In the Public Interest

The retail price of antifreeze has tripled between 1973 and 1974, soaring from approximately $1.90 a gallon to $5.50 a gallon. Bewildered consumers want to know why. Wouldn’t you think that somewhere in a federal government that is supposedly committed to fighting inflation and anti-competitive practices there would be a coherent report or explanation? Well,…

Ed and Joyce Koupal, the indefatig­able leaders of the People’s Lobby in California, think Americans should re­discover those mechanisms of self-gov­ernment—the initiative, the recall and the referendum — and they’re taking their skilled signature-gathering expe­rience nationwide to build support for a constitutional amendment establish­ing a national initiative and national recall. Last June the Koupals were…

Before it is possible to ex­pect effective anti-inflation­ary policies to come out of Washington, the Ford administration will have to ask itself if it is willing to oppose some old or pro­posed pro-inflationary prac­tices. Here is a handy checklist of pro-inflationary direc­tions which many elected and appointed politicians would rather not talk about with citizens…

On a TV talk show at the end of October, Phil Donahue, the earnest host of the syndicated Daily Talkfest, asked former General Motors president Edward Cole whether he thought the oil companies were profiteering by charging too high prices. Cole looked unconvincing when he delivered the customary auto industry line on its fraternal petroleum…

The safe drinking water bill is in trouble. Buffeted by the combined efforts of that stolid fraternity — the oil industry and the White House — the bill, H. R. 13002, has moved with glacial slowness through the House Commerce Committee. The Senate has already passed similar legislation. At every opportunity its opponents have hacked…

Residential utility con­sumers are fighting mad about the drastic increase in electric, gas and tele­phone bills. Electricity rates, for example, rose 55.4 percent on the average during the first half of this year for the country’s 50 largest utili­ties. But consumers have no strategy, other than sporad­ic protests and underfunded lawsuits, to try and redress…

Will voluntary programs to fight inflation and save energy work, if given the backing of the White House and the major civic, business and labor groups in the country? Notwithstanding the enthusiasm of President Ford, there are many people who think that not much can come of voluntary efforts at mobilizing the country. Only mandatory…

Washington—Sen. Robert Griffin’s (R-Mich.) critical role in sustaining by one vote the minority filibuster tactic which beat back a majority of 65 senators in favor of the consumer-protection bill (S.707) is a matter of record. But how and why he fought this bill is an inside story which should interest more than the deceived voters…

Sen. Robert Griffin’s (R-Mich.) critical role in sustaining by one vote the minority filibuster tactic which beat back a majority of 65 senators in favor of the consumer protection bill (S.707) is a matter of record. But how and why he fought this bill is an inside story which should interest more than the deceived…

In that address before the Rotary Club of New York City. Seymour was clearly indignant. He com­plained that business crimes receive favored treat­ment in the courts. which give much lighter sentences, frequently suspended, than are given to individuals prosecuted for petty stealing. “Businessmen,” he noted sharply. “too often tend to smile understand­ingly at illegal conduct…