European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 27, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                T Page 4 a the stars and stripes Friday july 27,1990 s stance Concord . A As a state judge nine years ago supreme court nominee David Souter urged the new Hampshire legislature not to adopt a Law that would have put judges in the position of approving abortions for minors if their parents refused permission. Souter did not express a personal stand on the Issue but said his fellow judges had decided that a measure then pending before the state legislature would promote a shopping for judges because it did not include guidelines on now judges should act. Therefore he said the. Bill would unfairly leave such decisions up to individual judges with varied opinions on abortion resulting in inconsistent application of any such Law. Asked on thursday about the letter Souter said a i think you should save any Issue of that sort. For the confirmation hearing where in a sure that Issue will be  new Hampshire abort Iofi rights activist Peg Dobbie said wednesday that Souter a letter was critical to efforts to kill the legislation. She added a but while it helped us you can to read into it anything about How he might feel personally about abortion a an Issue Likely to dominate Souter s confirmation hearings in the Senate the letter Drew silence from right to life groups who had no immediate reaction. Dawn Johnson Legal director for the National abortion rights action league in Washington said the letter was reason for the Senate to probe Souter s views on constitutional issues surrounding abortion during its hearings. But she said Naral did riot View the letter As revealing Souter s inclinations on the Central abortion Issue. A i think it is not very illuminating on judge Souter a position on the constitutional right to privacy including the right to choose a Johnson said. She said it a suggests that judge Souter might vote with conservatives on the court to allow a Law. That mandated parental consent without any escape valve for teen agers who Are victims of child abuse and family violence a and thus Are unable to discuss an abortion with their parents. A i done to see much reason for encouragement a John sen said. A at Best its  the 1981 letter written to the chairwoman of the legislative committee considering a parental consent Bill is one of Souter a few Public actions addressing the abortion Issue.,. In his one abortion related decision on the Issue As a judge. Souter gave Little insight As to How he might vote if confirmed and confronted with the Opportunity to overturn the 1973 Roe is. Wade decision legalizing abortion. A in 1986, Souter sided with the majority in a ruling that said physicians have a responsibility to test unborn children for birth defects and in the event defects Are detected to counsel the pregnant woman about options including abortion. T a. A month after the Roe is. Wade decision Souter was among the Concord Hospital Board members at a meeting at which the Board approved allowing abortions at the Hospital. A a two Board members contacted wednesday Dean Williamson and Marily Wilson said they recalled Only non controversial discussion and a unanimous voice vote in favor of allowing abortions. Neither recalled Souter speaking during the discussion a this was a medical procedure vote not a social issues vote a Wilson said. A it was not Over the rights or wrongs of abortion but rather about our responsibility As a medical facility in Light of the  Washington apr As several thousand advocates for the disabled looked on president Bush on thursday signed an act Banning discrimination against the nations 43 million handicapped people. A every Man woman and child with a disability can now pass through a once closed door to a Bright new Era of Equality Independence and Freedom a Bush said As he signed the measure in a ceremony on the South Lawn. The president likened the americans with disabilities act of l990 to the dismantling of the Berlin Wall As a Symbol of Freedom for a once oppressed people. It a takes a sledgehammer to another Wall a he said. The Bill prohibits discrimination against the disabled in employment Public accommodations transportation and telecommunications. It also defines As disabled anyone who has a mental or physical impairment limiting a some major life  the disabilities Bill like other major civil rights legislation includes a variety of sanctions for violators including those who discriminate in hiring. It allows victims of employment discrimination to seek Back pay reinstatement and attorneys fees. However the Law exempts businesses with fewer than is employees from the hiring provisions. The measure includes new Protection for aids infected workers. A this Day belongs to you a Bush told the audience gathered outside the White House. It was one of the largest Bill signing ceremonies Ever held at the White House. At the ceremony about 2,000 people the Rev. Harold like left rear and officials Evan Kemp left front Sandra Parrino right rear and Justin Dart right front join president Bush for the Bill a signing. Representing groups that lobbied for the moving thursdays ceremony inside and Bill sat in wheelchairs or on folding reducing its size because of the Antic chairs in Bright Sunshine with tempera Ipa Ted heat. Tures in the mid-80s. But protests from disabled groups in White House officials had considered eluding a threat by some to hold a Sepa rate a a people a signing ceremony outside the White House Gates persuaded officials to go ahead with the outside ceremony. A we considered moving it inside because of the heat concerns. There could be up to two hours of sitting in the hot Sun. But the disabled Community said heat was no problem a White House spokeswoman Alixe Glen said. Some activists had suggested that the White House notion that disabled people Are too frail to sit out in the summer Sun showed the very kind of Bias the legislation was designed to end. In signing the Bill Bush said a this historic act is the worlds first comprehensive declaration of Equality for people with  called it a a historic new civil rights  the crowd gave one of its loudest cheers when Bush said the Law would give the disabled expanded Access to transportation. A a it a just fantastic. Its a tremendously exhilarating feeling a said Gordon Anthony 35, an activist and marketing consultant from los Angeles who uses a wheelchair. A employers Are going to Start reaching out to the disabled he said. Quot it May open doors for what i do in my future career. There May be better  in Advance of the ceremony White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater called the Bill Quot a Milestone in president Bush a decade Long personal commitment to the rights of the  a i think it affects a broader scope of people than any Law since the 1964 civil rights act a Fitzwater said. Hoopla Over air bag blown out of proportion Union cite . Apr emergency workers and bystanders showered in the Middle of a Busy Street to Wash off a powdery residue 22 people were taken to the Hospital and two Federal agencies Are investigating. A major chemical spill no a minor rear Ena Auto Accident m which one cards air bag inflated. A nobody at the scene had a handle on the procedures for the situation and there were a lot of people there with a lot of emergency experience a said Jeff Wells who Heads the ambulance service in neighbouring Weehawken. Federal transportation and consumer officials said that the hysteria was unnecessary and that the incident in this new York City suburb Points up the need for Rescue workers to learn How to handle accidents involving air bags which Are Standard equipment in about 3 million 1990 cars. The confusion began when Patricia Sanchez s 1990 Plymouth Sundance hit a car stopped for a red Light and her cards air bag inflated. The Nylon bag stored in the Hub of the steering wheel inflates in one twentieth of a second and deflates through vents in its Side within a few More seconds. Packed in cornstarch or Talcum for lubrication the deployed bag gives off a puff of powder Ana leaves a Fine White residue inside the car. But Rescue workers believed the air bag had exploded and spewed sodium hydroxide a form of Lye on Sanchez. A Quarter Gram of sodium hydroxide along with a Small amount of baking soda Are created As byproducts of the chemical reaction that inflates an air bag in a front end collision said Tim Hurd spokesman for the National Highway traffic safety administration which is investigating the crash. The amount of Lye is minuscule and its Only a minor irritant he said. But Rescue Crews Cut away some of Sanchez clothes thinking they were contaminated with chemicals. Firefighters cordoned Oft the intersection set up a Shower in the Street and rinsed off anyone who came in Contact with the powder. Emergency workers fearing More trouble with the bag Cut it out of the car and now can to find it. A they were frightened of the powder a said Louis Ciavati acting City fire chief. A it could Haye been  a there is absolutely no reason to hang Back and delay treatment because an air bag has deployed a Hurd said. The problem is that air bags and the Way they work Are still a mystery to Many people said Frank Ghiorsi regional director for the National transportation safety Board which is also investigating the july 14 crash. Hurd said be interviewed Sanchez and she does not think the air bag malfunctioned. He also said there were no stray bag fragments or other evidence of an explosion in the car. Twenty two people were taken to Jersey City medical Center and 10 of them were treated As if they had been exposed to sodium hydroxide said Hospital spokeswoman Sheila Paris Klein Sanchez also was treated for chemical bums and spent two nights in the Hospital. But Federal investigators believe Sanchez Only suffered friction bums from the inflating air bag