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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 1977)
( ■ Lugone, Oregon 97403 • TLAND ■ 1 OBSERVER Volume 7 No. ,0 Thursday, January 20, 1977 10c per copy Where does our money go? Last August the Department of Vital Statistics, the Public Welfare D epart ment and other agencies were informed that state employees and former em ployees were dealing in false documents obtained from the V ital Statistics De partment. A fter a cursory investigation, by Public Welfare, the case was closed. Later, two friends of the employees admitted that they had received false vital statistics information for use in obtaining false identification. Larry Baker reported the criminal activity to Marian M artin, State Regist rar of V ital Statistics. He told Ma. M artin that at least three women had obtained the documents, one who was still an employee of Vital Statistics and two who had moved to another agency. Further, one was continuing to sell confidential papers from the new agency. He charged that some of these docu ments had been used to obtain identifica tion to cash returned welfare checks. The investigation was passed from Public Welfare-to the Attorney General's office, where it waa assigned to Clark Meara. Later Mears reported back to R. H. Williams, Assistant Chief Investigator for Welfare that his office would not handle the investigation due to lack of funds, but would assist Public Welfare’s investigation. Williams was authorized to go ahead with his investigation. He checked with Discuss death “New World African Danas to the English wording for a Black ballet drawing upon the conventional movements of African peoples, inspired by the of Black Africa, visualized in sweat filled taverns strung throughout I (a section on the south aide of Chicago), daydreamed about under the 63rd Street “L " tracks, baptised by the Holy Ghost residing in a storefront church called Green Grove Baptist, legitimtoed by an ocean of caaketa in the first minute of a new a) i t a Black street dancer one of a long line of tots of all stage dance. From the folk cornea authenticity, emotion, faith, love and above all else, style-beeause all people are individual, even Black people, especially at midnight." (Please see page d, col. 5) L In light of the move to bring capital punishment to Oregon, a panel discussion on the Death Penalty has been scheduled for January 20th. Speakers include Reverend John Jack- son. Nathan Proby, Charles F . Hinkle, ACLU; Reverend Dale Stitt, and Ruth Frankel, W IL P F . The social, legal and moral implications of the Death Penalty - including the Gilmore case - will be discussed. The meeting w ill be held at Mallory A venue Christian Chureh, 126 N .S Alberta at 7: 80 p.m. 1 the Oregon State Police and found that the women had no arrest records. Baker, on the other hand, had a very extensive felony conviction record and was on parole. In the meantime. Baker had been charged with rape, sodomy, assult and malicious mischief by a friend of the "suspects" in the vital statistics ease. A seven-state “AU Points Bulletin" for his arrest had been issued. Williams contacted Detective Roberta Ledyard of the Portland Police Depart- uaent, who told him the events leading to the warrent for Baker. “Those events do not involve the Public Welfare Depart ment, but do provide a motive for Baker's allegations about the accused state em ployees," he wrote in his report. Williams and Ledyard interviewed the accused Public Welfare employee, who denied the charges. She authorized a search of her home by W illiam« amt Ledyard and nothing belonging to Public Welfare was found. The employee was advised that she might be asked to take a polygraph test. A week later she was informed that the case was closed. None of the additional employees nam ed by Baker, or the persons he alleged had received faltofied documents were President interviewed. Later, during the investigation of the charges against Baker, two of these persons admitted receiving the records, ^ n e | a Why wasn’t the investigation more thorough? Why weren’t the other “sus pects" interviewed? " It’s obvious that they want to protect the reputation of the state employees - young white women from good families”, Baker says. " I even told them which of the women would be the most willing to admit it . They were not even seen." Baker charges that the women made the rape charges against him because he had reported their activities. He pleaded "no contest”, charging that his attorney had not adequately prepared his defense. Failing to be allowed to change his plea to “not guilty”. Baker is serving a twenty- ' five year sentence to the Oregon State Penitentiary. z A ' & ' _____ HK Jimmy Carter a e .e m Cllll<S » C • ID U M U f l l t S TDCUS » * * * * W IIB I « I V Children’s Service Division has opened a new office to fight the growing problem of child abuse. During 1975 there were 184 reported incidents of child abuse in Multnomah County and that number jumped to 256 in 1976. These figures do not include children who were neglected in various ways. The new office-the Protective Services Branch Office, located at 3815 N .E . Tillamook Street (280-6060) - will be responsible for the investigation of all complaints of abuse and neglect. The service will be available twenty-four hours a day. Charles K urtz, manager of the new unit, said, "This service is something the community wanted. Our purpose is to respond as quickly as possible to assure the safety of children. W ith this new system, we can meet that purpose. There must be cooperation with the whole community. W e will be working closely with the juvenile court, police, schools, and physicians. Most of all we need the help of citizens who know of children who are in danger." State Representative Hardy Myers, who has a long standing interest in protective services, waa instrumental in enabling CSD to open this special unit. Oregon Coalition urges health care bill support The Oregon Coalition for National Health Security has urged the new Congress to pass the Health Security Act and make quality health care available to all Americans. “The enactment of the Health Security program must be a high priority item for the 96th Congress,” said Keith Johnson, president of the International Wood workers of America (IW A ), AFL-CIO , CLC. Johnson, also a member of the Com m it- tee for National Health Insurance, which is composed of more than 100 leaders from labor, senior citizens' groups, church, consumer organizations, health professionals, and public officials, pointed out the high cost of medical care in the United States. Statistics for fiscal year 1976 show that personal health expenditures mounted to 1189 billion, an unprecented sum that absorbed 8.6 per cent of the Gross National Product (GNP). Per capita health care coots in the same period soared to more than 6600 per year. In Canada, which has a national health insurance program similar to Health Security, only 7 per cent of its GNP, 6296 per capita, is spent on the full range of health services for all citizens. the establishment of universal and com prehensive health insurance coverage which provides barrier-free-access to needed health services. I t ventures beyond the traditional insurance «p- The Health Security Act (H.R. 21, was proach and makes improvements in the introduced in the House of Representa availability, quality and cost of care. Representative Corman recently cited tives January 5th by Rep. James C. Corman (D-Cal.) and 70 co-sponsors. The studies by the Congressional Budget list of co-sponsors included 14 more Office (CBO) and H EW which confirmed names than on the first day of the the fiscal viability of Health Security over previous Congress and additional spon the current system and alternate national sors are expected to endorse the Bill as health insurance proposals. The CBO study said that substantial the 96th Congress begins its work. increases in health expenditures will . Health Security was introduced in the Senate by Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) continue with or without a national health Tuesday, January 11, the first day the insurance program, but "the only propos legislative hopper was open under Senate al which can control costs substantially procedures. I t waa assigned the number below what would be spent under current policy is the comprehensive tax-financed 8A approach (i.e., Health Security)." The Health Security Bill is based on the The health industry claims that Health principle that health care should be a Security is the most expensive national right for all Americans and should be health insurance proposal but was over available according to an individual’s turned by a H E W study known as the needs, not based on his personal finances. “Trapnell Report.” The Health Security Program calls for This report concluded that the Ameri can Hospital Association proposal intr duced by Rep. A1 Ullman (D-OR.) durii the last session of Congress would co more than National Health Security ai provide fewer benefits. Rep. Ullmai chairman of the House Ways and Meat Committee, has not reintroduced his Bil H.R. 1, into this Congress. Johnson and others active in th Oregon Coalition for National Healt Security have expressed optimism tin Health Security will be enacted in 19? because there is a growing grassrool demand, increased support coming froi many diverse organizations, and a mor responsive Congress and President-elee The Oregon Coalition for Nation« Health Security, Inc. was launched Oe 17, 1975 at a meeting of Oregon laboi political and civic leaders. Robert Kennedy, president of th Oregon AFL-CIO , is president of th Oregon Coalition for National Healt Security and L.B. Day, secretary-treasui er of Teamsters Local 670, is vie president. Mrs. Laine Friedman i executive director. Kissinger plan called plot against liberation by Ut yaass M ental Women are God’s gift to earth. They are beautiful, not only on the outside, but on • inside, too. Michelle Burton, an interesting, intelligent and beautiful lady, is an example. Michelle to a Capricorn. Her favorite activities include dancing, ice-skating, nnto, karate, jogging, opera, cooking whan she has the time and reading a good book. She plans to add skiinu to her athletic skills Michelle is an Administrative Secretary and she models in hsr spare time. Her ana include medical school or a graduate degree in genetics. She wants a small family - “I love being with my family and I love children.' H er diseriptioo of her ideal man to - “I like responsibility in a man - someon who to very understanding of ms, someone who is giving and likes to share. I don't like one sided relationships. He should be intelligent. I want a relationship where we can grew and share our knowledge. He has to be compassionate and a very sensitive type of person - a veraitile person .** "Let Her M a . For Ih s Is A Lady- Edison Zvobgo, a participant in the Zimbwadbean liberation movement now teaching at the Lewis University in Illinois, called Henry Kissenger’s Pretor ia agreement a plot to subvert the Zimbwabean revolution and to betray its goals. The Pretoria agreement provided for the Geneva Conference, at which the Ian Smith regime and the liberation move ment leaders would draw up a plan for a two year provisional government leading to independence and majority rule. The provisional government was to have two councils the council of state controlled by the white majority and the council of ministers which would be a majority of Blacks. The ministers of defense and police would be white. Zvobge, who participated in the Gen eva Conference as a legal advisor, said the Black leaders were at first inclined not to attend because Kissinger had refused to see them. They knew they would be expected to draw up a provis ional government along the lines already agreed to by Kissinger and Smith. However, when asked to attend the conference by other African heads of state they did agree to participate. Kissinger's major objectives, Zvobgo chaae the land it will need. The 1965 ington in 1961 to ask for American aid said, were to provide for a peaceful value is used because land values have and was rejected. “We have been to the evolution to majority rule and to protect gone down in the face of world-wide United States every year since and the “minority rights”. economic sanctions against Rhodesia. answer is always no.” Although Kissinger has told the Am eri 4. Pensions for public servants and For this reason most of the guerrilla can people there were no such “deals” officials. This would require the new troops have been trained by the Chinese. between the U.S. and Rhodesia, Smith government to provide pensions for those The aid received by Zimbuabuean libera told his people that there were. While in who have oppressed its people. tion fighters has been from socialist Geneva, the African leaders learned nations. Zvobgo does not expect the Geneva through the British that Kissinger was Conference to reconvene. Zvobgo hopes that a large number of talking about “white rights." whites will remain in Zimbwabwe. “I t is The current state is critical, with The four areas of "white rights” stipu fighting in every part of the country. The as much their country as mine." Those lated by Kissinger and Smith, and to who can identify with the new govern armed struggle broke out in 1966. After which the Africans can never submit are: three years of losing battles, the agres ment will be encouraged to stay. Recent 1. Full, complete, irrevocable indem- ly there have been some white Rhod sion was halted and a study done to asses n ity -“pardon from any criminal liability the failures. The result was a massive esians joining the liberation movement, before independence.” This would free including Ian Smith's son. effort to organize and politicise the guer whites from all crimes ■ political or rilla movement. In 1972 the armed The new government will be a Demo criminal. struggle was renewed and it has contin cratic Republic with a form of govern 2. Defense bonds sold by the Smith ued to become more succesful. ment patterned after African tradition. government to finance the resistance Zvobgo predicts that by the end of 1977 Zimbwabwe has a long history of self- would be paid off by the new govern the Smith government will fall. “Recent government. Government was tradition ment. This would require the new C IA and Defense Department intelli ally by consent with discussion until all government to pay for the cost of the war agree. The economic system will be gence reports say by the end of 1977 the against itself. regime cannot govern. It is our hope to socialist since Africans have always 3. Compensation for all land and houses tie up the country by the end of the year. shared and have never valued individual at the 1966 market value. Whites (8 "No one wants an armed conflict. For possession or success. percent) have seised 50 percent of the years we petitioned and prayed. Now “We believe South Africa will soon be iand-the moot valuable land-and this there is no other way." involved because otherwise the govern would require the government to pur- Zvobgo personally travelled to Wash (Please turn to p.2 col.4)