European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 24, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes thursday. March 24,1988 Doug Dalman of Stoll was who Bork Kelv can t stand incs Ghl of n Needle reacts Viotty Lytt hts daughter Niy surrogate ouch tales her shot with at blinking an Eye. Doing the Rae i Gnu increase in 1 St Quarter encouraging Washington a the . Economy expanded at a 4.8 percent annual Rale in ule final three months of lost year even faster than previously thought the government reported wednesday. The Commerce department R.I. the Gross National product the broadest measure of economic health grew from october to december at the fastest Pace in almost two Yean. It was the second upward revision in Gnu growth. A month ago the government put Gnu growth at 4.s percent up from a 4.2 percent original estimate made in january immediately after the Quarter ended. Wednesday revision showed More strength than previously believed in such key sectors As consumer spending business investment and . Exports. Economists said the Gnu report was one More Indica Tion that the country will enjoy continued economic growth this presidential election year without a recession. Liis is a far More positive Outlook than Many analysts had immediately following the record oct 19 collapse of the Slock Market at that time there were fears thai worried Consumers would topple the country into a new recession. The upward revision in Gnu growth in the fourth Quarter pushed growth Tor the year 10 Al Rale o 4 percent compared with 2,2 percent growth in 1986. It was the biggest annual increase since a s. I percent Rise in 1984, this figure measures growth from the fourth Quarter to the fourth Quarter each year. Averaging growth of All four quarters showed the Gnu expanded 2.9 per Vanlin i9s7. The same As 1986. The 4,8 percent Gnu growth in the fourth Quarter followed growth of 4,3 percent in the july  and was the fastest quarterly growth Rale since an increase of 5.4 percent in the first three months of1986. The rapid growth occurred without a pick up in inflation. A Price Index tied to the Gnu Rose at an an Nual rate of 3.6 percent in the fourth Quarter Little changed front a 3.4 percent third Quarter increase. Panel rejects Helms amendment to nuke treaty Washington a the Senate fori Ian relations committee wednes Day Defeated the first attempt by sen. Jesse Helms . To change the . Sovil treaty Banning medium Range nuclear missiles. The democratic controlled panel voted 12-3 against Helms Amend ment which would allow non nuclear . Cruise missiles to be deployed in Europe. The pact signed dec. 8 by president Reagan and soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev bans missiles of ranges from 300 to 3,400 Miles. The prohibition includes cruise missiles both nuclear lipped and those armed with non nuclear weapons. The ban covers both Lypps of missiles because there s no Way 10 verify the distinction Between Lite two said  Cranston a Ca if. But Helms said the Tun Means the conventional imbalance in Europe will be even greater than it it now because nato will lose a major weapon in the cruise missile. Cranston responded hat the Pentagon has no plans to build non Piccar cruise missiles. The vote came on the first of 43 Pend ing amendments or reservations Eit Herlo inc treaty text or the Resolution by which the Senate would Register its approval of inc pact. Of those amendments 36 were pro posed by Helms the committee s rank ing Republican and inc chief opponent Floc treaty. Three More were offered by sen. Lorry Pressler. . Who has also been Crit ical of the pact. Sen. Claiborne Pell d-r.i., in chairman of the committee told his colleagues that he intends to oppo Seall reservations conditions etc., with the possible exception of amendments designed to solve a Long running tight Between the Reagan administration and Congress Over treaty interpretation. Helms said wednesday the committee should t be a rubber stamp for the administration which has urged approval of the treaty without changes. Both democratic and Republican Leaden predict overwhelming ratification when the treaty reaches the Senate floor and Jay Only 10 or 12 senators Are Likely to vote again so it. Ratification re quires b iwo thirds Vole of the 100-Mcm-Bcr Senate. "1 Don t intend to obstruct the com Mittee s work on the treaty. Helms told fail colleagues tuesday but he added i m concerned that we re about to Rush to  Civen the forge number of Amend ments Pell said the panel now seems very unlikely to meet its original goal of finishing work by Friday. Sen. Richard Lugar r-ind., told Helms if you Don t have the votes and you simply try to overload it with amendments that in t  most of Helms amendments Are de signed to improve what he says Are compliance verification problem and Clear up ambiguities. The majority of Helmi proposals would Amend the ratification Resolution which would not require new negotiations with the soviet Union. Any change made by the Senate in the actual text of he treaty would have to be accepted by the soviet Union and administration officials have urged these Nate to avoid so called killer Amend ments that would cause the soviets to reject item talks. The treaty requires the elimination of nuclear armed missiles with a Range of 300 Miles to 3,400 Miles and include son Silc inspection provisions among its verification system which is the most intrusive in arms control history. American defector says soviet life suits him Fine Erie. A. A a Pennsylvania Man who received political Asylum in the soviet Union says the life under communism suits him just Fine. We have found this country to be free with All freedoms you find in America. You May also attend the Church of your Choice. People also speak freely Theodore Branch said in a letter from Moscow to George. Shamer of Eric. Branch 43, and his wife Chryle Hoffman Branch 40, left the United slates with a Lour group in novem Ber. On Jan. 19, soviet foreign ministry spokesman Gennady i. Gerasimow announced that the branches had been granted political Asylum and would be give jobs and an apartment. In the .s.r., there is no unemployment and no homeless people also medical care it free. This is also me in most cases for visitors. Each employee receives one month s paid vacation each year Branch wrote Ina letter Sharre said he received saturday. The branches lost their jobs Ai a Florida radio Sta Tion when it went off the air in 1986, and they were unable to collect Back pay of 56,500 that was awarded by a court. Sharrer an Erie metropolitan transit authority Driver for 11 years said he talked with Branch when he Man Rode Home from his Job As a janitor at an Erie department store. "1 never heard anything from him about ideology he told the Erie daily times. He Gol djs Gusick with not being Able to find a Job. He kept say Iagle could t make ends meet with a minimum wage  the two sometimes ale together on the bus Dur ing a scheduled Layover at the Milt Rcck mall Sharrer said. One Day he told me he had been in washing ton and thai he d been approached by someone in the soviet embassy he said he was offered a Job working at a radio station. He said he was going logo Over and see if he liked the Job. He Sakuo me for my address and said he d write me and Tell me How it was going Sharrer said. Sharrer a member of the naval Reserve gave a copy of Branch s letter to his commanding officer and notified the Fri. I m afraid to write Liim Back because of my Security clearance As a computer operator Sharre said