The Clarendon Press, October 21, Page 6
BLESSED are the young...for they shall inherit the national
debt.
You don't have to wait until Thursday
to read about the No. 1 Clarendon Broncs
ON NOVEMBER 6, voters of Texas will go to the polls to vote
on nine proposed constitutional amendments. There are several
sides to every amendment, and we'd like to comment on these
amendments in this column and others between now and the
election date. By the way, absentee ballots can be taken now. If
you don't plan to be in town on Nov. 6, you can vote by going to
the County Clerk's office any time before then.
Voter turnout will probably be very, very light, since not too
many peoply get over-enthused about voting on amendments.
But don't forget, it's your obligation to take part in your
government.
Probably the most publicized part of the amendments to be
voted on is Number I on the ballot. This amendment provides for
regular annual sessions fo the Legislature, and for payment of
legislators to be $15,000 a year.
if you subscribe to The Clarendon Press
The Press brings complete coverage
We strongly endorse the passage of this amendment. Texas
legislators presently meet once every two years (not counting
special sessions) to run a multi-billion dollar business. State
government is the largest business in the state, one of the largest
in the world, and it makes sense to meet more than once every
two years to run it. When the once-every-two-year provision was
made, years ago, state government was a small business. But
this major industry now requires more attention, and legislators
should be on top of government at all times, not just once every
two years.
But the pathetic thing about the present system is the $4,800 a
year given legislators. The new proposal would boost them to a
more realistic salary of $15,000 a year. We feel this would help in
several ways.
First, it's totally ridiculous to think that a legislator can live on
$4,800 a year. That's $400 a month, and you have to consider
that a legislator has to have two households, one in his home
district and one in Austin. I have a good friend who is a
representative from Wichita County. He is as honest as the day
is long. And he doesn't have an abundance of money. He had to
set up living quarters in his capital office because he couldn't
afford to rent an apartment. It's ridiculous to expect a good
representative to live on $4,800 a year.
By giving $15,000 a year, Texans will have a better chance to
get a good man to represent each district. Today, a man must be
rich or crooked to get by on the meager $4,800 a year. As it has
turned out, many of them have been crooked, as revealed in the
Sharpstown caper. Many legislators have depended on payoffs
and lobby money to live on, and this obviously doesn't make for
good government.
If Texans want good government, they're going to have to pay
for it. And we hope' Texans vote for better government on Nov. 6.
Let's run Texas government like we'd run our own business, and
pay these representatives a livable wage.
WHEN THE GOVERNOR IS elected in 1974, he will have the
first 4-year term in the state's history for a governor. And all the
polls are pointing to the re-election of Gov. Dolph Briscoe. The
latest figures I saw gave Briscoe a 70% popularity, and listed
little chance of a defeat of the governor.
In reading other newspapers which come across this desk, I've
• seen article after article praising Gov. Briscoe for his outstanding
tenure as governor of Texas. I guess so.
I really haven't seen much that the governor has done. Of
course, that may be good in itself. A local politician jokingly tells
me often that you can't get in trouble if you don't do anything.
And I guess that's the case with Dolph Briscoe. He's probably
the most color-less governor Texas has ever had. A fellow once
told me that the best thing Briscoe had done was make Preston
Smith look like an exciting politician.
Brlscoe very often forgets to attend various events which he is
scheduled to attend. And when he does make an appearance, he
has trouble reading speeches which he obviously has never seen
before stepping to the podium.
But maybe Dolph Briscoe is the kind of governor we need. One
who keeps his mouth shut and doesn't do anything, good or bad.
I think this is the reason he ranks so high in opinion polls. He
hasn't done anything to step on. any toes. And he hasn't, to
anybody's knowledge, bought any National Bankers Life stock.
Anyway, looks like we'll have Guy. and Mr. Briscoe around for
quite awhile, but it's a sure thing that Texans could do a lot
worse than Dolph Briscoe for governor.
MISERY is finding out that your teen-age son is the Avon
representative.
THE BIGGEST trouble with political Promises is that they go
in one year and out the other.
CLOSING THOUGHT: As you slide down the banister of life,
may the splinters never point the wrong way.
Fryer chicken prices
back to bargain levels
Fryer chicken prices dropped steadily the last couple
weeks--back to bargain levels in most markets.
"Whole birds offer the best values," Mrs. Gwendolyne Clyatt,
consumer marketing information specialist with the Texas
Agricultural Extension Sevice, Texas A&M University System,
noted.
"Beef and pork prices, on the other hand, remain basically
unchanged.
"In general, look for best beef values on chuck roasts and
steaks, round steaks and roasts, beef and calf liver, ground beef,
and arm and blade roasts and steaks.
"Pork buys include hams, picnics, shoulder roasts and steaks,
and end-cut loin roasts and chops."
For an appetizing main dish that makes a little meat go a long
way, the specialist suggested browned pork chops baked on top
of a casserole of creamed potatoes, Spanish rice, baked beans
or other vegetables, macaroni, noodles or onions.
Egg supplies remain adequate--and when compared to other
high.protein foods, they're a bargain, the specialist pointed out.
"Cheddar cheese is featured at dairy counters along with milk,
sour cream and Other cheese," Mrs. Clyatt continued.
"Tokay grapes carry attractive price tags as supplies increase.
Abundant apple supplies also mean decreasing prices.
"Other fruits worthy of consideration include prunes,
bananas, oranges, cantaloupes and pears."
Consumers can choose from several varieties of hard and soft
shell squash. In addition, larger head-lettuce supplies bring
more attractive prices, she added.
"'Dry yellow onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, celery, green
peppers, rutabagas, mustard, collards, turnips and greens, and
cucumbers are among the economical vegetable choices."
of Broncho football Sunday morning
The Press is on the
newsstand at 3:30 p.m.
each Saturday, if you want
to sneak a preview.
Newsstands at:
--Post Office
-.Tunnell Pharmacy
--Ruby's Grocery
--Syd Blue's
1. Editor Dean Singleton writes the
game story late Friday night, giving a
picture of the game to those who didn't
attend and bringing back the
highlights to those who did.
2. Photographer Richard Allen
develops the film which he has taken at
the game, picks out the best shots, and
turns them over to the news desk.
3. News editor David Everman picks
out the best pictures, decides how they
wm be played and captioned, and puts
it all together.
4. Cindy Singleton relays all
information to the new Compugraphic
Computer, and type is rapidly set.
Finally, it's all put together at 4 a.m.
Saturday morning, prepared for the
press, and printed at 12 noon
Saturday. Readers can pick up The
Clarendon Press at 3:30 p.m. Saturday
to read all about the Broncho victory,
only hours after game was played.
A winninE team working for the satisfaction
of you, the reader
