European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 9, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and s pipes monday january 9,1989 Thornburgh defends motion to dismiss two North Washington up attorney general Dick Thornburgh acknowledged sunday that administration officials knew their refusal to release classified documents would have an eroding effect on prosecutions in the Iran Contra Case. But Thornburgh described the Deci Sion thursday by Independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsh to seek dismissal of the two Central charges against former White House aide Oliver North As a balancing process that weighed the Evi Dence against National Security concerns. It s a question of judgment he said. I think judge Walsh exercised proper judgment in this  but Senate democratic Leader George Mitchell of Maine who sat on the 1987 Senate panel on the affair questioned the administration s Overall interest in prosecuting those involved in the worst scandal of the Reagan presidency. In this Case the administration decided not to release the documents that s because Here where you have an Independent counsel the administration has no incentive to go to trial Mitchell told Abc to. Indeed this administration wants to prevent a trial from occur  interviewed by Abc to Thornburgh indicated he will accede to a request from Senate leaders for a written explanation of Why the classified evidence deemed crucial to Pursuit of the major charges against North was considered too sensitive for disclosure in court. Walsh moved to drop the charges that North a former National Security coun cil staffer conspired to steal $14 million in profits from the secret sales of . Arms to Iran then spent the Money on unauthorized subsidies to rebels in Nicaragua. His request which was expected to be approved by . District judge Gerhard charges be sell at a hearing monday left 12 lesser Chi res intact including obstruction of Congress and making false statements. In addition the Washington Post re ported sunday that Walsh is pursuing a Grusd jury probe into whether High level administration officials May have lied about a november 1985 shipment of us. Weapons brokered by Israel. When that shipment was revealed a year later a Host of officials including president Reagan said they knew Noth ing about it. But depositions and Testi Mony from people involved indicate that White House officials including Reagan had been briefed about the shipment in  said Walsh acted to drop tie charges Only after an arduous pro Cess of review aided by administration officials and intelligence officers who were Able to educate and acquaint the staff of the Independent counsel As to what the consequences of introduction of these documents and the accompanying evidence might  attorney general said that when he net with Walsh wednesday to discuss dismissal of the charges he told the inde pendent prosecutor to certify that expo sure of the evidence in question would not be in the National interest and that the determination was made Only after full cooperation by intelligence Agen c ies acting in Good  refusal to declassify the evidence was the result of consultations at the a highest Levels of the administration involving the White House state depart Ghent Cia and other agencies. Walsh won indictment March 16 against North former National Security adviser John Poindexter and two Pri vate North operatives Richard Secord and Albert Hakim on charges that they conspired to defraud the government. North and Poindexter also were charged with obstructing Congress. Backers May tighten airline ban on smoking Washington a congressional supporters of the ban on smoking on most airline flights Are moving to try to make the restrictions permanent heralding a replay of the 1987 Battle that pitted tobacco inter ests against health groups. Supporters of the prohibition who fought a Long Odds Campaign two years ago will be loaded with ammunition this time  statistics show that there have been few problems connected with the restrictions. Officials from the airline Industry which had opposed the legis lation and the flight attendants unions say the ban has mostly worked out just Fine. And supporters in Congress say they be Lieve the Public is pleased with the rules. Whenever i m introduced at speaking engagements and it s pointed out that i m the Senate author of the smoking ban it s an applause line said sen. Frank Lauten Berg d-n.j., a sponsor of the Bill in 1987. It goes Over better than my  reps. Dick Durbin d-i11., and Bill Youngr Fla. Authors of the legis lation that became Law introduced a Bill last tuesday the first Day of the 101st Congress that would make Perma nent the current prohibition on flights of two hours or  measure has already attracted 50 co sponsors and other Bills that would prohibit smoking on All routes Are Likely to follow. Without an Extension the ban which took effect last april would expire in april 1990. The lawmakers want to move on the Extension this year because their Best Chance for Success May be to attach their legislation to spending Bills which Are passed late in the year. Waiting until 1990 May be too late. Tobacco Industry officials say that As they did in 1987, they will oppose the smoking ban. The system of separating smokers from non smokers worked and there was no need to do what they did said Gary Miller a spokesman for the Washington based tobacco Institute the Industry s Trade group. Miller said there is no evidence that the $33 billion a year cigarette Industry has lost sales because of the airline smok ing restrictions which affect four fifths of Domestic flights. Cigarette sales have declined by about 2 percent annually for about six years a drop attributed to Gen eral attitudes about smoking he said. At least one original opponent of the ban now concedes that the system has worked. None of the horror stories people anticipated have materialized said spokeswoman Leslie Rowland of the air transport association the washingt9n office that represents the nation s air lines. It s worked pretty  Mardi gras worker Roy Allen is dwarfed by a giant Alligator on a float. Early Mardi gras Means More frenzy than usual new Orleans a Christmas Trees still sparkle in local Homes but people Are already stocking up on Carni Val beads As City work Crews build Parade stands for one of the earliest Mardi gras celebrations in years. We re going to be in More of a frenzy than Normal if that s possible said Blaine Kern whose company makes most of the carnival Parade floats. Well barely have time to breathe this year Between parades and that s not counting All the balls and parties that will go on during the  carnival begins on twelfth night Jan. 6, with various balls and parties and ends on Mardi gras literally fat tuesday the Day before the Start of Lent on Ash wednesday. With an Early easter this year things got a head Start because Mardi gras Falls on feb. 7. The Early Date leaves barely a month for reveling before Lent when repentance descends on the City. Last year for example Mardi gras was feb. 16, and it has fallen As late As the first week of March. About two weeks before Mardi gras a series of parades in the metro Politan area begin marking count Down before fat or shrove tuesday. The first of 50 metropolitan Parade Rolls on Jan. 21. We made our deliveries right after Christmas said Dom Carlone of accent Annex enterprises inc., which specializes in Mardi gras items such As the colourful beads thrown by float riders. Work Crews began erecting bleach ers along City streets dec. 19. Officer Asa French special events Courdina t9r with new Orleans police said barricades to control crowds and traffic Are being put in place this week. At Haydel s bakery carnival King cakes went on Sale before Christmas. David Haydel president of the com Pany said Bakers turn out 2,000 to 3,000 cakes a Day during the height of the party season. This year they also Hope to ship 100,000 nationally. King cakes big donuts shaped pastries covered with purple Green and Gold sugar contain a Small Plas tic baby. Tradition has it that the per son whose slice has the baby must be the Host of the next party. We started out shipping about 75 a Day out in 1985. Last year we ship Ped 8,000," Haydel said. This year we re advertising nationally and we expect to sell better than $2 million of our Mardi gras  although this year s festivities Are compressed into a Shorter time Span local authorities believe carnival will see record numbers of people spend millions of dollars. This is turning out to be one of the Best Mardi gras in history said Beverly Tiahna of the greater new Orleans tourist  she attributed the interest to the exposure the City received last summer As Host of the Republican National convention