European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday april 8,1939 the stars and stripes pages 4 parties urge Takeshita to quit Toke o up Japan s four major opposition panics showing rare Unity called Friday for the Resig nation of prime minister Noboru Takeshita whose crumbling popularity is threatened further by mount ing allegations from an insider Stock trading scandal. The parties hoping to take advantage of the re Cruit Gate scandal took the first step toward Over coming their differences and  coalition to Challenge Takeshita s Liberal democratic party in Power for 34 years. Support within he lip for Takishita is eroding As Well,.in Nagoya Japan s fourth largest City 22 City Assembly members from Takishita s party called for his resignation on the eve of a local election Campaign. In the past week news reports and Takeshi la s admissions have Revei led the prime minister or his rela Tives accepted j770.000 in donations from the recruit co which is suspected of buying political favors with rash gifts and Slock. Major japanese news Media reported that Takeshit accepted a $200,000 donation from recruit an information and Job placement company in 1986 that May have been improperly reported. Takishita who succeeded Yasuhiro Nakasone As prime minister in november 1987, refuses to step Down. He said he could not comment on the latest allegations until his Sinf completes an investigation. Politicians need a stable financial base. And along As donations Are Wilhen the realm of the Law they Are hoi illegal and should not be criticized said Shintaro Abe Secretary general of Fth lip donations to politicians Are not illegal unless they Vio late  regulations or Are not reported to tax authorities. The Kyodo news service said some of the donations were not reported to lax authorities in 1987, the donations have been Crivici cd because the chairman of recruit was placed on several special gov choir int councils and Prosic Siors reportedly Are looking into a possible link Between the donations and the chairman s appointments. The four parties meeting in the ancient capital of Kyoto want Takeshita to dissolve parliament and Call an election ahead of inc one scheduled for mid-1 990. Until now the four parties serious differences notably disagreement Over the socialist party s advocacy of unarmed neutrality and abolition of the  Security treaty have prevented them from forming a coalition. But we have decided to look at the similarities rather than the differences said Eiichi Nagasue Corthe democratic socialist party. We Are gathering to unite. We firmly know this Lime if we show Unity we can win the next elections and we can definitely establish a coalition  socialist party chairwoman Takako Dpi said the opposition must demand strongly that the Takishita government resign and put an end to Liberal demo cratic party control of politics."1 the lip has held Power since 1955 and has a 296-Scal majority in the s 1 seat lower House . The four major opposition parties have 170 scats the communist party 27 and the remainder Are vacant or held by independents. Public support far Takeshita s administration has plunged to 5 percent the lowest for any postwar prime minister according to the Manichi Shimun National " prime minister  popularity tumbles to 5 percent ,. His popularity also has suffered with the lip sparking of a 3 percent sales lax Japan s first which look effect april 1. The ruling party forced he tax. Reform through the lower House last december. Recruit is accused of Selling Preli sled shares to about 80 politicians and business executives at bargain prices in late 1986. Share prices jumped when they went Public about a month later enabling the buyers tomake huge profits from sales. Three key ministers in Takeshita s Cabinet resigned to Lake Ripon Sibilly for implication in the scandal. A total of 13 business executives and former Deputy minister of. Tabor and education have been arrested in the scandal eight of the 1 3 have been indicted on bribery charges. Bus i orders military to Aid massive Oil cleanup Washington president Bush in Friday ordered . Military personnel to  the massive pro longed and frustrating cleanup of the. H Uge Oil spill off the coast of Alaska. We All share the sorrow and concern of alaskans Bush said. Exxon s efforts standing alone Are not  Bush announced inc decision in the White House briefing room accompanied by Cabinet members and alaskan members of Congress. Bush had been under pressure from members of Congress and alaskan officials to intervene. Lie said he had directed defense Secretary Dick Cheney to make available us military forces personnel and equip ment to assist in the  Bush said that transportation Secrce mry Samuel Skinner will coordinate the efforts and that coast guard Comman Danl Paul Yost will  to Prince William sound to oversee on site operations. This should not relieve Exxon from any of its responsibilities or  he said. At the Pentagon officials said. They had postponed a decision on How  migh be sent to Alaska until a team determines inc Best Way to apply military  the Pentagon said its team consist ing of engineering environmental medi Cal and logistics specialists would de part for Valdez on Friday. An Alaska Oil spill joint task Force was being established headed by la. Gen. Thomas g., Mclnerney of the air Force the com manding general of the alaskan air Conid. As inc cleanup entered its third exasperating week state officials said they had worked out an agreement Between Exxon and the coast guard by modify ing their request for a Complete coast guard takeover Exxon will handle contracts and Pur Chascs and the  will direct Field activity said Dennis Kelso com missioner of he department of Environ mental conservation. ,.-,. La s a Resolution of what we thought Wasa real logjam Kelso  Exxon Valdez hit a reef March 24,spilling 10 million Gallons of crude Oil into the sound. The Captain of the Tanker Joseph j. Hazelwood has been charged in the incident. So far an estimated 16.000 barrels about 7 percent of the spilled Oil has been stopped and vacuumed up from the once Clear water of Prince William sound. By Friday he crude Oil had floated Over a 3, area the Good Friday spill has killed thou Sands of Birds and sea otters along the Central alaskan coast and fishermen Havelas millions of dollars. The cleanup Effort faced a new threat Friday As forecasts of shifting wind and High tides raised fears thai the ail might be blown Back into the fragile Fords of Alaska s Central coast. Northerly wind has helped push inc Oil offshore but the National weather service said a shift in the wind was Possi ble Over he weekend. A possible storm along with anticipated High tides of is feet would pre sent a double jeopardy 10 the efforts to contain and remove the Oil. At Kenai Fords a Lional Park a re Mote Refuge 100 Miles Soui Wesl of Val Doz workers began Selling up floating Oil booms As a Sheen of Oil washed toward the Small inlets and Fords of the coast line Park.  Prince William sound fishermen who have been using Oil booms and a ragtag Fleet of Lent equipment to protect vital Salmon fisheries warn the storm and tides could push he Oil Over i hair barriers and kill Mill ions of Salmon Fry. Congress warned election fund running dry Washington a the Federal election  Congress thursday that the fund used to finance presidential elections is. Running Low because americans arc less inclined to earmark is of their tax payment for u. Unless the system is modified by 1996 the fund will Lack sufficient monies to finance the presidential ecu ions Fec chairman Danny Mcdonald said in a letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees. Can whip  lawmakers introduced1 legislation that would require candidates v to arc Eligi ble to receive Public funds in the general election Campaign to agree in writing 10 participate in at least four 90-Minutc debates the sice presidential nominees would be required 10 engage in at least one debate. If presidential candidates Are going to continue to Lake $100 million from taxpayers to run their campaigns then there ought to be some Assurance that they Mil stand up on stage face their opponent and engage in a True discussion of he issues said rep. Edwards Markcy mass., who introduced the legislation with sen. Bob Graham a Fia under the proposal the debase would be sponsored by non partisan organi Lions and held in september and october. At Leas 30 minutes of each 90-Minutc debate would be devoted to questions  or  exchanges. The Federal election commission would determine whether candidates arc responsible for failing to com ply. Taxpayer contributions which come from checking a a contribution Box on la returns have been de Clining because according to Markcy. Each Jear fewer and fewer think they re getting their Dollar s  the percentage of taxpayers contributing to the presidential election Campaign fund has dropped steadily from 28.7 percent in 1981 to 21 percent in 988, according to the congressional research service once overflowing the Campaign fund is falling Vic Tim to in elation As Well As a drop off in income. Commission spokesman Fred Eiland said the Peak year wits $41 million earmarked on return s filed in 1931. On returns filed last year Only �33 million was earmarked for the election fund. The fund is the source for the Matching contributions the commission allocates to candidates for the major party nominations As Well As inc Lump sum pay ments made to the nominees Tor the general election Campaign. In 1988, Republican George Bush and Democrat Michael Dukakis received Federal checks for s46.i Mil lion each for their fall campaigns. In addition each party received $9.2 million the Fec also paid Oul a total of $66.7 million in Matching funds. The commission matches up to $250 in individual contributions to qualified presidential candidates during the primary Campaign. Republican Pat Robertson received $ 0.l million in Matching funds inc largest amount of any presidential candidate Dukakis was second with $9 million and Bush third with 58.4 million. The fund paid out a Tola of $177 million in 1988, the first year it operated was-1976 when $70 million was distributed 10 candidates