European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 26, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a the stars and stripes saturday october 26, 1991exemption Given to . Wives clubs to shield them from Germany s taxes by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer the German government has agreed to Grant special status to officer enlisted and civilian wives clubs to shield them from German tax liability a . Embassy official in Bonn said. The German foreign ministry made the decision based on a request from the embassy that the wives clubs status be clarified under German Law the official said wednesday. A the major focus of concern has been corporate income taxes especially on income generated through fund raising events such As bazaars a the official said. Although German tax authorities have not taxed the Money raised by the private organizations a they have pointed out the possible tax ability of their income a he said. As a result the German government has agreed in principle to bringing american wives clubs under article 71, paragraph 2 of the supplementary agreement to the nato status of forces agreement the official said. The Section allows non German non commercial organizations to enjoy certain exemptions and benefits afforded to occupation forces in Germany. The nato status was sought for the wives clubs in particular because they funnel their fund raising profits Back into their respective military communities through welfare donations. A if questions arise regarding other organizations we will work with the com mands and the German government to find appropriate solutions on a Case by Case basis a the official said. Bazaars Are a major fund raising event for wives clubs with profits running into thousands of dollars. A Bazaar held by the Heidelberg officers and civilian women a club earlier this month for example generated $150,000 in profits that will be returned to the Community through scholarships and other charitable gifts. Mary Throop Heidelberg area representative for the american women a activities Germany called the German governments decision  a everybody works so hard to make the Money and every Little bit that we can keep in the Community helps out that much More a Throop said. Tax liability has always been a concern for the clubs especially in regard to bazaars said Throop who handles ways and Means for the Germany wide organization that provides guidance and training for women a clubs members. The agreement was made primarily to protect the clubs from corporate tax liability. Wives clubs holding bazaars have been Able to avoid paying 14 percent German sales tax by having vendors contract directly with the Community As concessionaires. The embassy official said he was not aware of similar tax questions being encountered by wives clubs in other european countries where . Troops Are  counsel to probe Senate leaks Washington apr the Senate is hiring an outside lawyer who will have Strong Powers to smoke out the sources of information leaks from Clarence Thomas supreme court nomination and the Keating five ethics investigation. A the Senate in a 86-12 vote thursday authorized its democratic and Republican leaders to name an outside counsel who could for up to four months investigate leaks on both subjects. The democratic sponsored Resolution was supported by most republicans when the chamber voted but gop lawmakers argued unsuccessfully that Only the Thomas leak should be investigated. Republicans suspect that the disclosure of Law professor Anita Hills sexual harassment allegations against Thomas came from a Democrat. And democrats Harbor the same suspicions about republicans for leaks that came out of the Keating five probe. Four democrats and one Republican were targets of that investigation and the democrats were Hurt most by unauthorized disclosures of their efforts on behalf of former savings and loan operator Charles Keating a political contributor. Senate majority Leader George Mitchell a Maine who sponsored the Resolution establishing the investigation said he had no timetable for naming the lawyer and no list of candidates. The Resolution said the Senate will have the Power to Issue subpoenas requested by the counsel and anyone refusing to cooperate could face contempt proceedings. Photographic pit Stop a tossed salad sits in a pothole in the Middle of a new York City Street. The chef behind the Impromptu menu offering is Tom Hoctor a supervisor for the City s department of highways. Hoctor has made a habit of turning potholes into creations that have included a putting Green Hole and a Birds nest. Hoctor 44, always carries a camera to record his ideas. His photo collection called potshots is on display in lower  inhabitant returns after surgery Tucson Ariz. Apr a biosphere ii Crew member who left the prototype space Colony for surgery after cutting off the tip of her Finger is recovering Well a spokesman said. Project spokesman Scott Mcmullen said thursday that the Crew was settling Back into its routine after Jane Poynter a injury. Poynter 29, of Surrey England accidentally injured herself oct. 9, two weeks after the Structure was sealed. Or. Roy Walford team physician tried to reattach the fingertip but the graft did no to take. Two Days after the Accident she left the Colony through an Airlock for surgery at University medical Center and returned the same Way. Quot or. Walford reported she is in very Good spirits very cheerful and making a full and satisfactory recovery a Mcmullen said. He said Pointer the teams farm manager a made full use of the biosphere a video Library a during her first week Back. She has since returned to her duties. The eight member Crew was sealed into biosphere ii on sept. 26 for a planned two year stay. The project is in the desert 30 Miles of Tuscon. The Experiment is to test humans ability to create a self sustaining environment in the Glass encased min world. Crew members with their own apartments inside a multistory human habitat Are sharing the Experiment with 3,800 species of plants and animals divided into six climatic zones. They re recycling All air water and wastes. Zaire Leader s Villa burned foreigners urged to leave Brazzaville Congo apr protesters in Zaire a capital burned a Villa belonging to president Mobutu sese seko and pillaged the Home of his new prime minister witnesses fleeing the riots said Friday. As the chaos mounted Belgium and France ordered their nationals to leave and announced a troop pullout. The United states has already urged about 400 americans still in the sprawling Central african country to get out. France and Belgium sent about 2,000 paratroopers to Zaire last month after riots Tore through Zaire a capital Kinshasa and other cities. Zaire is a former belgian Colony. The latest violent demonstrations were staged thursday after Mobutu fired opposition Leader Etienne this eked As prime minister and replaced him with Bernardin mungul Diana a minor opposition Leader branded As a traitor by his colleagues. State radio said Friday that protesters in Kinshasa were barricading roads. Mobutu has made no Public comment since unpaid troops began Muti Nying in the Southern mining Center of Lubumbashi on monday looting setting buildings on fire and prompting the second evacuation of foreigners within a month. It was unclear whether Mobutu had lost control of the army or a As the opposition charges a engineered the chaos to give him an excuse to impose a military government As he did when he seized Power in 1965