote against asking for a clarification was a kind of a protest vote," she continued.

"I feel that we already have our directions from the Supreme Court and the President. We are merely postponing something that is morally and educationally right for our children." Klein and Dr. Asa Yancey both voted to ask for the clarification of the busing decision but expressed reservations. Klein said all students in the system should get free transportation, not just those transferring on racial grounds. Yancey said that, although he voted to ask for clarification, he believed the courts would rule that the system would have to furnish free 5.

QUESTION: What would.be the actual increase in dollars if the school tax referendum passes? ANSWER: The owner-occupied home, with a market value of $20,000 would pay $18 more per year (4V2 cents per day). Homes valued at $50,000 would pay $54 per year (14V'z cents per day). 6. QUESTION: Are ad valorem taxes in Metro Atlanta comparable with those of other ANSWER: No. The U.S.

Bureau of Census reported in 1968 that residents in Metro Atlanta pay less than residents of most metropolitan U.S. cities. Fulton Decatur Total I I I 1 Revenue $785.24 Total Total DeKalb Revenue Revenue i $734.54 $730.89 Total Revenue $568.17 iif jj 7. QUESTION: Can this shortage be financed by some other tax? ANSWER: We can foresee none immediately. Legislation and possibly, constitutional amendments would be required.

January 1, 1973 might be the earliest date other forms of taxation would be available. There is no assurance that this will come about. The above chart shows a comparison of total dollar amounts, from all sources, received per student. The dark areas show what portion of this support is contributed locally. (Taken from Georgia Education Statistics 1969-70, Georgia Department of Education.) DeKalb A right decision rests with an informed voter VOTE in the DeKalb School Tax Referendum TUESDAY, MAY 18 terest of the young people is the only issue," said Cherry.

Since they are in areas not served by the DeKalb school system, the following polls in Decatur and Atlanta will not be open Tuesday: College Heights College Heights Decatur Clairmoat, Decatur Glenwood, East Atlanta East Atlanta East Lake East Lake Edge-wood Edgewood Fern-bank Johnson Estates North Kirkwood North Kirkwood Oakhurst, Ponce de Leon, South Kirkwood South Kirkwood Winnona, and Westchester. "The Financial Institutions of DeKalb County" sion effort on the part of the school system. This year, school officials have waged an active campaign to gain approval of the rate increase. School Supt. Jim Cherry Monday called for voters to ignore the personalities involved and concentrate on the real issue in the Tuesday balloting.

"I urge the people to get out and give the school children of the county a representative vote. The educational best in The Fulton National Bank and its Branches in DeKalb County The National. Bank of Georgia Northeast Commercial Bank Peachtree Bank and Trust Com pany Trust Company Banks in DeKalb County Tucker Federal Savings and Loan Association Banks in DeKalb County Citizens Bank of Georgia Decatur Federal Savings and Loan Association DeKalb County Bank. DeKalb County Federal Savings and Loan Association DeKalb Exchange Bank The First National Bank and Branches in DeKalb County.