European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a a the stars and stripes tuesday March 13,1990 go Severance could kill defense savings House report says by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington a defense Money saved through troop cuts could initially be completely offset by the Cost of Severance pay for  forced out of the military an armed services committee report said. The report signed by rep. Les Aspin a wis chairman of the committee was sent to the House budget committee on March 9. The report is used by the budget committee to determine defense funding. Congress May find it necessary to reduce the 2.1 million Active duty Force by 80,000 More than the 92,000 already proposed for elimination in fiscal 1990 and �?T91. To offset the effect this will have on thousands of service members legislation could authorize an increase in officer Severance pay and for the first time allow a smaller one time payment for enlisted personnel forced out by larger troop cuts the report said. Currently in the works is a Pentagon Lan to give Severance pay of not More than15,000 to enlisted people and to lift a $30,000 Cap on separation pay for officers. The Severance pay costs for 1991 could be As Large As $750 million the report said. The House committee Only recently started reviewing the proposed defense budget but expects to Complete an extensive series of hearings by late april the report said. Also the committee is waiting for input from the upcoming defense departments revised five year plan. The report asks the budget committee to consider that while significant reductions in military spending Are possible Over the next several years big defense cuts will first require Small outlays. A reductions in Force Structure and cuts in weapon programs yield much greater savings in the second and subsequent years than they do in the first a the report said. A . Hotel ceiling collapses killing i injuring at least 12 new York apr a ceiling collapsed onto a food shop monday at the landmark Ansonia hotel killing one person and injuring at least 12 others authorities said. The collapse in the croissant amp co. Shop in the ground floor of the upper West Side hotel on Broadway Between 73rd and 74th its. Occurred about 3 50 . A water leak above the shop apparently weakened the ceiling. Two people were taken to Roosevelt St. Luke a medical Center and 10 were treated at the scene Doyle said. Construction was taking place on the second floor. A sheriffs officer in Jacksonville fla., inspects a greyhound bus struck by gunshot. Greyhound passengers hit by gunfire in Florida san Diego officials Hope to replace a worst Airport in world but where san Diego apr with a cramped and nerve racking Airport and no room to build a new one san Diego is in a tight spot. The International Airport does no to Lack for striking scenery set on a Bayfront flanked by rolling Hills Glassy skyscrapers and the Gray stateliness of a Navy Fleet. But to pilots who Are forced by downtown buildings to descend steeply on approach to Lindbergh Field the location of the Airport serving the nations sixth largest City is All wrong. Quot its the worst Airport in the world a said Tom Carroll of the air line pilots association. Some would Call that an exaggeration but a 1988 Survey of 1,360 pilots found Lindbergh Field tied in fifth place with Denver a Stapleton Airport As the least Safe Airport in the United states. Transportation planners and civic leaders who covet the land under Lindbergh for downtown expansion have spent 30 years searching for a replacement. The most frequently discussed option is to convert the Miramar naval air station to a commercial or joint use Airport. The Navy is adamantly opposed to such a plan. Unless an alternative is found by the turn of the Century Lindbergh could throw a wrench into the Region s robust Economy. A san Diego is running into an economic Buzz saw if we wait and longer a said Dan Pegg president of the san Diego economic development corp. Jacksonville a. Apr a Union official said greyhounds striking Drivers have been a like choirboys and did not fire gunshot that injured eight passengers on a bus operated by a replacement Driver. The shot fired apparently from an interstate 95 overpass showered passengers on the Jacksonville to Daytona Beach run with Glass and other debris sunday night said sheriffs spokesman Steve Weintraub. No arrests were made. A everybody was hollering a in a hit in a hit a a said passenger Ronald Hill. Eight of the 41 passengers were injured but none of the injuries appeared life threatening authorities said. The injured were taken to hospitals and two people underwent surgery for shrapnel wounds. Michael Rogers of Atlanta a passenger who was wounded in the neck and Chest was being treated at St. Luke a Hospital. A i done to think they greyhound should run their lines while they re having a situation like this going on. Or at least warn the general Public that a situation like that might occur a he said. A greyhound bus headed into Hartford conn., was hit by gunfire monday morning Connecticut state police said. The shooting occurred on interstate 84 in Farmington conn., just West of Hartford at about 10 45 a.m., said state police spokesman Adam Berluti. Greyhound was offering a $25,000 re Ward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Lorida shooting company chairman Fred g. Currey said. Currey and the company president Frank Schmieder travelled monday from greyhounds Dallas Headquarters to Jacksonville where they visited the hospitalized passengers company spokesman George Gravley said. The two executives also were m the terminal monday morning talking to passengers and planned to ride buses from Jacksonville to Miami and Orlando Gravley said. The shooting came on the eve of a meeting called in Washington by Federal mediators with officials of the striking amalgamated Council of greyhound local unions in a bid to end the strike which began March 2. Asked if sunday nights shooting was strike related Weintraub said �?o1 think it  but Bill Nicholson an executive Board member of the Jacksonville local of the amalgamated Council of greyhound local unions said a was far As i m concerned it Wasny tone of our strikers. A a they be been like choirboys be in Dallas Union spokesman Jeffrey Nelson echoed that View. A we believe its important for the Public to Unco a stand that this is a strike against the com Pany not against the travelling Putic Nelson  top czechs for assistance Houston up a a disgruntled Follower of controversial politician Lyndon Larouche is seeking help from an unusual source a the new leaders of Czechoslovakia. Claude Jones said he wants help from czech president Vaclav Havel and Ivan Gabal elections coordinator for civic forum the group responsible for ousting the country a communist government. Jones said in a letter sent recently to Havel and Gabal that he wants them to examine his removal As head of the Harris county democratic party and la Rouches status As a a political prisoners in the United states. Jones letter apparently was prompted by a visit to Prague last month by Harris county democratic party chairman Jack Carter who discussed grassroots political organizing with civic forum leaders. Jones told Gabal of his election and eventual ouster As chairman of the county party m 1988. A less than 200 people participated in the process that overturned my election a he wrote. A the one Man Lyndon Larouche who has consistently represented this viewpoint Over the a 25 years or. Gabal is currently a political prisoner in the United states and i Call upon your Tny authority to investigate his Case As my Only quest a Jones  whose followers organized the Lauona democratic policy committee is serving a i it it Federal prison term in Rochester minn., for Lus Cember 1988 conviction on conspiracy and mail m charges in connection with $30 million in Loans item from supporters who never were paid Bacr. The National democratic policy committee a no connection with the democratic party