European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday May 11, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 3congress still at Odds Over military funds by Janet Howells Tierney Washington Bureau Washington a the House and Senate remain at Odds Over legislation that would solve the Pentagon a $780 million shortfall in its personnel accounts. The amendment proposed by the Senate would save the Pentagon from forcing thousands of service members out of the military in the next four months along with freezing promotions and reassignments for those who stay on Active duty. The Senate proposes across the Board cuts in All defense department accounts to cover military salaries and other personnel costs for the rest of the fiscal year. But those cuts would fall most heavily on the Pentagon a operation and maintenance account the defense departments largest according to a May 7 letter sent to Congress by defense Secretary Dick Cheney. That account already has been hit with unexpected expenses this year Cheney wrote because of increased Benefit payments under the Pentagon a civilian health insurance plan the costs of the Panama invasion foreign currency fluctuations and funding for damage repairs caused by Hurricane Hugo and the san Francisco earthquake. The cuts also would Hurt pay for civilian workers since about 40 percent of the of amp a budget goes for the salaries of government civilian workers. A in trying to solve the military personnel problem the Senate proposal could create a serious civilian personnel dilemma a Cheney wrote. Other programs that would be affected include training facility maintenance and repair base services and Quality of life programs. The Pentagon also would have to reduce the number of claims paid under champs the military health insurance program. The Pentagon and the House would like to Sec the Money shifted or a reprogrammed a from other accounts but that Man Euver is being blocked by rep. Les Aspin d-wis., the chairman of the House armed services committee. Aspin says the reprogramming should come from funds earmarked for some of the military s most prize weapons systems. A conference Between House and Senate negotiators scheduled for tuesday was cancelled while the two sides work behind the scenes to try to break the impasse. It a it s i Tael a High cuisine a 53-foot, 2-ton replica of the Eiffel Tower graces the Banks of the Mississippi River during this year s world championship Barbecue cooking contest in Memphis Tenn. About 175 Barbecue teams will Grill an estimated 25 tons of pork at the event. A group calling itself a the not ready for Swine time porkers built the Tower for its cooking rate dips 8.5% in Washington . Washington apr the homicide rate in the nations capital declined during the first four months of the year Law enforcement officials say. As of May 1, there were 152 homicides in the City 8.5 percent less than at the same time last year when there were 165. Had slayings increased at the same rate As the two previous years there would have been More than 250 people killed in the City by May 1. A year ago this month there were 55 percent More killings than at the same time in 1988. The rate of increase Between May 1987 and May 1988 was the same. Ambassador finds memories in Czechoslovakia a changes from Page 1 figures a anyone believed to be a proponent of democracy. Many were kept under surveillance for 13 years. Black remembers those Days. By coincidence she was in Czechoslovakia on aug. 21,1968, attending a multiple sclerosis society function when Warsaw pact tanks thundered Down the Cobblestone streets. From her hotel she watched helpless students fight Back. She saw soldiers gun Down a woman. She said she also will never forget the Long chill that followed the Prague Spring. That time comes even More into focus now As the country deals with a new problem Freedom. Liberty was gained not through violence but a peaceful 44-Day transformation of government known As the a velvet once again Black finds herself Back in Czechoslovakia in the midst of historic change. The former actress says now More than Ever Czechoslovakia is a stage the whole world is watching. A coming Back i found a very sad country this last August very oppressed a she said. A the people look me in the Eye. They did no to look each other in the Eye very much because it was dangerous to communicate and there were no freedoms. A i knew change would occur but i had no idea it would be so soon. 1 thought maybe five years maybe 10 but that was before nov. 17, when 50,000 Young people marched in the streets calling for social change. They were met by Clouds of tear Gas and truncheons. Rather than instill fear the bloodshed galvanized the citizens of Prague who poured into the streets by the thousands for eight consecutive Days. Black refers to the troops As the a Goon a that was the time when the people of Czechoslovakia said a we wont take this anymore and they worked together to create the velvet revolution and democracy a she said. Black found herself caught up in a demonstration on oct. 28, the birthday of the country. A i was not supposed to be there but i disobeyed my own orders and went a she confessed. Accompanied by her husband she said she walked to Wenceslas Square where students had assembled. Police soon ordered the throng to disperse. At one Point trapped in the crush of a crowd she found herself flattened against the plate Glass of a store window. She happened to peer inside. A it was full of meat and hams. I thought As a former actress if i was knocked through that window it would be the proper ending for me because i would be with the rest of the hams a she said laughing. Black who held the . Ambassador ship in Ghana from 1974 to 1976, said environmental and economic problems Are the toughest challenges facing Czechoslovakia. A the air pollution is very bad in the Winter when the Lignite is the soft Brownish Coal is a cheap form of Energy used by the old communist government. A i was told that to breathe in Prague one Day during the Winter is equivalent to smoking two packages of cigarettes a Day a she said. Economically Czechoslovakia is better off than Many of its neighbors by Eastern european standards she said. Citizens have Homes cars and plenty of food. A but in order to go from a command Economy to a Market Economy there is going to have to be a lot of changes a she said. The czechs must improve the Quality of their work much of which is being performed with machinery dating Back to 1968, she said. Some factory equipment has not been updated since 1948. She predicted some inflation and unemployment. A people will have to do some Belt tightening a she said. Shirley Temple Blacks amps Pruitt she said she often tells people in government that. Quot Freedom is not Black said the . Is already helping c Czechoslovakia. A Trade agreement Between the two countries has been signed. The peace corps and other Volunteer groups from the United states and Canada will soon offer English classes. Fulbright scholars and professors Are being sought to teach management training at All Levels. Exchanges Are constantly being made among journalists students scientists and other experts she said. A cultural Center in Bratislava opened in 1947 and closed in 1949, is being reopened she said. A cultural Center will also be opened in Prague. A . Company has been contracted to clean up soil and water contamination at former soviet bases. The soviets have announced they expect to leave Czechoslovakia by next year. A a it a not known yet How much damage has been done but its going to Cost a lot of Money a she said. Black in Pilsen last weekend for a Celebration honouring gis who helped liberate Bohemia in world War ii. Said she was struck by the irony of the situation. A the soviets Are leaving and Here All our american jeeps were going through Pilsen and our veterans were coming she said. Black said she thinks Czechoslovakia has a great future. A a they re the Only country in this area that has had a democracy 1918-1938 a she said. A they were seventh in productivity in Europe at that time. They re a very creative intelligent industrious country. I think that when they Stop making tanks and Start making tractors they will stand up in Competition with other As for the flurry of changes blowing in the wind. Black added a a lot of times you have to say a is it All really happening a a
