Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

JJJL Wmmmk Turn By Ronda Tempieton Assistant Naws Editor State Sen. Tom Turnipseed has filed a $1.4 million class action suit against the Public Service Commission, claiming the commission and members of the South Carolina General Assembly have conspired to set utility rates. The FSC is a "rip-off," Turnipseed, D-Lexington, said, and members of the General Assembly "manipulate the regulatory aysicin uy dcitxnug iiitruiuers iu the PSC that will rubberstamp rate increases." TURNIPSEED'S SUIT alleges that South Carolina Electric and Gas has tried to buy the influence of the S.C. Legislature. "Part of the money taken from customers is used to pay legislators so that SCE&G, a private corporation without competitors, can continue to extract unjustified profits and pay dividends to those wealthy enough to purchase shares of stock from the monopoly company (SCE&G),'' Turnipseed charged. The suit states that members of the PSC are SCE&G "puppets" and that SCE&G is assured of continuous profits regardless of the merits of its requests for more money from customers. The initial control of the Legislature by SCE&G was made possible by the S.C. Senate's "antiquated seniority system," Turnips eed charged. THE STATE Senate's seniority system puts senators who have been in office for the longest time in positions as chairpersons and members of the most powerful state committees. These committees are composed of a small number of people who control HEAFIM PORTIC Trout Almondine. Golden Fried Sh Ribs. Rare Roast Beef. There*> a selection like this at S&S delicious things to eat homemade Best of all. they're served in heapir ... S&S! Get a taste of the feast yo Come home to eat at S&! neighborhood on Gervais Marion Street. Walk from Carolina, or park free in c 1411 Gervaia Street, downtov Serving lunch dally from 1 lar till 2:15pm, dinner from 4:45 V.tr:"i~iVtV"t~^?rri*r/jV// mi?- i m? ? *25 Sen. Tom Turnipseed, D-Lexi Commission is a "rip-off". South Carolina legislation, Turnipseed said. The significant aspect of the Senate seniority system is that only "a small number of persons at the top of the seniority ladder would have to be employed by the company (SCE&G) to control the /I ?i-l-Al V ciiiuc nc^isiative; process, me suit states. Turnipseed charged IG Tiny Price. irimp. Veal Parmesan. Barbecue Cafeteria ? more than 100 fresh from scratch every day! portions at a tiny price. Mmmm iu can afford on these special days!J THURSDAY FEATURE A ONLY $-|49 |/Feb. 14th Jr. BAKED SPAGHETTI with tossed salad, dressing, and garlic bread t?C ATBinir auni/ni rcmun? only tno9 Feb. 17th & BAKED HAM or 1 FRIED CHICKEN with your choice of two vegetable? 5 ? we're right in your Street Hoiuroort Rut I a?il i the University of South ?ur own lot. vn' C5 ** *~i 4A.W KiVAVA'A?*!??<*' iesPSCf< that SCE&G officials grasped the significance of the seniority system and paid senators retainer fees. Named as defendants in Turnipseed's suit are PSC Chairman Henry Yonce, PSC Vice-Chairman -I is 1 nijuuij/n mitcfieji ana commission members F. Julian Leamond, Guy Butler, Fred Fuller, J. Lewis Moss j is B - - HRESSe^ v <21, mmmk vy9^| P ^Jb 111 ^ 3||j] " . m k%*m * T , ; .. * ,# ' V ' % ' * . v .'; ' ? . * , ?. ^tv>; ;^;'i'i.y ' *'". i ffl% Skip O Rourke-GAMECOCK nyton, said the Public Service Starting is an e Xerox sales teams don't jusi They determine our clients' r solutions. Xerox has a uniqtu gram 4fhich gives our peop edge they need in a rapidly cha Xerox sales teams are a study i shin. And thev built a nath for At Xerox, we know how to Our sales teams advance quic! ' success And, of course, sales you work for a leader. Our known for a high degree of de clients know that. They also I what they want when they n tt?-t A ar m and T. Basil Barrineau. The action is an amended version of a suit filed by Turnipseed last year when he sought intervenor status in PSC hearings on SCE&G's request for a rate increase. The PSC originally denied Turnipseed's request for intervenor status, but U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Perry ruled he had a right to take part in the hearings. The S.C. Legislature approved reforms of the PSC last year, including provisions to have a merit i a: 1 i seiecuoii panel cnoose commissioners, but the General Assembly granted itself the right to name most of the panel members. TURNIPSEED SAID Monday the Senate failed to uphold the spirit of the new law when it chose merit selection panelists, and that he might amend his complaint if the House of Representatives follows the same pattern as the Senate in its choice of panelists. f NOW at 1 SERVING ' I (IHI DEL,C,OUS 1 I 1^1 Choice of 1 meat. I* 1 vegetables, hot sou n Ol or rolls, tea or cofle f j 5 1 Open Monday HOME OF HAROLD' (STEAKS) ORDERS T( Bff Closed S | 1317 SUMTER STRI IF?--' if^i rtfr "'"'* '**g^l^B H|>, i.-.fw'^ a sales career ducation unto t knock on doors. Graduate into a ] teeds and work out information cento i sales training prole the competitive Check with you nging marketplace. campus interview n aggressive leader- to our campus r< your advancement. can't be duplicated. reward hard work. kly and enjoy their come easier when equipment is well J\ pendability and our know that they get eed it. Xerox is an affirm* illion Turnipseed charged that the Spnatp iunnrpH thp fnnciHpratinn VX- V..V VV..WIWViMVIV.I of "geographic residence, sex and minority and economic status" when it made its choice of merit selection panelists. THE SENATE elected John Well man, Grover Bowers and J.C. Bonner to the merit selection panel last month. The economic status of the three men places them in the "top one percentile of South Carolina citizens," Turnipseed's suit charges. The suit alleges the men were elected after SCE&G lobbyists met with Senate President Marion Gressette and Sen. Rembert Dennis, D Berkeley. "As I un derstand it, lobbyists have been meeting with members of the House to do the same thing over there," Turnipseed said. Turnipseed has asked the Federal Court to assume jurisdication of the $1.4 million class action suit, but no date for a hearing has been set. HAROLD'S 11:30 AM-8 PM HOME COOKING 3 home cooked I ithern cornbread ffT* I 9Z./01 r thru Friday 7 AM 9 PM I S FAMOUS STEAK SANDWICH I D-GO CALL 254-6382 I (Ufdjys ar?d Sundays l-j EET, DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA l\b> liTBwTTlmTTlll TiM I" flT J at Xerox 3 itself. Kerox tales career. We're your it ot the future. r college placement office for dates and schedules. Then talk ^resentatives about carters that EROX \ itive action employer (malr/female). 1 y % I