European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page a the stars and stripes saturday. May 20, 1989 financial disclosure report reveals princes paupers within Congress Washington Al the Iran Contra Book that majority Leader George j. Mitchell wrote with a fellow senator brought him $22.500 in royalties last year Buthe remained one of the Senate s least wealthy Mem Bers. Mitchell s annual financial disclosure form among 95 filed by senators and released Friday showed that making speeches was More lucrative than helping write a Hook. Mitchell. A Mainc. Earned $42,500 in speeches above the limit but gave $8,000 of that to Charity which brought him into compliance. His co author on the Book men of Zeal fellow Maine sen. William Cohen a Republican reported that he received $25,763, and that included royalties from a spy novel he wrote years ago with former sen. Gary Hart a Colo. The annual disclosure forms of income in 1988, showed thai in Many cases the chief providers of speaking fees and free trips were inc groups interested in legislation before the commit pcs on which the sen Ator sits. For instance Wychec Fowler of Georgia a Democrat on the agriculture committee earned $28,000 for speeches and $16,000 came from agriculture food beverage and tobacco interests. Bennett Johnson a Louisiana Democrat received $10,000 from Energy groups. He sits on the Energy committee. Hut speaking fees weren t the Only pluses for being a senator. Trips figure largely in Many senators lives. Among Many thai Johnston listed was one to Alaska paid for in part by alaskan Oil and Gas and Conoho. Cloth Oregon senators. Republicans Bob Packwood and Mark Hatfield accepted free trips to the far East with their wives from different sources. Thomas Daschle. . Took four expense paid trips with his wife that included puerto Rico and the Kentucky Derby. Albert Gore of Tennessee a democratic presiden Lial candidate in 1988, received a round trip for him self and his wife to Capul Mexico paid for by inc Lomas financial group of Dallas. Gore listed $26,800 in Honor aria si6.000 of that came from food Bever age Anil tobacco groups. Even the richest among the senators accepted speak ing tech. In the Case of John Klein of Pennsylvania a Republican whose Pickle and Ketchup Fortune is be tween $ll.3 million to $13.6 million and More All $10,000 in Honor aria went for food to feed the  listed $1 million liabilities. Some surprising facts came to Light with the Dis closure forms. Slade Gor ton of Washington a re publican restored to the Senate after a two year absence owned Stock in the  corp. He has Keenan outspoken critic of the Oil giant s handling of the Alaska Oil spill. The Mitchell Cohen Book subtitled a candid inside Story of the Iran Contra hearings focuses on the joint House Senate committee hearings that played to a television Audi ence of millions in the summer of 1987. In a Senate noted for its millionaire members Mitchell is one of the paupers. He lists assets of less than $ 16.000 and no liabilities. The disclosure forms list assets and liabilities Only in ranges. Mitchell s counterpart. Republican Leader Hob Dole of Kansas earned $116,090 to $132.272, of which $ j9,500 was his Senate salary. He made $36,000 for speeches but he gave $31,750 of that to Charity. Mitchell the two Senate leaders earn $10.000 a year More in salary than the other senators but they too. May Only keep Honor aria equating 40 percent of salary. That amount is $35,800 in the Case of All but Robert Byrd d-va., who was last year s majority Leader and Dole. Each senator must list the source of Honor aria. Dole s breakdown showed $6,000 from groups inter ested in finance $10,000 from health groups $4,000 from transportation groups. He reported his assets be tween $292,295 and $691,277, with no liabilities. Dole said he received gifts Worth nearly $5,000, including a set of lithographs portraying the heritage and history of armenian life and a Crystal Magnolia Sculp Ture for his wife Elizabeth who is now president Bush s labor Secretary. The usual list of the richest senators got a new Mem Ber in 1989, sen. Herbert Kohl a Wisconsin demo crat. Kohl who owns the Milwaukee Bucks of the National basketball association listed assets in the Range of $19.4 million to $27.7 million or More. But he also has liabilities of $ 1.7 million or More. After his election last november Kohl s invest ments were transferred to a Blind Trust. The other senators with big Bucks include those wit the Best known names John d. Rockefeller in d w.va., an heir to the vast Oil Fortune Edward m. Kennedy d-mass., and Heinz. John c. Danforth r-mo., grandson of the Man who founded the Ralston Purina company listed assets of $7.8 million to $13 million or More and returned to the list As did William Armstrong r-Colo., and Alan j. Dixon Dell. Not returning is Lowell Wicker r conn., who was Defeated for re election. The disclosure rules ask each senator to declare As sets liabilities earned and unearned income amounts Given to Charity and Money received for speeches an articles called Honor aria. Contributions 19 Charity usually represent Money the senator has to give away because of limits. Phone users warned about excessive rates from alternative firms by the Baltimore Sun Consumers should be wary when Mak ing Long distance Calls from airports hotels and other Public places because some companies that provide service for those phones charge excessive rates a new study released Friday has concluded. Calling card Calls placed through alternative operator services companies can Cost up to 410 percent More than those placed through american Tele phone & Telegraph co., Sci and sprint inc chief Long distance companies according to inc study conducted by the telecommunications research & action Council. The results of the study Are Clear. Consumers concerned with costs should not use alternative pc razor services companies said David Wagonhauser an attorney for the Washington based consumer advocacy group. The study compared the rates of at to Sci and Spring against those of three major alternative companies International Tel charge inc., tale sphere network inc. And National Telephone services inc. In nearly All cases the prices of the Calls handled by alternative companies were substantially higher the consumer group said. For example the Cost of a seven min ule 500-mile Call made on the weekend using at to Sci or sprint would Beabout $1.67. By comparison the same Call would Cost $3.09 through 1ti, $3.68 through its and $2.37 through tin the study said. Under a Federal communications commission order issued in  companies Are required to tack a placard or sign by their phone indicating thai the equip men is serviced by such a company. Even so that in t always done. Many Consumers in fact Don t discover they be used an alternative service until they receive the Bill for their Calls Wagonhauser said. If a phone is not clearly identified the consumer group advises users to dial "0" or "00" and ask the operator who they work for before placing a Call. If unfamiliar with the company Consumers should ask the operator How much a Call will Cost before placing the Call the group said. By far Consumers who use at to or Bell phone cards Are the most susceptible to alternative companies the Organiza Tion said. About 40 million of those cards arc in circulation the most of any of the phone companies. Unless an Access code is dialled to reach at to s network at to and Bell calling card Calls on the All Crnalic com Pany phones Are automatically intercepted and billed at the higher Rale. Even when the code is dialled however Consumers Are not guaranteed thai their Calls will be routed Over at to lines the consumer group said. Herbert Linnen an at to spokes Man said thursday thai at to plans to in Roduco a new calling card Early next year that will prevent thai from happen ing. Welcome Texas rancher Calvin bunt san discusses an african Black Rhinoceros that was shipped by air to Houston from Johan Nesburg South Africa this past week. Bentsi a a Cousin of sen. Lloyd Bentsyn operates a 2,200-acre ranch near Cal in that raises exotic and endangered animals. The newcomer will join the ranch s three other Black rhinos for Breeding purposes to help save the endangered species. There arc Only about 4,000 Black rhinos in the world. Senate recesses without acting on nomination of envoy to Italy Washington a the . Senate recessed Wilhour acting on Peter Secchia s nomination As ambassador to Italy further stalling the Michigan Busi Nessman s planned move to Rome. The Senate will reconvene May 31, too late to confirm Secchia s nomination before the May 26 Start of president Bush s european visit. Before the recess began thursday Bush said he hoped Secchia would be in place As ambassador for the presidential Stop in Italy. The Senate foreign relations com Mittee voted 13-0 this week to recommend Secchia s nomination. Commit cd chairman Claib proc Pell did t try to Block confirmation but said he thought Secchia would be an embarrassment be cause of his Gross  i believe this nomination is a mistake and in All likelihood or. Secchia will be an embarrassment to inc administration and to the United states said Pell who with sen. Alan Cranston voted present meaning they took no position. Secchia 52, is the chairman of uni Versal products inc., the nation s fourth largest building products distributor. He is Michigan s representative on the re publican National committee