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daily nebraskan
editorial pMfoifi
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Just a week ago today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary
Committee dumped 2 lbs. 1 oz. of tyranny on the
Senate floor. All of us could have a lot to do with
what happens to that weight after the senators pick
it up.
We believe Senate Bill 1 , the "Criminal Justice
Reform Act of 1975," is the greatest threat to
American freedoms to be produced since the
McCarthy era.
It provides for invasion of privacy through
extending wiretapping powers. It would reduce
freedom of assembly by making potential "riots"
out of gatherings of more than 10 persons.
It would provide for mandatory execution for
certain crimes under a wide variety of "certain
conditions." It would curtail freedom of speech
by reenacting a version of the repressive 1940
Smith Act, defining "sedition."
Most important for the news media-and, we
think, for the welfare of the public at large
S 1 would put such shackles on the press as to
make the First Amendment a mockery.
The public has a right to know what its govern
ment is doing. We called S 1 "2 lbs. 1 oz. of
tyranny" because tyranny is inevitable when
government workings are made secret, no matter
how commendable the motives for that secrecy.
Tyranny is inevitable if S 1 becomes law. But
there is time for us, the "people" part of "govern
ment by the people," to stop the Criminal Justice
Reform Act.
Write Senators Roman Hruska, and Carl Curtis
IS!
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innocent bystander
Partners play blame game
By Arthur Hoppe
My Uncle Jerry and Aunt Congressa are fighting again.
They have a typical marriage: neither cares what they
accomplish together as long as the other gets the blame for
it.
Right now, they're wrangling over the family budget.
Uncle Jerry's way ahead. "I think we ought to give all the
kids S27 more allowance so they can buy nice things and
have a good time," he said.
Well, everybody was for that, including my aunt, who
knew what was good for her.
"Of course," Uncle Jerry told her sternly, "1 can't
possibly give the kids $27 unless you cut the family bud
get $27 so we come out even."
He sure painted her into the corner with that one. Every
body's for cutting the budget because the family's in hock
to its eyeballs. But wherever she cuts the budget, she's
bound to make somebody sore. Then he can blame her.
"Great idea, dear," she said sweetly, lobbing the ball
back into his court. "You just tell me where to cut the
budget and who should do without and I'll be glad to
oblige."
"Don't tell me your problems," he snapped. "What are
you, a can't-do wife?"
It's a Mexican stand-off, just like their year-long quarrel
over die family car. Everybody agrees it should be driven
less to save gas. "I know!" said Uncle Jerry brighUy. "Let's
raise the price of gas. Then the family will drive less."
"You just want to make your friends down at the
gas station rich," she said, winning a few points.
"Have you got a better idea?" he said.
"I'll think of something," t said, losing a few points.
The same holds true for natural gas, which the family's
running low on. "Raise prices," says Uncle Jerry, "so
they'll turn down the heat."
"You and your big business buddies," says my aunt with
a sniff. "I've got a much better idea, as soon as 1 think what
it is."
So Uncle Jerry says he wants to fight high prices by
raising prices. And my Aunt says she wants to make the
family more prosperous by going deeper into debt.
Naturally, neither wants to yield, for then they'd have
to share the blame for whatever happens.
Consequently, it looks like a long, cold winter. The
whole family will be sitting around cold, shivering and dead
broke with the car up on blocks. And they won't know
who on earth to blame.
At least my Uncle Jerry and Aunt Congressa fervently
hope so.
(Copyright Chmotctt Publishing Co. 1975)
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(or take advantage of Western Union's special rate
for political telegrams), leu tnem you do not
support Senate Bill 1 .
Requiem for a heavyweight. Rex Stout, creator
of the obese, orchid-loving, detective Nero Wolfe,
is dead in Connecticut at the age of 86.
Stout's stories and novels made some of the
best reading in detective fiction since Watson and
Holmes. (It has been rumored in literary circles, by
the way, that Holmes was Wolfe's father, and Stout
was, of course, the author of the infamous essay,
"Watson Was a Woman.")
Nero Wolfe is immortal. Well miss the man who
made him that way.
Rebecca Brite
Stomach hopes
Dear editor,
A major problem with student housing is not the
conflict between rodents and dorm residents, but ths food.
I realize the cost of food is always on the rise and it is
hard to produce food for a great number of people.
I am also aware that some people eat much better at the
university than they did at home.
However, even poor quality food can be made to taste
better if a little time, care and imagination is used in its
preparation. ,
I would be more willing to get smaller portions than to
receive texturized vegetable protein at every meal. I would
hope Food Service will develop a sense of pride in their
preparation, so my stomach can relax.
David R. Kirshenbaura
Women will lose
Dear editor,
I am increasingly upset with the claims of women's
groups that the divorce laws in this state are unfair to
women. The law can be simply stated: If a man does not
want to be married any longer, he gets to pay. If a woman
no longer wants to be married, he still gets to pay.
As for the credit question, women are usually hurt by
the rules. The husband in the divorce has twice the bills (his
and hers), half the income (his), plus perhaps child support
(even if he is a stepfather) and an attorney or two to
support.
Meanwhile, she is not being harassed by creditors, but
he has enough threatening letters to start a collection
agency, and a zero credit rating.
But the law does need change, because many men who
would make acceptable husbands and fathers will decline
the job under the unequal situation we now have, and
women will be the losers there.
Frederick Carter
Rhino boot tale
Dear editor,
At 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 24 I went to mv car parked in
Area 21, only to find a pair of the infamous Rhino Boots
attached to the left front tire of my car.
Quite perturbed, I commandeered a couple of friends to
remove the Rhino boot by cutting the padlock with a large
pair of wire cutters and loosening the bolt with a socket
wrench.
Relieved that my car was agiin mobile, I put the Rhino
Boot in the trunk until I could return them on my way to
work later that afternoon. ' ,
n ,Aflcr "turning home, I was interrupted by a Campus
Police officer, requesting my appearance at Osmpus Police
headquarters. I agreed and drove downtown to return the
Rhino Boot.
Upon my appearance I was interrogated as to how I
removed the boot, whether I was going to pay the tickets
I owed and who helped me remove the boot.
After failing to give me my rights or a telephone call,
they escorted me to the county jail, where I was booked
on larceny charges, punishable by 1 to 3 years in the
penitentiary. After spending three hours in the jail I f
released to a lawyer. After assuring me they had no grounds
for larceny, my lawyer suggested I pay ths tickets and have
them release my car, which I had parked at the Campus
Police station.
Upon my return with the necessary funds I was inform
ed my car had been towed from the station and I would he
required to pay an additional $1230 to retrieve It.
J "jy JfarinS Monday, th Uraeny charges wfe
msm usee, which only goes to prove that the Campus rW
should stick to writing tickets, which they are trained to
A UNL Freshman
