Pantechnicon; Abortion Legislation; Barbara Jordan at Harvard; Louis Lyons

All right. Good evening. I'm Bill Cadmus and this is Penn DECnet God GBH radio is not a magazine of issues arts and ideas. In New England. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan spoke at Harvard University's commencement activities and I don't find technic on we'll hear excerpts from her address. Members of the legislature debate them at the abortion resolution and Louis Lyons has a review of the week's news. The Committee of the judiciary requests the Congress of the United States to call a convention for the purpose of proposing a human life amendment to the United States Constitution which would protect the right to life of all human beings during every state of biological development. These words summarize a recent state House resolution which asked that an anti-abortion amendment be added to the United States Constitution. 34 states must request Congress to add the right to life amendment last week. Massachusetts became the eighth state in the nation to

approve the request. If enough states do indeed ask Congress will call a constitutional convention for the purpose of voting on the right to life amendment. The prospect of a constitutional convention raises alarming questions to many legislators who fear that politicians may go overboard and amend away some of the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. I spoke with Senator Allen says it's an opponent of the resolution who further elaborates the request was a resolution asking Congress to call a national constitutional convention. There's never been a council National Constitutional Convention history United States. Therefore there is no precedent for limiting the agenda of that constitutional convention. There's no guarantee that the states nor Congress can limit the agenda of a national constitution convention. Therefore conceivably the United States Constitution and particular bill of rights could be up for reconsideration of the National Constitution Convention. The last similar event was held in 1787 and that was the convention which established United

States of America. So I think it's a very dangerous precedent to call for a national constitutional convention which conceivably could affect our basic liberties and open up the Bill of Rights for reconsideration. I mention that supporters of the convention just want to add an anti-abortion amendment. Not totally reassess the validity of other constitutional rights constitutional scholars and people who study the subject. Indicate it's just an uncharted course since we've never had a national comes to convention. There's no guarantee that the intention of a particular state senator in Massachusetts would limit the actions of the people who are elected delegates to a national constitutional convention. People who are elected. To a convention to revise the constitution United States could proceed to revise or change entire sections of the Constitution United States and ideals so they would issue abortion. I spoke next with Representative Paul White a supporter of the Right to Life Amendment and asked why the abortion issue had been chosen. He also explained that traditional methods of repealing the present abortion on demand policy had failed leading

anti-abortion supporters to look for alternate methods to perhaps get abortions. Efforts to amend the Constitution by the. Method which would be considered the congressional route which would allow for an amendment to be considered by both the House and the Senate in Washington DC and then to be remitted to the states for approval have thus far been unsuccessful and now that is the first method of amending the constitution that is allowed under Article 5 of the federal Constitution. The second alternative method is the route that we have pursued in this constitutional convention resolution. It allows for an application for a constitutional convention elected popularly by the people and it requires the adoption of a resolution similar to the one adopted last week in Massachusetts has to be done in a total of 34 states and initially then the Congress must act. The answer to the question is because this is the most sensible and the most reasonable approach to amending the Constitution available to those at this point who favor an amendment.

Senator of Wright responded to Senator says it's a charge that a constitutional convention could endanger some of our other basic rights. My response to that is basically there are two sources that I quote. One is the American Bar Association study of Article 5. And secondly former Senator Sam Ervin who has done a rather extensive research and documented work on the constitution and in both instances the ability of the states to call for a limited convention that is to say one which is confined to a specific issue like the one in hand is possible according to these two expert resources. Secondly we have a catch 22 situation a convention kind happen until the Congress calls and Congress is mandated to call it but until they actually physically call it it can occur. The Congress does have legislation pending before it so-called urban bill which would provide for specific constraints and rules and regulations whereby we could prevent this so-called runaway convention that would be

destructive to other elements of our current constitution. And I feel confident that the Congress would pass such a bill. In sufficient time to allow for an orderly and and destructive convention I asked Representative Wright if he thinks a convention really will be called. That's a difficult question to answer we've got nine states now that have gone the route of adopting the resolution within a reasonable period of time most people seem to assume that's about seven years. We've got to get another 25 states to go along. There is an effort in just about every state to bring about such a resolution but whether or not the politics in each individual state will allow it remains to be seen I think there's a good possibility of it. And if it is passed right will be the implication. We would have a convention then which would consider language specific language prohibiting abortion in the United States. It would basically overrule the 1973 decision the court which said that only in the last three months of pregnancy can a state have any type of regulations over abortion. And to some of

us that's an important decision. That was Senator Allen says Askey and representative. This is ever free. Speaking before a commencement day audience at Harvard University yesterday Texas congresswoman Barbara Jordan. Accused the federal government of creating a network of allusions systematically limiting the amount of citizen intervention in the process of governing. She used the example of the Atomic Energy Commission regulations which she claimed are used to complicate citizen input. The theme throughout her address was that of a nation of people many articles have been written and speeches delivered about the importance of the input of people into the affairs of government. Symbolic gestures have been staged and populist rhetoric has been translated into

law. The point of it all is to try to make people feel that they really do count that the government does care what they think. Such actions are said to be the logical extension on proper fulfillment of an amorphous something called the promise of America. Question. Do the governors of America sincerely believe that people are a valuable resource of the government. Or do the governors really believe that the people are merely an indispensable nuisance to a democracy. Well let us reflect on our history for a moment and maybe try to answer that question. The Declaration of Independence. The first sentence when it becomes necessary for one

people to dissolve the political bands. Whenever government becomes destructive of certain alienable rights it is the right of the. People. To alter or to abolish it and then when they started to itemize the oppressiveness of George the Third he has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people. Unless those people. Would relinquish the right of Representation in the legislature. It continued his invasions on the rights of the people he has sent hither swarms of Officers to have Rast our people. He has destroyed the lives of our people and then finally in that declaration it is made in the name and by all for one day all of the good people people people throughout it. Now subsequently the Constitution was written it all amended and

implemented the political philosophy espoused in the Declaration of Independence. The raison d'être of the new government people again. The political well-being of the people the government source of authority of the people. One small run again in which we the people of the United States the House of Representatives chosen every second year by the people. The right of the people peaceably to assemble the people to be secured and that person. The enumeration of certain rights retained by the people and certain Paul is reserved to the people and then as the states began to ratify that constitution. A debate developed. Where in a delegate wanted to strip Congress of the power to lay and collect taxes and Alexander Hamilton trying to allay the delegate SPia address jammed the proponent of the resolution.

And what did Hamilton say here sir. The people who govern hears are the people who govern. Do you believe that. Do the people govern. Or has there have been a mutation from a commitment to people. Two way commitment to self interest on the part of the governor is the applause meter paramount and the welfare of the people at best merely tangential. The government has build an elaborate network of illusions that network is designed to make people believe that beto pinions are genuinely wanted and considered that they do participate in fact and making the decisions of government.

We go to great lengths to sustain that illusion prevalent phrases among some of the recent legislation the Congress has passed. Phrases which are substitutes for people. Citizen participation advisory council advisory committee maximum feasible participation public participation community participation petition for intervention. The words are all vague. But it's citizen intervention encouraged or discouraged petitions to intervene. The rule is stated this way it's headed intervention in a person whose interest may be affected by proceeding and who desires to participate as a party shall follow a written petition for leave to intervene in a petition shall identify the specific aspect or aspects

on which the subject matter of the proceeding as to which she wishes to intervene. He must set this forth with particularity about the facts pertaining to his interest and the bases of his contentions with regard to each aspect on which he desires to intervene. Now that clear paragraph is followed by 17 sections and subsections there are other regulatory agency with rules equally as burdensome. The people have a right to intervene. Those statutory and regulatory language may well include provisions for petitions to intervene. The fact is that proper citizen intervention often requires an attorney or an expert witness.

If the citizen cannot afford an attorney or an expert witness the citizen is denied the right to intervene. The Supreme Court has said only the Congress may authorize the payment of such fee and Congress is very reluctant to do that at the Supreme Court decisions. Further opportunities for citizen participation. Well recently the Supreme Court has acted to limit both the right to sue and class action litigation. The court has ruled for one instance that citizens and taxpayers have no standing to challenge an action of the government unless they can show a concrete injury. In fact another ruling. The ghetto residents of Rochester lacked standing to sue because they could not

prove that the al ledged wrong. Hurt them personally. Another ruling. Plaintiffs must demonstrate that the complaint they awful is not simply arguable. But actual getting into federal court. There is a $10000 requirement that that amount must be in controversy before you can get in. The Supreme Court has said you still won't get in on less each member of the class satisfies that jurisdictional amount. The court has ruled again that a person bringing a class action suit must notify all parties at his own expense. People the people want in. How much longer.

How much longer Well people tolerate a network of illusions and that he was rhetoric. How much longer what the people want. Is very simple. They want an America as Good as Its Promise. That's what they want. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan Texas who yesterday spoke at commencement exercises at Harvard University. Finally on tonight's pandemic on the way lions with a look back at this week's news sensation of the week completed its run yesterday. When the Soviet government ended its interrogation of an American correspondent and told Robert told he could leave the country any time he was already planning to return to the Los Angeles Times when arrested. He'd been repeatedly questioned in daily sessions

about the charge he'd been collecting secret information told credits his release to the intervention of the White House the protest of the State Department and the publicity and agitation in the American press initiated by his colleagues in Moscow. His questioning was about his contacts with a Russian scientist a dissident who'd been charged with working for our CIA told said all he got from the Russian was a paper on extrasensory perception but told also sees his experience as a warning to other correspondents the Soviets he says are taking a tougher line with them. What they were permitted before they're not going to be permitted now. Some Americans had seen in the treatment of toll the Soviet reaction to President Carter's pressing of human rights noting that it occurred on the eve of the Belgrade conference to review the Helsinki pact a coral that was a commitment to human rights. Tell it is a was a science reporter spent a year in a name and fellowship at Harvard in 1960 extending his capacity as a science writer and on

mention aspect of the toll of affair is the selection by the Los Angeles Times of a science writer rather than a political writer to be its observer in Moscow. It suggests at least a consciousness of the qualification to understand such matters as an arms control and planetary exploration and perhaps to try to measure comparative scientific progress between the United States and Russia. A reporter with such qualifications in 1957 might have saved the Eisenhower administration from being caught so completely by surprise by Sputnik in Spain the first free election in 41 years was a victory for Prime Minister Suarez no Democratic center party. The socialist were a strong second. So this election appears to have shaped the prospect of a two party system. So far as party aims first at writing a new democratic constitution in Russia an election went the other why the Supreme Soviet elected chairman Brezhnev to be also president the first time the party chief has taken both titles. Prague Nani

was recently mooted president. It's been a week of jousting in Washington between Congress and the White House over energy and related legislation. Final results are still uncertain. A veto possibility was seen in the narrow vote against the president's attempt or exclude numerous expensive Western damns from the budget the House voted appropriation for the dams but only by 218 194 not enough to override a veto. The president is believed to have more support in the Senate. Speaker anneal said if the to hold he'll return the bill to committee for reconsideration instead of to the floor for a vote on overriding the AGW sectary Khalaf on who announced that funds would be withheld from communities that refused to merge schools for desegregation. If that involves busing the House reacted to that by voting to prohibit such withholding. Two hundred twenty five two hundred fifty seven. Congress applied a veto of its own over the president's plan for withdrawal of troops

from Korea within five years by 79 to 15. The Senate voted it would have a say in that United States policy in Korea should continue to be arrived at by a joint decision of the president Congress state an amendment by Senator Byrd the majority leader and the weather all should be with regard to the interests of Japan and other countries and by stages and also regular consultation with Congress. But it's widely held that as commander in chief a president can withdraw our troops without asking the Congress. Maybe this will be tested. Government action against the most powerful industries made front page news today U.S. Steel in a consent decree ended five years of litigation by agreeing to stop dumping toxic pollutants into Lake Michigan and to pay three and a half million in fines for its failure to meet air and water pollution standards. The company agreed to spend almost 70 millions to install water and water

recycling system that removed 90 percent of the pollutants from the discharges of its Gary mills. This by 1980 and that it will provide three quarters of a million for further research into the problem of industrial waste dump down to the lake. Executives of the Gulf Oil Corporation admitted to a Congress Committee of their participation in an international cartel to raise prices of uranium. The cartel reportedly pushed up uranium prices from six to forty two dollars a tonne between 1972 and 1974. The House foreign commerce committee reported this from its investigation of charges that Gulf by this had violated anti-trust laws. The company's defense in part was that its association with the cartel was through a Canadian subsidiary and under pressure for a marketing agreement from the Canadian government. In master's government a caucus threatened a veto unless the legislature changed the change the provision for binding arbitration over pay of local police and firemen

municipalities have very generally protested the terms of such arbitration as weighed in favor of these politically influential unions. The Master's legislature observed Flag Day by overriding the governor's veto of a bill to require Massachusetts school children and teachers to recite a daily flag salute. The state supreme court advised the governor that that was unconstitutional. In fact the United States Supreme Court has more than once ruled it unconstitutional. But the overriding provided the legislature is a flag gesture. This week the legislature petition Congress to call a constitutional convention to ban abortion. It's the ninth state to do so. It would take three quarters of the states. The Congress never has used the convention process for an amendment because that would open up the whole constitution for rewriting the alternative process it has used to submitting a proposed amendment to the states for threequarters ratification. The legislator vetoed that homosexuals will not be discriminated against in public

employment in the state just as Miami in a referendum voted the other way withdrawing its protection against their discrimination. The Miami vote was a response to the start of a national campaign against homosexuals. How about three hundred twenty five commencement yesterday wound up the college commencement season with a traditional ritual and pageantry that's not made the Harvard ceremony the prototype of these academic ceremonies of its four hundred thirty two graduating Harvard and Radcliff now combined fifty three had summers and 37. Magnus where they all attend graduate schools forty three hundred seven degrees were conferred the number of honorary degrees was reduced to seven. Three of these were women and two black two were have been emeritus professors Paul freind of the law school distinguished constitutional scholar and Paul mangle Stoff a botanist for his breeding of high yielding corn and rust resistant wheat. Underdark Baka seized awards to active

members of the faculty under President Conant there were usually 12 honorary degrees Dr. Roger Levy of the corporation proposed accounted increasing it to 16 but Cohen said no there weren't enough. It's a purgative for more than 12. Marian Anderson's award brought the greatest applause Barbara Jordan congresswoman from Texas was also the commencement speaker. You Doro. Well date good surprise novelist was the other woman. The one award that went abroad was just wretched. William southern medievalist Gordon chairman of kid Kidder Peabody was honored as a business leader and a signally generous son of harmin the generosity of Harvard Suns was demonstrated in the class gifts of the 25 year and 50 year reunion in classes just about a million and a half dollars each. The older class nosing out ahead in their competitive giving contest with 85 percent of the class contributing. A college that was started for trainee ministers graduated just 90 of the Divinity School.

Again six hundred and seventeen lawyers seven hundred forty from the business school. The numbers then tapered down to one in forestry the hybrid zone forest in Petersham is one of the Great Forest Laboratories. But Forester is a Yale specialty its forestry school and but there is a Gifford pin show in the days when the career of the forest ranger was as exciting a prospect as that of the Texas Ranger. Another general got into the news by political pronouncements a lieutenant general Don a STARI who was recalled from his command in West Germany by the secretary of the army to explain a graduation speech to the American High School in Frankfurt. Peace is an illusion the general told the graduates they were proud to be were in your lifetime. Conflict of some kind is a natural state of man. Well this after a general saying lob suggests something about the military mind and the education provided by the United States government. Finally the Supreme Court held yesterday that a company need not

arrange for an employee to take Saturday off for his religious reasons. If this involves shifting others to do his work at overtime pay or impinges on the seniority rights of others which may include Saturdays off some people don't like to work Saturdays they caught at it but the company must make reasonable efforts to accommodate the employee. He was a clerk of TBWA shop. He joined a worldwide church of God which calls for funding from Saturday work. The company did try to transfer him to amid an off day Saturday but this encountered seniority rights. He finally refused to work Saturday misfired Brennan and Marshall dissenting said the decision was a fatal blow to all efforts under the Civil Rights Act to accommodate work requirements to religious practices. But for the majority White House they could not require an equal treatment of employees on the basis of their religion. The Seventh Day Adventists and some Jewish organizations had ended the case for the employee. Commentator Louis Lyons who returns on Monday's pantechnicon.

Next week on Pan technican will feature a weeklong series on the famous Rosenberg case. We'll look at some of the problems involved with infertility. A team of reporters will investigate sex discrimination in public schools. And filmmaker Frank Capra will discuss his films all this and the lions with news and commentary for our pantechnicon I am Bill cavernous. Pantechnicon has produced for WGBH by Greg Fitzgerald engineer tonight was Nathaniel Johnson. Enjoy your weekend Roger. Going to. Change and world security. A

series of 10 lectures from international leaders discussing world security and the next two decades. The series it. Is. I'm sorry.