European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 3, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday decembers 1sss the stars and sth1pespapua 7 Tower preps for top Job at defense changes Coop Eraf on with Congress key goals by George c. Wilson the Washington past Washington if John g. Tower becomes chief executive officer of the world s biggest military organization the defense department he would quickly cancel some highly visible weapons seek to put the Agency actively on the Side of the Justice department investigation of procurement fraud and try to negotiate a Long term pact with Congress on defense spend ing sources familiar with Tower s views said. Although Tower has not yet been named defense Secretary he and his associates Are far along in their planning of what must be done during the honeymoon period of the Bush presidency to rebuild a pro defense constituency in Congress which broke apart in the last years of the Reagan presidency. Caspar Weinberger Reagan s Secretary of defense for seven years kept fighting for annual increases in the Pentagon Budge. But in each of the last four years Congress walked at continuing increases in real defense funding. Tower would not insist on annual increases in the Pentagon budget but instead would offer to hold Down military spending for an emended period in Exchange Tor Congress giving the department More flexibility i spending whatever Money is appropriated those who know Tower s thinking say in Public comments president elect George Bush has reiterated his support for Tower Catling him a Friend of  he added nothing is going to shake my View about whether to pick Tower As defense Secretary apparently a reference to questions raised about Tower s personal life and about his role As a consultant to major defense contractors. But Bush did not say explicitly that the Job would Goto Tower and sources close to the former Texas sen Ator said he had received no firm indication yet that he would be going to the Pentagon. Sources in fhe bus transition Nave said that Tower remains the leading if not the Only candidate for the Job. However Bush advisers argue that the new president needs a prove manager perhaps a defense Industry executive to re furbish the Pentagon s image. If Tower is confirmed for the Job the sources familiar with his views said he plans to take charts to con Gress Early next year showing that More weapons could be bought under a Zero growth budget than under a larger one provided inc Pentagon receives a two year appropriation instead of continuing the traditional practice of wrangling annually Over How much is enough for defense. President Reagan s Farewell defense budget slate to go to Congress Jan. 9, Calls for increasing this year s total of s299.5 billion by 2 percent after allowing for inflation. Bush has indicated he will Settle for Zero growth after inflation. It s going to be team team team stressed one of scowcroft designated White House National Security adviser would be a highly vocal team seeking to build a new consensus for a Strong defense and to head off any attempt in Congress to make deeper cuts in Penta gon spending to reduce the deficit. Tower is actively seeking the defense Secretary Post defense hopeful John g. Tower and is said to feel uncomfortable about being kept in the dark so Long about his future. As of thursday his associates said Tower had not been consulted about whom he would want As his Deputy at the Pentagon if he does get the Job. Nor has he demanded that he be allowed to choose his own team. Tower has told aides that although Bush has not yet formally offered the Secretary ship to him i Don t know what else could be offered the Job. Bush has been talking id a number of aerospace executives As he analysis continues to consider candidates for Secretary and Dep Uty Secretary. Thursday Bush met with Donald a Rice 49, president of the Rand corp a former Penta gon official who has been mentioned As a candidate for a senior defense department position. While Tower has had to wait for Bush to make and announce his selections several allegations have been made against him they Range from womanizing to potential conflicts of interest if he becomes defense Secretary Tower has not responded to these charges leaving aides and friends to speak for him. He is known to feel this Way about the various allegations womanizing and drinking. He admits to being top much of a swinger in his younger years but tells friends he was faithful to his second Wile from whom he was divorced this year and did not Dale other women until he was separated. If he drank too much in the past Tower knows he must be a Model of propriety As Secretary of defense. Conflicts of interest. Although he registered As a lobbyist in february because he was a consultant to several defense companies he has told associates that he would recuse himself front any of sheif programs if he becomes Secretary. He is said to consider it unfair to Call him unlit for the Secretary ship because of his connections with the defense Industry when Many Bush advisers arc calling for an executive from the Industry to run the Peni goil Tower who was chairman of the Senate armed services committee when he retired from the Senate in 1985, now runs Tower and associates from a suite in downtown Washington. His defense clients include Martin Marietta corp. Rockwell International corp. Text Ron inc. And Ltd aerospace and defense co. Richard Billmire a Tower associate said the company does no lobbying for any foreign company but that Tower is on the Board of directors of an american subsidiary of British aerospace pc. In contending he would be Tough on his friends in the aerospace Industry if he became defense Secretary Tower cites his no holds barred chairmanship of the commission that uncovered improprieties in the secret efforts by the Reagan while House to sell  to Iran and use the Money to help the Contra. Billmire also addressed the Issue of accumulated Campaign contributions that Tower converted to other purposes. Billmire said that Tower had accumulated 1466,000 in Campaign funds by january 1985 in anticipation that he would run for re election. He decided not to run but did not return the Money to contributors. Billmire said Tower did not spend the Money on himself. Billmire provided a rundown showing that the Money went to other candidates and such authorized purposes As Senate office expenses and a contribution of j 100,000 to southwestern University. Records of the fund show that some of the Money was spent for travel and meals and for the salaries of individual who worked for Tower after he Jeff the Senate Tower As a member of the Senate armed services committee was known for his staunch support of Pentagon programs he has told associates that he regrets having played a key role in front loading inc defense budget when Reagan look office in 198. He has said the Reagan rearmament program he helped design and push through Congress gave More Money to the  Navy air Force and Marine corps than they could spend wisely if he becomes defense Secretary. Tower has told friends he will not make that same mistake again but will Force the services to link their spending to a Cohe rent strategy and cancel weapons that do not fit it. He has often said that he favors reducing the size of the military services to absorb any major cuts in the de sense budget rather impose across the Board cuts. The tatter course he contends is what Lead to he hollow  of the 1970s a Force that lacked inner. Strength because of shortages of skilled soldiers and modern weapons. V Tower believes the big Money crunch for the Penta gon will Start in 1992 when bilk fall due for weapons ordered under Reagan but not yet paid for. He has told associates that savings could include withdrawing troops from Europe if the administration can find a Way to convince allies that this does not Lessen the . Commitment to i hair defense. Sir a n d de Man f o u n d after r 5 d ays Man killed in fire to of t of Granby Colo a a Man who spent five Days stranded in he never summer mountains and watched his. Friend die in his  said thursday he never really panicked but just concentrated on slaying alive. -. Wondering what was going to Hap pen next was the biggest thing said Jim Edson 3b, speaking from his Hospital bed at St. Anthony s medical clinic in Granby where he was listed in Good condition. ,. Edson and Ray Owens 66, last Friday embarked on what they expected would be a relaxing afternoon snowmobiling in the Woods. They Ipek a wrong turn and their snowmobiles got bogged Down in a Snow choked Gulch 16 Miles Northwest of grand Lake Edson said. The exertion of trying to climb out of. The Gulch caused Owens to have a heart attack Edson said. He died sunday Edson waded out of the heavily wooded Snow whipped mountains so Miles North West of Denver on wednesday exhausted and with his face blackened by campfire smoke but otherwise in surprisingly goo condition. / r once Ray died i knew that i was on my own he said. It s hard when your Best Friend Dies in your . There was nothing i could do but let him Lay where . "  Edson said Owens suffered his first Chest pains Friday and that he took him Down to the Gulch and built a fire and makeshift shelter. Edson said he used gasoline and a spark plug from the mired snowmobiles to Light fires since he had no matches we could t get Back up the Way became Down Edson said. We Wen Down a Little further hoping we d come out on a Trail,., but we did  on saturday the men slept a lot and ate the Trail mix Salami cheese crackers and fruit they had brought with them Edson said. On sunday they heard searchers snowmobiles and on air plane and began burning Green boughs in an Effort to at tract rescuers -. But blinding Snow and whiteout conditions made the smoke signal useless and Edson said he Felt frustration that we did t get their attention but elation knowing Ibey were looking for  i Edson said the men then decided to strike out on their own but the exertion proved too much for Owens. He said let s go real Stow but we did t get More than 15 feet from the Camp and he decided he was t going Edson said. During Edson s five Days Inthewoods temperatures were below Zero and freezing winds sent wind chill fac tors to minus 30 degrees. Of California pier Morro Bay Calif. A a Swift moving fire destroyed an Oil soaked pier Early thursday killing one Man and Bur Ning at least 11 boats and two con authorities ordered a Brief evacuation of a nearby area after hearing reports the pier was treated with creosote,.a Carcinogen. One Man was asleep in his boat when the fire broke out and died when his Craft caught fire a fire department spokesman said. Two people were taken to a nearby Hospital for treatment / when firefighters arrived at the Blaze shortly after 6 15 a.m., they were told by people at the scene thai the pier was treated with creosote which the Federal environmental Protection Agency has banned from Over the counter sates for Wood treatment and use As a  and residences downwind from the fire for about a Quarter mile were ordered evacuated