The Portsmouth Herald from Portsmouth, New Hampshire • Page 1

'The Almanac Monday, Aug. 16,1976 (DST) Sunset 7:43 P.M. High TMe 9.2'4:40 P.M. 8.4-5:10 A.M. The Portsmouth Herald Weather Forecast Tonieht-- Fair.

Tomorrow Mostly sunny. Today's Temperature-- Day 72, Night 68. VOL. XC, NO. 269 PORTSMOUTH, N.H., MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 16, 1976 20 PAGES copy 1.

delivered Ford and Reagan hunt for delegates KANSAS CITY, Mo (AP) President Ford and Ronald Reagan are personally pursuing the last, scattered handfuls of uncommitted delegates while Republicans open their most divided national convention in a generation. When Mary Louise Smith, Republican national chairman, calls the party's 31st National Convention to order today it will signal the opening of the final phase of the long, sometimes bitter struggle between an incumbent president never tested in a national election and his brash opponent whose challenge defied conventional political wisdom And many of the Republicans gathered here for the showdown fear the outcome will leave the party too divided to withstand the Democratic challenge in the fall campaign Few in Kansas City expected the Republicans to duplicate the show of unity and party harmony the Democrats staged last month in New York when they nominated Jimmy Carter for president. Throughout the preconvention week, strategists for Ford and Reagan probed and tested and sought signs of softness in the delegate totals each was claiming. Both sides claimed to have more than the 1,130 delegate votes needed for the nomination. The Associated Press delegate count, based on legal commitments and publicly stated preferences, gave Ford 1,117 and Reagan 1,036, with 105 uncommitted and a single delegate saying he will vote for Sen.

James L. Buckley of New York The prospect that Buckley, a conservative Republican, might enter the race was the latest Ford will keep his hold on Maine 9 delegation CITY, Mo. (AP) H. Davidson Osgood was out of hiding five minutes when reporters, cornered him with questions about his status as Northern New England's only true uncommitted delegate. Osgood, a Portland, Maine, lawyer, had one firm comment in the Sunday night session, he'll announce his presidential choice at noon on Tuesday.

He said be has nearly made up his mind on who he's backing, but believes the highly charged atmosphere of the convention could bring some surprises in the next 24 hours, and that might overturn his first choice. What might 'change his mind 7 President Ford's choice of a vice presidential candidate, if he makes it public before Wednesday. Osgood said he would vote for a Reagan proposal that seeks to force Ford to name his vice presidential choice before the nominating ballot begins Wednesday night. But he immediately cautioned reporters that his decision on a procedural matter couldn't be interpreted as meaning he is leaning toward Reagan "I would vote for disclosure because I would like to know (Ford's) vice presidential choice," he said Osgood spent the weekend in seclusion outside Chicago before flying to Kansas City Sunday night. He is not staying with the Maine delegation, but in the home of a friend in a posh Kansas suburb.

"It's not that I don't want to be with the delegation," he again cautioned, "I have an invitation from an old friend." Maine made news on another front Sunday when delegation Chairman John Linnell said he expected the majority of the 20-person group to stav behind President Ford Last week, six members of the delegation said they seriously were considering withholding their support of Ford, should he choose former Treasury Secretary John Connelly as a running mate Linnell said he told Ford aide Robert Baker that the Maine delegation was serious in its opposition to Connally, but would not "become part of the Reagan strategy" by denying Ford a potential first-ballot victory News Briefs I Portsmouth is stuck Burglars steal weapons DANVERS, Mass. (AP) An undetermined number of weapons were stolen in a break at the National Guard armory here, it was discovered today. 1 Capt. Chip Hoar, spokesman for the Massachusetts National Guard, said 'the burglars did not break any doors or windows but broke. directly into the vault where weapons were stored.

"Pilot unhurt in crash LAMOINE, Maine (AP) A small airplane crashed'here today, but there were no serious Hancock County Sheriffs Department reported. Hancock' County Airport official Bruce Nett pilot Peter Monighetti of Ellsworth sustained cuts and bruises and walked out from thecrash. Cimadii tan missing GORHAM, N.H. (AP) --Authorities continued the' search today for a 75-year-old Acton, Ontario, man, who has been reported missing since' Friday in Moose Brook State Park near here, 'The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reported that 35 people joined in thre search Sunday for Charles Ptpko, who was on -a two-week camping trip with his wife, daughter and son-in-law Benuington Battle Day BENNINGTON, Vt (AP) Vermonters today were observing their unique state holiday, Bennington Battle Day, commemorating a Revolutionary War battle fought in New York by primarily New Hampshire troops. The holiday markVthe Aug 16, 1777, victory over the Redcoats and Hessians by a ragtag army of led by Gen John Stark of Newjttmpshire.

Stark ended a foray by Gen. JohnrBurgoyne's troops, delaying their march to Saratoga. Belle leaves victims VERNON, (AP) Fumes from an emergency generator used in a power outage during Hurricane Belle killed a husband and wife' and the couple's two dogs, according to "The bodies of Ronald Johnson, 41, and his wife Katherine, 34, were found Saturday in their home about 8:15 p.m Their deaths were believed to be the first in Connecticut due to Hurricane Belle. Lobster, boat sought '''SOUTHWEST HARBOR, Maine (AP) The (J.S. Coast Guard called in a helicopter today to dssist in the search for an overdue lobster boat which had seven persons aboard.

A 'Coast Guard spokesman said the boat left Otter Creek Desert Island Sunday af-' temoon and- was reported headed for Baker Christians open drive Lebanon (AP) Christian forces opened new campaign today to drive the Palestinians from the Meten area of the mountains overlooking Beirut. "Unless the Palestinians pull out of the Meten immediately, we will have to evict them by force," said a leader of the right-wing Phalange party, which has the largest militia on the Christian side of the Lebanese civil mum on GOP PLAINS, Ga. (AP) As Republicans fight over, who wfll be their presidential nominee, 'Jimmy Carter plays the statesman, saying he wont comment on the GOP convention until it's over. The posture seems to fit the low profile Carter has kept since winning the Democratic nomination last month. He has given some private "interviews, brought in experts for briefings on defense, economics and foreign! policy; played some Softball and taken few trips outside Georgia.

Mansonite escapes prison caiif. AP --The FBI said it was without new leads today as it searches for Susan Murphy, a fringe member of the Charles Hanson clan who escaped from a federal prison. Miss Murphy escaped Saturday from the Terminal bund prison with another woman. Tney. overpowered a female prison guard, beat her and escaped in her car, which they later hhMdmed.

authorities said. with $20M sewer job There seems no way for Portsmouth to avoid going into a $20 million sewer facility plan that will cost local taxpayers an estimated $6 million and rip up 30 miles of city streets. The secondary treatment and separation plan would take place over a 10-year period, beginning in about two years. City Manager Calvin A Canney said today that local efforts to change the federal requirement for the giant sewer project apparently hadn't succeeded. So Portsmouth must proceed with plans for pollution abatement required under a 1972 public law.

A meeting was scheduled for this afternoon with a local firm of engineering consultants, Wright, Pierce, Barnes jd Wyman. Canney said the city's objections to the plan were discussed at a meeting in Concord recently with state and Environmental Protection Agency officials "and it was the general conclusion we would have to proceed on schedule as required by the federal government" There would actually have to be flexibility because the city is already behind the federal timetable, he pointed out. For several months city officials had been exploring avenues that would let Portsmouth escape the complex, and costly, abatement plan calling for separation of the sewer and storm system. The plan also requires the construction of a $9 million secondary treatment plant on Pierce Island. The city's chief hope lay in an amendment that would permit coastal communities lying adjacent to deep water to pipe some waste waters out instead of going through expensive treatment processes.

But Canney said today federal officials explained this would apply only to communities on the Pacific coast where there's deep water close to the shore, and that all Atlantic and Gulf communities would have to abide by pollution procedures already specified in the law. "Unless that law is changed all communities will proceed toward abatement of pollution as presently defined," Canney said today. He said he would be presenting a written report to the council in due course. Latest estimate for the wide job was $15 million to $20 million of which state and federal governments would pay about 50 per cent, said Canney This doesn't include an inflation factor. However, the city will have to pay in addition to the local share of installations extra'costs incurred in relocating water lines, street repairs and so on.

"Thirty miles of streets will have to be dug up during the next 10 years," said Canney. In Portsmouth sewage and surface water are frequently carried by the same underground piping and this now has to be separated according to the federal requirement The manager said the city has received notice to begin construction plans by November this year and he estimated-it would take a year to complete them and get approval. He guessed construction would begin in two years at the earliest. Wright, Pierce, Barnes and Wyman last year completed a feasibility study on the sewer facility plan Conservation Commission opposes dredging project The Portsmouth Conservation Commission has asked an engineering firm to recommend against the use of the Portsmouth tidal basin for a Navy Yard dredging project In a letter to the Boston, firm of consultants, charles Vaughn said the commission objects to the N.H. Port Authority "listing with the Navy Dept the Portsmouth disposal site without state or local authorization.

He said the two separate projects federal and state --have become' 'entwined in a maze of conflicting regulations and overlapping jurisdictions." He said the conservation commission doesn't object to the federally sponsored dredging but did object to the port authority's action, though "the commission is not an adversary of he port authority." The tidal basin is upriver from the state pier where the Boston and Maine Railroad embankment runs. Vaughn referred in his letter to the Boston firm of Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas, retained as consultant for the Navy Yard dredging plan, to the Special Board's ruling holding in abeyance the port authority's petition to use the tidal basin as a disposal site. Board chairman George M. McGee Sr. said detailed engineering plans must be submitted Nude bathers retreat Weather map, forecast Lottery system Harris Survey Capitol Commentary Uncommitted delegates For Federal Employes Business Mirror Fur prices rising Page Page Page Page Page Page 9 Page 20 Page 20 Page 20 indicating maintenance flows into the North Mill Pond and protection of the propsed fill, also specific information regarding use of the land to be created.

The port authority proposal is separate from its expansion plan involving lengthening of the pier and associated dredging In his lengthy letter Vaughn says "the evidence suggests that the N.H Port Authority doesn't have the required permits nor teg authority to direct the filling of the Utal Vaughn's letter said: "Because tidal basins have not been appraised for their value to the city as-a whole, they have not been regarded as valuable assets, except as possible development sites for maritime traffic and transportation. Once a tital basin is tilted in, it is gone forever. Let me list some of the current uses of this tidal basin. "Life support value, including its ability to absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, support waterfowl and other animals, protect the citv and the surrounding coves and inlets from the damaging effects of storms, act as a tertiary sewage treatment for removal of phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur, compared with the cost of equivalent treatment by manmade facilities. "In addition, small fish species use the tidal basin as spawning grounds and their young survive in the sheltered basin until they are big enough to venture out to sea where they migrate upanddow the coast." It also said that "The Portsmouth Conservation Commission position on this fill project was, and still is, the same as that taken by the Southeastern New Hampshire Regional Commission, who recommended that there should be a 'firm plan for use of the area other than fill first and see what it can be used for later." Their conclusions, and ours, "denial without prejudice." State Pier hearing 31 The Water Resources Special Board has set a public bearing Aug.

31 on the N.H. Port Authority proposal to extend the state pier 278 feet and dredge about 9,000 cubic yards of material during the project. hearing will be at 37 Pleasant St, Concord, at 1:30 p.m. The pier extension was authorized by the state legislature to allow two ships to dock simulaaeously at the Nobles Island facility. The dredge material and 800 cubic yards of fill will be placed behind a steel sheeting wall to create a hardstand approach to the wharf, according to the State Public Works Dept, that has presented the plan on the port authority's behalf.

The wharf will be constructed on piling white the bank under it will be riprapptd with heavy- George M. McGfee special board chairman, abo has announced a public hearing Aug. 24 at 3 p.m., on the petition of Custom Pools, to install about 440 feet of throe-foot culvert to enclose all drainage acrou property on the Old Dover in Newmgton. Plans for both projects may be inspected at the board's office at 37 Pleauuit Concord, and the board will accept written statements concerning the respective petitions. imponderable in the tightest GOP nomination race since Dwight Eisenhower and Robert Taft battled in 1952 Before the balloting begins Wednesday night for the presidential nomination, the candidates will test their delegate strength in several floor fights The first significant test should occur Tuesday night when Reagan's backers plan to fight for adoption of a rule that would require each presidential candidate to name his choice for a running mate by Wednesday morning.

Reagan already has said his choice is Sen Richard Schweiker of Pennsylvania The vice presidential rule was rejected Sunday by the convention rules committee, but Reagan and his managers said they expected to lose there The real test, they insist, will come on the convention floor John Sears, Reagan's campaign manager, has said repeatedly he believes the former California governor's strength on matters like the proposed rules change is greater than the number of delegates attributed to him in most Thomson's there New Hampshire Gov. Meldrim Thomson was greeted by a relative on his arrival yesterday at the International Airport in Kansas City for the Republican national convention. (AP Photo) Chances of second ballot depends on infighting KANSAS CITY, Mo (AP) --If President Ford fails to win the GOP presidential nomination on the first ballot, he will lose between four and 15 votes to Ronald Reagan, but that switch might not decide the nomination battle, according to the Associated Press delegate survey. As Ford crept within a few votes, at least for now, of a first-ballot victory, the chances for a second ballot increasingly depended on some fight shaking delegates away from current loyalties or on a breakthrough among uncommitted delegates On a second ballot, however, the key states would be North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. Those states require their delegates to vote accordance with state primary results for one ballot, but the delegates could vote their personal preferences on a second ballot.

Ford's backers maintain they can offset most of Reagan's expected second-ballot gams, but a vote Sunday in Ford's homestate Michigan delegation casts doubt on those claims, reinforcing the results of the AP delegate survey Even with such changes on a second ballot, the key to the GOP nomination could well remain with the uncommitted delegates, who are unfettered by state laws in choosing their candidate. The uncommitted delegates numbered 105 today. Ford had 1,117 delegates, Reagan 1,036 and Sen James L. Buckley of New York had one the quest for the 1,130 needed fot the nomination It was impossible to measure fully the impact on the uncommitted delegates of a failure to nominate a candidate on the first ballot. Ford's chief delegate hunter, James A Baker III, estimated Friday that the President would lose 5 to 8 votes on a second ballot, with gains in Michigan and Indiana mostly offsetting losses in the other two states Michigan delegates are bound to vote 55 for Ford and 29 for Reagan on the first ballot At a caucus Sunday, the delegation rejected 55 to 28 a resolution favored by Reagan and opposed by Ford that would require Ford to name his running mate before the presidential balloting Reagan's big second ballot gam would be in North Carolina, which is supposed to cast 25 votes for Ford and 28 for Reagan on the first ballot, along with one uncommitted A survey of Tar Heel delegates shows that 50 actually favor Reagan, only two support Ford, and two are uncommitted.

Kentucky is supposed to be a Ford state 19 to 18 on the first ballot But given the chance to vote their personal preferences on a second ballot, delegates say they would favor Reagan 24-8, with five uncommitted Ford's big state for secondballot gams is Indiana Because Reagan won the Indiana primary, the first ballot vote is required to go to him 45-9 But a poll of the delegates shows 28 for Ford, 22 for Reagan and 4 undecided on a second ballot If these preferences hold, Reagan would gain at least five votes, plus whatever he could get from the 11 who indicate they are uncommitted on a second ballot preference Ford would lose 15 votes but could recoup some if he picked up some of the second ballot uncommitteds in these four states. Remember the ladies The Epping Historical Society paid tribute to the role played by women in the 2M-year history of Ike nation in the town's bicentennial parade Saturday. The society's float depicted the family and household chores traditionally done by women. (Herald Photo) surveys of intended votes on the first nominating ballot Reagan and Ford hit town Sunday and held campaign rallies at about the same hour but miles apart the convention city" "I know we are going to win," said Ford "Do I think I can still win on the first ballot 7 Reagan said to reporters after his arrival. "Yes On the eve of the convention.

Ford's delegate total increased by seven, Reagan's by three-. But the biggest remaining bloc of uncommitted delegates, the 30-vote Mississippi contingent, continued to resist pressure from, both camps to declare its intentions. The. Mississippians caucused Sunday night but made no move to abandon their uncommitted status Ford picked up four votes in Pennsylvania) two in New York, one Virginia and one in Kansas He lost one New York delegate to Buckley Ford's gains included three delegates, counted as uncommitted by The AP, who became ill were unable to attend the convention All three were replaced by alternates who support Ford. -Reagan picked up in Pennsylvania and one in Colorado.

TM Operating from the 18th-floor presidential suite at the Crown Center Hotel, Ford appeared, tantahzmgly close to victory Enter Buckley The New York senator arrived" in Kansas City a few hours after Ford and- Reagan and he continued to put off saying whether or not he would enter the race "I've just arrived," Buckley told reporters the airport "I've got to get some information Is" there Are theie sufficient numbers of people'" A Draft Buckley Committee was formed by two former Reagan backers, Reps Phillip Crane of Illinois and Steve Symms of Idaho. Symms is bound by state law to vote for Reagan on the first ballot 1 Sears denied having any role in the Buckley trial balloon. But the Reagan campaign' manager was the architect of many of the surprise moves pulled during the campaign bjr the challenger One that caught nearly everyone from the Ford camp and many of Reagan's supporters off' guard was the naming of Schweiker as Reagan's choice for the vice presidential nomination The Schweiker announcement brought a flurry of protests from conservative backers of Reagan who objected to the senator's liberal voting record on domestic issues Conservative dissatisfaction with Schweiker raised the possibility that if Reagan is. nominated he could face a rebellion among his. supporters when he asks the convention to dorse his choice for a running mate Meanwhile, Reagan and Schweiker continued to hammer away at Ford for his refusal to say whom he would ask to run with him.

"They're still dangling 19 people for the opportunity only one can have," Schweiker said. "The vast majority of the delegates feel it is -their privilege and their right to know who Mr; Ford's running mate would be," Sears said But the convention rules committee was, unaffected and voted 59 to 44 against the vice presidential rule backed by Reagan. The fight over the rules change is likely to followed Tuesday night by attempts to change planks of the platform drafted by a committee headed by Ford supporter, Gov Robert Ray of Iowa Sears said the Reagan camp was studying foreign policy planks and trying to decide whether to fight to bnng positions on the Panama Canal, detente, African policy and China closer to Reagan's campaign statements. Tourists shy away from Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (AP) Thousands of tourists have canceled plans to visit Philadelphia since a puzzling and deadly malady struck after an American Legion convention Over the last two weeks, dafly.iatteti- dance at the Liberty Bell has dropped 25 per cent "People call us and ask us if we know anything new," said a motel clerk in Cherry Hill, J-, a Philadelphia suburb. "They ask if it's contagious, and when we say we're not sure, they cancel." Figures are not available on the number of cancellations directly attributable to fear of the disease But a check of a dozen hotels turned up six scrapped conventions or meetings, and numerous reports of Philadelphia-bound tourists who had changed their mind.

One man who canceled plans to attend a convention here last week was Richard Givan, chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. "If it were just an epidemic in town you might not think so much about it," he said. "But since it appears to be centered in the very same hotel where we're supposed to stay, it doesn't sound too inviting Givan was to have stayed at the Bellevue- Stratford Hotel, as were the San Francisco Giants baseball team. But on Thursday, when the Giants came to town to play the Phillies, they checked into a Holiday Inn. The Bellevue-Stratford was headquarters for the Legion convention July 21-24.

Subsequently, 25 of the estimated 10,000 people who had some connection with the state-wide gathering died of the illness, and 140 others were hospitalized. Last weekend, state officials said a priest musician who attended the 41st International Euchanstic Congress here two weeks ago--and who stayed at the hotel also contracted the pneumonialike illness The Bellevue-Stratford is not the only hotel to suffer. "The International Brotherhood of Carpenters was coming here Sunday," said Ted Kistane, manager of a downtown Sheraton hotel. "It means about 2,000 room nights. But because ef the illness they said they coming.

That's a big hunk of change Counting their food and drinks, it's excess of $100,000. Despite two weeks of intensive research and interviews with thousands who attended the Legion convention, health officials rematu puzzled about the cause of the disease, which caused high fevers and lung congestion. The researchers say they have ruled out as causes viruses, bacteria, fungus, or diseases as plague or Lassa fever. They say the cause may turn out to be a toxin a poisonous agent but a number of toxins, inchknhgheavy metals, have also been discounted. ft.