HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 A&M Employees on City Council Named in Suit I Wednesday, June 24, 1970 HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Section 1, Page 9
A &M Employes
On City Council
Named - in Suit
Chronicle News Services
College Station — Twenty -
five residents of College Sta-
tion have filed suit in an Aus-
tin district court, asking that
state comptroller R. S. Cal-
vert be enjoined from paying
the iiaries of six employes
,n Texas A &M University as
long as they are also serving
as elected members of the
city council.
Named as defendents are
Mayor D. A. (Andy) Ander-
son, Mayor Pro -Tem Clifford
H. Ransdell, and Councilmen
J. H. Dozier, Cecil B. Ryan,
Joseph J. McGraw and Dan
R. Davis, in addition to Cal-
vert. '
A. P. Boyett Jr., spokes-
m,an for the plaintiffs, Tues-
day said that he believed that
allowing state employees to
hold another position of "hon-
or, trust, and integrity" was
in conflict with the state Con-
stitution.
Asked why the citizen's
group file the suit at this
time, Boyett replied:
"The council has gotten to
the point where it is dominat-
ed so thoroughly by the uni-
versity that local residents
and local businessmen now
feel that they only have one
representative on the coun-
cil."
He said he was referring to
Bill Cooley, the only council-
man not named in the suit.
Cooley is not employed by the
university.
He added that too often de-
cisions made by the council
were net in the best interest
of the taxpayer but in the in-
terest of the university.
"Now I'm not charging that
the council is influenced that.
much by A &M, but I think
there's no question that it
could be influenced by the
University."
The question, he continued,
is not whether the defendents
should serve on the council or
not, but if they do serve,
shall they be paid by the
state.
Warm,
cloudy,
humid
Thursday mostly cloudy. Friday
afternoon rainshowers. Southerly
winds 10 -15 mph. High 88 de-
grees, low 72 degrees.
Outlook for the weekend partly
cloudy, thundershowers Saturday,
cooler Sunday.
Vednesday, June 24, 1970 Telephone 843.2226
(Residents sue
CS
0
in
councilmen
Austin court
Twenty -five residents of Col-
lege Station filed suit Friday in
an Austin district court against
six city council members asking
that State Comptroller R. S. Cal-
vert be enjoined from paying
their salaries as employees of
Texas A &M as long as they are
also serving as elected members
of the council.
The defendants are Mayor D.
A. (Andy) Anderson, Mayor Pro
Tem Clifford H. Ransdell, and
councilmen Cecil B. Ryan, J. H.
Dozier, Dan R. Davis, and Joseph
J. McGraw, in addition to Calvert.
The plaintiffs in the suit are
A. P. Boyett Sr., A. P. Boyett Jr.,
Natalie E. Boyett, Lynda Wilson,
W. D. Fitch, W. D. Howard, Lula
Howard, Pat Callahan, Ed Garner,
Allie Garner, John W. Buttery,
Harriet J. Buttery.
Also, George H. Boyett, John-
nie I. Junek, Dorothy C. Junek,
Neil P. Ward, Joe A. Ferreri, L.
M. Gunter, Virginia Gunter, Mrs.
C. H. Godfrey, Larry Godfrey,
E. W. Sayers, Dr. Joe R. Parker,
Mrs. Joe R. Parker and B. R.
Craig Jr.
A. P. Boyett Jr. said that he
believed that allowing state em-
ployees to hold another position
of "honor, trust, and integrity"
was in conflict with the state
Boyett said the citizen's group
filed the suit at this time because
"the council has gotten to the
point where it is dominated so
thoroughly by the university that
the. local resident and local busi-
nessman now feels that he has
only one representative of the
council."
He said he was referring to Bill
Cooley, the only councilman not
named in the suit.
He added that too often de-
cisions made by the council were
not in the best interest of the
taxpayer but in the interest of
the university.
"I'm not charging that the
council is influenced that much
by A &M, but I think there's no
question that it could be influ-
enced by the university."
The question is not whether
the defendants should serve on
the council or not, he continued,
but if they do serve, shall they
be paid by the state?
Boyett said he interpreted the
constitution as meaning that if
state employees are serving in
another governmental capacity,
they may not draw any compen-
sation from the state.
"All we're asking for is a judi-
cial determination one way or
another," Boyett was quoted as
saying in the Eagle.
The Austin law firm of Patman
and Patman filed the suit.
C. H. Ransdell had no comment
this morning concerning the law
suits and the other councilmen
could not be reached for comment.
T o in Gisenschlag, assistant
city attorney, told the Battalion
this morning that he had been
contacted, but he doesn't know if
he will represent the councilmen.
"I really don't know if I will
represent the council members)
on this since the suit isn't
against the city, but the indi-
vidual councilmen," Gisenschlag
said.
He said his first move will be
to delve into the law and deter-
mine the merits of the case.
"It might turn on the fact that
these council members aren't
paid for this they h o 1 d two
state jobs, but are only paid for
one of them. Until I can dig into
this, I don't think anyone can
make an intelligent statement on
it," Gisenschlag said .
DAILY EAGLE
i
Bryan-College Station, Texas Thursday, June 25, 19 10 Page 10 Cents
'CS Inn Chief Sorry,
To Pull Out of Suit
By FRANK GRIFFIS
Eagle Staff Writer
One of the 25 plaintiffs in the
lawsuit against six members of
the College Station city council
issued a public apology today
and said he has begun action
to remove his name from the
legal petition.
Joe H. Ferreri, manager of
the Ramada Inn, said he signed
a "petition" — not a suit.
"The so- called petition I was
asked to sign was not presented
to me as a suit but only as
a request for more businessmen
orr the council. This I do agree
with and I have voiced my
opinion on this to several
members of the council,"
Ferreri said in a written
statement.
The suit was filed Friday in
an Austin district court by A.
P. Boyett Sr. and 24 others.
Boyett, a College Station lan-
downer, served on the council
from 1951 to 1968 when he was
defeated by T. R. Holleman who
died during his term.
The suit asks that State.
Comptroller Robert S. Calvert
be enjoined from paying the
salaries of A &M employes as
long as they serve on the
council.
0
Boyett's son, A. P. Boyett Jr.,
apartment owner justice of the
peace and a plaintiff declared
council decisions too often favor
the university over the tax-
payer.
Ferreri said today to publicly
discredit the present city
councilmen, "who have worked
many long and trying hours at
a sometimes thankless job" is
unfair and unjust.
He said several of the other
plaintiffs said they didn't realie
they were signing a suit against
the councilmen.
"I know the damage has been
great — every member of the
council is a personal friend of
mine and there are r�j@ny
people who are influenced`Into
signing or agreeing with an
issue just because someone they
know signed a petition," Ferreri
said. He added that he did not
want it to happen in this
matter.
know who would accept a job
as councilman? After working
eight hours a day at the
university — would you be
willing to spend another eight
hours, or more, solving the
problems of a community?"
Ferreri asked.
"What kind of a community
would College Station be without
the university? Most of our
professors came here to teach
— now they are also serving .
as servants of the public,"
Ferreri said.
"Do any of us have the right
to ask these people to give their
time without compensation. Just
be thankful we have intelligent
people who are willing to do
this job," Ferreri concluded.
Mayor D. A. (Andy) Anderson
denied Boyett Jr.'s statements
"emphatically" Wednesday.
"As to the university, it falls
within the city and it is
essential that cooperation exist
(Sele FERRERI, Page 2)
Ferreri Pulls
Out of Lawsuit
(Continued from Page 1)
between the city and the
university and I shall contiftut
with such cooperation," An.
derson said.
"There is no basis for the
inference that council members
are influenced by the university.
There is not one single shred
of evidence to support such a
"As to tht suit, this can best
be left to judicial determinaion.
I do blow that previous at-
torneys general have ruled on
the validity of councilmen
serving in the capacity that I
now serve," Anderson said.
In addition to Calvert, tht
d e f e n d a n t s Art Anderson,
Mayor Pro Tem C. H. Ransdeil
And Councilmen James H.
Dozier, Cecil B. Ryan, Joseph
J. McGraw and Dan R. Davis.
Boyett said the suit is based
on a state constitutional
Provision which prohibits the
comptroller from paying the
Salary of a state employee who
"holds at the same time Any
other office or position of honor,
trust or profit," except as
prescribed in the state con.
atitution.
CS Council Sets
Special Meeting
The College Station City
Council has set a special
meeting at 7 p.m. Friday to
hold a public hearing on the
1970 -71 city budget and other
business.
J�WAPPRECIATION EXPRESSED
by D.A. ANDERSON,MAYOR
1 .
Members of the College
Station City Council who
are being sued in District
Court in Travis County by
A.P. Boyett, Sr. and others, j
wish to express their app-
reciation to the many cit-
izens of College Stationfor
their broad support as ex-
pressed in person, by let-
ters, and the newspaper
media.
We wish to assure the
citizens that we will not
back down on the principle t
involved in this suit. We
are confident that we are
right and will invoke within
our means, all judicial re-
medies to accomplish a just t
result. We firmly believe
that right will prevail.
We are aware that much i
is at stake in the decision i
to be reached. It will have f
state -wide impaot in many t
city governments and sch-
ool boards. In our own city,
even our appointive comm- t
issions, boards, and com-
mittees are involved, inso-
far as Universitv emnlov-
ees are concerned.
Should the District Court
rule in favor of A.P. Boy -
ett, Sr., and others who
oined with him, it would
mean that the vast majority
oA the citizens of this city
who workfor the University
would be disenfranchised
from their right to hold
I
office or would be
unable to serve the city in
an appointive position. It
would further mean that
he majority of the citizens
of our city would be de-
prived of their right to sel-
ect a Council and Mayor
of their choosing. This
hesis we do not accept.
We wish to advise the
general public that we are
n the process of employ -
ng legal counczel, and in a
ew days we will have a fur -
her announcement in re-
gard to this proceeding.
Again, we wish to thank
hose citizens who have ex-
pressed their continuing
support of our efforts.
CS W
. as A c
Rio S ui t
The Austin lawsuit has
CS Win Class Action Suit initiated a controversy that will
By KATE THOMAS cause a disruption in the city's
business affairs and heavily
Eagle Staff {V riter influence the city's ability t
Continued from page 1 Their suit is based on the obtain p ermanent financing for
Judge W. C. (Bill'.) Davis of overruled, the judge stated, same constitutional provision needed public facilities now
p and
Y
the 85th District C >ourt today because he finds no assurance ruled on here b Judg e Davis. in the future the
ruled in favor of tthe -City of questions the city The trial date set in that judge held.
that the
College Station in its class q �' at case He found that approximately
action suit and recquest for a wishes answered in its class is next Wednesday in Austin. 54 per cent of the qualified
declatory judgement:. action suit will be resolved in Judge Davis, however, stated voters in College Station are
The judge ruled Mat members the Travis County lawsuit. that it was not his intention to either employed or are mem-
of the faculty, stafif and other Boyett and 23 other College resolve the issue presented in bers of families employed at
employes of Texas A &M Station citizens have filed suit Travis County. Texas A &M or are students.
University are not- "officers, against the state seeking an The suit there seeks no He found further that the
agents or appointees" of the injunction to keep declara. him comp- , ry judgment against administration has not sought
state within the meaning of the troller, from paying the other A &M employes who may to interfere or influence the city
Article 16, Sect. 33 of the state salaries of six A &M employes seek office, whether elective or council or obtain favors.
constitution. who are College Station council appointive in the future, Judge The faculty, staff and em-
He held that A &1112 employes members. Davis ruled . ployes of A &M do not formulate
laws, or collect either taxes or
are not barred frsom holding He notes a motion to keep j revenues of the state, the judge
elective or non - elective offices the city from intervening in the
in the City of Colilege Station 'Austin suit was overruled but ' l have the authority to acquire
ruled. Nor do they, he says,
so long as they recseive no pay
that Boyett and the attorney, or purchase property for the
and are entitled to rveceive their I general took exception to the I University or have custody of
salaries-as employees of A &M. ruling and that it apppeared the I public funds.
In the event than it should two are resisting the right of It is, consequently, his
be held the constituutional sec- the city to intervene in Aus tin. decision that the decision be
tion does apply to A &b'I em-
, ployes, Judge D ruled the binding for the future all
section unconsititutisonal and in the citizens College Station
violation of the first and 14th and the State of Texas as
amendments to the U.S. Con- to any y future controversy about
the qualifications of A &bI'
stitution. employes seeking office in
Such a broad comstrueflon of College Station.
the Texas Constituition would
result in discrimi.snation and
disqualification of psersons from
seeking nonpaying municipal
office, as would be a person's
rights as a U.S. citizen, the
judge reasoned.
He held the city Thad a right
to maintain an acction for a
declaratory judgmemt pleas in
abatement entered by chief
defendant A. P. Boyyett and the
a t t o r n e y general were
(See CS WINS, I?age 6A)
NIA -tin � Says CS
Sue for C ncill
The City of College Station
is constitutionally prohibited
from using municipal funds in
its legal battle in behalf of six
councilmen, Texas Atty. Gen.
Crawford Martin says.
Martin has 'filed a plea in
abatement, plea to jurisdiction,
original answer and opposition
to motion for change of venue
and consolidation in the 85th
District Court here in response
to a suit filed by the City of
College Station.
The city also has filed a
asks Judge W. C. (Bill) Davis
to declare that Section 33,
Article 16 of the constitution
does not mean a councilman
who is employed by Texas A &M
may not receive pay from the
state.
.The city also, has filed a
motion here and in the 53rd
District Court 'n Austin
requesting the suit filed against
S t a t e Comptroller Robert
Calvert and the council mem-
bers by A. P. Boyett and 23
of the College Station residegts
be transferred here.
The attorney general opposes
the venue change.
The College Station group
contends in the Austin suit it
is a violation of the state con-
stitution for anyone to hold
more than one position of honor,
trust or profit.
All six council members are
Texas A &M employes.
Martin was named as a
defendant in the city's class
action suit.
He alleges that under the
court decisions of this state,
venue for suits against the state
11 9
an��
en
is in Travis County and there
p is no exception.
"The motion of the city, if
granted, would deprive the
comptroller and the state of his
venue rights," the petition
states.
Martin contends it does not
appear from the pleadings there
is a justiciable controversy
between the City of College
Station and any parties
defendant with regard to any
issue affecting the status of
city. He says the city does not
have standing to assist, abet or
act on behalf of private indivi-
duals with regards to issues a.
rising out of their individual
employment.
"The judgement sought by the
city would be purely advisory
See ATTORNEY, Page 7
Attorney
Continued from Page 1
and beyond the jurisdiction of
this court," the petition states.
He asks the case be dismissed
for want of jurisdiction.
In a plea in abatement,
Martin says the action filed by
he city presents no issue not
urrently before the court in
avis County and for this
eason should be abated.
lie notes that the action in
ustin does not question
hether or not the council
members are qualified nor does
it seek to remove them.
Martin alleges the only
defendant in the action pending
in Travis County against whom
relief is requested in Calvert.
The action seeks to enjoin
Calvert from issuing warrants
upon the state treasury and is
an action against the state,
according to Martin.
The case in Austin has been
set Sept. 30. Judge Davis has
set Sept. 8 as the time he will
hear the suit filed here.
SS
ty
lawsuit
The City of College Station
will be able to intervene in the
suit filed in Austin against the
state comptroller and six
College Station city council
members.
Judge Herman Jones of 53rd
District Court in Travis County
has overruled requests by chief
plaintiff A. P. Boyett Sr. and
defendant Robert S. Calvert to
stop the intervention, the Eagle
learned today.
A hearing on the motions had
been set for 2 p.m. today, but
the ruling was made Tuesday.
Judge W. C. (BPl) Davis of the
8 5 t h District Court here
received word of the ruling
Wednesday, he said.
As a result, he said, he in-
tends to give a ruling soon on
the class action suit filed in nis
court by the city and heard last
week.
The legal battle began when
Boyett and 23 other College
Station residents filed a suit in
June asking that the state
comptroller be enjoined from
issuing paychecks to the six city
council members who are
employed by Texas A &M.
The plaintiffs based their suit
on a state constitutional
provision forbidding anyone
from holding more than one
office of "emolument."
The City of College Station
intervened, in contending its
interests are at stake since the
majority of potential city
council candidates are ,A &M
employes and would be affected
by the decision.
The class action suit was filed
in Bryan after Boyett and his
group had made the motion to
knock out the city's intervention
in the Austin case. .
In the local suit, the city has
asked Judge Davis for a
judgment declaring that the
constitutional provision in
question does not mean that an
A &M employe may not serve
on the city council and continue
to draw pay from the state.
%,;udge
Action
��ustin
Delays
in CS
Suit
By KATE THOMAS
Eagle Staff Writer
q 'AUSTIN —A district judge
decided today to stay action in
the suit against six . College
Station city councilmen and the
state comptroller until a
Houston court hears appeals
from a decision by 85th District
Court Judge W.C. Davis of
Bryan.
Judge Herman Jones of 53rd
District Court said he did not
want to get into a "clog fight"
with Judge Davis, who decided
Sept. 23 in favor of College
Station in its class action suit
and request for a declaratory
judgment.
Judge Davis ruled that
members of the faculty and
staff and other employes of
Texas A &M are not barred by
the state constitution from
holding offices in College Sta-
tion while drawing state pay.
The Austin suit was filed
earlier by A.P. Boyett Sr. and
21 other city residents who seek
an injunction to keep the state
comptroller from paying the
salaries of six A &M employes
who are College Station city
council members.
Appeals of Judge Davis'
decision have been filed in the
First Court of Appeals in
Houston, and Judge Jones said
he does not want to be put in
a position of acting as an ap-
pellate court for another district
judge.
Although he said it would be
an imposition on the plaintiff —
because it may take two years
for the Houston court to hear
the appeal —he said he was
more concerned with "the
image in the eyes of the people"
concerning the propriety of
having a case decided in two
district courts and possibly two
civil appeallate courts.
Judge Jones said the only
reason he could see to proceed
in the case would be that "my
pride and ego have been hurt
is that another judge has beaten
me to the draw."
Elmer and Phillip Patman,
lawyers representing Boyett's
group, contended the class -
action suit decided in Bryan did
not name the comptroller as a
party, and thus could not be
binding on him.
Councilman Jim Dozier,
arguing for himself and his five
colleagues, said that if the
comptroller had been named, he
would have been represented by
the attorney general, who was
named a party to the local suit.
Judg ec nsiders;
Will Hear CS Suit
.By KATE THOMAS
.Eagle Staff Writer
An Austin judge has reversed
his earlier decision and decided
to procec;d with the snit agau�.A
the .;tate comptroller and six
College Station City Council
members who are Texas A &M
employes.
Judge Herman Jones of the
53rd District Court in Travis
County told The Eagle Saturday
he thought it was his duty to
go ahead despite the fact that
the judge in Brazos County had
moved "a little speedily."
Judge Jones announced his
decision after a hearing
Thursday.
The trial has been set for 10
a.m. Nov. 11 in Austin.
The Austin suit was filed last
June by A. P. Boyett and more
than 20 other College Station
residents, beginning a legal
battle which has found its way
to three courts.
The suit asks that the state
comptroller be eyjoined from
issuing Texas A &M paychecks
to the six council members.
The plaintiffs base their suit
on a state constitutional
provision which they contend
prohibits the comptroller from
paying the salary of a state
employee who holds at the same
time any other office or position
of honor, trust or profit.
After the Austin case was
initiated, the City of College
Station filed a class action suit
in 85th District Court in Bryan,
contending the Austin suit was
having an adverse affect on the
city and that it affected a
majority of citizens who were
not represented in the Austin
suit.
Judge W. C. (Bill) Davis
ruled in favor of the city on
Sept. 23. He held members of
the faculty and staff and other
A &M employes are not within
the definition of the con-
stitutional provision cited.
He further declared the
section of the Texas Constitution
unconstitutional under the U.S
Constitution should it be found
valid.
His ruling has been appealed
by Boyett and the other
plaintiffs and the attorney
general to the First Court of
Civil Appeals in Houston.
On Sept. 30, Judge Jores
decided not to hold the trial
in Austin until the appellate
court had reached n decision.
See AUSTIN Page 2
:ob . ..i,..
Over 35,000
Readers Daily
Vol. 95 — No. 113
c,,,,.e 1 97r% Bryan- Coller Texas
_,�
Friday, Nov. 13, 1970 14 Pages
Want Ads
Dial 522 -3707
10 Cent!
CS Councilmen -Profs
Ruling Hits
By KATE THOMAS
.Eagle Staff Writer
AUSTIN —In a ruling which
may have statewide
significance, Judge Herman
Jones of 53rd District Court
decided Thursday that five
Texas A &M professors may not
collect pay from the state so
long as they serve on the
College Station City Council.
Judge Jones said he had read
everything he could find on the
subject and the earliest opinion
Can't Be Paid
Dozier, M Davis, Ryan, Ransdell
had been written in 1913.
It was his understanding the
p o l i c y clearly established
college professors as appointees
of the state and this policy was
apparently acquiesed to by
institutions for 50 years.
"It would seem extravagant
for this court to hold this
opinion wrong," Judge Jones
said. Members of city councils
also clearly come under the
latter part of Art. 16 Sec. 33
of the Texas Constitution, the
judge said
The constitutional section was
the basis of the suit, filed last
June by former City Coun-
cilman A. P. Boyett Sr. and
more than 20 other College
Station residents against Mayor
D. A. (Andy) Anderson, City
Councilmen Dan Davis, Joe
McGraw, Cecil Ryan, James
Dozier and C. H. Ransdell, and
State Comptroller Robert S.
Calvert.
Bo asked for an injunction
forbidding the comptroller to
issue warrants to the six, and
that is what he will get, except
that it won't apply to Mayor
Anderson's pay and to only a
portion of Davis! pay who is
partly paid by Texas Tran-
sportatiod Institute.
The judge dismissed Anderson
as a defendant because he
receives a paycheck from the
Texas Forest Service rather
than a state warrant. Forest
Service funds come from the
federal government.
The ruling puts Dozier,
McGraw, Ransdell, Ryan and
Davis in a difficult position.
If they continue in their pests
at both the city and A &M, their
state pay will be cut off as
soon as an injunction goes into
effect.
If they resign from the city
council, they lose iheir right to
appeal the case and Bovett and
the other plaintiffs will have
won.
They have the alternative of
posting a supersedeas bond
while the case is being ap.
pealed.
However, attorney Frant
Harmon of Houston, who ha,
represented the city's interest;
in the case, and Dozier, at
torney for the six individua.
defendants, told Judge Jones ii
was doubtful the defendant;
would be able to post the bond.
Another possibility is tha'
they could be paid with loca .
funds— tuition, for example
money that never passe!
through the state treasury
See CS COUNCILMEN, Page 1
CS Councilmen
- A .
Can't Get Paid
during the appeal. Judge .zones
pointed out his decision does not
apply to local funds.
The five defendants must
decide what they will do before
a judgment is entered and a
bond hearing is held in Austin.
The next payday for the five
is Dec. 1.
The injunction will not go into
effect until attorneys for the
plaintiff, Elmer and Philip
Patman of Austin, write a
Continued from Page 1
judgment and the other at-
torneys review it.
Harmon argued, without ef-
fect, that the court has the pow-
er in exceptional cases to issue
a conditional decree. When the
judgment becomes final, he
said, there would be no need;
for an injunction.
"The city is just as anxious
to get this settled," he said.
It was obvious, too, Harmon
said the case will go to the
Texas Supreme Court before it
is settled.
He added he didn't think that
would take more than six to
eight months.
Jones agreed the case was
unique, but added he considered
it a dereliction of duty to wink
at it for a year and a half
until a final decision was
reached.
In response Harmon argued
the state comptroller had been
issuing warrants under the
same circumstances for more
than 30 years, and the
resignation of five members of
the city council will cripple the
city's operation.
The other side of the coin,
the judge replied, would be chat
if his decision is upheld the
council members might have to
pay back the salary they had
received in the meantime.
No effort had been made in
the past by the comptroller to
collect back salary, Harmon
contended. In connection with
his contention, Marmon at-
tempted to enter as part of a bill
of exceptions, a law review
article quoting the state comp-
troller to that effect.
W. O. Schultz, assistant at-
S t a t e Comptroller Robert
Calvert also a defendant, ob-
jected, saying it had not been
proved up.
Harmon asked if Calvert
could be called in to testify,
but Schultz again objected,
saying Harmon had had two
weeks to ask the comptroller to
be there and hadn't.
Judge Jones agreed, saying
the request had come too late
in the trial.
Harmon suid he felt sure it
would be found the constitution-
al section was obviously
discriminatory, since Jones
ruled it does not apply to An-
derson.
"You can hold both positions
but because you get paid by
state warrants, you can't get
paid. This is discrimination
without basis or logic."
The judge replied he thought
the "sovereign" could place
limitations on the way stat
money is spent.
On the face Judge Jones
decision appears to conflict wi
one reached by 85th District
Court Judge W. C. (Bill) Davis
who held A &M professors were
not agents, appointees or of-
ficers of the state.
His ruling, however, was
applied to persons who might
in the future be in the same
position and specifically did not
apply to the six defendants.
The class action suit was filed
by the City of College Station
after the suit was filed in
Austin. The city attempted to
intervene in the Travis County
sui , but the plaintiffs objected.
The city contended the lawsuit
was having an adverse affect
on city business and tailed into
question the eligibility of a
large segment of the population
to serve in elected municipal
office.
Davis' ruling has been ap-
pealed to the First Court of
Civil Appeals in Houston by
both the Boyett group and the
attorney general.
Harmon said Wednesday
during the trial he had reason
to believe the case would be
heard in early December.
Some discussion arose during
the proceeding about whether or
not the section applies to those
serving in appointive rather
than elective capacities.
Schultz said it did not because
the constitutional provision had
been amended in 1967 and did
not affect appointees.
Jones said he was riot aware
5 A£r Pr fessors Will R5pnain
On t ity Council for the Present
College Station (AP) —
Jack Williams, president of
Texas A &M, says five of the
school's professors will not
have to resign from the city
council of College Station, lo-
cation of the college — at
least, not immediately.
Williams said the profes-
soors will be paid from local
funds of the school rather
than money going through the
state treasury.
The action will allow Coun-
cilmen Jim Dozier, Dan Da-
vis, Joe McGraw, C. H.
Ramsdell and Cecil Ryan to
pursue an appeal of an Austin
judge's decision.
Dist. Judge Herman Jones
of Austin ruled on Nov. 10
that the s t a t e comptroller
could not issue state funds to
the five men under Section 33,
Article 16, of the Texas Con-
stitution.
The provision was the basis
of a suit filed in June by A.
P. Boyett Sr. and more than
fiO other College. Station resi-
ctioa forbids the
to issue warrants
anriointee or offi-
Order
�Q
the five on local funds such as
tuition, which does not pass
through the state treasury,
the five would have had the
choices of resigning from the
\council or posting a bond.
If they had resigned, the
council members would have
lost the right to appeal.
Ling Prof s
wi Toll
T a�.e's St ate
The injunction affecting five
Texas A &M professors who hold
office as College Station city
councilmen is taking a
statewide toll of state employes
who also hold elective positions.
In Commerce the mayor and
two city commissioners who are
professors at East Texas State
University resigned Monday.
They quit, they said, because
they weren't going to be paid
for November.
Also as a result of the College
Station case, the state comp-
troller's office has asked every
state agency for the names of
employes who hold outside
elective jobs.
State Dist. Judge Herman
Jones of Austin enjoined the
state comptroller from paying
the salaries of the five Texas
A &M professors who were
cer of the state who holds at
the same time any other of-
fice or position of honor, trust
or profit
Asked about the situation,
during a meeting of the A &M
board, Williams said the five
will be paid with local funds.
Had the directors not placed
named co- defendants with the
comptroller in a suit brought
last June by A. P. Boyett Sr.
and more than 20 other College
Station residents.
Kenneth I, Kimbro, chief
clerk for the comptroller, said
the injunction issued by Judge
Jones forbids the comptroller to
pay all such employes.
Last Wednesday Texas A &M
University president Jack
Williams announced the five
faculty members will be paid
with local funds — those that
do not go through the state
treasury — thus allowing the
men to pursue an appeal of the
decision.
The five are Jim Dozier, Dan
Davis, Joe McGraw, Cecil Ryan
and C. H. Ransdell.
A certified copy of Jones' in-
junction was delivered to the
comptroller Nova 25, and letters
were sent to the state agencies
Nov. 27, Kimbro said.
Some "eight to 10 to 12" of
the early responses concerned
state employes who hold outside
elective jobs, he said.
Kimbro said these employes
may owe the state for pay they
have received because it was
based on an affidavit that says
they are in compliance with all
state constitutional require-
ments, including the one that
forbids the holding of a separ-
ate elective job.
Commerce Mayor W. J. Bell
is head of the East Texas
journalism department. Com-
missioner Joe F. Cox is a
member of the history faculty
and Commissioner Jesse J.
Hawthorne is head of the
physical education department.