Subject: Shareholder Rights

Date:    11/23/97 11:02 PM
     
     
     
In reference to File No. S7-25-97
     
 I have learned recently of a proposed change in SEC
regulations that I believe would seriously undermine the right of small 
shareholders to raise important moral and ethical questions at the board 
meetings of the companies in which they have invested their financial 
resources.  The health of our free enterprise system does not depend solely 
upon the intelligent use of financial capital but also on a healthy respect 
for the human capital that business decisions may affect, either in the form 
of employees or customers or the society at large.  By stifling the voices of 
individual shareholders who may not be wealthy enough to wield a large 
measure of financial influence, corporations eliminate a major source of 
balanced, wise decision-making, decision-making that can contribute
to the avoidance of short-sighted economic measures that cause long-term 
harm.  If free enterprise is to contribute to humankind's development, it 
must not be robbed of the benefit of insights and opinions that help it 
reduce its unavoidable negative impacts on social and environmental 
well-being. Please discontinue any and all efforts to impose new 
restrictions on small shareholder participation.
     
Ted Harding <tharding2@earthlink.net>