European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday october 23, 1977 the stars and stripes us a aide resigns in lobby Flap Washington a preside Tcarter has accepted the resignation of an assistant agriculture Secretary who had lobbied other government officials about Alaw affecting irrigation water used by his farm agriculture Secretary Bob Berglan said Friday. Robert h. Meyer submitted a letter of resignation to the White House on thurs Day Bergland said in an interview. Meyer has admitted contacting other government officials on behalf of his family and neigh Bors in the Rich Imperial Valley irrigated farming area of Southern met with the president yesterday morning and discussed the situation Bergland said he said that he was not going to change his policy about avoiding even the appearance of a conflict of inter est Bergland said. At that Point Bergland said he told Carter that since Meyer Felt strongly about the water Issue he probably would replied that will be his Choice and indicated the resignation would be accepted. Bergland said he met later with Meyer who then submitted his Resigna Tion. Bergland said he personally Felt very disturbed about the incident and that his meetings thursday with Carter and Meyer added up to a very rough Day for Meyer 44, has been assistant Secretary i charge of us a marketing programs since he was sworn in april 8. His farm holdings in the Imperial Valley were put Ina Blind Trust. Made contacts last month it was disclosed that Meyer contacted other government officials including members of Congress Whitehouse aides and Interior department officials after an appeals court in Californi upheld a 1902 Law which restricts irrigation water from Federal projects to Farmer holding no More than 160 acres each. The Interior department subsequently proposed rules to enforce the Law which would mean the breakup of Many corporate and individually owned Large farms in the West where Federal irrigation water i important. Meyer and others contend that the Impe rial Valley was exempt from the 1902 Law because the area had developed its own water resources before Federal projects had evolved. On sept. 30, Carter told a group of farm editors that he personally thought the 1902law was wrong for today s agriculture since most farms need to be larger than the 320 acres a Man and wife could have to Gether under the Law. However while Carter said at the time he thought the Law should be changed. Wedon t have any alternative but to enforce it in the meantime he said. After the Meyer lobbying was disclose last month Meyer said Bergland had Given him permission to speak As a private Citi zen on the problems of the Imperial Valley As they affect him. He said that at no time did he represent his position in the depart ment during talks with various officials. Bergland said that in retrospect it had been a mistake to give Meyer permission to talk at All on the Issue. I should have been More explicit wit him Bergland said Friday. I should have forbidden him to talk about this with anyone even his the Lute brings $440,000 highest Ever for a Matisse new York a a Swiss Art dealer paid $440,000 for Henri Matisse s the Lute the highest Price Ever paid for a painting by the French previous High for a painting by the master was $350,000 for woman at window sold in july 1973. Page 5 barbra s kid sister this is not one of the finalist in a Mike eating contest but vocalist Rosalyn kind going into the grand finale of he singing act at a nightclub in new York. A Talent for singing May be something Rosalyn picked up around the House she happens to be barbra Streisand younger sister. A photo crash survivor says some feared to Fly sky nerd band knew plane needed repairs Gillsburg miss. Up a chartered plane which crashed in Mississippi killing key members of the popular Lynyrd. Sky nerd Rock band was in rundown Condi Tion and several members of the band were going to vote on whether to continue flying in it a member of the entourage said Friday. Six persons including Lead Singer and bandleader Ronnie Van Zant 28, were killed when the Craft a propeller driven con Vair 240, reportedly ran out of Gas and slowed nose first into a thickly wooded area 200 Yards from an open Field where the Pilot apparently hoped to set it Down. Twenty others aboard were injured Sev eral critically. Kenneth pet Den a sound technician wit the group that was based in Jacksonville fla., said Friday several members had decided to take a vote on whether to continue flying on the plane As soon As it reached Baton Rouge la., for a concert that had been scheduled for Friday said a six foot flame was shoot ing from one of the engines on a flight ear Lier in the week from Miami to Greenville . He said that moments before the crash Oil poured out of the engine. I asked the Pilot about the engine and he said it was already scheduled to reworked on in Baton Rouge pet Den said. He said one of the victims in the crash Cassie Gaines indicated she wanted to ride with the band s equipment truck but was talked out of plane was in route from Greenville to Baton Rouge when the crash occurred. Van Zant Cassie Gaines and her birth or Steve were among the victims. Others who died included Dean Kilpatrick member of the entourage the Pilot Walter Mccrearey and Copilot John Grey both of county officials said an autopsy would be conducted on the Pilot and co included guitarists Allen col Lins and Gary Rossington drummer Thomas Artimus Pyle bassist Leon Wil Kenson and keyboard player Billy Friday was listed in critical condition while Rossington Powell Pyle an Collins were listed As stable. The band will never again play a Lynyrd sky nerd i m almost certain pet Den said. Ronnie Van Zant was the Lead vocalist and writer. The Only other member who Sang and wrote was Steve Gaines. I m sure Lynyrd sky nerd is Spanish bullfighter gored Madrid up Sebastian Palomo Linares one of Spain s Best known bullfight ers was reported recovering although not yet out of danger after being gored in the Chest during a bullfight at Zaragoza. Carter asks firepower for Korea Washington a preside Tcarter asked Congress Friday to allow the . To turn Over $800 million Worth of tanks missiles and other equipment to South Korea to offset military deficiencies stemming from the withdrawal of . Troops. The Transfer would be made without an reimbursement from the government in seeking congressional approval required by Law for the Transfer of . Mili tary equipment to a foreign nation Carter reaffirmed his commitment to withdraw the ground troops from South Korea Over the next four or five addition to the tanks and anti tank missiles the equipment includes helicopters artillery radar and ammunition the White House equipment is now being used by the . Troops in South Korea although the sophisticated m60 tanks the americans reusing there will be replaced by less advanced m48 tanks some of which Are currently being used by the South Transfer is being sought according to National Security Council staff member Michael Armacost to offset the consequences of our withdrawal to offset any deficiencies in korean defences arising out of the Armacost stressed that the $800 million figure which Carter used in a letter to Congress seeking approval of the an estimate based on the predicted re placement costs and anticipated inflation. Carter said in the letter that he planned to withdraw 6,000 troops by the end of 1978. The Pentagon said Friday there Are 40,000u.s. Ground and air troops in South Korea. The . Air troops will remain in South Korea along with some army troops pro Viding communications intelligence an logistic support for the . Air Force con Tingent there and the Republic of Korea military. Crippled Kuwait Tanker fouling Waters off Japan Tokyo a a 35,000-ton Kuwait registered Tanker has sustained a big crack on its Bow and is contaminating Pacific Waters off Southern Japan the Mari time safety Agency Mesa said. An Mesa patrol boat reported an Oil Slick of 328 feet in Width and 30 Miles in length. The Agency said the Tanker was in route to Japan from Kuwait carrying about 346.500 barrels of heavy Oil. Of time oct. 23, 1947 Russia lost in an Effort to include the five big Powers of the United nations subcommittee to draft a blueprint for the partition of Palestine into separate jewish Arab . 23, 1957 three plastic bombs exploded in and around . Installations i Saigon during a conference on the Ameri can backed Colombo plan for asian eco nomic cooperation. Oct. 23, 1967 a military pay scale be ginning at the minimum wage level was suggested by 19 House republicans As the first step in a plan they claim would help reduce draft Calls Down to
