European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Imported foods hike Consumers Bills panel says Friday May 77, 1977 the stars and stripes Poge 7 Washington a largely be cause of the soaring prices of food imported to the u.s., Consumers Are going to Nave to spend More to feed themselves this year the agriculture department  department s Outlook and situation Board said wednesday it s Likely you la Layup to 6 per cent More for food this year than last even with Good weather for far crops. The Board had some encouraging news however. It said fresh vegetable prices were somewhat lower in May and meat Ford asks Mich for $3 million Lansing. Mich. A Gerald Rford asked state legislators wednesday for t million to build a museum honouring him in his Home town of grand rapids. The legislators treated the former presi Dent with More respect than they normally give bureaucrats and lobbyists but a least one suggested he look for some cheaper  met with key legislators in Hopes of getting o million from the state for the proposed Gerald r. Ford museum. While lawmakers indicated something probably could be worked out they were Quick to Tell Ford the state has other Cash needs. It s a question we ask All our bureaucrats How much can you make do with and then we Cut that sen. Charles Zollar a Republican told Ford. Ford made his request at a breakfast after a tuesday night Republican fund Raiser Here. I Hope you see your Way dear he told the lawmakers. I know what the problems Are. I would be deeply  he said prospects of raising the needed a million for the museum and a separate Ford Library at the University of Michigan were excellent but said stale funds would give me a better  asked Why the democratic con trolled legislature should allocate Money for a museum when Ford might run for office again he replied that the Odds Are overwhelming that i will not be a presidential candidate. But he said he was ruling it out because the gop needed a spokesman and to irrevocably step aside would be harmful to the party As a  lawmakers were dubious of the 8-Muuon  sounds like a hell of a lot of Money to me " said rep. Russell Hellman a demo crat i think you should look at some cheaper land. It s easy to go first class a state  democratic sen. Thomas Guastel toasted Ford if he would help Michigan gel Federal assistance in the future. For promised that he plans to keep an Active interest in Michigan. "1 intend to do All 1can to help  Senate majority Leader William Faust of Westland later said he favored appropriating Money for the museum probably Over three years. Sen. Jerome Hart democratic chairman of the Senate appropriations committee added i think because the president came from Michigan we should do  prices were Down slightly through  it cautioned that increases in meat prices Are Likely this Spring ,reflecting seasonal cutbacks in production and some increase in consumer  Board s report attributed the Proba ble food Price Rise to Ever increasing prices for imported foods including Coffee Cocoa and fishery  continued upward Price pressure from imported foods it now seems Likely that the annual increase in food prices in 1977, even with Good weather May aver age near the upper end of the 4 to 6 per cent forecast Range the report  Price of food is a key component of cent for the entire 12  prices of imported foods continue to Rise or if weather turns unfavourable therise in food prices May quicken later this year the report  that event it said 1977 food prices could average 6 to 7 per cent More than last year. The report said food prices accelerated somewhat faster than anticipated in april. Overall they were up More than 1per cent for March led by higher prices for Coffee fresh fruits and  Coffee prices May Rise further in coming months reflecting past increase sat wholesale it said. Since mid april wholesale prices have eased somewhat but the recent cold weather in Brazil has increased uncertainties in the  a message from on High the prospective buyer of Billle Wood car while explaining that they were re Tori or in Tiu in i it Mola it it lion . A Ami " let Beck s Home in Livonia mich., was just about to sign the contract when a hitch developed. A storm bad toppled this Hickory tree onto the roof sending the buyer and his wife scurrying for their considering. An Bute there will be others. The Bouse was not seriously damaged and it does have fireplace no Small asset in the a Energy troubling Imei. A photo same conditions As soldiers War women pilots ask benefits Washington a about 60 of the1,097 women who flew military planes during world War ii marched on Capitol Hill wednesday to demand the veterans benefits male pilots automatically re  women air Force service pilots known As wasps told the Senate Veter ans affairs committee they were promised but never received commissions in the army air corps when they joined  six committee members at the hear ing praised the War records of the women and indicated they will Back their de mands. Or. Dora d. Strother of fort Worth tex., one of the five former wasps who testified maintained they were under the same discipline As soldiers including court martial drilled like soldiers and lived in Barracks. She said there was also the dangers of flying with 38 killed and several receiving military decorations. An estimated 800 former wasps still Are alive. The Cost of the benefits is estimated at $123,706 for the next fiscal  benefits were opposed by Dorothy l Starbuck chief of benefits for the Veter ans administration. She maintained the women could not be recognized As military veterans entitled to a benefits any More than numerous other civilian groups. Starbuck said the demands and Haz Ards of the flying duty performed by the wasps Are beyond  but the women were under civil service rules not subject to court martial and could resign. Chairman Alan Cranston d-calif., asked Starbuck to provide More documentation on the a s objections. Strother said the wasps flew Ever combat plane in world War ii. Rolling up More than 70 million Miles ferrying planes across the United states towing live fire targets towing gliders dropping live bombs and other missions to relieve the shortage of male pilots. Sen. Barry Goldwater. D-ariz., chief Senate Backer of the women and a world War ii Pilot himself said the very reason they were not militarized was  Goldwater said they were As efficient and effective As male pilots were better than men in some instances and under the circumstances had a Low Accident rate. Rep. Margaret heckler a mass. A member of the House veterans affairs committee told the senators the Legisla Tion on behalf of the wasps is cosponsored by All of the women members of Congress. As Well As 85 of our male  sen. John Durkin , urged approval of his Bill to Grant veterans benefits for 60 of 223 women still alive who served with the army signal corps in world War if the women s groups Are granted vet Erans benefits this would entitle them to pensions Home Loans Hospital care and burial benefits under the same rules As other veterans. Married on saturday Bride buried thursday Homestead. Fla. A Michel Johnson Smith was married on saturday died on monday and was buried on thurs Day. The teen age Bride s wedding announcement and obituary appeared in the same Issue of the daily news . A 17-year-old South Dade High school student was married to pvt Rickey Smith and the following Day became ill with what a spokesman at Homestead air Force base said May have been spinal meningitis. Mrs. Franklin Smith the bridegroom s Mother said Michele had a headache and Felt a Little sick on her wedding Day. But we thought it was just wedding Day anxiety mrs Smith said the newlyweds were in route to the Florida keys for their honeymoon when Michele became ill. Taken to Homestead air Force base Hospital she was treated for flu. Mrs. Smith said. At borne several hours later Michele fainted and was returned to the Hospital for tests. 9ie died Early monday within 24hours of noticing the illness. The unofficial cause was a Beningo Coucal infection said a spokesman for the air Force base. It was just a tragic thing mrs. Smith said. She was a Christian and it was absolutely cd s will that she  said the Bride s Mother mrs. Charles Johnson