.49,",640-4. A X E

T VER BSER 250 A Journal of Free Voices E A Window to the South H July 13, 1973 T

Dukes up Free-for-all in Texas labor

Austin blame. "Roy never reached out to those the only thing to do is to just walk off, kick the wall, cuss and remember that he's The Texas AFL-CIO is fixing to have people who were against him two years ago," he said. "He never made any attempt the only guy around who's goin' anywhere itself a butt-busting. If state President Roy and doin' anything. Roy can be just as Evans manages to get himself re-elected at to win them over, tb get them to arbitrary and as mean as hell and the funny the bi-annual labor convention, July 11-13, thing is that after he's done it, he really it won't be by much. Such is the popular doesn't remember it. The trouble is that wisdom among labor types around the he's done this to a lot of people who have state with two weeks to go before the no humor and no perspective. They think election. Roy's irresponsible because he does this Although both sides claim to stand for a kind of thing but the truth is that they progressive, aggressive and humanistic have no respect for competente. They're a program, to most outside observers this bunch of time servers. I think this race looks like a fight over personality, [campaign against Evans] is an exercise in style and leadership. Basically, there is only complete juvenile misbehavior. It's the one candidate. His naive is Roy Evans and same song, second verse. Hank [former labor will either vote for him or against AFL-CIO President Hank Brown, a him. His opponent Harry Hubbard is the long-time foe of Evans'] was brazenly ' Number Two man in the state labor incompetent but he had style. Harry hasn't hierarchy. Hubbard, by nigh-universal even got style. These guys are a bunch of assent, is a genuinely sweet-natured man, a fickle finks. Just remember that Roy's gentle, honest person. As one honcho put ability to deal in this kind of atmosphere it, "If Harry gets elected, he'll be the has kept him in power for a long time now. closest thing to a Christian we've ever had I wouldn't bet against him if I were you. in that office." But Hubbard's detractors There's no leadership in the whole damn charge him with being, if not incompetent, bunch opposing him. Roy's easy to get at least ineffectual. It is also asserted that mad at and to stay mad at, but there's not he hasn't had an idea of his own in the last an idea in the whole truckload of those 10 years. He is not, at least in personal other guys. Harry would make a real great style, a forceful man. Sunday school teacher." Evans himself has a two-year record If there is anything more to this election pocked with errors and hostilities to than the fight between those who have defend. Evans has a peculiarly ambivalent been dumped on by Evans and can take it attitude toward his own mistakes — some, and those who can't, they lie in two areas those that stemmed from definite actions — the pro and anti-establishment question he has taken, he admits with disarming Roy Evans and Evans' mistakes. One Evans' fan points bluntness, no attempt at cover-up or out that the whole flap over Evans' putting them in a cosmetic light. But the participate. Sam Rayburn used to say, `You better make a new friend every day, dumping on people is a made-up issue. "If mistakes that stem from the way he you had been around when Hank Brown handles people he seems genuinely not to 'cause you're sure as hell losing your old ones.' Roy never made any new friends, was president, then you would know what see. For example, he sees the current move arbitrary really means," she said. In against him as a cabal of his old enemies, never even tried to make converts, and he sure as hell alienated his old friends." general, Evans foes stand for the those who fought him two years ago. Establishment and Evans stands (or would "They never signed on the program," he Another former labor staffer said, "Roy has shit all over everybody at some time in like to think he stands) for independence. said in disgust, "they never got on board." There have always been some Texas labor But a former labor leader with a the last 10 years and I know it as well as (Continued on Page 3) well-developed political sense reverses the anybody because it's happened to me. And the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, JULY 19 Stevie Wonder, B. B. King, 5th Ward Express SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS — The with Bo-Bo Mr. Soul, Charles Mingus and Freddie Houston Shakespeare Society presents "Two Hubbard, July 14; Astrodome, Houston. Gentlemen of Verona," directed by Sam Havens of University of St. Thomas, a thirties-styled SUNSHINE 'N SACCHRINE — Ken Johnson production with tap dancers and Busby directs "Little Mary Sunshine" musical with local coming cast; through July, Center Stage, Austin. Berkeleyesque touches; free, through July 21, Miller Theatre, Herman Park, Houston. • ROCKIN — Focus turns it on, with guest Copper Head; 8 p.m., Music Hall, Houston. JULY 21 BIERFEST — Nacht in Alt Friederichsburg fortnight MAMIE — Not Eisenhower, but Van Doren, in with oompah-pah bands, waltz contest, singing, that dramatic hit, "In One Bed and Out the wurst, sauerkraut and bottomless barrels of beer; Other" (could we ask for more?); through July noon on, Fair Grounds, Fredericksburg. By Suzanne Shelton 29, Golden Palace Supper Theatre, Inn of the Six Flags, Arlington. JULY GRAB BAG MORE ROCK — Beck, Bogert and Appice plus guest Dr. John; State Fair Coliseum, Dallas. JULY 14 MIDSUMMER MOVIES — Best of the summer's film fests, Alley Theatre's Cinemafest F & T EXPRESS — Ferrante and Teicher on FIREMAN'S BALL — A retired fireman your double-barreled piano, playing oldie goldies with '73 presents three premieres — Truffaut's "Three host, crafts and such your fare, at Toby's First Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Summer Stage, Fair Annual (he hopes) Arts and Crafts Fair, north of English Girls," the Russian "Uncle Vanya" and Park, Dallas. New York cult hit "El Topo;" plus opening week Houston; west on Spring Road off 1-45 (follow of "The State and the Cinema" with Joan the signs), July 21 & 22, noon till dark. JULY 15 Crawford in "Rain Stars," "Pygmalion" with WOMAN — Helen Reddy sings "Peaceful" and Shaw's screenplay and Orson Welles' "Falstaff," JULY 23 through July 22; and second week some of her latest jazzy folk blues, with Mac of "Spectacle Davis in tow; Music Hall, Houston. DRAMATURGY — Ramsey Yelvington's play, in the Cinema," with Laurence Olivier in "The Folklorist," through July 27, and new "Richard III," Fritz Lang's futuristic JULY 17 version of Euripides' "Hippolytus," through July "Metropolis" and Busby Berkeley's colossal "The WHODUNIT — "Sleuth," the epicure's 29; Speech-Drama Center, Southwest Texas State Gang's All Here;" through July 29, Tuesdays whodunit, comes to Dallas Theatre Center stage; University, San Marcos. through Sundays, Alley Theatre, Houston. through August 18, Kalita Humphreys Theatre, Dallas. PORTER'S PHOTOS — Retrospective exhibition of photographs by Eliot Porter, JULY 24 FACULTY CONCERT — John Perry in piano FIDDLIN ROUND — Herschel Bernardi is medical doctor-turned-naturalist; Amon Carter concert; 8 p.m., Music Bldg. Recital Hall, Museum of Western Art, Fort Worth. Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof," current Dallas University of Texas, Austin. Summer Musical; through August 5, Music Hall, Dallas. JULY 13 JULY 18 JAZZ FEST — Most of the jazz world greats FONDA IN AUSTIN — Peter Fonda comes to gather for second annual Astrodome Jazz town to plug a movie, raise funds for People's JULY 25 Festival, including Aretha Franklin, The Staple Free Clinic, and participate in actor/directors' Singers, Billy Paul, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Herbie OPERA — Orville White, bass - baritone, and workshop, including filming of short scene to be Joan Grandy, soprano, perform operatic arias and Mann with David Newman, Bubbha Thomas and screened for public; 2 p.m., Hogg Auditorium, the Light Man plus One and Bobby Womack; also duets in faculty concert; 8 p.m., Music Bldg., University of Texas, Austin. Recital Hall, University of Texas, Austin.

EDITOR Kaye Northcott CO-EDITOR Molly Ivins BUSINESS STAFF THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR John Ferguson Ernest G. Boardman Jr. EDITOR AT LARGE Ronnie Dugger Joe Espinosa Jr. C. R. Olofson TEXAS Contributing Editors: Winston Bode, Bill Brammer, Gary David Sharpe Cartwright, Sue Horn Estes, Joe Frantz, Larry Goodwyn, Bill Hamilton, Bill Helmer, Dave Hickey, Franklin Jones, OBSERVER Lyman Jones, Larry L. King, Georgia Earnest Klipple, The Observer is published by Texas Larry Lee, Al Melinger, Robert L. Montgomery, Willie Observer Publishing Co., biweekly from Austin, Texas. Entered as second-class © The Texas Observer Publishing Co. 1973 Morris, Bill Porterfield, James Presley, Charles Ramsdell, Buck Ramsey, John Rogers, Mary Beth Rogers, Roger matter April 26, 1937, at the Post Ronnie Dugger, Publisher Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act Shattuck, Edwin Shrake, Dan Strawn, John P. Sullivan, A window to the South Tom Sutherland. of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at Austin, Texas. Single copy, 25c. A journal of free voices We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the One year, $7.00; two years, $13.00; truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are three years. $18.00; plus, for Texas dedicated to the whole truth, to human values above all addresses, 5% sales tax. Foreign, except Vol. LXV, No. 13 July 13, 1973 interests, to the rights of man as the foundation of APO/FPO, 50c additional per year. democracy; we will take orders from none but our own Airmail, bulk orders, and group rates Incorporating the State Observer and conscience, and never will we overlook or misrepresent the on request. Microfilmed by the East Texas Democrat, which in turn truth to serve the interests of the powerful or cater to the Microfilming Corporation of America, incorporated the Austin Forum- ignoble in the human spirit. 21 Harristown Road, Glen Rock, N.J. Advocate. The editor has exclusive control over the editorial 07452. policies and contents of the Observer. None of the other people who are associated with the enterprise shares this Change of Address: Please give old Editorial and Business Offices: The responsibility with her. Writers are responsible for their and new address, including zip codes, Texas Observer, 600 W. 7th St., Austin, own work, but not for anything they have not themselves and allow two weeks. Texas 78701. Telephone 477-0746. written, and in publishing them the editor does not Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 7.41310-V.' necessarily imply that she agrees with them, because this is Texas Observer, 600 W. 7th St., Austin, a journal of free voices. Texas 78701. Free-for-all . . .

(Continued from Page 1) leaders prepared to suck up to those in power, including Preston Smith, Ben Barnes and John Connally, who, to put it mildly, never did a damn thing for labor. One source of Evans' many differences with Hank Brown was the fact that Evans could not abide the Connally/Barnes crowd. One of Evans' early moves came at last year's COPE convention in Galveston in March. He personally orchestrated the successful effort to block an endorsement of Sissy Farenthold for governor. At the time, there was considerable Realpolitik justification for doing so. Farenthold looked like a hopeless underdog and Evans had one big goal in mind — to beat Ben his side or clinging desperately to the vote to go against Evans. In fact, there is Barnes — anything to beat Ben Barnes. But fence. The threat to him is serious enough some suspicion that the black and chicano after Farenthold's upset of Barnes in the so that some degree of paranoia has clearly vote will go heavily against Evans, which is primary, Evans made a mistake that set in. at least an irony, if not a tragedy. The couldn't even be justified by pragmatism. matter of Munoz is still open to Another of Evans' long-standing Instead of endorsing Farenthold, with her interpretation, but Evans' record on 100 percent labor record, Evans pushed for problems in the area of inter-personal minority rights is not. In private a commendation of Dolph Briscoe on the relations involves the staff at the state conversations, public speeches and curious grounds that he "had pretty good AFL-CIO headquarters. First off, right administrative action, Evans has supported credentials and a pretty good voting after Evans got elected two years ago, he minority rights and representation straight record." He was beaten by his own fired two secretaries who were, admittedly, up. Hardhats in general, and Southern executive board. Not at all incidentally, Hank Brown boosters. Trouble is, he fired hardhats in particular, are generally Harry Hubbard voted against his own boss 'em without due process or adequate assumed to be racist. But the leadership of on the question of commending Briscoe. rationale. They took the case to a grievance Texas labor has fought long and hard Evans is now the first to regret that clever board, the grievance board upheld the against prejudice. Evans deeply believes little move. On the record he says, "Dolph secretaries and a month later Evans was that real gains , for minorities will come Briscoe is the greatest disappointment of forced to hire them back again. He's still through the kind of simple economic clout the '72 election, except for losing Ralph defensive about that one, claiming that the offered by organized labor, rather than [Yarborough] ." Off the record, he is secretaries were not merely through stirring emotional speeches and considerably more forceful and explicit. negative/neutral but actively hostile to him appeals to conscience. and that he needed at least that month to While the failure to back Farenthold begin to get things organized without a lot However, Evans managed to raise some even after she had beaten Barnes of foot-dragging. To outsiders, it might questions about his sincerity in this field considerably hacked off the state's liberals, seem that the new head of any by his performance at the September state Evans redeemed himself with them at least organization is entitled at least to Democratic Convention in Houston, at by defying George Meany and supporting secretaries who will willingly do what they which he served as spokesman for the George McGovern last fall. The state are told, but it should be recalled that at effort to get the convention to adopt a AFL-CIO could make no endorsements in least one of the raisons d'etre of the labor resolution supporting the lettuce boycott the presidential race but Evans set up a movement is that bodies should not be for the United Farmworkers. Texas dummy Labor for McGovern Committee fired for what they think — only if they AFL-CIO has supported Chavez' union that worked just as well. Meany and his can't do the job. There are further reports almost from the beginning and Evans was revoltingly reactionary sidekick Al Barkan that Evans avenged himself on some personally involved in the Valley strike and have had Evans on their "enemies list" ever members of the grievance committee that the 1966 march from the Valley. But after since. They would like nothing more than ruled against him. he introduced the resolution in Houston, to see him beaten, but best indications so Next Evans fired Henry Munoz, there was a voice vote and the chairman far, out of both Washington and Texas, are longtime union worker in the area of ruled against the lettuce boycott that they've been smart enough to stay our human resources. Now most folks agree resolution. The convention mutinied, with of it. Evans is not the only maverick that something had to be done about ol' delegates pouring down toward the podium independent in the Texas labor movement. Henry, who reportedly did have some to protest in chanting, "Roll call vote." There is almost nothing that would solidify problems, but, according to Don Horn, of Evans twice tried to cut off the the ranks behind him more than an overt the Harris County AFL-CIO Council and a demonstration by saying that he had been move by Meany to oust him. Texas labor longtime foe of Evans, "Roy is always given permission to introduce the does not like being interfered with by goin' on about dignity for people, but then resolution only if he would abide by the goddamnyankee big shots. Evans, of he went and fired Henry in a way that result of the voice vote. No avail, a roll call course, would like to picture himself as the stripped him of all dignity. It's the way he vote was finally forced and the boycott. victim of a Barkan/Establishment did it that I object to." resolution carried. Horn claims that Evans conspiracy — he thinks, for example, that actions that day were chicken. The Sen. Lloyd Bentsen and Democratic Party While Horn is certainly not an unbiased reporter of such events, one can also Observer reported at the time that Chairman Robert Strauss are working although Evans told the demonstrators he was unable to assume that Evans was not just superbly against him. The Observer had agreed not to hold up the convention verify that theory either yea or nay, but tactful about the move. Whatever he did to Evans has also accused some other people Munoz, it made Munoz so bitter that he has chicano union July 13, 1973 3 of working against him who are either on actively worked to get the on this matter, he kept grinning in obvious And a close look at the unions that have to suggest to his companions that, after all, pleasure whenever the "Roll call vote" endorsed Hubbard suggests that they will chant swelled up anew. old Roy had been a loyal unionist all these split badly when it comes time to actually years, whatever their differences, and after Another Evans' mistake was in his vote. handling of Rosa Walker, longtime director the election they really must try to find Gene Freeland was musing the other day him a job. Sherman Fricks, Evans' of the Women's Activities Division of the that after Hubbard wins, Evans will, of AFL. Walker had actively opposed Evans running-mate in this campaign, replied, course, be out of a job. While Freeland "I'll go along with that if you make the two years ago, telling her friends .that if very much wants Hubbard to win, he did Evans were elected, she would be fired. He offer good for Harry too." M.I. didn't fire her but some time after he was elected Evans "promoted" Walker, not, as he says, "in terms of money but in terms of responsibility." He took her off the W.A.D. and made her COPE director. He later switched her back to her original job. One Evans supporter said, "That was the dumbest thing Roy ever did. First he goes and gets rid of her and then he takes her back and sends her out on the road where she's been working against him ever since." In point of fact, Evans was forced to reinstate Walker as director of the W.A.D. Neither Walker nor her friends appreciated her "promition" and the women demanded a full-time W.A.D. director. Hubbard's position in the race is not entirely clear. Evans believes that Hubbard began preparing to run against him two years ago. But those close to Hubbard believe he sincerely agonized over the question of whether or not to run. What some of his loyal friends don't understand is how he got mixed up with the people behind his campaign, primarily Don Horn of the Houston council, Gene Freeland of the Dallas council and Gerald Brown of the Austin Coastal's Corpus Christi offices shredding Building Trades. All three are distinctly of If the present plight of Coastal States is documents so that no one will ever get a the get-along-with-the-Establishment style any indication, the energy crisis will be a precise accounting of the company's of labor leadership. In the old days this bird's nest on the ground for o. & g. reserves. involved getting invited out to The Ranch attorneys and reserve geologists. The for lunch when LBJ was alive, being asked litigation piling up against Coastal should COASTAL STATES Gas Corp. is along on Connally hunting trips, included keep a gaggle of experts in filets and the brainchild of one Oscar Wyatt, Jr., a in outings on Ben Barnes' houseboat, etc. Ferraris for years to come. man former Secretary of State Bob Bullock In return for which, for one reason or In recent months, Coastal States, or calls "the meanest s.o.b. I ever met." another, not much labor legislation ever rather its intrastate subsidiary, Lo-Vaca Wyatt, a native of Beaumont, was a combat got passed. Gathering Co., has been unable to supply pilot in the Pacific during World War II. as much natural gas as its 400 Texas After the war, he attended Lamar Junior Labor politicking tends to be customers need. Company officials refreshingly sincere: what happens is that College while leasing a rice farm outside of maintain that they unwittingly sold more Beaumont to pay his tuition. He made a everybody agrees to forget all that garbage gas than they can profitably supply, that about fair play and get down to the dirty bundle on a bumper crop in 1947, enabling they are blameless victims of the energy him to transfer to Texas A&M, from which fighting at once. Hubbard's people spread pinch. As one knowledgeable lawyer puts all manner of dirty stories about Evans, he subsequently received a degree in it, "They got caught speedin'." mechanical engineering. Wyatt worked for whose people then had to run around the Some of Coastal's critics claim the firm state putting out little fires of gossip and Kerr-McGee Oil Co. and Reed Roller Bit is holding out on its long-term contracts in before he formed a partnership with A. A. untangling lurid versions of certain an effort to blackmail customers into incidents. It was difficult for Evans & Co. Moore in 1951. The partnership was renegotiating. San Antonio, for example, dissolved in 1955 and Wyatt formed to make up any stories on Hubbard, who, has a 20-year contract under which Coastal unfortunately for their purposes, leads a Coastal States Gas Producing Co. presently is supplying the City Public Coastal States originally was comprised blameless life. However, they could set to Service Board with natural gas at 24 cents a with a will on the men behind Hubbard of five gas gathering systems and interests thousand cubic feet. Meanwhile, some in 90 oil and gas wells in South Texas, but and counter-propaganda began sloshing Texas producers are asking 50 cents for a around the state. Wyatt was determined to have a natural gas thousand cubic feet. That's a good empire. He took on subsidiaries as fast as The Hubbard team seems to have done a incentive to weasel on a contract. he could find financing for them. Early this terrific brain-washing job in terms of No one seems to know how much gas year Coastal merged with Colorado convincing almost everyone that Hubbard Coastal has. The company has given Interstate Corporation of Colorado Springs is a dead-cert cinch for election. conflicting reports to customers, the Texas to become Coastal States Gas Corp. Its Railroad Commission, the Federal Power wholly owned subsidiaries include Lo-Vaca "Not one major union has endorsed Commission and the Securities and Evans," declared Horn proudly. Not yet. Gathering Co., Coastal States Marketing Exchange Commission. And according to a Co., South Texas Natural Gas Gathering suit filed by Pennzoil Pipeline Co., Co., Link LPG Co., Rio Grande Valley Gas 4 The Texas Observer employees have been working busily in System, Coastal States Crude Gathering 414 uk,

figures Coastal allegedly has furnished the Co., C. S. Energy and Petroleum Tower, extremely anxious to break those fixed-price contracts, but the Railroad Federal Power Commission and the SEC. Inc. Wyatt now plans to buy a tanker to And the Justice Department has filed an ship crude oil to the United States under Commission was less than cooperative. Wyatt struck out in 1971 and 1973 when anti-trust suit against Coastal and Texaco, the name of Foreign Energy Tankers, Inc., Inc., claiming that the two gas companies From 1964 to 1973, Wyatt's enterprise he tried to pass a bill in the Texas Legislature to force the Commission to entered into an agreement to restrain the experienced nearly a five-fold growth. Last sale of gasoline to independents. year, with revenues of $454 million, review the city contracts. Railroad commissioners finally have Figures on Coastal's natural gas reserves Coastal was among the top 500 are scarce and confusing. At a RR corporations. He and his immediate family agreed to hold rate hearings for Coastal July 9 in Austin, but only because the Commission hearing in mid-June, B. P. own about 12 percent of the company. Huddleston, a petroleum reserve geologist Wyatt is probably the most unpopular situation has reached the proportions of a fair-to-middlin' disaster. employed by Coastal States, was unable to entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry. In explain a trillion-cubic-feet difference a state where energy producers and shown in separate gas reserve statements. energy regulators are as close as Brer Lo_vAcA is the company with The first report was a proxy statement of Rabbit and the Tar Baby, Wyatt is an the most troubles. It has more than 400 Nov. 28, 1972; the second was a reserve oddity. It is rumored that he is not on Texas customers. Under priority guidelines statement dated May 1, 1973, presented to speaking terms with a single member of the established by the RR Commission, the RR Commission. The '73 report Railroad Commission. "He is roundly Lo-Vaca must first supply residential estimates Coastal's natural gas reserves at hated by his contemporaries in the needs; then commercial loads; then raw 10.5 trillion cubic feet. Huddleston himself industry," a state official told the materials for industry; and, last, electric told commission hearing examiners in June Observer. "They think he gives the power plants. During freezing spells last that the reserves are closer to 9.4 trillion. industry a bad name." winter, electric generating plants in San Under close questioning, during the hearing Wyatt, however, does have some potent Antonio, Austin and Corpus suffered Coastal representatives admitted that 2.6 allies. Leon Jaworski of Houston, former natural gas curtailments by Lo-Vaca. In 65 trillion c.f. cited in the reports are president of the American Bar Association, days of curtailments, San Antonio's non-producing reserves, which are and Will Odom, a buddy of LBJ's who electric plant was forced to burn 16 million committed to Coastal only at such time as served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife gallons of fuel oil at four times the cost of the owners choose to extract the gas. Commission, both are on the board of the the gas Lo-Vaca had promised to supply. It Congressman Gonzalez says that reserve Coastal parent firm. Wyatt and his allies cost San Antonio more than $1.5 million. reports submitted to the FPC and the SEC know how to play in the political arena. Curtailments came again in May as by South Texas Gas Gathering Co., a The Coastal States chief is a faithful donor Texans started turning on their air Coastal States subsidiary, vary by 60 to political campaigns. He gave $41,000 to conditioners. The cities appealed to the percent. The reserves, which are dedicated Richard Nikon last year. Back in 1964 he Railroad Commission which moved electric to a contract with Transcontinental Gas even donated $500 to Congressman Henry power plants up two notches , on the Pipeline Co., were listed in a report to the B. Gonzalez, now his most outspoken priority list, right behind residential needs. FPC as 988 billion c.f. for the year ending critic. The commissioners urged all of Lo-Vaca's Dec. 30, 1970, while a prospectus Wyatt's name causes splutters of customers to cut down on energy use and approved by the SEC on Oct. 15, 1971, indignation in dozens of city halls in instructed Lo-Vaca not to acquire any concerning the same gas shows 1.6 trillion Central and South Texas. It seems that more new customers. c.f. in reserve. Coastal States got most of its funds for Council members berated Lo-Vaca in Gonzalez' criticisms puts Coastal States expansion by selling long-term, fixed-price darkened city halls across Central Texas. between a rock and hard spot. "Coastal is contracts to supply gas to a number of Lights were turned out in hospital either guilty of fraud or blackmail" in the Texas cities. Coastal won the contracts by corridors and on downtown street corners. case of San Antonio, Gonzalez says. He bidding lower than the competition and by In Lampasas, Little League games were believes that the company can deliver on foregoing escalator clauses demanded by rescheduled in the daytime. Even the UT its city contracts but that it is holding out tower was darkened, except for the the other gas firms. for a rate increase. Frank Erwin, Jr., the U.T. regent, luminous clock face, suspended 25 stories represented Coastal during negotiations above the campus. And Austin Mayor Roy Gonzalez is urging the San Antonio City with the City of Austin in 1962. He Butler urged good citizens to rat on Public Services Board to sue Coastal and pointed out that the competitor, United neighbors who might be using power Lo-Vaca. In a June 23rd letter to the CPS, Gas Co., contended that the Railroad extravagantly. the congressman points out that Pennzoil Commission has the right to review Lowered on the priority list, industries Pipeline Co. has filed suit and maintains contracts and increase rates if it started feeling the crunch. CPC that the CPS Board has the same "right and determined that the supplier were not International, a Corpus Christi corn obligation to sue in order to protect its getting a fair return on his money, "Coastal products plant, announced that 200 rights and those of the people it serves." States has waived its right to initiate before employees had been laid off because of the any regulatory body an increase in these fuel shortage. Oh woe, who would have rates," Erwin told the Austin City Council. thought such a fate would befall the Lone PENNZOIL'S suit, filed in the The Council minutes for Oct. 4, 1962, Star State? 113th District Court in Houston, charges record that Erwin said, "if Coastal States During July the feds got active. Upon that Lo-Vaca and Coastal willfully violated were awarded this contract it would save the recommendation of Congressman their duties as public utilities by engaging the city millions of dollars. The price of gas Gonzalez of San Antonio, the Securities in discriminatory practices which diverted would be driven way down, and the people and Exchange Commission has suspended dedicated gas reserves to new customers. would get the benefit of that savings" trading in Coastal States stock for three Such a charge is hard to prove, as the cities (Obs., April 23, 1971). consecutive 10-day periods. Gonzalez is of San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi Coastal's contract with Austin extends urging an indefinite suspension. When it have learned. It isn't made any easier by through 1999. It also has long-term was suspended, Coastal's stock was down the fact that Coastal may be following the great Watergate tradition of destroying agreements with San Antonio, Corpus to 714 from a high of 351/2 this year and Christi and 74 other Texas cities and from 551/2 last year. The SEC is rechecking sensitive papers. Pennzoil's lawyers, towns. In 1970, with honest-to-God the company's gas reserves. William R. Choate and Perry Brooks of the Gonzalez also has asked the General shortages looming, the price of natural as 5 went up, up and away. Coastal became Accounting Office to look into conflicting July 13, 1973 Lo-Vaca earlier had contemplated a Here's some of the gas similar transaction in which Arizona Public Service Company would release reserves, Compensation to Lo-Vaca but the Federal Power Commission nixed Transaction Cash Other TUFCO the deal. The Pennzoil suit says that the more than $6.3 million 60% of pipeline cost, Markup on gas FPC objected, in part, because the gas sales to TUFCO; transportation would be devoted to El Paso's general revenue; gathering and treating revenue Dow pipeline system supply rather than being $6 million transportation revenue sold in place and would thereby be Clajon/El Paso $6 million gathering, treating and removed from FPC curtailment transportation revenue El Paso jurisdiction. "The effect of the Clajon $7.35 million transaction," Pennzoil says, "was to remove these volumes from Railroad Commission curtailment jurisdiction, Baker-Botts firm in Houston, submitted an attempted for some time to obtain from affidavit from a third Baker-Botts lawyer, thereby accomplishing a purpose in the Coastal and Lo-Vaca information as to intrastate market which could not be Donald E. Snow, Jr., who was in the their true reserve situation and their sales offices of Coastal States in Corpus Christi accomplished in the interstate market." commitments. Just as diligently, Coastal • An agreement to sell 9,987 billion c.f. June 12 and 13. "I witnessed the and Lo-Vaca have resisted these and all destruction of a large number of papers by per day to El Paso Natural Gas via a deal other efforts to obtain this information." with George T. Abell and Gulf Oil. means of machine shredding," Snow said: The largest transaction cited by Pennzoil • A number of brokerage transactions "As a result of the machine shredding, is a Sept. 21, 1970, agreement between there were several large plastic bags filled in return for $4 million in brokerage fees. Lo-Vaca and Texas Utilities Services, Inc. Pennzoil says it still does not know the with shredded papers." Judge George E. (the predecessor to TUFCO as the fuel specifics of these agreements. Miller has issued a protective order, purchasing company for members of the prohibiting further destruction of evidence Two Wall Street Journal reporters mammoth Texas Utilities electricity interviewed Oscar Wyatt concerning the by Coastal or the other companies named generating group). Lo-Vaca and TUFCO in the Pennzoil suit. Pennzoil suit. On June 22, the Journal agreed to build a pipeline from the Permian quoted Wyatt as making two points in The plaintiffs are still trying to get Basin in West Texas to the Dallas area to be copies of the contracts between Coastal reply to Pennzoil's charges: "First, he says, jointly owned by Lo-Vaca and TUFCO and the company officials didn't realize the and Texas Utilities, Dow Chemical, El Paso to be operated by TUFCO. TUFCO agreed Natural Gas, Clajon Gas and Pioneer seriousness of the gas shortage when to pay 60 percent of the construction cost Coastal States made the short-term sales at Natural Gas, all defendants in the suit. If it of the pipeline for 50 percent of the comes to trial, the class action case should higher prices. 'The squeeze began in the ownership. And Lo-Vaca agreed to provide be very helpful in pinning down exactly last quarter of 1972,' he says. 'None of us TUFCO with at least a trillion c.f. of gas how much gas Coastal has and where it is have 20-20 foresight.' Second, Mr. Wyatt reserves. In addition, Lo-Vaca and TUFCO going. Pennzoil, on behalf of all of says that Coastal, for various reasons, in each agreed to tender to the other one half 1971 and 1972 temporarily had surplus Coastal's and Lo-Vaca's regular customers, of all additional reserves acquired by either is asking the court to force Coastal to quantities of already produced gas. So the in West Texas after Lo-Vaca had satisfied return the diverted gas and apportion it company was within its rights to sell some its obligation to transport the trillion cubic among all Lo-Vaca's customers in accord feet. of it at higher prices, he says, and such with Railroad Commission guidelines. deals were halted at the end of 1972." The plaintiffs maintain that to date the This is the same Oscar Wyatt, Jr., who According to Pennzoil's figures, Lo-Vaca net effect of the deal has been to remove estimated it will have a minimum system told the American Institute of Chemical more than 700 billion c.f. from Lo-Vaca's Engineers in May of 1970: "The requirement in 1973-74 of 2.38 billion system to the detriment of Lo-Vaca's handwriting is on the wall. Methane in 10 cubic feet of gas per day. It will be able to regular customers. "The very format of the years is going to be virtually unobtainable deliver approximately 858.5 million c.f. TUFCO transaction indicates that TUFCO under present pricing policies and it is per day, leaving a daily deficiency of knew or suspected that Lo-Vaca either was simply not going to be economical to approximately 1.42 billion c.f. "A supply or soon would be unable to deliver all of its extract the LPGs [liquid petroleum deficiency of these proportions is almost customers requirements. Otherwise gasses]." He said the only way out of the unbelievable," the suit says. "However, it TUFCO would have simply signed a sales natural gas supply squeeze would be to appears from the facts which are coming to contract as did Pennzoil Pipeline in light in proceedings at the Railroad raise prices. And that Oscar Wyatt is September of 1969," according to the suit. determined to do. K.N. Commission of Texas that such deficiency The other transactions cited as evidence has been brought about by Lo-Vaca's and of Lo-Vaca's sneaky practices include: Coastal's willful, unlawful and discriminatory practices. . ." • A June 20, 1971, contract between In the United States, we have been growing in Lo-Vaca and Dow Chemical Co. in which our capacity to produce electrical energy at the Pennzoil maintains that as the field price Lo-Vaca transferred the purchasing rights rate of 7 percent per year; with compounded and delivered price of gas began to to 50 billion c.f. of natural gas reserves interest this is equivalent to doubling of our skyrocket in 1970 in reaction to the fuel which had previously been dedicated to electric power capacity every ten years. If this shortage, Lo-Vaca began selling gas to third Lo-Vaca's system. Under the agreement, growth were to be sustained, by the year 2000 parties rather than to its regular system we would be discharging heat to the environment Lo-Vaca is obligated to transport up to 50 at a rate equivalent to raising the temperature of customers. The new sales continued even million c.f. per day to Dow for 15 years. theo entire water runoff from the United States by after the gathering company began • A March 30, 1972, transaction among 30 Fahrenheit — to cool the power plants. curtailments to its regular customers in the Lo-Vaca, Clajon Gas and El Paso Natural Assuming we could find sufficient cooling water winter of 1972. "Coastal and Lo-Vaca Gas. Lo-Vaca releases 42 percent of the (inland and coastal), and continued to grow at scrupulously avoided the disclosure of this reserves covered by its contract with Forest this same rate, we would be releasing heat into plan and most of the transactions entered Oil so that Clajon can purchase that gas for the environment at a rate equivalent to putting into by them in its furtherance," the suit resale to El Paso. This reduced Lo-Vaca's another sun in the sky by the end of the 21st century. states. "Pennzoil Pipeline has diligently daily delivery to regular customers by at least 27.5 million c.f. per day, according to —Jerome Weingart, senior research fellow, 6 The Texas Observer Caltech Environmental Quality Laboratory, the suit. Pasadena, Calif. Outrage, injustice and tiny mummies in Williamson County!

Liberty Hill The Kallikaks and the Jukeses will have to move over, the Hatfields and the McCoys are hereby demoted to penny-ante status. The Shackelford-Hays feud is upon us. E. E. Shackelford is a citizen of Liberty Hill of the variety commonly referred to as "a caution." He is an eccentric of the kind so honored in England, but more frequently locked up in loony bins here. And that is the fate that now awaits E. E. Shackelford. He is about to be locked up, not in the loony bin, but in the Williamson County Jail for one year. All because he called Lee Hays a liar and the judge wouldn't admit truth as a defense.

Lee Hays , is the constable in Liberty Hill. Lee Hays and E. E. Shackelford have this feud going, see, which it would take about three days to explain all the history and ramifications of. Anyway, the touch-off incident in the latest chapter came in mid-March when Hays apparently missed a stop sign while out constabling and darn near ran over Shackelford. Shackelford got hacked about it and marched down to the justice of peace's office and filed a complaint against Hays. Hays in due course The alleged sign nolo appeared before the j.p. and pleaded landmark libel case, particularly in cases (no contest — essentially the curious anachronism.) Shackelford pled contendere involving public officials. Manning said same thing as a guilty plea). Hays paid a not guilty, asked for a jury trial and a court-appointed lawyer. But the court, in he'd study up on the matter but, according $3.00 fine. Howsomever, the next day to Palmer, still had not found anything Hays went back to the j.p. and got his the person of Williamson County Judge C. Times v. Sullivan after "extensive" money back. The j.p. explained that Hays L. Chance, refused to appoint one. (Only a about month earlier, Chance did appoint a lawyer legal research. (He could have asked the had told him that he was not guilty after nearest newspaper reporter.) all, so the j.p. passed the fine back. for Shackelford in another case which it would take another three days to explain). The hearings lasted for three days and at The scene then shifted to the Liberty So Shackelford wound up defending the end of each day, Chance would Hill domino parlor, where Hays denied to himself. During the trial, Shackelford kept summon Palmer to the bench and ask the assembled domino players that he had trying to introduce evidence that the whether Shackelford had taken down or ever run the stop sign. Shackelford was statement on the side of his building is painted over the sign. It seems that Liberty incensed and he marched off on that true. (Truth is a defense against libel.) The Hill was about to embark on bi-centennial dreadful day, the 23rd of March, to paint, judge refused to admit the evidence. festivities or a watermelon thump or some in big, black letters on the side of his Shackelford tried to get the judge to such, and having this big sign that says, building, "LEE HAYS IS A LIAR." It instruct the jury that truth is a defense but "LEE HAYS IS A LIAR," was getting to should be explained that Shackelford does the judge refused. The jury found be quite a civic sore spot. Chance several not actually own the building on which he Shackelford guilty and the judge gave him times indicated to Palmer that leniency painted the famous sign. It is owned by a a year, to be served. might be considered if Shackelfbrd would trust fund for Shackelford's children of Enter the Texas Civil Liberties Union, just take down that sign. Shackelford said which Shackelford is the administrator. which provided Shackelford with an Austin he would be happy to take the sign down Shackelford himself lives on a $75-a-month attorney, Laird Palmer, who remains to after Lee Hays apologized to him and pension he gets as a disabled veteran, which this day in a state between incredulity and admitted that he had lied. The motion for is apparently sufficient for him since he stupefaction over the case. Palmer first a new trial was denied. reportedly practically never spends any moved for a new trial on the grounds that E. E. Shackelford is even now loose in money anyway. Constable Hays got all his client was indigent and should have had Liberty Hill, on a $1,000 surety bond and hot about the sign and tried to get a court-appointed attorney and on a lot of Palmer is trying to prepare an appeal. He Shackelford to take it down. Shackelford other grounds as well. During the course of says it's difficult since the county clerk refused. the hearings, Palmer was stunned to learn seems never to have handled an appeal Next thing you know, Hays filed suit that neither County Judge Chance nor before. M . I. against Shackelford for criminal libel. (The County Attorney Norman Manning had 7 old Texas criminal libel statute is itself a ever heard of Times v. Sullivan, THE July 13, 19 73 FREE SP] • but it

If we all pitch in a little, we can sustain things we find valuable: Such as a statewide, independent news show for ventilation of public issues.

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" . . With the kind of intelligent, incisive interviews it has shown itself " 'Capital Eye' is a pioneering public service effort to let the public know BOB ARM- capable of, the program could become a major forum of Texas politics, who their public officials are and what they're doing." — the kind of realistic, honest forum this state so badly needs." RALPH W. Texas Land Commissioner STRONG, YARBOROUGH, former U.S. Senator. "I am an enthusiastic supporter of 'Capital Eye'. It is an objective type of "Your willingness to present all political viewpoints helps make this `Meet The Press' program that we ought to have if our political system is highly informative and, in my opinion, it renders a great public PAGE KEETON, Dean, Law School, program to function as it should." — JOHN G. TOWER, U.S. Senator UT-Austin; former president of board of trustees, "Capital Eye" service." — "I think the program piques the mind of the viewer, sometimes salts the " 'Capital Eye' in my experience is an eminently fair and thought- wounds, and at other times exalts as well as decimates the interviewees. In provoking public affairs show. It has filled a great need in Texas' political all, I think the program is outstanding." — JOE BERNAL, Former State FRED J. AGNICH, State Representative. reporting." — Senator "The program is one of the few in Texas which really attempt to tackle the BOB " 'Capital Eye' performs a very valuable service in focusing attention on issues and get below the surface. I think it is worth keeping alive." — events in the Legislature, the actions of which have a vital impact on the ECKHARDT, U.S. Representative lives of all Texans. It is imperative, I believe, that the important "News programs like 'Capital Eye' make our system work." — LLOYD examination offered by 'Capital Eye' be continued. — WILLIAM P. BENTSEN, U.S. Senator HOBBY, Lt. Governor of Texas. "As a one-time participant and, more importantly, someone who is greatly " 'Capital Eye' offers a frank forum for discussion of important political interested in public affairs, I feel your program has made a valuable issues of our time." — GEORGE BUSH, Chairman, Republican National contribution to citizen understanding of current issues. . . . 'Capital Eye' Committee is the only program originating in Austin which attempts to give a statewide dimension to public affairs through interviews by a panel of "Just by providing' a place for a lot of questions and a lot of answers, experienced political correspondents, comparable to the Sunday panel coming from a variety of viewpoints, 'Capital Eye' has been a breath of fresh air in Texas journalism. It is the show that ventilates." — OSCAR shows of the major networks." — GEORGE CHRISTIAN, foniter press secretary to President Lyndon B. Johnson MAUZY, State Senator "To a significant degree, (`Capital Eye') has opened up communications " . . . Simply as a news effort, (`Capital Eye') has proved time and time betWeen the people of the state and their elected servants." — ROY again to be on top of things, and truly a leader in its field." — PRICE EVANS, President, Texas AFL-CIO DANIEL, JR., Speaker, Texas House of Representatives. "I feel that this program provides an interesting and informative way for "Over the years, 'Capital Eye' has proved itself to be a fair program which Texans to become aware of, and knowledgeable of, our state govern- seeks many points of view. It is a professional, first-class operation." SARAH WEDDINGTON, State Representative — DICK CORY, Texas Brewers' Institute ment." —

A Public Service Message from the American Income Life Insurance Company—Executive offices, Waco, Texas—Bernard Rapoport,yres. Snip, snip, there goes fair trial

Austin In our last gut-retching installment on Glory." "Some folks refer to it as the Stars Dallas justice, we revealed Assistant D.A. and Stripes? . . . As the Star Spangled Jon Sparling's suggestions concerning the Banner?" he asked. selection of a good jury. "You are not An equally loaded set of queries was put looking for a fair juror, but rather a strong, to the Rev. William H. Fox, a witness for biased and sometimes hypocritical the defense. Stauffer asked the reverend if individual who believes that defendants are the peace symbol is "anything that has to different from them in kind, rather than do with the anti-Christ symbol." "Do you know where the Swastika came degree," Sparling's manual says (Obs., May 11, 1973). Now, from the records of two from? The one Hitler used?" the Stauffer, 48, has described himself as a prosecutor asked. Dallas cases recently reversed by the Texas "thwarted thespian." "A prosecutor has to Court of Criminal Appeals, we bring you "Isn't it true that there is a connection be an actor and has a selling job to do," he another assistant d. a.'s tried and true between the so-called peace symbol and techniques for getting a conviction out of a says. During the Renn case, he imitated the Communist youth symbol?" properly selected jury. Spiro Agnew playing George M. Cohan. He told the jury, "I'm going to apologize to "This symbol got anything to do with The prosecutor is John Stauffer, who the SDS . . . the one that tore up was chastized by the court for excessive you, ladies and gentlemen, in advance Chicago?" emoting in arguments before the jury. should I tend to get emotional during this Stauffer was responsible for David E. argument. I try cases down here day in and Judge Wendell A. Odom, speaking for Renn's conviction for flag desecration and day out and I try not to get emotional, but the court, wrote of the Renn affair: "This Brent Stein's conviction for interfering I'm afraid in this case, this particular case, is another of these numerous cases where with a police officer during a civil that I may get emotional before I have improper arguments and sidebar remarks disturbance. The Court of Criminal appeals finished my remarks to you. If I do, I hope by the prosecutor have forced us to has reversed both cases on the grounds of you will be good enough to excuse an old reassert the critical lib portance of "prosecutorial misconduct." man who, in his day, has tried to serve his convicting an accused only upon that flag." On Flag Day, 1970, Renn flew an evidence presented, without attempting to American flag from the balcony of a house Stauffer reenacted the actual desecration inflame or prejudice the minds of the in Dallas. The 50 stars had been removed for the jury: "Snip, snip, there goes Rhode jurors." from the flag and in their place was a peace Island. Cut, cut, there goes Pennsylvania. symbol. For this act a Dallas jury gave Snip, snip, Massachusetts is gone. . . ." Odom said Stauffer's action in the Renn Renn a 10-year probated sentence. During cross examination he presented case was "more alarming than Stein v. Renn with a flag and then asked if it wasn't State," another little ditty overturned by 10 The Texas Observer the very banner some Americans call "Old the Court of Criminal Appeals April 11. Brent Stein, who writes under the pseudonym of Stony Burns, received a GEORGE WEIN PRESENTS three-year penalty for interfering with a 2nd Annual astrodome police officer during an incident at Lee Park in Dallas April 12, 1970 (Obs., Oct. 16, 1970). FRI. & SAT. JULY 13/14 At one point during the Stein trial, Stauffer ripped a document out of the hands of a defense attorney whereupon Judge John Scales promptly fined Stauffer Pestival $10 for contempt. The prosecutor refused to pay and was jailed for two hours, amidst much press coverage. Scales repeatedly Two Great Nights In Houston's Astrodome warned Stauffer to behave, but he persisted in calling Stein "this crud over here," "this 8:00 PM " 13 ARETHA FRANKLIN / bum," "this hippie." Stauffer also made STAPLE SINGERS / BILLY PAUL / much of the fact that Stein has an "alias." RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK / HERBIE Judge Truman Roberts wrote in the MANN / DAVID NEWMAN / BOBBY Stein opinion that some recent cases WOMACK involving improper remarks by the SAT., JU prosecutor "have caused this court a great 8:00 PM LY 14 ELLA FITZGERALD / RAY deal of consternation, resulting in several split decisions. We all recognize the CHARLES & ORCHESTRA / STEVIE difficulty in drawing the line between WONDER / B. B. KING / CHARLES harmless argument outside the record and MINGUS / FREDDIE HUBBARD argument calculated to deprive the defendant of a fair and impartial trial. . . . PRICES: $7.50, $6.50, $5.50, limited field seats $10.00 In that sense we feel fortunate in the per person, per concert, all seats reserved . record before us today. The present case is Tickets: At all Montgomery Ward Stores rather easily resolved, since the prosecutor Mail Orders: End. self-addressed, stamped envelope. left little room for reasonable minds to Checks payable to: Astrodome Jazz Festival, Box 1691, Houston 77001 differ as to whether his actions could be labeled harmless." K. N. himself. Smith objects to the increased workload resentencing would impose as well as to its improper delegation of Light skirmishing, so far powers. And while he admits the new law will be a break for people currently serving prison terms for marijuana possession, he With two special legislative elections Texan, "Why help them? They • asked the set for July 17 a gaggle of candidates Political knew what they were doing." for the Austin-area seats, one in each Texas brags. L. W. Gray, the house, are doing their best to get the races • president of the Texas Manufacturers moving. Intelligence Assn., one of the big mother lobbies, told It's all ex-Sen. Charles Herring's doing: Dallas members of the TMA last week that he resigned to become a director of the Cavness resigned his House seat when "we passed nine bills and killed all six that Lower Colorado River Authority four days • he filed for the Senate, saying he were on our 'must kill' list." Among the after the session ended. Various rumors wouldn't feel right taking a free run at the bills whose heads Gray claimed to have on had each or all of the four Travis County upper chamber. That set up a three-way his wall were a state-wide land use plan, House members running for Herring's seat, dash for his vacated place. Ronnie Earle, a creation of an environmental protection but only Rep. Don Cavness actually paid former Austin municipal. court judge who agency, agency shops for union workers, the filing fee. He found some other was chief counsel for the Civil Judicial creation of a Texas equal opportunity opponents, though: Council until he filed in this race, is the employment agency and a union bill to —former Rep. Maurice Angly, a odds-on favorite, but "taking absolutely outlaw the hiring of strikebreakers. Republican Dirty Thirtian who sat out the nothing for granted — I'm running just as Amont his victories, Gray listed the bills last session after an unsuccessful shot at hard as I know how." Earle, 31, refuses to to require high schools to teach courses in 'state treasurer; call himself either a liberal or a free enterprise (AAARRRHHHGGG! how —Lloyd Doggett, president of the Texas conservative but keeps saying things like did we miss that one?!?) and to change Consumer Association; (on the subject of school financing) "The workman's comp rules (labor is also calling —Raymond Donley, an Austin minister; inequities are the same as the inequities in that one a victory for this session: it must —Dave Shanks, a former editor of the our whole way of life," and (on the have been a real compromise). -Statesman, now a Austin American question of which candidate for speaker he businessman and publisher of a business would choose) "I'd vote for Neil Caldwell newsletter. if I have the chance." That $700,000 Donley is so far running an Archibald Cox, special prosector in • His closest competition comes from Bob • aggressively invisible campaign, but Crider, a 41-year-old former Air Force the Watergate case, has ordered a the other four have been opening lieutenant colonel, now a law student at Houston grand jury to reconvene in order headquarters, issuing statements and the University of Texas. Crider is a bit of a to further investigate $700,000 in cash scouring a five-county area for handshakes political mystery: he -has hammered away contributions to Richard Nixon's and votes. Angly started off his effort with at the need for a special session on school re-election campaign. The sum includes a blast at Cavness (calling him a "darling of financing but sounds thin on other issues. unspecified amounts purportedly given by the lobbyists" and "one of the He would vote, he says, for "the winner" executives of three Houston-based Mutschermen"), and Shanks has labelled in a speakership fight, for the sake of his corporations that jointly won a Angly and Doggett "the quickest jaws in "effectiveness." multi-billion dollar contract to develop the West," but the skirmishing has been The third candidate is Nancy Hermes, a natural gas in the Soviet Union. The three fairly light to date. former legislative aide to Sen. Tati are, no less, Brown & Root, Inc., the Angly and Cavness are generally Santiesteban who seems perpetually in over monster construction firm so long accounted the front-runners at this state, her head. associated with Lyndon Johnson; Texas with initial name recognition thought to be Eastern Transmission Co., a gas pipeline a major reason (and thought to be of firm; and Tenneco, Inc., the giant heightened importance in a short conglomerate with gas, gas pipeline, oil and campaign). But Angly's fast start is also Test to come shipping interests. credited to his organization, complemented According to a Washington Post article, The provision of the new drug law by that of the county Republicans. Angly's • John 'Connally represented the Texas first mailing was out within a couple of allowing persons convicted of consortium in its efforts to gain the days of his announcement, and some marijuana offenses under Texas' old contract and until his return to the Nixon Austin residents had been dangerous drug statute to petition for administration, served on the boards of telephone-canvassed more than once within resentencing will almost surely receive a both Texas Eastern and Brown & Root. the first three weeks. court test as soon as the Controlled George Brown, board chairman of Brown Doggett, though he is significantly Substances Act becomes effective on Aug. • & Root, said that Connally was not on the behind at the half-way point, is not 27. Atty. Gen. John Hill has already issued board of B&R. Too right. He was on the out of it. His support on the left is a "letter advisory" opining that the board of Halliburton, Co., which is the soldifying ("He's beginning to sound resentencing section is unconstitutional B&R holding company. N. W. Freeman, genuine," said one lib), with endorsements because it impinges on the exclusive board chairman at Tenneco, said, "None of from neighborhood Democratic prerogative of the governor to "grant that money was in cash. All of it was in organizations and from the local Women's reprieves, commutations of punishment checks and stock." Political Caucus. Doggett supporters are and pardons" with the advice of the Board counting on Angly's squeezing Cavness and of Pardons and Paroles. vice versa. The Daily Texan contacted prosecutors Dave Shanks thinks all three will squeeze in Austin, Houston and Dallas and quoted one another. He is campaigning largely on responses ranging from that of a Harris his gruff sense of humor and his County D.A.'s man who said, "We'll just "non-professional politician" status, but he have to wait until Aug. 27 to find out," to also wants the "apparatus of state definite agreement with Hill in Dallas and government directed more toward the Travis County. Bob Smith, the Austin DA, 11 problems of economic development." said he intends to test the new provision July 13, 1973 One new town and the city council San Antonio "If they had ever dropped the new town subsidized housing at spot-cleared sites. The pressures of the community out-of-town," (that is, the ranch controversy over whether to build a new But the river corridor planners seem new-town Ms. Wagner says, "they could more concerned about getting better-off town in downtown San Antonio opened have got a lot of people to drop their apertures through which one could see people into the corridor than about opposition to the one in town. I suspected keeping the poor people there who are some of the local systems of principle and from the first the one in town was just a power that determine how cities are. Late already there. They contend that the cover-up to get the other one. I said to people living in the corridor now are "a in June the group who had been behind the them, 'When you drop San Antonio Ranch, now moribund downtown new-town plan population imbalance," a mix that is we'll see what we can do to get your new "heavily lopsided" on the side of the poor gave a reception at a downtown hotel, town in town, and do it right." (drinks, hors d'oeuvres, buffet, at the posh (44 percent of all families in the corridor St. Anthony,) and the subdued, resigned McCombs, a frank and spontaneous earn less than $5,000 a year). The planners tone that prevailed also contained the man, said the law prohibited the developers propose to provide decent housing "for all suggestion of the question, "Well, what from re-selling the land downtown for a corridor residents who want to remain, now?" The downtown is still deteriorating; profit; their only profit would be on phased and priced so that relocation units the planners still want to plan, the development. "Of course," he said, "we're are always available for the displaced," plus businessmen still want to make money. not going to do the development, because "desirable middle and high income Hitching the story back to the time when we don't have that kind of capability. We housing" for people drawn back to the the community was riven over the new might develop the plan say 20 percent and corridor by its increasing attractiveness. town downtown provides a framework for then have the other 80 percent done They project two alternative programs, one guessing what San Antonio will do now. somewhere else" (that is, by someone else). stressing helping the poor already there to stay on in the corridor better-housed, but Another aspect of McCombs' attitude is the other stressing the razing of all housing THE WAGNERS, architect Cy and indicated by his remark during a city "too dilapidated for rehabilitation" and an consultant Sherry, were not intractably council meeting on the new town increase in population in the corridor of 75 opposed to the downtown new town. The downtown, "If we're gonna sell dogfood percent, "most of it in middle and upper architect thought the proposed new town we've got to have a product that the dogs income households." too commercial, too little concerned with will eat. . . It's not simple to get 20,000 Rejoining, the Honts group said river people. Ms. Wagner believes the area that people to move back downtown." corridor development did not preclude the new town. Conceding that unless the was chosen for the downtown new town Using a $400,000 HUD grant, a river "desperately needs help," but that the corridor study group developed a plan to traditional downtown was "upgraded developers showed no signs of knowing enhance the uses — for walking, recreation, significantly" the new town would attract sales and office-users from the older area, what to do to bring more people back in to flood control, eating out, working and the new towners said the competition residing — of the river corridor, conceiving would stir the older downtown to improve that corridor as a strip of land six and a itself. The corridor plan's statement that half miles long and about a half mile wide. the new town would produce "a 'canyon' Their interim report was produced last of high-rise slabs along the river" was March and in import constituted an alternative to the new town downtown, condemned as "patently 'yellow' journalism" and false, since the Honts proceeding incrementally (or, the new group's high-density apartment units of town developers would argue, piecemeal varying heights would be relieved by open and inconclusively) rather than single-shot spaces. and all-in-a-package. Prepared by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Marshall Kaplan, Gans & Kahn, the river corridor study plans lawns, bike and THE HONTS GROUP, already walk paths, small neighborhood parks, entrenched in the ranch new town project, housing, commercial development, offices, was far ahead of the corridor group with pools extending into residential areas, the city council, and the issue of the hour learning centers, a theater, studios, a was whether the council would say yes or library, exhibitions, shops, bars, no to the single-shot new town downtown discotheques, and cafes, heavy plantings of backed by McCombs, Ochse and the oak to screen the river from nearby Hayden Head investors. industrial uses. The plan would intercept At this juncture Congressman Gonzalez' cars at the corners of the square mile that criticisms again were important. He assailed is the city's downtown and achieve a the legislation introduced in Austin that carless downtown by 1990. People would live there. She characterizes them as "some be moved about downtown in open-air South Texas ranchers and a car salesman, buses, the HemisFair minirail extended In Texas since 195'7, state law has prohibited urban renewal agencies from providing land for Red McCombs, a PR man, Bob Honts, and into the city, and water taxis, or they a real estate manager, Bill Ochse." public housing. The last legislature authorized would walk. Housing rehabilitation and local option elections on exceptions to this She suspected that the developers would neighborhood development along the prohibition, but San Antonio's city charter still "bail out" soon after the project began. corridor would be part of the plan, says it can't be done. She did not like plans they had to concrete including open-market housing In 1971 the San Antonio URA rejected in part of the San Antonio River, which Martin's attempt to drop the prohibition from development* by usual commercial the charter. John Bitter, the URA Chairman, said she regards as "a priceless urban amenity." interests, and public improvements at the time that home builders in the city would emphasizing visible things like trees, traffic object. Martin says that as far as he knows Texas 12 The Texas Observer is the only state in the union that has had this diversion around neighborhoods and prohibition.

13 he said would prohibit the city urban commitment of city money was $6 million July 13, 1973 renewal agency, which was to be the city's for roads and drainage. "It's like trying to operating agency for the new town hold a cork under water with a stick, Personal Service — Quality Insurance getting a straight answer out of these downtown, from dealing with any ALICE ANDERSON AGENCY people," the new mayor said. landowners except the single developer, the INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE Honts group, thus — Gonzalez said — Evidence of a squeeze on the promoters' setting up "a private land monopoly in hopes for profits became public when 808A E. 46th, Austin, Texas downtown areas." Further, he said, the bill Mayor Becker demanded agreement during 465-6577 would "exempt the developers from a council meeting in May that Central payment of taxes on the property which Catholic High, in the new town area, be the public would have to buy for them. I guaranteed 10.6 acres of land its officials see no reason for any such exemption in said it had to have for student playing ID A PRESS behalf of a monopoly." He said the city fields. Honts told the council this would 901 W 24th St Austin would in effect "surrender all public cost the developers $5 million and make Multi copy service. the new town not feasible. "I'm not trying powers and large amounts of public money Call 477-3641 to a monopoly." This jarred the city, and to deliver you an ultimatum," Honts said, especially the newly-elected city council. but "we would in all probability have to Running for re-election to the council withdraw the application." They were Bookkeeping & Tax Service last spring, Charles Becker told the press he already 1,000 potential residents below the had told then-Mayor John Gatti he had number required by HUD to define a new 503 WEST 15TH, AUSTIN 78701 been offered an interest in the in-town new town, and this would push them "below (512) 472-6886 town project and had rejected it as that red line" of permitted housing density, Honts added. (The promoters had improper for a councilman. Becker said he OFFICE HOURS: 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. it in mind that the students would walk asked the then-mayor if he had been made AND BY APPOINTMENT ANYTIME such an offer, too, and that Gatti said yes, half or three-quarters of a mile to athletic that he had, and he had rejected it, too. fields, leaving the disputed acres adjacent Becker said Frank Bennack, publisher of to their school available to be developed.) Land acquisition costs projected, Honts the San Antonio Light, was present. MARTIN ELF AN T During the meeting, Becker said, Red said, had increased in three months from McCombs described the project and said $21 million to $41 million for 30 acres less SUN LIFE OF CANADA "there was either a 71 percent or a 79 land. The mayor and councilman Morton were LIFE percent potential return on invested HEALTH capital." Becker quoted Honts as telling having none of this. "I might have been the others — upon Becker's rejection of the born in Wyoming," Becker said, "but it DENTAL offer — "I told you he wouldn't take it." wasn't yesterday, and I didn't exactly 600 JEFFERSON The effect of Becker's statement was come into town on a load'a green wood." SUITE 430 volcanic. Gatti said he was never offered a After the session, in the hallway of city hall, Morton said to Clark Rector, the HOUSTON, TEXAS piece of the action and he didn't think 224-0686 Becker had been, either. He called on the developers' economic consultant, "Your developers to "set the record straight and boy Honts made a mistake." show very clearly that Mr. Becker is a The developers wanted the land next to pathological liar." Bennack recalled a the school for low-income, high-density meeting during which he, Becker, and housing which Honts had indicated was others were offered an opportunity to necessary to meet HUD's requirement for #ripitz' become investors in the project and Becker density. Morton, in the course of a recess, Since 1866 called HUD in Washington, and told the and he both declined, but he, Bennack, The Place in Austin didn't read it as "a deal," and Mayor Gatti council he had been told there was no "red line," and "the guide is 'a substantial had not been present. McCombs said Becker had not been offered an amount' of low-income housing." GOOD FOOD Honts replied on the spot, "If HUD will opportunity to invest. Gatti said when he agree to our removing that low-income and GOOD BEER confronted Becker at the time and asked moderate-income housing, we're perfectly him why he was telling reporters he had amenable to doing that." Finally, a 1607 San Jacinto been offered a piece of the action, "He compromise was worked out. 477-4171 looked at me with a smile on his face and There was support for the new town said, 'I was just trying to put you up a from some spokesmen of the poor. A IN M IND 1111 1111111111 OM 111111 111111 11•1 reams. " I tree.' " representative of the League of United Becker said he'd take a lie detector test 1 Latin-American Citizens said the project *FUTURA and then — using a court reporter-notary "will cause all our city to bloom." Bill 1 public — he swore in a deposition before a PRESS Wallace, representing a San Antonio 1 AUSTIN civic group that he had been made the TEXAS poverty group, said people could get jobs 1 1 offer, that Gatti had said directly to him at decent wages, and he wanted something that he had been, too, and that they had Ask for the Union Label on your 1 both turned the offers down. downtown that poor people could come and enjoy. printing. It doesn't cost you more, 1 The two 'principal investors in the new but it shows that you care more! 1 town in town, Ochse (the owner of the St. Anthony Hotel) and McCombs, fought I values were another FUTIIIIIRA PRESS Becker in the election, backing the GGL's H ISTORICAL focus in the council hearings. The Roy Barrera. When Becker won and Phone 512/442.7836 developers made relevant assurances. beCame Mayor there had to be changes 1714 SOUTH CONGRESS ahead for the new town downtown. Truett Latimer, the state historical sites authority, wrote the council that the new P.O. BOX 3485 AUSTIN, TEXAS Becker demanded assurance from the 1111 us aid developers that the maximum present town would not adversely affect either Lone Star Brewery or the Ursuline "It's a nebulous thing," he said. "At this putting her finger on the two hang-ups that Academy, which is now a multicultural arts moment the people speaking for this thing and crafts center used by many citizens. could not be worked out, the tax are GGL [Good Government League] moratorium and the downtown new town's The San Antonio Conservation Society people and they have a $103,000 expressed concern on some specific points, threat to the central business district just (campaign) deficit, and I'd hate to see south of it. though, and Ms. Adela Navarro, a some of this money just go over. . . . " He great-great-granddaughter of a signer of the said that as he had entered the crowded The tax feature was the grease that made Texas Declaration of Independence, council chamber that day, "I had five the whole financial package go. In effect, doubted the project. "We will be stepping people bring this thing up to me, directly." the city agreed to forego more than $50 forward and being very modern — but I million in prospective taxes, letting that don't want to be a citizen of Chicago or . Solo-Serve is a price-cutting downtown money go to the developers. Honts now Detroit, I want to be a citizen ,of San department store that would not be in the readily concedes that this huge factor was Antonio, Tex.," she said. proposed new town. Its chief executive, what made the new town in town workable Milton Brenner, told the council in open from the investors' point of view. Disturbed businessmen surfaced in meeting that the family of the chairman of opposition during the city council hearings. the urban renewal agency, John Bitter, The sum of money involved did not One, Dick Gill, representing a company on owned property that would be in the new Soledad Street, said that if the street was become generally known. Rather there was town and that a member of that agency's debate about what was called "the tax closed, "our building is located exactly board was in business with an investor in opposite where it should be." moratorium." The investors agreed to pay the new-town project. "There is a question each year, "in lieu of taxes," the $300,000 W. W. McAllister, Sr., the chief person at of conflict of interest. There might be presently realized in local taxes from the the San Antonio Savings Association, was a people making use of their public office to area in the new town. But they would have most important opponent. He had been make a profit on this," Brenner said. "a moratorium" on taxes on the associated with Morris Jaffe in an earlier developments — the buildings, businesses, None of the council asked Brenner proposal for the redevelopment of part of apartment houses, residences and so on — questions about this. There was, however, the downtown for commercial purposes, for 25 to 50 years. some relevant banter. Mayor Becker said in but the Observer understands that this jest, "For the effort and the time and the Even on the surface, however, this raised came to nothing because there is no energy we've put into this thing, we oughta program that can use the public power of difficulties. First, the state law would have get a carat interest in it." Honts stepped condemnation for strictly commercial to be changed to allow it. Beyond that, quickly to the microphone and jested back, would it be constitutional? Property development. McAllister's SASA is in the "Mr. Mayor, I'm afraid to offer it."* owners not in the new town would have to old downtown that might be threatened by a new one just north of it. pay higher taxes to let the new-town owners pay none. A businessman in The woven-together fabric of public and competition with a new-town business private interests represented in the council THE COUNCIL responded to the would have to pay taxes that would put caused additional concern. Joe Rainey criticisms from Gonzalez and others that him at a competitive disadvantage. A Manion, representing opposed they were abdicating their public duty by lawsuit was likely; business interests businessmen, cautioned the council having the city staff study the new-town fighting the new town openly threatened members to be careful "so that none of the plans and give copious recommendations. to file it. "They can develop the conflict of interest will return to haunt" The staff provided an analysis of the commercial property first but buy it last them. What conflict of interest, developers' latest financial plan, but had and thus avoid the tax rolls to the end on Councilwoman Lila Cockrell asked him. received it only the preceding Sunday. the most valuable property," said Ms. Apparent inconsistencies in the plan were Wagner.

14 The Texas Observer noted, including statements that "all future tax increments" would go to repay the The Rev. Claude Black, a Negro minister public's new-town debt contrasting to on the council, was for the new town statements that assumed "a large portion" because, he said, at least they could watch of the tax benefits would pay off the the developer, in contrast to the ordinary CLASSIFIED developers' debts. The developer was also situation where they could not even be BOOKPLATES. Free catalog. Many beautiful asked by the staff to clarify the meaning of sure who the developer was, and because designs. Special designing too. Address: a $21 million item labeled "Amount to the new town would mean jobs. BOOKPLATES, P.O. Box 28-1, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387. Sinking Fund (for Land Purchase)" which Councilman Alvin Padilla added in, on the the staff said Honts called "profits" at a positive side, $80 million of development MARJORIE A. DELAFIELD TYPING city council meeting. But overall the staff in the downtown and a better tax base in SERVICE: Theses, dissertations, manuscripts, said the new town plan should be the future. reports, etc. I.B.M. Selectric II typewriters, approved. mu ltilith ing, mimeographing, addressing Councilwoman Lila Cockrell said no, Then Mayor Becker showed the council, envelopes. Public Notary. 25 years experience. the press and the packed chamber that he Call 442-7008, Austin. has a flair for farce. Bucking the new town for days, he berated it now as variously * It caused some unease among advocates of WE SELL THE BEST SOUND. Yamaha pianos, strong public authority over new towns that outrageous, appeared to side with his guitars; Moeck-Kung-Aulus recorders; har- Winston Martin and Bob Honts are close friends. business sidekick ex-Mayor McAllister monicas, kalimbas and other exotic instruments. Martin is head of the city urban renewal agency, against it, and voted for it in some form. Amster Music, 1624 Lavaca, Austin. 478-7331. to which the city proposed to delegate land acquisition and planning powers over the He felt concern for the property owners ON BEING CONCERNED: The Vanguard Years downtown new town. As Martin confirmed to the Observer, he taught Bob Honts in Sunday of the old downtown, Travis, Houston, of Carl and Laura Brannin" by M. A. de Ford, School, gave him his first job one summer at the Commerce and Market streets. At first the $2.10, postage paid. Dallas Civil Liberties Union, urban renewal agency while Honts was still in new-town proposal had contained just 1503 Montclair Ave., Arlington, Texas 76015. high school, and was best man at Honts' wedding. 70,000 square feet for businesses, but now Martin did not much like having been asked this has grown to include, over 50 years, IMPEACH NIXON bumperstickers in bold black about this, commenting that in a city like San & white. Four for $1. Send to Derek Howard, Antonio everybody knows everybody and 1,200,000 square feet, and if put into 503 E. 46th, Austin 78751. resenting any implication that he might put effect immediately, the new town "would friendship ahead of his public responsibility. render the central business district almost business and public developments, not for helpless and useless as a viable business $25,000 to Becker's proposed nonprofit redevelopment corporation. McAllister also housing. Then, however, he saw the entity." question and replied: Then there was that tax moratorium! "I suggested that the council take the developers up on a proposal they had "The city decided that before they develop things," the mayor said. "Others decided to address themselves to building of us on this council develop things. .. . dropped the day before, that the city take over the whole new town development housing, they had to address themselves to I've never asked for a tax moratorium, and building an economy that would support I hope to heavens I never have to, because downtown. At this juncture Becker left the council such housing, rebuilding areas that are not if you develop things . . . then you should producing tax revenues or jobs. The city be willing to pay taxes on them." table and walked forward to the public's microphone, where McAllister was decided that if you built low-cost housing, Damning fedeial money, Becker there wouldn't be anybody who could go suggested his own alternative to the new standing, and presented him a $25,000 check from — no, not the city — from the into that low-cost housing" because they town. He proposed that the city's wouldn't have the income to buy it even at dominant businesses put up the money for Handy Andy food stores. Mayor Becker also presented ex-Mayor McAllister with a subsidized prices. "a private nonprofit redevelopment More than 50 cents of each tax dollar agency" that would revitalize the pre-inscribed copy of a book Becker was The Second American Revolution was going into the slum areas, he said, so a downtown. In 1972, he said, Handy Andy, reading, priority was decided among four by John D. Rockefeller III. "the corporation that I represent," offered approaches, which are shown, in a slide to give $25,000 a year for six years for this As this wierd scene dissolved, a citizen known to Mayor Becker as "Helen" asked, show which Martin then narrated, as purpose, if others would match it. None "Central City, Neighborhoods, the River, had; but now, the mayor said, he had from the citizen's microphone, "Are we expected to believe that you and these PEOPLE," in that order, with "PEOPLE" commitments from a bank, McAllister's capitalized as shown. San Antonio Savings Association, other gentlemen will put these vast sums into downtown development without "Had we gone into the West Side" and developer Jim Dement, and Morris Jaffe, started out with low-cost house and and he had talked to others — people with making a profit out of it themselves?" "I said nonprofit," Mayor Becker replied, apartment construction, he said, "it would Sears and Joske's, Trammell Crow, the have been lost. The need was so great." Dallas financier and developer. "and that's exactly what I mean." That seemed to satisfy Citizen Helen, and after a The city — that is, he said, the city The Reverend Black wasn't buying this. councils, the URA directors — opted to There had to be a place in community little more discussion, the council voted on whether to have a new town downtown, start by "cleaning up" and rebuilding the development, he said, for "a few central city, an endeavor that everyone benevolent men," but letting them do the but with the city retaining the option of having the private developers and the urban could see and relate to. The point was, community development, "you in some first, "establishing a program," and second, ways shut out a lot of people," while if renewal agency do it, or Becker's nonprofit "building an economy." you use federal money, "I have a part, and corporate-funded foundation, or the city only. For this, Becker and six others voted (San Antonio of course has a public I can speak up as a man." housing program, administered by the San The mayor, presiding over the council, aye. Only two of the nine-person council voted no. Then, as reported last issue, the Antonio Housing Authority. This is had already spoken of "the corporation I government-owned housing rented at low represent." Now he said to Black, "I'll bet legislature failed to pass the bills to legalize the new town downtown, and all this cost. Within recent months two public the best suit of clothes in town that we'll housing developments for older people take the competitive sector and you take recrimination, debate, and mock-show seemed to have come to naught. have been opened, and the city's program the public sector and we'll back 'em off the appears to be generally considered as good face of the earth." as most, considering the rocky learning Councilman Alfred Beckmann, bridling at process the public housing movement has the mayor's enjoyment of the role of the TRYING TO guess what next for had to go through in the country and the puissant civic leader from business, said, "I San Antonio, Winston Martin is probably recent fund freezes of the Nixon represent a corporation that has been doing as appropriate a personal lens as any to Administration. Urban renewal is business for 122 years" (he is the chief gaze into the future through. something else — the use of the public person at the local Pioneer Flour Mills). He Martin, an architect and city planner, condemnation power and public funds to said he believed that the new town would took over the top staff position at the enable and partly fund private capital in serve as a catalyst for the older downtown. city's Urban Renewal Agency (URA) in urban development.) What was the mayor up to? From 1960. Urban renewal money from In 1961, the urban renewers in San subsequent events it became clear he had Washington, matched one-third by local Antonio condemned 68 acres of land to know that McAllister was going to come funds or credits, could be used to buy or southwest of the downtown area, forward to speak. It may be quite pertinent condemn and clear land and "renew" it. characterized by substandard housing, and that Becker's Handy Andys serve as 26 The significant question was what to use called their renewal plan the "Government substations in San Antonio at which this power and money to pay private Center Project." For $5 million they McAllister's SASA depositors can make enterprise to do, build housing, public cleared the land, relocated 264 families, their deposits. * facilities, or commercial and industrial 223 individuals and 131 businesses, and establishments. This question has special McAllister told the council he had made the plans. The area now contains two potency in a city whose poor are as doubts about the new town, especially the retail stores, eleven warehouses, four office destitute and as numerous as they are in tax moratorium and the effects on the buildings, several manufacturing companies San Antonio. Thirteen years and $60 older downtown. SASA, he declared, and a Holiday Inn, altogether valued at $14 million in federal grants down the road would make an initial contribution of million, plus a new police building and the from 1960, the city's URA has not yet Bexar County jail. This is what "urban placed a single San Antonio resident in a * When Handy Andy announced plans to build renewal" meant in this application of it. a headquarters office on a 100-acre site in the new housing unit within an urban renewal hilly country north of San Antonio, Becker, as area, this despite the fact that one-half the Next URA planned the "del Alamo" Handy-Andy president, was quoted, "I don't $60 million is now being used in housing project, a general neighboihood think it's realistic of the city to say there should oriented projects. The Observer asked development program for the central be a prohibition on building over the aquifer. business district and environs. URA [It's] the most desirable area. That's why people Martin why. want to build out there." He favored steps to At first he did not understand the acquired the site for HemisFair and for the protect the aquifer, he said, but they should be question, explaining that the sites they had (San Antonio Express, 15 tinged with "practicality." chosen to develop were appropriate for July 13, 1973 Dec. 24, 1971.) related riverside development of which the rehabilitation of the commercial area. most prominent feature is the Hilton hotel, URA also has proposed a project to in which the H. B. Zachry interests are HUD for Kenwood, a black pocket of important. substandard dwellings in the Olmos Park Dialogue URA, now spending about $200,000 area, but that's about it. Martin's agency developing Columbus Park into an Italian has been working with the Model Cities "ethnic center" with a statue of Columbus, department of the city, but the main work I public Italian-style free open-air cement here so far has been about 1,600 bowling lanes, and other features, is now in rehabilitation grants for substandard No hell raised the "neighborhood development" phase, housing and URA-facilitated land clearance Martin says. for about 500 commercially-built low- and I am puzzled by the comment, In another three years, the "Rosa Verde moderate- ($10,600 to $17,500) priced attributed to a member of the staff of the Park" area will be renewed. Into this houses, the buyers of which have to be House Revenue and Taxation Committee, once-substandard area URA, using private poor enough to qualify and well-off that the Texas Research League "raised developers, will import commercial, enough to make the payments. URA has hell" about the proposed recodification of privately-owned medical, and residential also helped clear land for the control of the the corporation franchise tax (H.B. 918). facilities. The Santa Rosa medical center Alazan-Apache creek, which floods the At no time did any member of the League will be expanded, and the Farmers' Market West Side and the control of which is staff discuss this bill with any member of area will be turned into a prefatory to redevelopment in that vast the Committee or its staff. Mexican-American ethnic center, with depressed urban area. Our activities consisted solely of "Produce Row" shut off to traffic and The next stage, then, says Martin, is "the responding to a request made by the turned into a shopping mall, the fine old river," and he turns to the Skidmore river Comptroller's Department that we submit market itself face-lifted into corridor study (a final version of which is the original bill draft to several corporate unrecognizability, and cultural and expected this summer) as the future focus tax attorneys for review and comment tourist-attracting activities planned. This of his agency's and the city's efforts to save prior to introduction. It was our clear $13 million project is to result, Martin the urban environment from rot and understanding that this submission was says, in 500 apartments, privately owned, splaying. known to and approved by Representative renting for from $126 for an efficiency to Of the new town in town, Martin says, Doyle who was then the prospective as much as $220 for a two-bedroom, with "I think it's very dead." At the reception sponsor of the bill. children discouraged for the housing the other day, he says, the backers felt that On March 5, we submitted to the because there are no schools near and the the prospects for downtown comptroller's people a memo summarizing area is enclosed by traffic-ways. redevelopment prospects were dim, the comments received from the first ten URA is about half finished, in terms of "whereas the city feels we must go ahead companies responding to our letter. On time, with this project. It has only just with the river corridor development," March 19, we submitted a further memo begun its Vista Verde project, a $19 trying, "on a piecemeal basis," to revive covering a total of 22 responses. We do not million public-private enterprise that is to the city, making the land along the rivers know if these memos were given to anyone include 600 to 700 dwelling units "for low- "more attractive" and providing, Martin outside the Comptroller's Department, but and moderate-income families." Ms. Pat says, housing in everything from there was no attempt to restrict their Mcllhenny, URA's public relations person, high-density apartment units to $75,000 distribution. Both memos made it clear says that under federal guides, 20 percent homes — "but not beside each other." that the League's role was simply to of the housing has to be for "low-income" This, then, Martin said, will be "the collect, digest and summarize comments people, and overall 50 percent has to be for chief effort of the city, of this agency and from respondents. At no time, either "low- and moderate-income families." The anybody else who has any money — private publicly or privately, did the League or any project also provides for an elementary enterprise, school districts, whatever!" member of its staff express an opinion on school, street realignment, parks and "Anybody who has money, anybody the merits of the proposed legislation. The 16 The Texas Observer who can get money," his assistant, Ms. March 19 memo constituted our last Mcllhenny said. contact of any type with this bill. "Is that a decision, or is that a mood?" James W. McGrew, executive director, "I think it's a mood," Martin said. Texas Research League, P.O. Box 12456, In a story headlined "Council to Get Austin, Tex. 78711. Luxury Housing Plan," the San Antonio Express reported June 13 that Martin has long advocated a centrally-located, Support for hanging city-owned property near LaVillita and across from HemisFair Plaza "as ideal for I have been reading your newspaper off luxury downtown townhouse and on now for the past several months. development," that he had discussed this Every once in a while I'd get the impulse to with the mayor, and that the city council subscribe but I didn't because there is a lot would soon consider the proposition. in your paper that newcomers really can't understand. The values controlling the city planning in San Antonio are upper-middle-class and However, in a recent edition, I came upper-class Anglo values, with an across a sentence that for editorial policy automatic allowance for the obligatory deserves the support of a subscription, so low-cost housing you have to include to get send one on. My check is enclosed. The the federal money. The public housing sentence by the way is as follows: movement, now stalled by the Nixon government in Washington, avails only a "Whatever else our legislators deserve little as the new towners and the urban and the Observer is still of the opinion that renewers use the public powers and the some of them deserve hanging . . ." public purse to fund the private builders in Col. Richard A. Soch USAF (Ret.), the further elaboration of urban 2506 Bridal Wreath Lane, Dallas, Tex. civilization. R. D. 75233.