■Commentary
Why Maxon tried to beat the voters
Editor's note: The following is Part 1 of
an analysis of Andy Maxon’s long court
fight against the City of Eugene and the
Future Power Committee. Maxon is
currently the Republican candidate for
County Commissioner. Eric Biggs, author
of the article, is a supporter of In
dependent candidate Bill Wooten. Part II
will run in Wednesday’s Emerald.
By ERIC BIGGS
What makes one man bear a burden?
For instance, why would one man go to
presumably great expense over a long
period of time to nullify the results of a city
election? The first possibility to occur to
many people might be potential economic
gain. But what if that man stoutly denies
any financial consideration? What about
ideals of integrity, or altruism on behalf of
others? These possibilities exist.
They say Socrates died of upholding his
integrity, when he would merely have had
to agree with his accusers to continue
living. Jesus was nailed to the cross, and
he had his reasons.
But what made Andrew Maxon take the
City of Eugene to task for a year and ten
months in the courts? The story I am about
to relate may help you decide for yourself.
It is drawn directly from the archives of
the circuit court, which are kept in the
basement of the Lane County Courthouse.
On November 5th, 1968, Eugene voters
approved plans for the Eugene Water and
Electric Board to begin preliminary work
on a nuclear power plant in this area.
However, many people had hesitations
about the ecological wisdom of this move.
Eighteen months later, on May 26, 1970,
enough Eugene voters had second
thoughts about EWEB’s nuclear plans to
pass an initiative charter amendment
calling for a four-year moratorium on the
new power plant.
The Eugene Future Power Committee,
the sponsor of the initiative petition,
convinced city residents that the real risks
of thermal pollution, catastrophic ac
cident, overdevelopment, and so on and so
on, heavily outweighed potential economic
benefits accruing from the new plant.
Many of us breathed a sigh of relief when
the May 26th amendment was passed. But
this was only the first chapter of the story.
On August 4th, 1970, Andrew Maxon filed
a suit in Lane County Circuit Court against
the City of Eugene to declare the results of
the May 26th vote null and void. This was
the beginning of the second chapter.
Maxon claimed his actions were motivated
only by a sense of justice, since EWEB lost
money by the voters’ caprice. EWEB’s
initial outlays in the eighteen-month
period between the two elections would
have to be recouped by “user rate charges
to plaintiff and others.” In other words,
one supposes Maxon would have to pay
because the voters of Eugene changed
their minds, and allegedly this was not
fair. No other citizens joined him in the
complaint.
Maxon also charged that the matter was
passed, and was now an administrative
concern, not a legislative one. His lawyers
deemed the May 26th initiative “invalid
and void on the grounds that the amend
ment deals with administrative matters...
and was an improper subject of and could
not be enacted by an initiative election.”
The court ordered that the vague
language used in Maxon’s complaint be
clarified and made more definite. End of
the second chapter.
On November 13th, 1970, Maxon filed an
“Amended Complaint.” Beginning of the
third chapter. The Eugene Future Power
Committee had by now intervened to
become co-defendants with the city. On
motions by both the EFPC and the City of
Eugene, Maxon's amended complaint was
dismissed because the previous order of
the court had not been followed—the
language of the suit was just as vague as
ever. Six months had now gone by since
the May 26th vote. End of third chapter.
Letters,,.
For Pressman
With so much attention focused on the
national campaigns it is important to
remember that the person we chose to
represent us on the city council has a
tremendous effect upon the quality of our
lives. It is probably more essential than
ever that our city council positions be filled
by individuals who are in tune with the
community and aware of its strengths and
weaknesses. Unless you know the can
didate personally how do you separate the
genuine from the rhetoric and make a wise
choice? In many cases it comes down to
the personal qualities of the candidate.
Those who know Hope Pressman are
fortunate. They will vote for her with
complete confidence that she is the best
candidate to represent her neighbors in
Ward II.
Her educational background is ideal for
the job She is a graduate of the University
and four years ago she returned to school
and earned her masters in CSPA with
intensive research in urban economics.
When it comes to personal qualities
Hope really has the edge. Her love and
concern for her community has been
demonstrated by a history of continuing
involvement in projects that enhance the
life of her town and state. Here is a
capable, intelligent and experienced
candidate who brings great enthusiasm to
the bit and little jobs she undertakes
whether it be volunteer at Pearl Buck
School, co-founder and president of the
Junior Service League, administrator of
the Governor’s Planning Council on Arts
and Humanities or chairman of the
Olympic Trials Cultural Activities
Committee. Her genuine concern for all
people is further reflected by her unselfish
kindnesses to foreign students who have
lived in her home as part of her family.
Hope’s unusual organizational ability
and her unbiased study of all sides of an
issue have earned great admiration by her
co-workers.
Mrs. Pressman has no professional ties
or special interest commitments. She will
bring a refreshingly positive approach in
human terms to her service.
Because I am enjoying the rare luxury of
being absolutely certain when I vote for
Hope Pressman to represent Ward II in the
Eugene City Council, I will be delighted to
add to these reasons if you care to call me.
Liz Litchman
International Student Services
Emerald Hall
New bike laws?
Three weeks ago I bought a used 5-speed
bike from a man who buys up defective
bikes, adds newer parts and then ad
vertises to sell them. He operates in
dependently—no shop, no permit to sell, no
guarantees. But I took the time to ride it
before purchase, had the brakes and gears
checked out by a bike shop and it seemed
Food for thought on
short order politics
By LEE SIEGEL
The high point in silent majority humor
during the past few months seems to be a
joke floating around that good oi‘ Colonel
Sanders is offering a McGovern bucket
consisting of left wings and posterior
portions of the fowl creature they serve. To
combat this slanderous attack on the
kindly history professor turned politician,
pro McGovern members of the fast food
industry have united to open a new chain of
restaurants, named Nixon Administration,
Incorporated, which will strive to serve a
hungry public foods made famous by the
White House kitchens The menu of the
new chain will cater to those who can
afford such delicacies as well as those who
cannot but do not know any better It will
include
The ITT. a lavish salad of shredded
paper. Geneen Cheese, and half-baked
baloney, served with Thousand Dollar
dressing
Kagnew. a highly seasoned stew of
perfidious press perfused with perverted
pedantics in a perfect puree of osterized
cabbage.
The Trishwich. a noble sandwich of
chopped carp and bass that gladly
sacrifices itself for the freedom and
dignity of your stomach, and is served on a
sickening sweet bun.
Thieu Pie. a scrumptious deep dish pie
of monk meat, used bamboo shoots, heroin
poppy seeds in a rich gravy of battered
opposition This dish may be ordered
basted, broiled or vietnamized and is
served on folded newspapers.
The Nixon Basket, a temptingly
corrupt sandwich of one-half pound ground
sham burger on a crooked wheat deal bun.
Served with price supported milk and
French Fried Gooks. This specialty should
hold anyone's special interest!
The Justice Burger, a delicious sand
wich of ground Kangaroo and courtage
cheese guaranteed to summon a mouth
watering verdict as well as reversing the
liberal trends of the gastrojudicial tract.
Served only at the Bar to white Elks
like a good deal. What I did not have
checked out was the loose nut that at
tached the axle and fork to the front wheel.
This past week riding down Hilyard St. in
traffic the nut fell off, the fork snapped and
bent and I went spreadeagled over the
handlebars. Fortune had it that no car was
directly behind me. Total damage: $5 for
bike shop repair and $15 for emergency
room treatment for bruised knee.
This shakeup stimulated me into
thinking about some needed measures
concerning bike sellers, riders and the
machines themselves. That’s what’s
important to remember: bikes are 30
pounds of steel machinery moving through
faster masses of two tons of steel.
Some things I would like to see done are:
1. Time and parts guarantee on all used
bikes.
2. Inspection of used bikes before pur
chased, perhaps done by a bike shop, with
inspection sticker to be displayed on bike,
and periodic regular inspection of all
bikes.
3. Registration permit needed for
sellers, not costing more than $1 or $2 but
mandatory to have name and address
known and responsibility for salesman
ship.
4. Bill of sale with bike’s history to be
presented each time it changes hands.
5. Driving tests for riders.
6. Enforced licensing for all bikes.
7. Enforced hand signals required.
If I had read of these proposed measures
two weeks ago, I probably would have
beefed that they were too stringent and
trying to take all the fun out of bike riding.
Now I've learned what a gamble it is to put
your life in reliance on a machine that
comes with no guarantees of condition or
safety. It’s strictly a caveat emptor
business.
I would like to hear from anyone else
with a similar experience and anyone who
would be interested to work with me to get
these measures enacted. Contact me at
1648 Alder St. or 342-4694.
Joyce Wolpert
Reynolds writes
In last Wednesday’s coverage of my talk
on breeder reactors, I was described as
saying that one of my major conflicts with
EWEB was their program to build a
nuclear breeder reactor.
I’d like to assure your readers of two
things. (1) the breeder reactor is not
planned for the Big Creek site north of
Florence ta conventional reactor was,
however), and (2) EWEB is supporting the
development of a breeder reactor in
Tennessee, in the amount of $350,000 over a
ten year period. Compare this nearly
$3,000 per month with your EWEB bill—
and consider whether your rates should
subsidize the production of plutonium.
Meanw hile, many worthwhile programs of
safe and renewable energy sources—some
right here in Oregon—are being ignored by
EWEB.
Other issues are involved, such as
energy conservation, equitable rates and
the need for a wider perspective among
Board members as we face up to an energy
crisis of our own making.
I ask your readers’ support on
November 7.
John Reynolds
Associate Professor of Architecture
Candidate for Eugene Water & Electric
Board
Ward One
Cause furthered?
In reply to Pat Spurlock’s letter of 10-16,
I would like to thank him for his in depth
analysis and expose of the discriminatory
employment practices of the Campus
Branch of the U.S. National Bank. Not for
some time have I read such a thoughtful
discussion of a situation. The conclusions
arrived at from two separate and isolated
incidents, and from the “questioning” of
three recently hired “bon bons” are in
teresting indeed. To be sure the cause of
fair employment practices will be fur
thered by such an objective letter.
Dealing in facts, not suppositions, I know
of four recently hired employees who are
transferees from other areas of the U.S.
Bank system. Two such “bon bons” have
had over l's years experience each in the
U.S. National Bank Eugene Account
Service Center. One of those two, a blonde,
had been trying to get a job in the Campus
Branch for some time—in order to put me
through school.
When she first applied for a Campus job
she was given a polite “come back again”,
due to the fact that no positions were open.
She did just that—more than once. Her
experience is I’m sure not an atypical one.
It is unfortunate that the motives for
employment and the credentials of em
ployees are placed under scrutiny by one
whose only real contact with and sub
sequent judgment of the bank is colored by
an unfortunate, but almost inevitable,
incident of the banking system: clerical
errors.
John W. Stewart
3rd Year Law
Oregon School of law
Rebuttal
In its editorial urging defeat of the
Auditorium-Convention Center bond issue,
the Emerald has raised some straw issues,
along with some legitimate questions—all
of which have answers.
The idea that the Auditorium
Association is a powerful "conglomeration
of local elites” is a misleading one. True,
some of the officers of the LCAA are local
businessmen, but anyone who has lived in
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