European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a a a the stars and stripes saturday november 17,1990 millions claim dependents who Don t exist irs says Washington apr millions of americans have been cheating the government out of billions of dollars a year by claiming non existent children and parents As dependents for tax purposes the internal Revenue service said. The year after Congress passed a Law requiring that children 5 or older have their own social Security numbers the number of dependent exemptions was 7 million less than officials predicted. That brought in an extra $2.8 billion in taxes during 1987 alone. Returns filed by 11,627 couples and individuals showed declines of seven or More dependents claimed from the previous year. Nearly 67,000 claimed four five or six fewer dependents than before. In most cases the exaggerated claims had been made for several years a the decrease is particularly significant because it ii eluded Szilagyi it the study indicated that most of the cheating was being done by single taxpayers and by married people who filed separate returns. The number of dependents puff Manship a Jim Mouth of Hollywood calif., who says he a a non smoker picked the great american smoke out Day on thursday to puff his Way to an apparent world record and show that smoking is an ugly health Hazard. Mouth managed to get 152 burning cigarettes in his Mouth at once. Claimed by singles dropped 48.3 percent from 1986 to 1987 claims by married people filing separately declined 28 percent the number claimed by couples filing joint returns dropped 3.9 percent. There was not nearly so much variance when the tax returns were divided into income groups. Those with income under $25,000 showed a 7 percent decline in dependents claimed Between $25,000 and $50,000, the number fell 4 percent and those with income Over $50,000 reported 4.9 percent fewer dependents than a year before. For returns filed in 1991, any child 2 or older must have a social Security number. As part of the deficit reduction plan enacted earlier this month Congress lowered the age to 1 starting with 1992 returns. The irs is not through with those taxpayers who were found to have exaggerated their claims for dependents Over a period of years. The Agency checked a sampling of 838 such taxpayers whose returns had been audited by last May and found that 89 percent of them had been hit with tax increases averaging $2,200. About 4 percent of those cases Are facing the possibility of criminal fraud charges. Hunters shoot 4 Bison under revised policy West Yellowstone Mont. A Hunters killed four Bison near Yellowstone National Park the first slain under a new policy that limits Hunting since animal rights activists objected. The bulls were shot four Miles outside Park boundaries said Bob Martinka regional supervisor for the state department of fish wildlife and Parks. Unlike years past no animal rights activists turned up. Advocates of animal rights believe the animals should be left alone in part because there Are so few. About 2,500 Bison a also known As american Buffalo a roam the 2 million acre Park the Only place in the country where they live free and unfenced. Most of Yellowstone National Park is in Wyoming. A thin strip of the West and Northern portions of the Park is in Montana. Bison occasionally Cross the Park Boundary in search of food particularly in late fall and Winter. Montana began holding an annual Bison Hunt in 1985 because the animals could spread brucellosis to Montana cattle. The disease causes Domestic cows to abort their Young. Montana had a policy that if Bison left the Park and entered Montana state jurisdiction they could be hunted. Animals rights groups denounced the Hunt. Their outcry was loudest in the Winter of 1988-89, when More than 500 Bison were shot prompting state and Park officials to re examine their policies. Under the new policy civilian Hunters can Only shoot adult male Bison. Female Bison More prone than males to carry brucellosis can Only be shot by a Park Ranger or state game Warden to ensure their proper disposal. Stance on birth control hurts Church Bishop says Washington not a roman Cal a a in Bishop told colleagues that their refusal to entertain any dissent Over the papal ban on contraception was seriously damaging the credibility of the Church a the time has come to ask the questions out loud a said Bishop Kenneth e. Untener of Saei naw mich., at the fall meeting of the National conference of Catholic Bishops. A if we done task them we Are causing great damage to the credibility and to the Unity of this Church that we  it was the first time in Many years that the subject had been raised at a meeting of american Catholic Bishops. A 1968 papal encyclical reaffirmed the churches ban on contraception and Pope John Paul ii has stressed agreement with the prohibition As a test of loyalty for Catholic theologians and leaders. Illegally killed Deer Cost Wyoming Hunters plenty Cheyenne Wyo. Apr two Deer killed illegally Cost a pair of Hunters $840, their pickup truck and nearly their lives wildlife officials say. The Hunters recently crossed into Wyoming from South Dakota. On their Way Back they shot two Bucks using a spotlight the state game and fish department said. A after making the kill they decided to High Tail it across the Border where they could gut the Deer and claim them As being taken in South Dakota a the department said. However about one mile from the South Dakota line the pickup veered off the Road and rolled Down a Hill the department said. The men who were not identified by wildlife officials left the scene of the Accident which led authorities to the Deer. The truck was destroyed but they escaped with Only bumps and bruises. A it was a bad wreck a said Newcastle game Warden Scott Talbott. A they were both Lucky they had their seat belts on or they might have been  the Hunters were charged with taking Deer without a License. Each was fined $420 and sentenced to six months probation. Cockatoo from Baretta stolen from animal Park by the los Angeles times san Diego a Fred the comedic cockatoo made famous in the 1970s television series a Baretta a was stolen from his Cage at san Diego wild animal Park police have said. The missing cockatoo was one of three that portrayed Robert Blakes pet in the Abc series about an unconventional cop. The Winner of a Patsy a the animal equivalent of an Academy award a Fred had been performing in shows at the wild animal Park for the last six years. The theft of the 30-year-old cockatoo was discovered when his Trainer went to feed him breakfast police spokesman Bill Robinson said. List of 10 worst toys for holidays released res Lynw a Idt -tv.,-.�? .1 m a. Boston up a toys modelled after the sewer dwelling teenage mutant ninja turtles and incorrigible cartoon character Bart Simpson May top your child a Holiday wish list but they could also Lead to serious injury a consumer advocate warned thursday. Attorney Edward Swartz released his 19th annual list of �?o10 worst toys a cautioning parents that some of the most popular toys on Christmas and hanukkah lists Quot have the potential to kill or injured children who already suffer an estimated 600,000 toy related injuries each year. The 10 a a worst toys Are a a Batman Bat mobiles by toy Biz inc. Comes equipped with hidden rocket launchers that fire two concealed plastic play rockets. A child could be injured fall ing on the Bat mobiles a plastic fins. A a assorted Small wooden toys by la Arbre a Jour distributed in the United states by Fao Schwartz contains several Small parts that children could choke on he said. A a Kaboom the balloon busting games by just toys inc., contains contradictory instructions which increase the risk of a serious Eye injury or choking. Quot the real ghost busters Echo Gog Gles Quot and a Recto Popper by Kenner use air pressure to discharge four soft foam pops but could be used to fire other objects Swartz said. The toy is particularly inappropriate because eyes should not be the focus for playthings he said. A Quot teenage mutant ninja turtles pi2za thrower by playmates toys inc rotates 180 degrees and adjusts for High or Low a. Trajectory blasts but the temptation to shoot the pizza discs at people or animals May prove too tempting for children Swartz said. A a a crazy Hammer and a a crazy axe distributed by Fine world International trading corp. Are both heavy and hard enough to cause serious injury he said. A a Bart Simpson s hang arounds by Spectra Star a 13-Inch lightweight Nylon doll us recommended for hanging from bicycle handlebars where it could easily become entangled in the Bike parts and cause an Accident Swartz said. In it a a Lisej  megaphone by Tab used by Fine world International trading corp., a Battery operated Gay megaphone amplifier could Lead to serious hearing impairment if played too close to a child Sears Swartz said. A a Honey pot Bear stuffed animal a a Nisbet Bear made in England by tide Ridder inc., comes with what Swartz condemned As an unnecessarily heavy crockery pot Strung on a removable Loop around the bears neck. Children could also easily remove the bears Bow tie and its tight sturdy elastic band. A tie �?omp5k crossbow target game set a Chap Mei item no. 7837, is propelled by a rubber band that could snap and cause an Eye injury and its darts have removable plastic tips. A tie a motorized attack Force weapon set by Esquire Nichols which Swartz described As a a Little International terrorist kit a includes a knife replica pistol and machine Cap gun which could cause hearing loss Eye injury or other accidents and be mistaken for the real thing