European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 19, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Inside stripes Nuernberg toy fair stripes Magazine d Cia s Gates pledges Candor Page 5 d Randy Barnett s car Corner Page 13 d today s Dollar buys 1.81 Marks Page 23 the slm4an s author tried unofficial publication for the u i. Homed Coucci vol. 45. No. 305 thursday february 19, 1s87 i oir4hm4o, 08693 a Senate panel votes to Cut off Contra Aid Washington a the Senate foreign relations committee wednes Day voted to Hali . Aid to the Anli nicaraguan rebels in inc first major test of sentiment in the Looth Congress to Ward the Contra guerrillas. The Vole generally went along party lines on the democratic controlled panel Send ing to the floor a Bill that even supporters admit will be vetoed by president Reagan if it passes both the Senate and demo cratic controlled House. While cutting off . Aid to the con tras the Bill would provide a package of j300 million Worth of new Aid to other Central american nations including Honduras Al Salvador Guatemala and Costa Rica. The vote came a Day after the nation top military officer said the United states should t Slop helping the Nicara Guan rebels even though he admits the contras  a lot of problems. Adm. William Crowe jr., chairman of the joint chiefs of staff told the Senate armed services committee on tuesday that the Contra rebels have a variety of problems but he said he s optimistic see vote on Page 24 you can count on her to 100 Chrystal Johnson a second grader at ii Les Helra elementary school models her Bat of 100 i hangs nude to celebrate the 100th Day or school. See Story on Page 3. President denies report first lady snubs Regan Washington up presi Dent Reagan wednesday brushed aside reports of a growing rift be tween his wife Nancy and his chief of staff Donald Regan but he did Little to quell speculation Regan May be on his Way out of the White House. Regan s trials and tribulations intensified with a report in the Washington Post that mrs. Reagan ii so upset with Regan s performance she no longer Speaks to him. Reagan questioned by reporters at the Start of a meeting with israeli prime minister Yitzhak Shamir disputed the report As not True and stressed nobody s gelling  at the same time however. Reagan declined to defend his embattled chief of staff or Rebul suggestions Regan s White House Days Are numbered. This is up to him Reagan said. Mrs. Reagan s spokeswoman Elaine Crispin said she has no Evi Dence the first lady is snubbing Regan whose ouster she is said to have favored for some time. White House spokesman Marlin Regan mrs. Filz water wednesday denied Regan is being snubbed by mrs. Reagan. The chief of staff talks almost daily with the first lady filial or Reagan s lop spokesman said. In response to reporters questions at a briefing Fitzwalter said he had discussed the Story with Regan but they did not gel into the speculation about Regan s possible departure. I did t even ask Fitzwater said of his conversation with Regan. I sea feud on Page 24 Canadian troops feeling Pinch of weaker do a too by Joseph Owen Stuttgart Bureau Lahr Germany former Canadian prime min ister Pierre Trudeau once Laid living next to the United states is like sleeping with an elephant one is affected by every twitch and groan. Canadians serving in Europe might agree. They have watched the . Dollar Rcpt inc ictus plan a afi3insl most  Urlac currencies in the past iwo years. Dragging the Canadian Dollar Down in its Wake. The two currencies share the same Fate due to the Large volume of Trade Between the two coun tries and because of . Corporate investments in Canada according to Cameron Mclean senior Branch manager of the Bank of Montreal of Canadian forces Europe. The declining Worth of both currencies has de pressed business in the Canadian forces Exchange Europe stores where All transactions Are conducted in German currency. They also have created financial emergencies for some canadians still making pay ments on car Loans from German Banks. The Canadian Dollar s value has not declined As fast As thai of the . Doliar and Canadian forces Europe personnel receive monthly pay adjustments to help of Lect Exchange  fluctuations said la. Col. Nigel . Griffin cafe command comptroller. The pay adjustments supplement Only disposable income which is about Itol Sofii salary. Cafe determines the monthly pay adjustments by using a salary equalization Factor which is com pied by measuring the difference Between local prices in Germany and Ottawa. If goods and services near cafe bases Cost 20 percent More than in Ottawa cafe troops gel a 20 percent increase on half i hair pay. Those who rent German apartments also receive a living Oul adjustment based on rank rent charges distance from military bases and family size bomb types of support Are revised up or Down monthly in 5 percent increments with the degree of change depending on the Exchange rate Griffin said. A revision this week reflects an Exchange rate of 1.35 Marks to the Canadian Dollar inc lowest rate in several years. Between feb. 16 and March 31, 1985, the Rale was 2.44 Marks to one Canadian Dollar the highest rate since september 1976. In comparison the . Dollar at its Peak was 3.47 Marks on feb. 21, 1985, and is at 1.81 Marks today. The . Dollar bought 1.40 Canadian dollars on feb. 27, 1985, and buys 1.3j Canadian dollars today. As a result of their Dollar s a. Canadians appear to be shopping much Marc cautiously. Our sales in the retail Storchi have declined by roughly 10 percent Over the past year said David l Flewwlling the Exchange system comptroller. We at tribute this almost directly so inc Exchange rate. We have seen people shy away from some of the things they used to buy. Especially the Large ticket items american and French customers accounted for 40 percent 10 50 percent of the Canadian Exchange Busi Ness a few years ago flew thing said. He estimated More than half of that clientele has evaporated. He said the sales slump occurred despite a 30 per cent increase in cafe forces since 1985. Of dwelling said Many new troops arc Young married enlisted sold in with Small children and can t afford expensive items. They Don t buy As much jewelry and they shop for see Dollar on Page 24