St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 1

Sectioni Pea Main News Sectioni A-24 Obituaries Real Estate Section E-41 WtAds i Bjders TmvoI Resorts M-( General News Section D-4 Special Supplement 12 Sport Section C-12 Women Section G-14 On Today's Editorial Page The Changes In Washington: Unstaek The System: Editorial bin VOL. NO. 333 1972, St. Louis fust-Dispatch SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1972 488 PAGES 40c Section Pag Comic, 2 Stciiont 8 "Pared Magazine" 28 Television Section Everyday Section K-14 Drama-Radio Department Store Sections H-l-J-L-160 Editorial, looks Financial Newt Section I0B SILO POST- 0 SPAT iStefe Property Tax Urged As School Aid supporting public schools with local property taxes are illegal because all schools do not receive equitable funding. The Texas court ruling is being apt pealed to the United States Su preme Court.

Mallory, the state commit! sioner, said that the i a TURN TO PAGE 9, COL. 1 General Assembly convenes in Janaury. Many of the proposed school financing changes apparently were influenced, at least in part, by i legal challenges of the traditional methods of financing. in Texas, California and elsewhere have ruled that the long-established methods of formula if feasible replace the present system of distributing school funds on the basis of average daily attendance. Some bills that would make changes similar to those suggested by the committees have been filed with the clerks of the House and Senate.

Legislators began filing bills Friday for early introduction when the illllilllllilli. llKSS4BiSi w-t-n i Charles W. Colson Leaving Post Robert H. Finch Back to California Donald H. Rumsfeld "Major new assignment" SHOOTING SCENE: Police officers stand guard over outline marking the place at Sixth and Lucas Streets where Nixon Shifting Rumsfeld; Colson, Finch Quitting Patrolman Frank Gilbert Dobler was shot.

Grapefruit weights the outline. (Post-Dispatch Photo by James A. Rackwitz) Patrolman Shot; Driver Is Seized After Fast Chase By JERRY W. VENTERS Jefferson City Correspondent of the Post-Dispatch JEFFERSON CITY, Dec. 2-A uniform state-wide property tax to support the public schools and changes aimed at a fairer distribution of state aid to all school districts in Mis-s i will be recommended Monday to the State Board of Education.

The two proposals are among about 30 major changes suggested by four study committees on the financing of public education in Missouri. If the proposals are approved by the board and legislation is enacted to carry them out, they could have a profound impact on the way in which Missouri finances public education and could make sweeping changes in the range of services offered by public schools. Presently each school district levies a tax based on the assessed valuation of property. The state supplements that revenue with uniform grants based on the number of pupils enrolled in the districts, rather than the financial need of the district. The affluent schools receive the same amount of state aid for each pupil as the poorer districts.

Thus they are able to spend more on education without taxing residents more heavily. The proposed changes are the result of several months of study by four committees appointed by Arthur L. Mallory, state commissioner of education, and made up of 108 educators, legislators and other citizens. The State Board of Education is expected to consider the proposals at its meeting in Jefferson City Monday, and may vote at that time to propose legislation to carry out some of the changes. The recommendations are expected to receive long and intense discussion from the eight-member board, but significant changes are not expected.

In addition to the proposals for a property tax and a reordering of the distribution of state money to 1 the committees suggested that: (1) The state pay 50 per cent of school operational costs. (2) Reliance on the local property tax to finance public schools be reduced. (3) Additional money be provided from the state's general revenue (derived from income, sales and other taxes) to reduce inequities of financing between school districts. (4) All property in Missouri be reassessed by the State Tax Commission, and that assessments be equalized throughout the state. (5) Additional junior college districts be established to place post-high school education within easy access of all who desire it.

(6) Every public school district provide a comprehensive education program from kindergarten through twelfth grade, and districts be encouraged to provide voluntary early childhood education programs for 3-and 4-year-old. (7) Every school district provide students with access to a tuition-free vocational-technical education program within easy commuting distance from their homes. (8) All public school districts and community colleges co-ordinate their efforts and provide comprehensive adult education to all who want it. (9) A study be made in 1973-74 to determine how state aid to schools may be distributed on a weighted-pupil basis, and this Related Article on Page IB By LAWRENCE E. TAYLOR A Washington Correspondent of the Post-Dispatch KEY BISCAYNE, Flaj, Dec.

2 Donald H. Rumsfeld, director of the Government's Cost of Living Council, will be shifted to a "major new assignment" i i the Nixon Administration, the Florida White House said Saturday. Rumsfeld's new job was not disclosed but there was speculation he would be nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Announced Saturday as well was the resignation of Robert H.

Finch, a presidential counselor, who was expected to return to California and run for public office. Finch, Mr. Nixon's first Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare in 1969, arranged to announce his plans at a press conerence in Washington next Tuesday. Also departing, but under somewhat more cloudy circumstances, is Charles W. Colson, special counsel to Mr.

Nixon, By RONALD J. LAWRENCE and MARGIE FREIVOGEL Of the Post-Dispatch Staff St. Louis Patrolman Frank Gilbert Dobler was severely wounded amid a crowd of downtown shoppers Saturday afternoon when a taxicab driver, apparently enraged at being admonished for a traffic violation, shot Dobler with the officer'! own revolver. The driver, Norman Louis Pearson, was shot and taken into custody after a high speed chase north through the downtown area and west on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

Police report 1 ed that 24 shots were fired at Interior Head Takes Over Indian Affairs beck, who fired six shots as Pearson sped away on the chase that was to end at Twentieth and Hebert Streets. Police officers and the Post-Dispatch pieced together the following report from eyewitness accounts. About 3:30 p.m., Dobler was directing traffic at Sixth and Lucas Streets, the congested downtown corner bordered by the Union Market, Thomas Market and the Stix, Baer and Fuller department store. Dobler, 58 years old, is permanently assigned to the traffic division and has been directing traffic at the corner for at least 15 years. He is scheduled to retire in about two years.

According to a witness, Pearson stopped his Marcella cab on Sixth street several feet TURN TO PAGE 14, COL. 2 Pearson, who was admitted to City Hospital in serious condition with wounds in the back and arm. In addition to shooting Dobler once in the head, Pearson fired five shots from Dobler's service revolver at Sgt. William Vorbeck, who suffered graze wounds of the right thigh and wrist. Pearson has been booked on two charges of assault with intent to kill.

Other charges, including numerous traffic violations during the high speed chase, are expected to be filed, police said. Vorbeck, who was serving overtime duty as a foot patrolman, flagged Pearson's cab to a stop shortly after hearing reports of Dobler's shooting. Pearson stopped, opened the door slightly and fired at Vor SHOOTING SUSPECT: Taxicab driver Norman Louis Pearson, wounded in a high-speed chase, is placed on a stretcher in a parking lot at Twentieth and Hebert Streets. (Post-Dispatch Photo by Ken J. MacSwan) WASHINGTON, Dec.

2 (AP) Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton Saturday stripped supervision of Indian affairs from the top three officials involved and said he was taking personal command to "put Indian operations back to work." Morton acted as name-calling and squabbling increased this week between the Burau of Indian Affairs executives, in the aftermath of the six-day occupation of the bureau's Washington headquarters by hundreds of Indian demonstrators. In a statement, Morton said he was removing all present authority for Indian affairs from assistant Secretary of the Interior Harrison E. Loesch, Bureau Commissioner Louis R.

Bruce and deputy Bureau Commissioner John O. Crow. He named Richard S. Bod-man, assistant secretary for maangement and budget, to take charge of the bureau. "I have taken this action because I believe it is essential to the well-being of the American Indian that we return our Indian programs to operational effectiveness without delay," Morton said.

On Thursday, Crow first pub- Signing Of Peace Agreement Expected Soon who was linked to the surveillance of the Democratic National Committee, at the Watergate Hotel complex during the presidential campaign. Colson was questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation about his connection with E. Howard Hunt, a former White House staff member who was indicted along with six others in the bugging case. White House press secretary Ronald L. Ziegler said that Col- son had intended to resign as the end of th year but hadt been persuaded by the Presi-r dent to stay on for another 60 days to help with Government reorganization planning.

By the end of that time, the trial of the seven suspects in the Watergate case probably should be concluded. Although his White House standing would make him unavailable as a witness in the court case, Colson still could be called by a con- gressional committee investi-' gating political espionage. Colson's role in the Watergate case was never fully determined publicly and the White House has insisted he was not involved. Although several Administration aids are leaving, the nucleus of Mr. Nixon's personal staff will remain on the job as the second term begins, i 1 said.

Such key presidential aids ai Henry A. Kissinger, John D. Ehrlichman, H.R. (Bob) Halde-man and William E. Timmons would retain their posts as advisers on domestic and international policy, he said.

Pressed by reporte rsfor word on extensive changes promised at the White House by Mr. Nixon, Ziegler indicated the process would be a gradual one. He a i the reorganization was not a shake-up, "if you apply shake-up in the traditional way." Other resignations announced Saturday were those of Harry Dent, special counsel to the President, and Robert J. Brown, a special assistant. Dent was to return to his law practice in South Carolina, and Brown, the highest-ranking black on the White House staff, was to go back to his business in North Carolina.

Both were said to have announced earlier their intention to resign at the end of the first term. Among those staying at the White House, is Kissinger who, as Mr. Nixon's adviser on national security affairs, has headed the Paris peace talks on the Indochina War with the North Vietnamese. Ehrlichman, presidential as- TURN TO PAGE 20, COL. 1 Zone Sections On Monday Because of press capacity limitations, the north and south zone sections and certain advertising that normally would be published next Wednesday will a a in Monday's Post-Dispatch.

to pend on Saigon's accession peated Saturday in a Saigon radio editorial is to any settlement that does not formally require withdrawal of all North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam. The Saigon sources say the agreement will not spell out such a concession, but the in-formal American-North Vietnamese understanding is that North Vietnam will regroup its forces and withdraw substantial numbers of them over a six- to the treaty. American prisoners of war in North Vietnam would begin to be released about Christmas, with the rest to follow within 60 days. What South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu's attitude will be toward the final draft, which is not expected to take his objections into account to any major extent, was not determined. namese counterpart, would initial the agreement next week.

The two governments would then sign it formally, perhaps a week later, i i i the two South Vietnamese sides to sign as well, a ing to the sources. In any case those sources said, the United States would halt the bombing of North Vietnam and mining of its ports within a few days of the formal signature, but the end of hostilities in South Vietnam would de- Louis R. Bruce licly criticized his boss, Bruce, and said one of them had to go. He said, "I didn't like the support he gave to the unruly mob. He couldn't administer anything.

He is just compounding the situation. Crow said he had the tacit support of Loesch, who has had TURN TO PAGE 20, COL. 1 By CRAIG R. WHITNEY 1972, Xew Vork Tlmee Newi Service SAIGON, South Vietnam, Dec. 2 The United States and North Vietnam are expected to arrive at a final negotiated peace settlement, substantially along the lines disclosed in October, after two or three days of talks in Paris next week, informed South Vietnamese sources close to the negotiations indicate.

The sources said they expected that the top American negotiator, Henry A. Kissinger, and Le Due Tho, his North Viet- Tu ruing Colder Official forecast for St. Louis and vicinity: Increasing cloudi- re- TURN TO PAGE 4, COL. 1 His major objection County Council Follows No-Dirty-Linen Policy JA, TllKKK IS A County Council Sunday with a high near 60; turning much colder Sunday night; low in the 20s; chance of snow flurries. Monday and Tuesday are expected to be mild, banter either friendly or hostile.

"What we need is an opposi-t i that will occasionally tweak our noses," said one member of Roos's staff. "I'm well prepared to have them try to tweak my nose," retorted Councilman Rimmel, a mainstay of the Republican majority. Rimmel, who is known for a quick tongue and an easily bruised ego, returned the challenge. "He who tweaks gets tweaked back." Courthouse observers have to go back to 1963 to find a councilman known for his tweaking. That was John Dowling, a ies-ty Democrat who resigned four months after Roos and several of the present Republican councilmen took office.

"I did have to needle Roos a TURN TO PAGE 11, COL. 1 bogged down with these zoning bills," he says. "But they never come up with anything innovative." "What new ideas has this Council come up with to create new job opportunities and to upgrade development?" "It's just a caretaker operation," he says. But if there is disagreement as to the quality of government, everyone councilmen included admits that dull is an apt word for their sessions. Spectators often have trouble staying awake, and a reporter from a suburban newspaper has broken the tedium with conspicuous snoring.

One of the highlights of year occurred when two spectators began cutting paper dolls of elephants. Little debate spices the meetings, and there is seldom any brought before the council are discussed and revamped in executive session and the council has made up its mind before a bill ever reaches the floor. Unlike many municipal boards of aldermen or the Al-dermanic Board of the City of St. Louis, the County Council conducts well orchestrated meetings in which there is little doubt about the outcome of a particular measure. On one hand some say that harmony is a point of pride.

"There is no need to parade our dirty linen before the public," says one councilman. "The public is probably getting the best local government in the country," says Councilman Gerald A. Rimmel Third District. "After all, how much is political in the county?" Democrat John O'Hara, First District. "There's no Democratic view on where this road is going or how that project will be built," he says.

On the other hand, there are a few critics who contend that the council is ado -nothing body, serving as little more than a rubber stamp for Supervisor Lawrence K. Roos and as a clearing house for trivial zoning decisions. "The fact is that 90 to 95 per cent of the matters before the council deal with zoning," says Maurice Stewart Seventh District, who is known as the hardest working Councilman. "And I don't think any of the Councilmen vote on these on the basis of partisan politics." The predominance of minor zoning matters is exactly the problem, according to Dr. Martin S.

Greenberg, county Democratic chairman. "Week after week they are By DAVID W. MARTIN Of the Post-Dispatch Staff There are seven bodies on the St. Louis County Council, but when it cc ies to a vote, they all seem to share a single head. In 46 public meetings in 1972, there has not been a single dissenting vote.

In all, 432 bills have been acted on this year. Of that total, 424 have been passed all unanimously, although there have been six abstentions when councilmen had some interest in a firm benefiting from council action. Six bills have been defeated all without a dissenting vote. This unanimity has occurred even though two members of the Republican-dominated council are Democrats and, theoretically, members of the opposition party. The reason for the harmony is clear enough.

All a 1 1 slightly with colder atures POSI-OitPAICM WEATHtRBIRD sday. High Monday about 60, lows and Tuesday about 30; high Wednesday near 50 with the low in the 20s. ther Weather Information on Pag 2k.