European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 7, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pago 4 it it the stars and stripes saturday february 7,1987 Idle rate still 6.7% last month Washington Dpi the nation s civilian unemployment Rale remained a ft.7 percent in january while i change in Christmas season hiring patterns led in the biggest Rise in non farm payroll in a i years the 1 Jihor department said Friday. If in part Cal reported the average person worked  hours longer per week. The civilian labor Force totalled 119.03 million peo ple in january against december s 1ir.59 million while the number of unemployed grew from 7.95 Mil Liun in december to 8.02 million last month. The civilian unemployment rate the figure thai excludes military personnel residing in the United states stood Al 6.7 percent in january thai s the same percentage As december and essentially the same As it has been for the past year. Including military personnel the Overall january jobless Rale stood at 6.6 percent also unchanged from december. The average person in a non farm production or non supervisory Job worked 34.7 hours a week last month up 0.1 hours from december. In manufacturing inc work week and amount of overtime also grew 0,1 hours to40.9and 3,6 hours respectively. Irs pledges simpler w-4 Washington the internal Revenue service Friday acknowledged its new w-4 lax with holding form is ton confusing and promised an All out Effort to simplify the instructions Al least for most taxpayers. Irs commissioner Lawrence a Gibbs refused to set any deadlines but added "1 Hope in Ltd it Rel several weeks we will be Able to come out with something. We arc working night and  Fribbs also said the irs is trying to figure out a Way to avoid imposing penalties on taxpayers who conscientiously try to have inc proper amount withheld from their paychecks but fall Short because the form is too Complex. I ibis testified before i he Senate finance and House ways and Means subcommittees that oversee the irs. His testimony followed a month of complaints about the new w-4 form which All taxpayers arc required 10 file by Oci. 1. -&.,- Alaska s cup ice boats slide across frown Collinwood Luke in Anchorage Alaska. Skimming the Forest s Edge the trin thursday sailed under the Shadow of Snow Cov ered Peak in the Churach Mountain Range. Staff Mokes Reagan $ Day with Surprise party Washington a but it does t pay to hurry the process and when the doctors say go the president will be ready taking into account his recent opera Tion the president is in excellent health the spokesman added. Reagan has Noi answered reporters questions about the scandal that has dogged his administration the Sale of arms to Iran and the alleged diversion of funds to the contras since mid de Cember mrs. Reagan asked who Lucr the presi Dent was reluctant to be questioned by reporters assumed an expression of mock astonishment a i the question say ing. Of. He s just dying to talk to  asked whether White House officials hive advised Reagan 10 avoid repo rim during his recovery Filowat Craid the doctors have advised him on general restrictions in inc Progress of recovery but no any specific