Thursday. March 24. 1977
The Panama Canal
by Yvmm
We see the worl
through Black eyes
Legislature overlooks causes of crime
The last fe w m onths have brought stiffer sentences
fo r those w h o com m it "s tre e t c rim e s " — robbery
b u rg la ry, assault. These crim es are most o fte n
com m itte d by the low er classes and are o fte n the
result o f dru g use. These are the defendants w ho
have little m oney fo r their legal defense a nd often
use court a p p o in te d attorneys.
Judges appear to be responding to the p u b lic
outcry fo r an answ er to this type o f crim es through
longer an d toughe r punishm ent.
The p u b lic is also c o llin g fo» o return to the death
p e nalty in O rgon. The fa te o f the death p e n a lty b ill
now b e fo re the legislature seems to rest on the
passage o f a m andatory m in im u m sentence. Some
proponents o f the death p e n a lty b ill are w illin g to
vote against the b ill if they con be assured that every
conviction w ill result in a p e n ite n tia ry sentence.
This is a com plete return to the punishm en t
philosophy as opposed to re h a b ilita tio n . It takes
a w a y the m itig a tin g factors o f p rio r record, age,
fa m ily or progrom s ab le to assist, e m p lo ym e n t. It
denies the opportun ities o f probation .
The most discouraging aspect is that w h ile a ll o f
this a tte n tio n is g iven to m andatory sentences, death
p enalty, the parole board — the causes o f crim e are
not be in g attocked.
In the last ten years there has been a loss o f
g round in the e a rly id e n tific a tio n a nd tre a tm e n t o f
ch ild re n w h o are h eade d to w a rd d e lin q u e n t b e h a v
ior A lth o u g h teochers a nd social w orkers, cs w e ll as
parents a nd relatives, kn o w these youngsters th e re is
now p la ce to go fo r help. The Ju v e n ile Courts
c o u n s e lin g system has been cut bock to alm ost
nothing. Treatm ent program s fo r distu rb e d ch ild re n
are a lm o st non-existant. F am ily co u n se llin g and
in d iv id u a l coun se llin g program s are lim ite d — a ll
because society is just not w illin g to spend the
m oney to a te m p t to save our chidren.
The causes o f crim e are n o t b e in g seriously
oddressed either. The na tio n w ill never be fre e of
street crim e and crim es o f vio le n c e os lo n g as there
is poverty, slum housing, in a d e q u a te e d u ca tio n . We
re a d ily accept the concept o f the " h o v e n o t" nations
fig h tin g the " h a v e " nations but cannot understand
the frustrations o f the "h a v e n o t" youths.
Rather than spending a lot o f tim e co n sid e rin g
m an d a to ry sentences a n d the d e a th p e n a lty , the
le g isla tu re w o u ld do a better service to oddress the
causes o f crim e -- p o ve rty and racism . It w o u ld be
m ore p ro fita b le to fin d a w a y to b u ild c o m m u n ity
m ental h e a lth clinics, co m m u n ity corrections p ro
gram s, d ru g tre a tm e n t program s, a nd v o ca tio n a l
tra in in g program s to h e lp the yo u n g p e o p le w h o are
a lre a d y on the rood to crim e.
More on school district affirm ative action
The Northwest Minority Contractors
Association recently went to the Board of
Education of the Portland Public Schools
charging that the administration was
acting in had faith on a NMCA request for
a minority business enterprise program.
Two years ago NMCA had asked for a
minority preference program, similar to
that provided by other federal and local
public bodies, that would enable minority
contractors to participate in school dis
trict building and remodeling projects.
Mark McClanahan, legal counsel for the
district, had provided the administration
with his opinion that set-asides are
unconstitutional.
The Board of Education agreed to
consdider the matter in its April 11
meeting and Dr. Blanchard, superinten
Dear Mr. McClanahan.
Receipt of your letter was a pleasant
surprise. It was long overdue. It had been
my understanding after our meeting at
the School Board on January 5.1977. that
your final draft would be forthcoming
within approximately three or four weeks
of that date. This draft was to be a
compromise between the positions of the
School District and that of Northwest
Minority Contractors Association I firm
ly believed that a set-aside of s o m e sort
would be incorporated in your final
proposal. Of course, this was anything
but the case. This draft was not made
available to me until very recently and it
came from a source other than yourself.
That is the most regrettable aspect of our
meager dealings with one another
On reading this draft (supposedly your
final effort), I was distressed to find that
the concept of a set aside was in no way
part of the proposal. In any event. 1 do
not wish to be misunderstood, nor do my
clients. Thier position is that in order to
effectively attain and satisfy the iofiy
purposes and objectives in an affirmative
There’s
no natural
Protection
den' of schools, assured the Board that he
had asked McClanahan to discuss the
matter further with NMCA attorney.
Marvin Helfrich.
Following is McClanahan's response to
that directive and Helfrich’s reply.
sanctions to work out a set aside or
preference arrangement, 1 have no plans
to do so. If you have any comments on
any of our three drafts, or if you have any
proposals short of set-asides and prefer
ences. please make them. However, in
view of the content and personalized
nature of the comments which have been
made bv the representative of the associ
Dear Mr. Helfrich:
ation and the fact that we thought we had
As I understand it, your client North had several oral communications with
west Minority Contrators insists upon you prior to the above-mentioned board
set-asides and preferences such as those meeting (which apparently you do not
presented at the board meeting of March consider to have been communication),
14, 1977, and that the three drafts which we would like to see your comments in
we have authored (and of which you have writing prior to any further oral discus
had copies for some time no do not satisfy sions or meetings on the subject matter.
the association s objectives.
Inasmuch as I have received no in-
1
Very truly yours.
Mark C. McClahahan
action proposal with School District No.
1, set-asides are a necessary component
of such a proposal. Consequently, the
statement in your letter to the effect that
Northwest Minority Contractors Associ
ation insists on a set-aside as part of its
proposal and that the three drafts you
have authored do not satisfy association
objections is very accurate. Incidentially,
to set the record straight, while I did
receive your first and second drafts
shortly after our January 5 meeting, I did
not come into possession of a copy of the
third draft until the afternoon of the date
of the School Board meeting (March 14,
1977). and that copy was provided to me
by the Portland O beerver.
1 believe your position regarding set
asides are constitutionally suspect on the
basis that such arrangement constitutes
impermissible reverse discrimination.
Based upon my review of the case law
and statuatory law and the fact that the
Supreme Court of the United Sates has
not rendered a definitive statement on
the quest Kin. our position is that set
asides are constitutionally defensible.
Northwest Minority Contractors As
sociation » still willing to sit down with
yourself and the School District repre
sentatives to discuss a set aside proposal,
but in view of your inflexible position on
the matter, I do not see how any progress
whould be made toward my clients'
objectives as a result of such a meeting.
The association intends to make its
formal proposal presentation and state
ment of views at the April School Board
meeting of the Board of Directors.
Finally, your comment regarding our
oral communications is curious. Only two
communications were had between our
offices. One, via a letter and second via a
telephone conversation. Other telephone
conversations were had between myself
and Donna Cameron of your office. These
were merely to inform me of the School
District's inactivity regarding your final
proposal and did nothing to obviate the
fact that I was no advised of your
inflexible position at an earlier point in
time.
Ï ioox forward to your response.
Very truly yours,
Marvin E. Helfrich
Birth defects
are forever.
Unless you help.
March of Dimes
î
1st Place
Community Service
ONPA 1973
Portland O bserver
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Editor/Publisher
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individual writer or submitter and does not necessarily reflect
the opinion of the Portland Observer.
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I
ONPA 1975
The existence of the Canal Zone, an
area 500 square miles, is the heart of the
objections by Panama to our present
treaty. Panamanians make up 70 percent
of the employees in the none; also some
3,500 Americans live in the area with
independent police forces, courts and
school system
The area is totally
independent of the Panamanian govern
ment. This governmental structure costs
$22 million a year to operate.
When asked the question. “Should ws
give up the Panama Canal?” the majority
of people polled answered “Of course
not!“
But, if asked the more overriding
question, “Should we alienate all of our
Pan American neighbors?" I'm sure moat
Americans would also answer, “Of course
not!“ - and that is the real question.
Last month. I joined my colleagues on
But more importantly this area is an
the House Appropriations Committee
American colony existing at a time when
and representatives from other interest the United States takes the position,
ed House committees, on a trip to
internationally, that we are not a colonial
Panama.
power.
We met and talked with the U.S.
The treaty negotiations have become
officials who have been negotiating with
the object of considerable controveriy in
Panama on a revision of the Panama
recent years.
Canal treaty. We also met and talked
The key issues have become, first, the
with President Demetrio Lekas. the
defense of the canal, and second, the
general of our command in Panama, the
operation of the canal if the treaty is
governor of the Canal Zone, as well as
changed.
residents of the Canal Zone.
I believe that we must maintain a
The Appropriations Committee has
defense presence in Panama because it
become involved in the Panama Canal
remains an important defense asset to
issue because of the attempts over the
the United States. The canal allows us to
last two years to block negotiations on a
shift military forces and logistic support
new treaty by limiting the use of State
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
Department funds for further negotia
to overseas areas. The Joint Chiefs of
tions.
Staff have been in close contact with the
Most people do not realise that we have
negotiators and have a representative on
renegotiated the Panama Canal treaty
hand to insure that our defense position is
two times before and have changed the
maintained.
amount of lease payments in the second
But we maintain defense bases all over
revision from $250.000, the original
the world without undermining the sov
amount, to our present amount of 2.5 ereignty of the host country.
million a year.
in this water-
sr the
at total 11.8.
nata by ton
We have
on altornati ve
h as contain«
aad large bulk carrier*.
The canal produees IS percent of
Panama** groan national product, a major
aource of the country'* income.
I, for one. have many questions about
the present government of Panama -
in particular, the state of human righto in
Panama. There are numerous charges of
denial of basic rights that must be
investigated.
Our congressional delegation was
scheduled to meet with the foreign
minister of Panama but the meeting was
abrupty canceled. The foreign minister
has resigned and hurriedly left the
country.
Our financial int
way have greatly
last years. Only 1S|
Any negotiations must be tied to
guarantees that the canal will remain
open and that the government will insure
basic rights to many citizens who today
are Canal Zone residents hut tomorrow
may be Panamanian*.
The issue of the Panama Canal was
raised to a presidential campaign issue in
1976.
I hope that the President will make
every effort to arrive at a treaty that
protects the future operation of the canal
and leta our Latin American neighbors
know that we need their friendship.
From the Legislature
by Rep. Gretchen Kaioury
The Oregon House of Representatives
moved on some major issues last week
and more important issues will surface
during this week.
Significant actions
happened on the floor as well as in
committee.
UTILITY ADVERTISING
Do public utilities need to advertise?
And if they do. should the ratepayers
have to foot the hill?
Rep. Sandy Richards <D-Portland)
questions the necessity of large amounts
of advertising and is definitely opposed to
consumers being charged for certain
kinds of utility advertising.
Richards testified before the House
Elections committee last week on behalf
of HR 2779 which limits the types of
advertising that can be charged to rate
payers.
There have been nine utility rate cases,
according to Richards, in the last four
years in which advertising was a key
issue and. because of assessm ents, the
eoats of those expensive hearings were
passed on to the consumer.
HB 2779 does not affect the right of
utilities to advertise.
N or does it
influence the content of advertising. But
it would mean, says Richards, “the
ratepayers of Oregon will no longer be
charged for expensive messages enhan
ring the company's image, attempting to
influence public opinion on particular
types of energy, or for m essages which
might lead to increased demand and.
therefore, increased costs to (the rate
payers)."
UTILITIES PROFITS
And speaking of utilities, the House,
after much debate, passed a bill which
should provide a little relief from in
creased rates.
HB 2227-A would require excess in
come to be placed in a reserve equity
account to offset future rate increases.
The bill also contains a mechanism to
establish a reasonable rate of return for
the utilities. That bill now goes to the
Senate side for consideration.
HOMEMAKER DEDUCTIONS
The House Social Services Committee,
chaired by Rep. Peg Dereli (D Salem),
heard testimony last week on a bill that
would help handicapped persona who hire
their own homemakers.
HB 2076, introduced at the request of
the Vocational Rehabilitation Division,
would allow up to $400 per month to be
deducted by single handicapped persons
who wish to become or are employed. The
deductions would be co-ordinated with
the amount of disability payments each
individual receives from the state.
More hearing* are planned.
DEATH PENALTY
One of the major issues to face the
Legislature this term surfaced Tuesday
at 7 p.m. when the House State Govern
ment Opertion* Committee held a public
hearing about the death penalty.
HB 2321 seeks to establish the death
penalty in Oregon for the third time.
Oregon ha* twice repealed capita) punish
ment. once in the 1920's and the last time
in 1964. If this bill pas s es both houses, it
would be placed before the voters for
approval in the fall. State Government
Operations is chaired by Rep. Glen
Whalfon (D-Milwaukie).
DRIVING LICENSES
If some legislators have their way, the
legal driving age in Oregon may rise to
18. The House Transmrtation Commit
tee. chaired by Rep. Pat Whiting (D-
Tigardl, heard two bills last week which
would accomplish this, but in completely
different ways.
HB 2496, sponsored by Reps. Earl
Blumenauer and Rick Gustafson (D-Port
land) proposes a gradual rollback of the
age limitation by three months every
year until 1984. Another hill. HB 2927.
would require all those between the ages
of 16 and 18 to have completed a school
traffic safety course or a commercial
traffic safety course in order to obtain a
license. Otherwise they'd have to wait
until the age of 18.
Oat, i/MtÍMt tfieak
Schools
To the editor:
While driving over the city I’ve noticed
the public schools with spacious lawns,
shrubbery and beautiful plants with
modern playgrounds and equipment.
Then you drive through the inner city.
What do you see? Old city buildings,
makeshift playground* tucked in be
tween freeways, factories and boarded up
houses. I noticed on one school the
cornerstone dated 1907! These buildings
have been patched up. painted up, added
to and left for children to try and get an
education. When they drop out or lose
incentive to advance, it's Mamed on the
children or their parents!
The blame goes much farther than
that! When reading the school board's
excuse for not using minority contract
ora. I thought it was tragic. Children hear
their parents talking about no jobs
because of prejudice and short sighted
ness and they grow up with those
frustrations. So. take an oldtimer's ad
vice: hold off building bicycle paths,
beautifying causeways and plazas and put
new schools in the inner city before it is
too late.
Attention. Dr. Blanchard!
R. A. Lindley
Thanks
To The Editor:
We want to publicly thank all of the
people in the Portland community who
helped make the 1977 Portland Area
Camp Fire Girls' Candy Sale a grand
success.
Each of the 11,000 girls and adults who
took part in the annual event should be
proud of her efforts; the Council was able
to increase its sales over last year.
We also want to thank all of the
persons who showed their support for
focal Camp Fire activities by purchasing a
box of candy. The profits from the candy,
along with help from The United Way
and each girl's dues, are keeping Camp
Fire Girls a strong and exciting activity
for our young people.
Sincerely,
Harriet H. Lesher
Chairman
Portland Area Camp Fire Candy Sale
Human Rights imperialist ploy
by Herb Simpson
We hear so much about the lack of
Human Rights in the Soviet Union these
days and that the "Dissidents" are all for
them. But where or what is their pro
gram? Have they issued their manifesto?
Do these “Dissidents" complain that
Soviet Nationalities are discriminated
against? That jobs are not available for
all? That Health costs are so high that
Soviet elderly live in constant fear of
losing their homes if illness strikes? Do
they complain because education ia not
available to all? Etc., etc.
Then what role can the "Dissidents"
possibly play in 1977? The answer to this
is simple. The current economic crtaia is
the first since 1917 that cannot be solved
by starting a military adventure, because
the people have gotten their belly full of
war. I mean the American people as well
as the people in the rest of the world.
Fpr example, the rapid expansion ot
American imperialism's intervention into
Vietnam in 1966 was for the sole purpose
of solving the economic crisis at that
time. The result of that misadventure, as
we all know, was that the Vietnamese
people, with the help of the Soviet Union
and the rest of progressive mankind,
turned it into American Imperialism's
Stalingrad.
It ia also important to note that for all
practical purposes, the American soldier,
to hi* everlasting credit, fulfilled the
words of the ballad that aay* in effect
.
what if there was a war and no one
came?" because the American Army
deteriorated to such an extent that it was
just that.
Now that we are in the middle of
another economic crisis, even deeper
than 1966 (it's severity to a great extent
because of the consequences of the
Vietnam war), we can expect that the
Imperialists will try to solve this one in
the same way. But will they be able to?
Portugal and Angola are cases in point
where past experience would lead us to
expert direct military intervention by the
Imperialists, but they were held back to a
mere mercenary intervention because
the American people wouldn't buy the
deal. In time, when the African people
liberate Rhodesia, Southwest Africa and
South Africa, the people will again aay
"no" to intervention. A* I write thia,
Katanga Province in Zaire ia being
liberated, much to the consternation of
the American Imperialists.
The economic problems remain, how
ever, for the Imperialist*. In their profit
driven minds, how better to solve the
economic crisis for them selves than by
smearing Socialism and thus any thought
that the solution is to move on to
Socialiam? How better to convince our
citizens that more military equipment ia
needed than by dragging out the so called
"Dissident Human Rights" campaign to
confuse the issue? Profit is what they are
after and profit they will have by the
battleship full whether the military
equipment is used or not.
(Contributfona to the new column "Our
readers speak" may be submitted to the
Observer for eonaUeratfon. The Obeer
ver maintains the right to adit far
length. ]
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