‘f Clreutation - 635-6357 Page 4, The Herald, rhureday, July 12, 1979 TERRACE/KITIMAT | daily herald Pubilshed by Sterling Publishers General Office - 635-6357 GEN, MANAGER - Knox Coupland EDITOR - Greg Middieton CIRCULATION - TERRACE - 635-6357 KITIMAT OF FICE - 632-2747 Published every weekday at 3212 Kalurn Street, Terrace, 8.C. A member of Verifled Circulation. Authorized as'second class mall. Registration number 1201, Postage pald In cash, return postage guaranteed. NOTE OF COPYRIGHT The Herald retains full, complete and sole copyright In any advertisement produced and-or any editartal or photographic content published in the Herald. Reproduction Is not permitted. - EDITORIAL Terrace District Council Is asking residents If they are In favor of using tax dollars to aid refugees from Vietnam settle here. Council Is considering using about $30,000 saved as a result of low bids on paving projects. This money, as Alderman Alan Soutar has pointed out, Is the locai taxpayers’ money, collected to undertake projects to benefit the community as a whole. Even If the money is excess funds in the budget, it isn’t money to be spent by council any way It pleases. We have no quarrel with council’s humanitarian motives. We do not argue that it is not a generous noble gesture.. . We do not say it would not broaden our community and that the Individuals who would be aided would not turn out to be : among Terrace’s better citizens. lf It is the wish of the residents of this “area that thelr tax dollars be used to - bring in several of the families from an ' area torn by war and bloodshed, then we would applaud those sentiments and be - pleased to see council use the money for that purpose. Untll we see this direction. Indicated: by'& number of-the taxpayers . or if there is any substantial objection, : we would’ have to advise council ' members ‘that such a move would be - Inappropriate. However, even if there is a resistance : fo using tax dollars to fund a rellef ; program, one which would bring same less fortunate than ourselves here where : they willl have an opportunity to build a ; better life, that is no reason for council to : abandon the Idea. There are a number of : other ways the money could be raised. : Council could also easily guarantee the * funds from the paving surplus and un- : dertake other community fund-raising .. events, . collected would be named for the pur- ” pose ones In which the money It was to be. used for. In any case, however you feel, do let council have the Information it needs to . make a decision. ; To assist the council in making the . decision, the Daily Herald will be run- ning a clip-out coupon, a questionaire, on the editorial page of Tuesday’s newspaper. Do fill it out and see clty council gets the feedback they require by Friday when a meeting is planned with someone from the federal im- migration department. AERAAN e | "| 01979 Untvertal Press Syndicate ry “There's nothing wrong with him. He just does that to make me look stupid.” we | COMMENT '. by Greg Middleton = « og . at the reg now Jolliffe's turn to else bringing in a tap throw him out.. - _. Unless council can show an that recording equipment isn’t, allowed in. council. chambers, council erred in tossing the ‘former alderman and his electronic gear’ out. Precedent, the: time when David Pease was allowed to tape record a. Meeting over Jolliffe's objections, ‘supports Jollitfe's . move. _— ‘ ae . Terrace district council delayed the public business’ ular Monday night meeting to-engage in‘a little vendetta against the local, self-appointed gadfly, Victor Jolliffe. After some didcussion; "they ‘turfed __ Jolliffe and his mobile recording studio out of. council , chambers. en oo -. ‘ ., cca a asd ; Y . Jolliffe, who is noted for ming tings for eound, set "yp in the lobby. where he probab and a better.record of:th seem 'a fi . While it may @ proceedings Wnyway.: fe incongrubus'that it is be told hd couldn’t:tape the ’ council meeting, as Jolliffe once ‘objected to someone erecorder, {t is hardly reason to y got leas ambience ‘in existing bylaw saying There is also the trend in government to allow and even encourage a tape recorded and even video taped. record of debate. Tt also seems stange that as councilg. are always remember what went on. Perhaps council should _ keep the minutes, after. all, an file things. saying they would like to see residents:come oyt to. council meetings and then when dne does, albelt he: may be considered a rather obnoxious thdividual by some members of council, he is barred from because he brings along somethihg to later. help him . consider hin ig Jollitfe to his,pdésiqn to record a3 “ ° ‘ ftom the room. itis ~ CONSUMER COMMENT: ord recy! 4 ( { Sd aie “Normally, I hate beer, but at the first sign ofa beer shortage, I develop '. _ an insatiable thirst for the stuff.” “ Mn at WASHINGTON (CP) — The U.S, Senate apparently feels . that “despite a long. ist election-time buffer between the people and the presidency. In a rollcall vote, the Senate has resoundingly defeated a years-long effort . to supplant the electoral college with direct, pepular election of presidents. - With most Americans con- centrating this week on when Skylab would come down . from the heavens — and when: -President ‘Carter would come dewn from the mountains of Maryland — the Senate vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the electoral college recelved relatively little attention. But constitutlonal experts say the amendment, which also would have required approval from the House of Representatives and three- quarters of the state legislatures, represented perhaps the most radical change ever suggested to the U.S. constitution. And the defeat of the drive, they note, ensures that the inequalities inherent in the method now used to select a president will remain built y tof, democracy: the. * counts} “still” needs” ali” TO POPULAR VOTE ae Senate defeats the change | By CATHY McKERCHER, into the U.S. political eystern. rey . rf i fe ~The electoral college, a du-' riosity to Canadians ‘who have nothing approximating it ‘in their parliamentary system, was drawn up at the 1787 «constitutional con- vention as a compromise to break a deadlock over whether the president should be elected by state legis- latures or by popular vote. Under the electoral college system, voters casting: ballots in - presidential elections choose electors, who meet at the state capitals about a month after the election and officially choose the president, — The number of electoral college members in each - State is equal to the size of ita congressional delegation. ‘Thus Alaska, which ‘is en- titled to only one member in the House of Repre- sentatives on the basis of its population, has three electoral votes since each state elects two US. senators, Meanwhile California, with 45 members in House of Representatives, gets less than a five-per-cent electoral bonus because of its two U.S, senators, . / Amore troublesome ‘in- . equality with the system has heen the custom, begun in the 18308, for all a State's electoral votes to be awarded to the candidate who carries the state. On two occasions, this has resulted in the loser of a presidential contest being named chief executive by the electors. Both Rutherford Hayes in 1676, and Benjamin Harrison in 1888, became president on the basis of elector votes despite the fact that they received fewer popular. voter than their opponents, , John Quincy Adams also . recelved fewer votes than his opponent, Andrew. Jackson in 1824, but his election to the presidency was decided in the House of Represen- tatives after Jackson failed to wina majority of electoral college votes, In light of the problems and potential future dif: ficulties with the electoral system, arguments put forth by Senator Birch Bayh (Dem, Ind.), seem com- pelling. Bayh, whe has guided the debate on the PETRO-CANADA a electoral college since 1966, Pegandlong ofthe state where oss of the state whi itis cant,: worthias much megan ope vote, The Senate, for a variety of reasons, obviously didn't find that poaltion compelling enough, oo Opponents to the amend- ment used basically the game argument that came out in the 1787 convention, Without a state base for electing a president, a candidate could ignore large portions of the-country and ¢ the concentrate on population centres. . Opponents to the amend- ment also have argued that the electoral college is a safeguard of the two-party system. A thirdparty can- didate, analysts note, would have to win 6 state before having any real impact on the outcome of a presidential lection. . Others in the Senate also feared that political chaos might result from the direct- election amendment, which called for a run-off election if m0 candidate gets 40 per cent of the total vote, Only one president in U.S. history has fallen short of that voting mark. In 186), Abraham Lincoln got 39.9 per cent of the vate. We may need it more now. OTTAWA (CP)An energy expert with the Science Councl! of Canada indicated Wednesday the federal government may now need Pelro-Canada, the govern- ment-owned energy cor- poration, more than ever, Angus Bruneau, chairman of the Science Council's committee on energy selentific policies, told a _ Mews conference that a massive research and development program to prepare Canada for energy celf-sufficiency is an im- mediate priority. He said the council would like to see continued aupport for Petro-Canada so the government will have some Imput into research and development of oil and gas resources in the Far North. “The federal government does need an instrument that altows it to be involved (in research and development in the North),”’ Bruneau said Petro- ‘By MARLENE ORTON Canada would give the government an opportunity to assess what was hap- pening with respect to oll and gas exploration in the North. Prime Minister Clark has said his government would | dismantle the billion-dollar oil company, leaving the responsibiii for | ex: ploration and development of. natural resources up to private indusry. There are indications, however, the government would move slowly to turn Petro-Canada into a private company partly because of the current international oil situation, At the news conferance, science council . officials outlined details of a \ released last week on how government and industr should develop a policy an strategy for achieving ’ of oll and energy Belf-sufficlency, Federal Energy Minister Ramon MHnatyahyn has declined to comment on the repor The council has called for a $3.4-biliion dollar In- vestment over the next 30 years in a series of carefully planned programs to develop 11 energy sources. - eovering nuclear energy program the management of radioactive waste and research into the future we of thorium, a more abundant mineral than uranium, as an. alternate nuclear fuel. - E.R.Q. Stolan, who put the report together after four years of research, sald each program would add a sub- stantial contribution in future efforla to achieve ’ energy self-sufficiency. The programs include exploration and production 8 in the Arctle and off the East Coast, developing more efficent combustion technologies for coal and developing renew- able energy technologles such solar heating and the production of methane gas and methanol from forest waste, However, the council recommended that the. largest investment of $2 ion should go into a But, he sald, “oll and gas exploration in the North is very important.” Yet the acutal resources in the Arctic are not known, Stoian said, “But we don't have enough {nformation to write-off future discoveries which could be substantial.” . Panarctle Oils Ltd. of Calgery announced a gas , of possibly ‘up to Pag : ¢ fin trilllon cubic feet in Arctic Islands late in May. Petro-Canada _ providea about 80 r. cent. of Panarctic’s financing. During the summer holidays, when. the kids are out of school‘and the weather is right, more and more people prefer to fake.” 40 the. road. for a motoring vacation, where - they can travel at their alty AAT WAT: a »,sobnity. from their’ own “personal vantage point. Unfortunately though, many. vacations end in ‘disappointment and even _ disaster due to. the neglect’ of careful planning and a few simple precautions. To make your vacation relaxing. and WOITy - t i months or for three days, you should take the time for proper preparation. Even if these preparations cost a few dollars, they will be well worth taking, for they could end up saving not only time, inconvenience and major expense, but they could also save your Check the mechanical condition of your vehicle. If you are not an expert in automotives, find someone who is. For $830.00 for members and $40.00 for non-members, the British Columbia Automobile Association offers a 100 point in- spection by a qualified mechanic’ which will provide you with a detailed report listing “any defects or problems. This service is by ap- pointment only, and it is suggested that arrangements for it ‘be made at least one week before your planned departure. Hf you will be trailer, ensure that your vehicle is properly equipped and in a con- dition that will support the added trailer weight. Check the hitch, mirrors, lights, tire pressure, rear springs and shock ab- sorbers, as well as any appliances and fuel tanks in the trailer, When ing a loading the trailer, the front half should bear 60 . leisure cand. ‘see. the ., Ve per cenit lof the luggage weight so'that!10 per cent ‘of the trdiler’s’ weight is on the hitch, This will help to achlave‘stabllity and control in towing. — The. Loading arrangement of your passengers and baggage ig -an-important con- sideration for both safety and comfort’ Items in the trunk shquid be’ evenly distributed by weight and arranged,: so that frequently used items can be reached ,conveniertly and with minimal disruption... } sssible, Whether getters win At: 'Wbuld “Eeip’ is°4tF "Wires “CRP tetibe obstruct the driver's vision or pose a hazard if the vehicle comes to a sudden stop. Both driver and passengers should have enough body and leg room for comfort, and each should have a seat belt. H you are travelling with small children, proper car seats are a ' must, as are simple games and toys-to kee them quietly ‘amused. Regular stops should be made every few hours for the comfort of all and to help the driver remain relaxed and alert: Always . carry emergency pment and know how tovuse it. Tt should bé easily ac- | cessible and include a basic tal Hi Halil, ic 18! i a set of flares, a trouble light, and a dry-chemical or multi-purpose fire extinguisher. If travelling far from home, inform _ yourself about differences in motor vehicle laws and adjuat your driving ac-_ cordingly. No ‘matter ~ where you are driving, be a defensive. driver and anticlpate -hazards or problems and know\what to do should they occur. Don’t overdrive the limits of your vehicle or of the road and weather con- ditions, and always keep check on your driving habits, i. letters on grounds of ' publication - Letters | welcome: The Heratd welcomes its readers com. ments. All letters to the editor of general public interest will be printed. We do,: however, retain the right to refuse to print taste. We may also edit letters for style and length. All letters to be considered for must 1 \- possible libel or bad be signed.