European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 b the stars and stripes wednesday february 27, 1991 experts predict Shorter recession than average Washington a a substantial majority of the nations top economic forecasters say the recession will be briefer and less severe than the Post world War ii average for downturns according to a Survey released tuesday. Sixty one percent of forecasters polled look for the recession to be Shorter than the Post-1945 average of 11 months while 36 percent think it will be about average in length the National association of business economists said. A was for the recession depth 78 percent expect to Sec less than the postwar average 2.5 percent decline in Gnu Gross National product while related Story Page 7 15 percent expect about an average decline a the association said. The Survey conducted during the first two weeks of february also showed just Over half of the 54 economists believe the recession will end in the second Quarter. Two thirds predicted last november that it would end in the first three months of this year. In the new Survey 22 percent put the Low Point in the current Quarter while 18 percent said the downturn will Bottom out in the third Quarter. The Gnu fell at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the fourth Quarter of 1990, and the median expectations of the association s economists Are for a 1.6 percent decline in the current Quarter and a 0.3 percent decline in the next. A recession generally is defined As at least two consecutive declines in the Gnu the nations total output of goods and services. By Chuck Vinch Washington Burea Washington a lawmakers thrashed the Pentagon a year old ban on military construction tuesday saying it is causing a backlog that is hurting the Quality of life for service members and their  a this is the most ridiculous ludicrous policy i be Ever seen a rep. Norman Dicks said at the first hearing on the Pentagon construction request for fiscal 1992 and 1993.colin Mcmillan assistant Secretary of detente for production and logistics said the ban was put into place in january 199 1 because of uncertainty surrounding the future overseas Force Structure and base closings both at Home and abroad. A a total of $7 billion that would have been spent in fiscal 1990 has been Frozen As Well As any of the $8.4 billion approved by Congress for fiscal 1991. Mcmillan said he will recommend that defense Secretary Dick Cheney lift the ban in mid april when the Pentagon submits its first Basc closings proposal under a Law approved last fall. But members of the House appropriations sub cont Milter on military construction said damage had already been done. A fall we re hearing out in the Field is that the moratorium stinks a said Dicks a Wash. A you have bases that you know Are not going to close. I done to see Why we can to make judgments and allow construction to continue at those  rep Bill Lowery r-calif., said the Pentagon has granted waivers for projects throughout the ban. Mcmillan acknowledged that 60 projects totalling almost $300 million have been approved in the last four months alone. A in reality then there a nothing to Stop you from putting Money into bases you know will remain open a Lowery said. In a rare Case of Congress chastising the Pentagon for not requesting enough Money the subcommittee also sharply questioned the funding proposals for novy a Quot construction in fiscal 1992 and 1993. Pentagon officials arc seeking $3.55 billion for new construction in fiscal 1992 and $1.05 billion in fiscal 1993. The requests represent cuts of 12 percent and 60 percent respectively compared Quot with this fiscal year during which $4.1 billion was  a p a a 60 percent Cut is very unwise a said rep. Bill Hefner d-i9.c. A military construction and family housing relate directly to Quality of life and have More payback than any other aspect of the  Mcmillan said that assuming the construction freeze is lifted in april contracts for projects approved for fiscal 1990 and 1991 that have been on hold will begin to flow in fiscal 1992 and continue into the following year. Accordingly the Pentagon reduced its funding request for new construction in the next two fiscal years he said. A a. A. A v a the subcommittee did no to seem convinced. Lowery repeatedly questioned Mcmillan about Why the funding request drops by Only 12 percent for fiscal 1992 and.60 percent for fiscal 1993�?oi agree with your general rationale but Why Arentt you making the big Cut in 1992?�?� he said. I Robert Stone Mcmillan a Deputy for installations said fiscal 1993 was the toughest year for the Pentagon to meet the administrations defense spending targets. A we have very austere budget targets and we have to meet those targets a Mcmillan added. Lowery responded a so then the real reason for the 60 percent Cut in 1993 is not uncertainty Over base closures or the lifting of the moratorium but the fact that you re looking to take budget cuts out of the hide of military  a this is hurting the infrastructure of our bases Quot Dicks said suggesting that lawmakers May have to take the unusual step of ordering the Pentagon to spend More on military construction. Doctors ask for ban on advertising Chew washing ton up a doctors group monday called for a ban on advertising for a smokeless tobacco a saying use of snuff and chewing tobacco was rising in the United states especially among boys boosting their risk for Oral cancer. A a you re talking about a potential Public health catastrophe a or. Roy sessions of the Georgetown University medical Center said at a news conference sponsored by the american Academy of Oto Iury geology. A we really Are looking at a Public menace for inc future. A the group which includes  doctors who treat cancer of the head and neck called for the advertising ban As part of its Quot through with Chew Quot Campaign aimed at reducing smokeless tobacco use. Especially among youngsters. Quot smokeless tobacco is tobacco that is citric or inhaled through the nose or chewed instead of smoked. The use of smokeless tobacco which is at least As addictive As cigarettes has been linked to a variety of health problems including increased risk for cancer of the Mouth and Throat the group said. While smoking has been declining in the United states the use of this form of tobacco has risen 50 percent since 1981, including a 6 percent Rise last year the group said. Officials Are especially concerned about an increase in use among teen age Bow an estimated 12 million americans use smokeless tobacco including 3 million teen age Hoys the group said. There base been reports that boys As Oune As k Hae used snn4,Eless tobacco. Families suit Over Stark attack dismissed on grounds of Security Galveston. Texas a it a Federal Judee cited National ses Writy concerns in dismissing a lawsuit filed by families of 23 Crew members killed in a lbs7 iraqi missile attack on the guided i Sile. Ivs corp. Frigate Stark. L s. District judge s mind b.  on  accepted the government s shorn the it disco Ine information m the Law to could endure Eric  of  personnel and threaten National <�.ur<�?Ty. Kent wrote that he Asiso after Reade Caus tied documents and other . He scaled the file on the cae arid barred the i himself and lawyers from  about it. A a a. While a troika the persian Cicet on Irr pc a Slat 7. 1 of a. The Stark Ward by two  defence Arn so p re do tired from an lag i forty killed and susral were 1 and r a be vis j general Ivban a cd oth it a is Poud be Tor v a i it e i n c to i re Dev v a l e v ,. V. T la of. E j i j v i ire a p. I s time out Alec Tiuan Tim least of Marshfield. Mass., works on the clock hanging outside the Boston the cents savings Bank in downtown Boston