WGBH Journal; Non-Smoker Rights, Human Services Coalition, Ira Levin on Deathtrap, Louis Lyons

No. How come the GBH turned I'm going. On Today show and have a look at the issue of nonsmokers rights here about a group called The Human Services Coalition. After that I have an interview with the author of a new play in Boston and it blows the Lions will comment on the news. People who do not smoke a cigarette or cigar I think don't enjoy puffing on pipes or beginning to speak up. What they're saying is that tobacco smoke is dangerous not just for those who smoke but to those who are forced to inhale other people's feelings. The central issue really voiced his concern for the rights of

nonsmokers smoking need not be prohibited but people who do not smoke have some right. Who are these vocal non smokers and what do they want. Mike Marshall has this report. In 1964 the surgeon general released the first nationally published report on the dangers of smoking. Since then most people have grown familiar with the evidence that tobacco use is potentially harmful. Numerous studies of links smoking to respiratory problems heart ailments and many forms of cancer. Groups such as the Heart and Lung Association have spent millions of dollars on anti-smoking campaigns despite all this publicity though. Over 53 million Americans continue to smoke in the past. These people have had to only contend with the effect of their habit upon themselves. Now they are beginning to receive criticism for the effects of their smoking upon others. In recent years a controversy has grown up around the rights of the nonsmoker. Many groups have been established to defend and expand the

rights of the nonsmoker to breathe tobacco free air. These organizations work to pass legislation to file suits and enforce existing sanctions against smoking in public places. Perhaps their most general goal is to educate the public about the dangers of breathing smoke filled air. One person involved in this effort is Louise descent of the American Lung Association. She feels that there is clear evidence substantiating the dangers of smokeless fumes. When you look at the the facts that are there from epidemiological studies is true that secondhand tobacco smoke is harmful to some people at least people that have been harmed. Those people fall into the categories of people with emphysema chronic bronchitis allergies asthma. Heart problems if they have to put up with cigarette smokes if they go out to eat dinner or wherever to movie anything that a normal person would do. They can have a terrible time either an asthma attack with somebody with

asthma or if you have emphysema then you could have a terrible time trying to breathe and that's a pretty distressful so they stay home. Several nonsmokers rights groups have been established in Massachusetts. One of the most active is an Essex county organization called fans which is an acronym for fresh air for nonsmokers. Like many other nonsmokers groups fans grew out of frustration frustration at the indifference many smokers expressed toward the rights of those who don't smoke. Fans president is again is a case study of one such nonsmoker turned activist originated four and a half years ago. My husband and I were aware that smoking was bothering us noted by other people and I found it difficult to breathe. So we wrote letters to newspapers when we read there might be laws passed and we encourage not smokers to think about the laws and to write to their representatives

the notion of Essex County. One of my letters you know local paper and asked me if I would set up a group they would think you know what I mean. So it seemed to me a good opportunity to have more people involved than just ourselves. And we formed a group called it fans which stands for fresh air for nonsmokers and we have since then I've accumulated at least 350 people in Essex County alone who are interested in furthering the cause of the rights of nonsmokers. Fans has made many efforts to get nonsmokers rights legislation passed in Massachusetts. They have done much lobbying in this area mostly for measures introduced by Representative Lois pines of Newton in 1975. Representative pine succeeded in passing the state's first statute to restrict smoking in public places in order to secure this law's passage however a penalty clause was deleted. And this is rendered the measure virtually ineffective. Representative Pine's

explains. I first introduced legislation to. Segregate smokers and nonsmokers in public places or to prohibit smoking in certain public places. In 1973 when I was first like the legislature we have passed legislation here in the Commonwealth that prohibits smoking in supermarkets in the end BTA and buses. However we have not been able to secure passage of a provision that would impose a penalty against those who did not comply with the legislation. The lack of a penalty clause on the 975 law has frustrated many nonsmokers. People who violate the statute receive no firearm or jail sentence. This is meant that the law is receiving only token observance. Consequently groups like fans have made the addition of a penalty a high priority. Their goal is to change the law to include a fine of $50 for each violation. Edith Kent describes how our group is working for this clause and why it is of such

importance. We've done quite a bit we've written many letters every year. This has come up before the legislature. And we have so far failed in trying to get a penalty and without it we're practically helpless. We have to have a piano. I have personally going to managers and asked them to put up a sign and even that hasn't been anything and I have been refused by some opposition to a penalty statute in the 1975 law is strong but hard to delineate. I asked Representative pines to identify those who have been fighting the claws and nonsmokers rights in general and nationally I have been opposed by the American Tobacco Institute vigorously. They do hire lobbyists to oppose my legislation at the state level. In addition we are opposed by people who are addicted to cigarette smoking themselves. Restriction of their smoking is traumatic and they continue to oppose our rights.

The controversy over nonsmokers rights in Massachusetts is sure to continue. The issue is a comparatively new one which may account for the initial legislative failure of groups such as fans. Another problem nonsmokers groups face is in how the public defines that issue. Since tobacco use itself is so controversial Many people think that groups like fans are out to totally eradicate smoking. This is not the case. Non-smokers activists are quick to point out that they are not against tobacco use. They are however opposed to smoking when it infringes upon the rights of others. This distinction is subtle but important as emphasized by Louise Doucette. I would say I'm on the longest term scale. What we're looking for is complete recognition of nonsmokers rights and that's a very high goal. And along with that goes the fact that we are not trying to take the smokers rights away from smokers. We we're never saying people should not smoke. We're just saying that they should not smoke

where it's going to affect other people handling for GBH Journal. This is Mike Marshall. Governor Dukakis his State of the state address a few weeks ago gave hope to human service agencies that state support for their projects was on its way. These agencies cover a wide range of needs from welfare to help elderly and the handicapped until four after three years of budget cutbacks. Any sign of support is welcome to lobby effectively for state aid and coordinate the diverse needs of agencies which come under the heading of Human Services. A

group called The Human Services Coalition was established here with more information on the status and goals of that coalition. It's reported back in Iraq. In the Massachusetts state budget Human Services are allocated sizable proportions of money. These funds are distributed among various human service agencies who serve the needs of the elderly the handicapped children and youth emotionally disturbed or retarded people and others in order to make sure these needs are being met and that funds are allocated fairly to the various agencies. The Human Services Coalition was started in 1975 to research the needs of people in the communities and to present the findings of the research to the state. Their efforts are more effective by working together. Kayla Talla of the Human Services Coalition explains. If you look at the public welfare. If there's no way that I can understand every single piece of the Human Services budget it's a huge Secretariat. However there are organizations that will specialize in their own area. They bring

with a very specific children of somebody else to the home and we sort of pool our resources the Human Services Coalition serves as a clearinghouse for all types of human service agencies to share information. Violet seeder is the president of the coalition. She explains the necessity of agencies working together because all human services are interrelated. We rely pretty much. Specialized agencies to know about the needs and special deals. As for example mental retardation or child children's M.S. see why is another Massachusetts Committee on children and youth and to gather the data and present it through a an Information Committee. The Information Committee brings together these reports and looks at where are the common threads that go through them or where does a program that's going to

affect one agency also going to affect others. We look upon the human services as an integrated system. And recognize that if you cut welfare for example you're also going to be affecting what you can do about bringing people out of the mental hospital into the community because without a welfare grant they can't exist or bringing out good getting somebody out of a mental retardation institution if they're going to live in the community and not under the roof of an institution they have to have some means for purchasing food paying for rent and so forth. And until they can become established and employed they need some money in the transition period. The Human Services Coalition is important as a research organization and information source to state agencies and legislators. But contact with community groups is also needed to increase understanding of the community's needs. The coalition realizes this and wants

to go beyond research and enlist the efforts of grassroots organizations in the communities. Our future goal is to have many many more citizen organizations civic organizations. So from clubs church organizations so that we will take our message to them in their own meetings and tell them what's going on so they can make an informed decision. As dozens as voters as organizations what stance they want to take pilots of the Human Services Coalition. This is Becky. I think I've got a case of what he has thriller I guess malignant. I've always

loved the thriller form and I've tried a few times without as much success as it seems to be just a thriller itis my likeness. Is that how you might describe an addiction to Thriller stories. AL That was Ira Levin and he should know since he's the author of a new play currently on view in downtown Boston. The play is called death trap. And as you probably guess it's a thriller reporter Vivian Dukat recently spoke with our Levin about his new play. I think a good thriller can always be effective on stage. Simcha big because of the immediacy of life performers it's it's I think a more exciting experience and in a movie or on television there's something about actually seeing a murder performed before your eyes that's different from seeing photographs and looking I guess is the whole thing happens basically in one room and you can I guess one is more impressed with what the playwright when it can be effective in one moment as opposed to a movie whether it is a

little trickier years who have to work it out carefully to make it plausible that everything does happen and the ones that in this case. And how do you how do you assure that the audiences won't talk. How can it still be fresh. That you just hope that they're going to have the good sense to keep keep the secrets secret and it's just as if you were recommending a mystery novel to a friend you wouldn't tell them who done it would you just say it is a good book read it and I hope that's what people say about the plan. And I think it's also a become so complicated that in trying to explain it to anybody that's true deathtrap might be a little hard to explain I think just might be easier to keep it secret. The play's really funny and yet it succeeds in being me anyway. Actually that seems a very natural combination to me somehow. Somehow I think the violence makes the

laughs work better and the laughs make the violence work better. I think you know what you mentioned before that there were a couple of moments where you screamed and I think I know which moments you mean and both of those moments come right out of comedy moments and I think the contrast makes the shock much more effective. But you know. It gives the audience too much of a sense of relief to be to be laughing and oh you think that in a way. Well then after the violence and whatever subsequent Laughs There are are enhanced by the feeling of relief. So I think each element really helps the other. He said that's how it seems to be working out. That's a major component of the play and that something kind of supernatural powers that you introduced you have to be very interested in this or moderately interested. I do believe that there definitely are psychics with the kind of power that the psychic in the play has perhaps not as consistently on the nose as

she is. That doesn't that throw it off in a way that is that it was a device to have a psyche who's figuring things out and yet this is the middle of a mystery in the audience is trying to figure things out. Well she really never tells them anything that they should figure out for themselves and it isn't until the end of the play that she sort of summarizes things. And I was careful not to use her for plot reasons of getting information out to the audience she's there really almost essentially as comic relief. But then she becomes she's part of the plot as well. Yes she is. And we better not say any more about that I was going to be giving away some of the surprises. Do you think that you continue writing sort of comic mystery stories or place. I think right now I really can't imagine writing another thriller because it seems to me that kind of funny way death trap is sort of the ultimate

Thriller and you I can't imagine any way that I could go on beyond that maybe somebody else can and I have an idea that the next play I do will probably be a straight comedy because I find I get. Really more of a kick from the laughs the audience gets than from the chills and thrills. I enjoy hearing the comedy line that I've written go well and get a good laugh from the audience. Why I mean you think that it takes so much more clever playwright to get the audience screaming for good question I don't know but somehow I just enjoy seeing those laughs come in where I want them to be. I've always had sort of one hand and comedy in one and thrillers and I just find at this point that I'm sort of getting more of a kick out of the comedy than thrills. With.

With. A look at the serious commentator. The president defending the removal of United States attorney Marston provided an illuminating seminar on patronage at his Monday press conference. All the money many generations he said members of the Senate have become heavily involved in recommendations for federal judgeships and federal attorneys. The correspondents would recognize us as polite language for saying that senators consider these office is their prerogative. But in historic times the president went on when both Senators are Republicans then the members of Congress and the governors are consulted. Again he didn't need to spell out to the reporters that Pennsylvania has only Republican senators and has had for years and that Congressman Alberg who telephoned to ask how long he was going to leave that Republican in the U.S. attorney's job in

Philadelphia has a dozen years seniority since he broke the GOP hold on the district where attorney Marston acting like another Tom DeLay is building up a constituency as a threat to Democrats so to take the phone call from Miles again related to the attorney general. Why as a routine matter. For me the president said on the average day he went on he gets 10 to 12 phone calls or personal letters from senators about replacement or appointment of a public official and mostly relating to the judiciary department United States attorneys and judges are of course the PRI's patronage jobs. POSTMASTER ships used to be the universal spoils before the post office was disconnected from the government. So historically patronage was the function of the postmaster general who was often also the president's campaign manager. James a folly had this double role under Franklin Roosevelt follies so as said US they collected IOUs from

deserving Democrats across the land that by 1940 he felt he had built a natural constituency to run for president himself and he never forgave. After deciding to take a third term Mr. Carter committed himself in this campaign to take in the judiciary department appointments out of politics. But when Attorney General Bell appeared before Senate Eastern Judiciary Committee for confirmation it was put to him plainly that this break with tradition would not be acceptable. The president wholly agreed with his press questions that it's high time judiciary appointments were taken out of politics. His administration he said is moving strongly in that direction. When he took office Mr. Carter said only three of the 90 U.S. attorneys were Democrats. No Democrat was appointed during the eight years and the next and Johnson turns. But he has left a third of these offices in Republican hands. In some instances he said Senators have advocated the Republican U.S. attorney be kept in office. He could remember

one in particular in New York where Pat Moynihan said to keep the Republican in office. And we've done so in some other matters the president is leaving things as they are. Secretary Slazenger was so worried over the lingering coal strike that prevents conversion of energy consumption to coal. That the president held a cabinet meeting on it but he sees no reason to intercede under the Taft-Hartley Act which surprised when the national security is in danger. And we certainly haven't arrived at that point yet he said to hold inflation in check as at the core of his economic program he said. But his policy remains voluntary requiring as he put it the cooperation of government business and labor have asked each group to hold its increases in wages and prices below the level it averaged for the past two years. His economic proposals the president describes as the centerpiece for his program this year he emphasized that that it's a balanced program.

To such critics as chairman of Ways and Means who would reduce the tax cut and skip the tax reforms the president said bluntly that the several parts of his economy package need to hang together. If the Congress should change any of those factors we'd have to use our influence with Congress and the public to keep a balanced economic package. But he can't be accused of aiming too high for the economy. He hopes to reduce unemployment only to around 6 percent by the end of next year from the president's six point four percent. And to see the economy grow at the rate of four and a half to five percent a year he was definite in denying 100 percent parity demand of farmers who've been picketing the White House. It would greatly raise food prices at 20 billions or more of the budget and make American farm products noncompetitive and world markets he said. And further the agricultural act of last year hasn't yet had its effect on a crop season and will meet what he called the legitimate need of farmers increased support prices as Middle

East talks resume the Presidents with a promise it was tested by questions about more Israeli settlements. But he is informed he said with a straight face that the new settlement he had protested at Shiloh in the West Bank was authorized all night as an archeological project. January had more than double the normal precipitation but only 8 inches even with a 24 inch snowfall and one storm that twenty four inches reduced to less precipitation than the one and a half inch rain few days later. The Panama Canal treaties today gained support of Vermont Senator Leahy and New Hampshire's Senate a decade both Democrat. This brings the committed tally to 50 of the 60s have needed. That's our GBH journal for today Wednesday the first of February 1978.

The program is marking the engineer on. Have have a one plan. At that.