NEWS CONFERENCE 335

A. Yes, I think certainly whatever applies to one subdivision in this
regard should apply to the others. And, as I made clear in my state-
ment, I think it's highly discriminatory if the State is phasing out slot
machines, which are clearly gambling devices, it at the same time
permits the operation of pinball machines, which the owners admit
are also gambling devices, because of the purchase of the $250 gam-
bling stamp. Now, anybody knows that an owner of a machine is not
going to buy a $250 tax stamp if the machine isn't being used for
gambling. The reason he buys it is because he has possibly $5, 000 to
$7, 000 a year of income he can't explain to the Internal Revenue
Service, income from the machine.

Q. Governor, the Legislative Council has talked about abolishing
the Council itself and starting programs of regular committee meet-
ings rather than the Council. How do you feel about that?

A. Well, I think the Legislature knows best what would make it
function effectively. I've made no secret for my admiration of the
legislative leadership. And with their experience, if they believe that
that will be the most effective way to function, I'm 100 percent for it.

Q. Governor, do you have complete confidence in Coverdale and
Colpitts?

A. Yes, I have complete confidence in Coverdale and Colpitts. And
I would like to comment about this criticism about these consultants.
A check has revealed that at the present time there have been issued
$5 billion of revenue bonds, successful revenue issues, for toll facilities
on the basis of Coverdale and Colpitts' reports. This is more bonding
than all other consultants in the country, put together. Now, I am a
whole lot more interested in the approval and the confidence of the
financial community that has to market these bonds than I am of one
wild Congressman's opinions.

Q. Governor, along that same line and maybe a little more basic to

the issue is Mr, Wolff's statement sometime ago that he couldn't see
an end to tolls on any of the major crossings at least until the end
of this century. I'm wondering if your administration has done any-
thing to determine whether or not there is or will be Federal money
available to pay for these crossings rather than require toll revenues
to continue the financing?

A. Well, we all know that there are Federal revenues available for
the Interstate System. This is 90-10 money. Now the approaches to the
crossings, I don't believe come in the crossing category. In short, I