European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 17, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes saturday september 17,1977 Mitchell Hal demm Appeal to Sirica Washington up attorneys for watergate defendants John Mitchell . Haldeman Friday asked judge John j. Sirica to Cut Short their imprisonment for covering up the nation s biggest Politi Cal  attorney John Wilson asked that his client Richard Nixon s former chief of staff be freed immediately on grounds Nixon made a confession of guilt in a recent televised interview. He asked that Haldeman s 30-months-to-eight-years sentence be reduced to the three months already served at the Lompoc Calif., minimum Security Federal institution. He entered prison june 21. Mitchell s lawyer William Hundley did not ask for any specific sentence reduction but said the former attorney general is suffering from a degenerative condition in his right hip which May require  Mitchell confined to a minimum Security facility at Maxwell fab in Mont Gomery ala., and Haldeman were convicted Jan 1, 1975, 9f perjury conspiracy and obstruction of Justice in the scandal that drove Nixon from office. The two received similar sentences. Hundley also said watergate and Mitch Ell s subsequent confinement Are having a destructive effect on his finances and a traumatic and devastating effect on his family life particularly on a daughter of sensitive  said Nixon is getting Rich be cause of his immunizing Pardon while Wilson s client is being  admitted in a series of David Frost arranged broadcasts that he was the principal actor in the obstruction of jus Tice Wilson said in a petition filed on Hal deman s  a fifth one broadcast has occurred which is perhaps the Queerest on of All the petition said. He Nixon has proclaimed to the world that he ordered the destruction of tapes which would have incriminated him but Haldeman omitted to do  s statement is a Clear confession of guilt and moreover he brags about a desire to destroy incriminating evidence and thus for a second time obstruct jus Tice the petition , again attorney Wilson said he tries to smear  Wilson suggested Sirica would have in Cincinnati Engineer Charles Cummings sits behind the wheel of an electric car he built at a Cost of $3,500 from modified parts of other autos. The car speedy electric car has a 1963 Buick steering wheel a 1966 Volkswagen Chassis and a Bradley it fibreglass body. Two Battery powered motors enable it to travel 45 Miles before a recharge. The car does 45 Miles an hour now but Cummings says a third motor he plans to install will boost its Speed to 65 . Apposed a Shorter sentence had he known what Nixon would disclose in the Frost  to president Gerald Ford s Pardon Nixon does not care what he say Snow Wilson said. The present sentence he said amounts to Haldeman s destruction while Nixon is wrapped in an immunizing Pardon and his pockets Are line with $600,000. Wilson asked Sirica As far As possible to give Haldeman treatment equal to Nixon s. Unless reduced the sentence terminates june 20, 1985, or on May 14, 1983, if he earns time off for Good behaviour. Halde Man will become eligible for parole on dec. 20,1979. Wilson said Haldeman works seven Days a week in the institution s sewage Plant and spends the rest of his time exercising to keep in shape and trying to while away the  his education training and experience his time is totally wasted. He is making no contribution to society or to himself. He is just trying to exist and stay out of trouble. He is useless to the world a Burden on society and a great concern of his family Wilson said. Haldeman cannot expect a Pardon from a democratic president Wilson said As Nixon received from Ford. But he said a judge has awesome Power. It lies in the hands of your Honor to punish Haldeman to the Point of destruction which we respectfully say is the effect of the heavy sentence imposed upon him or Send him Home to begin life anew Wilson said. Let s say that two men one the Leader the other the Follower Are equally guilty Wilson argued. The Leader goes free and the Follower is condemned and the court has the Opportunity to Correct this unfair Ness to the extent that it is possible to do  May not punish the Leader who goes free but he can see that the condemned Man. Suffers no More. Wilson said. Judge refuses to close Ekland suit to the Public Santa Monica Calif. Up the judge nearing Britt Ekland s $21 million property damage suit against British Roc Star Rod Stewart has refused to bar the Public and press from the  Mason Rose Iii asked Superior court judge Edward Rafeedie to close the trial to protect Ekland s children. Ekland is suing Steward under a California supreme court ruling that unmarried Cou Ples living together have implicit contractual Community property arrange ments. The actress lived with Stewart for 212 years. Electoral College proposal faces Long Rocky Road Washington a one senator says an amendment to abolish the elector Al College does t stand a snowball s Chance in . William l. Scott r-va., made his prediction after the Senate judiciary com Mittee approved the proposal by a 9-8 vote  the amendment survives the Senate and the House it would have to be approved by three fourths of the states to take effect. Senate opponents already have served notice they will mount a filibuster against it when it is comes up for a floor vote which in t expected until next year. In 1970 the House approved a direct elec Tion amendment but it died the following year in a Senate  of the committee that passed the proposal differ sharply on what it would . Malcolm Wallop r-wyo., who voted against it said it would mean that a great chunk of America will never see a presidential candidate  he said candidates would focus their campaigns on the most populated areas where they can get the greatest bang for the  but sen. Birch Bayh d-ind., its chief sponsor  said presidential candidates who have often ignored sparsely populated states would have an incentive to Campaign throughout the country since each vote would count the same. He said candidates now concentrate in the 11 states with enough electoral votes to elect a president. Sen. James Abourezk d-s.d., also Dis agreed with Wallop. I Don t believe that Only candidates from big population Cen ters will be nominated he said. To be elected a candidate must win a majority of the electoral College vote. The direct election amendment would abolish the electoral College giving the Victory to the candidate who polled the most votes nationwide provided he got a least 40 per cent. A Runoff Between the top two candidates would be held if no one received that much. Senate acts to ban pregnancy Bias Washington up the Senate Friday approved a Bill requiring employ ers to provide coverage for pregnancy an related conditions if they offer worker health and disability plans that cover other ailments. The Bill passed 75 to 11 and sent to the House defines discrimination against pregnant workers As sex discrimination under title Vii of the civil rights act. The measure runs counter to a 1976 supreme court ruling that held general electric co. Was not engaging in sex discrimination by denying pregnant workers the same employee medical insurance and disability benefits available for other ail ments or procedures. Although pregnancy was not covered in the be plan vasectomies and hair trans plants were. On a 44-41 vote the Senate tabled an amendment by sen. Thomas Eagleton d mo., to deny coverage to women who have abortions except to save the Mother s life. The Bill attacked by business and insurance companies As too costly would Man Date compliance by july 1,1978. No employer who lacks an employee health plan would be forced to implement one but businesses which now exclude pregnancy could not do away with allem ploy health benefits rather than comply with the Law