European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 13, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 3 wholesale prices up slightly last month Washington a wholesale prices Rose a moderate 0.4 percent in april despite the sharpest risen Energy costs in nearly 2 years the government said Friday. The Rise in the labor department s producer Price Index reflected a Steep jump in gasoline Price blunted by a substantial drop in Auto prices and food costs. It followed a 0.4 percent pain in March and i per cent jumps in january and february. Because of the Steep rises earlier this year wholesale Price inflation advanced at a 9 percent annual rate in the first four months. The april report is Likely to cheer financial markets. Where traders were braced for a much worse rate of 0.7 percent. Economists Werc paving particular attention to the inflation rate for goods other than the volatile food and Energy categories which edged Down 0.1 percent in april after a 0.3 percent Rise in March. It was the first drop since october i9s7. When a rate of 0.1 also was posted. A 0.6 percent decline in food costs was the biggest since a  percent decline in december 1987, and represented the first substantial Price Relief since last year. The huge 7.2 percent Rise in Energy costs matched the increase in january 1987. Energy prices have not resignation is debated in capital Washington a John p. Mack s desk at the Capitol was empty Fryar by questions re main about the balance Between Justice and forgiveness following his resignation amid a juror Over his attack on a woman in 1973. A lop aide to House speaker Jim Wright and one of the most powerful staff members in con Gress. Mack resigned thursday. Saing i wish i could rewrite the past but unfortunately. I can  rep. Patricia Schroeder. D Colo. Co chairwoman of the con Gressional caucus for women s is sues called the resignation very sad but  i believe in rehabilitation but not when it leads to such a High  she said. While Many people on Capitol Hill knew the Mack Story it Resur faced last week when the washing ton Post published an interview with the victim. Pamela Small. Small recounted How Mack then a 19.year-old store manager at tacked her with a Hammer stabbed her with a Steak knife and then left her for dead in her car. At the time. Wright s daughter was married to Mack s brother. Although he was sentenced to 15 years in prison Mack served Only 27 months and was Given a Job by Wright after parole. Lie Rose from a mail clerk s Posi Tion to executive director of the democratic steering and policy committee. Rep. Beryl Anthony. Dark. Chairman of the democratic con Gressional Campaign committee said that after the victim s account was published. There was an immediate reaction that went nation wide. John p. Mack in 1987 before his past would Lead to his resignation. I can understand the emotional  he said. I heard it from my  House majority Leader Thomas Foley. A Wash. Said he was very sorry that Mack resigned. Foley called Mack one of the most Able and dedicated employees in c ingress. Others were less sympathetic especially in Light of s Mph s Declara Tion that Mack had never apologised or made any restitution for his attack on her. Rep. Charles Wilson a Texas. Said Mack s Success on Capitol Hill obviously upset some  we All believe in rehabilitation that s Ever Yong c goal he said. Hut he said society wants rehabilitated convicts to be carpenters and  not High ranking congressional aides. Rep. Patricia Schroeder called Mack resignation  tellers just say no to bungling . Bank robber new York not bringing new meaning to the adage. Crime does  a Brooklyn Man has been arrested and accused by Manhattan police of being probably the least successful Bank robber they be Ever had. Using threatening notes but no gun the 24-year-old suspect was Able to con Vince tellers to hand Over Money Only seven limes in 25 attempts Over a 44-Dayperiod, said sgt. Joseph Pollini of the major Case squad thursday the total take since March 29 As about $12,000, the police said. He just did t come across Stern enough to convince them he meant Busi Ness Pollini said. The sergeant said the suspect Richard Herdon tried for example to Rob four Banks in one april Day. But got away with Only $363 from one Chase manhat Tan Branch on fifth Avenue. With his partner detective mar Crowley Pollini seized Herdon As he ran from the Marine Midland Bank Branch on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The officers rushed to the scene when the Marine Midland manager called police mid morning thursday. Herdon was caught after a three Block Chase. Herdon did leave that Bank with some Cash the police officers said but it was what they called bail Money a packet of Bills wrapped around a device that explodes leaving a residue that identifies the suspect. It did. And he was. Risen More sharply for a single month in 15 years. The Energy increase was mostly attributable to a13.4 percent climb in gasoline prices the steepest since january 1987. Fuel Oil Rose a moderate 0.6 percent after zooming up 16.8 percent in March. Natural Gas prices advanced 1.9 percent the decline in food was led by a 15.9 percent drop in eggs. Vegetables fell 7.5 percent pork. 3.6 percent fruit. 2.7 percent and fish. 1.3 percent. The prices of Turkey Rice and Candy Rose. The biggest drop in categories other than food and Energy came in autos where prices fell 2.8 percent the result of manufacturers incentives to lure customers into showrooms and revive slumping sales. Drain on a is stays at near record rate Washington a withdrawals from the nation s Thrift institutions re main near record Levels and prospects for substantial improvement remain dim economists say. The Federal Home loan Bank Board said thursday that depositors withdrew a net $8.5 billion in March compared with s3.2 billion in february and a re Cord $10.8 billion in january. It was the Lith month in a Row in which thrifts lost ground and the fifth with withdrawals in excess of $7 billion. I Don t know that the withdrawals can continue at these Levels for the rest of the year without threatening the solvency of major  said economist Paul Getman of the wefa group Abala Cynwyd pa., forecasting firm. Al most by definition it has to gel better but it won t get All that much  net withdrawals for the first three months of 1989 totalled $28.5 billion More than triple the $8.4 billion outflow for All of last year. From october 1987 through april 1988, Money had moved into a is As Stock Market investors sought the safety of federally insured accounts. Getman said he sees Little Prospect of improvement in the two main factors driving the withdrawals shaky Public Confidence in a is and rising interest rates at competitors such As Mutual funds. Interest Rales after a temporary Lull will begin rising again later this year he predicted. And he said he doubted Confidence will improve because president Bush s proposed so bailout will in crease the rate of Thrift takeovers and closings. Thrills arc going to be in the news in a negative sense As far As the Eye can see he said. That s not to say the Bush plan is not a Good thing it is. But depositors Don t make Fine  however James Barth. The Bank Board s chief economist said apart from a few isolated instances there is no evidence that the outflows reflect a loss of depositor  economist Martin regalia of the National Council of savings institutions Trade group agreed that rising interest rates arc driving the bulk of withdrawals. With the housing Market weak an Short term and Long term interest rates nearly identical. A is see Lille need to attract More deposits he said. I m not alarmed by the outflow number. If it got to the Point where institutions that wanted to keep deposits could to then it would be More serious. Right now we have not heard anything to that effect regalia said. But Getman said Large institutions in California where the housing Market i booming Are suffering because of difficulties in attracting funds