European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 b the stars and stripes monday october 28, 1991 More in . Poll blame Bush gop for recession new York up a americans increasingly blame president Bush and congressional republicans for the nations economic problems a National poll indicated saturday. More than 60 percent polled said they feared they would not have enough savings for their retirement or to pay for medical and health costs and a majority said they were reluctant to invest in a new car or Home. The number of americans who fear their household will lose a major wage earner increased by 10 percent from the beginning of the year to 42 percent. The Gallup organization conducted the poll for Newsweek Magazine s upcoming cover Story a the bite of the Middle class Quot due on Newsstands this week. President Bush a approval rating slipped 10 Points to 55 percent compared with a recent poll conducted Between oct. 17 and 20. The poll found that Bush and congressional republicans were blamed for the country s economic woes by 58 percent of americans up from 48 percent questioned Jan. 5. Only 25 percent of those polled blamed the economic downturn on congressional democrats. But asked if a democratic president would better handle economic conditions Only 28 percent said yes while an equal number was Uncertain and 44 percent said no. Half of those polled said a Cut in taxes on Middle in come americans would help the Economy a lot. Slightly fewer supported tax credits for families with Young children and less than a third supported Bush s proposal for a Cut in capital gains taxes. Newsweek also reported that the number of people satisfied with their Standard of living had reached a Low of 62 percent compared with 82 percent in 1981 and 77 percent in 1963. The Gallup organization interviewed 752 adults for the poll which had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage Points. Simpson regrets remarks on Hill Cheyenne Wyo. A sen. Alan k. Simpson expressed remorse saturday for his Sharp tongued criticism of Anita Hill during the Senate judiciary committee confirmation hearings of supreme court Justice Clarence Thomas. Quot i have been Riding High a bit too cocky arrogant yeah too smart by half sometimes a a the Wyoming Republican told about 300 people at a gop fund Raiser. Among those in attendance were Wyoming natives defense Secretary Dick Cheney and his wife. Lynne chairwoman of the National endowment for the humanities. The evening started As a humorous a roast and Toast Quot of the senator. But it adopted a somber note when Simpson told the crowd that the last several weeks had been a very  Simpson was one of Thomas strongest defenders and Hills biggest detractors earlier this month during hearings investigating Hills claims that Thomas had sexually harassed her. He angered women a organizations with his attacks on Hill and her credibility at one Point suggesting that the Law professor had a crush on Thomas. A i see some of my previous life a behaviour held up to a prism 1 had never noticed before through different eyes. For it has been personally uncomfortable to see your Good name equated with Joe Mccarthy sleaze slime smarmy evil ugly mean spirited Slasher vindictive menacing and much much More Quot he  fatalities the wreckage of a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter that carried Rock promoter Bill Graham dangles from a 200-foot Utility Tower near Vallejo calif., on saturday. Graham and two others aboard the aircraft were lulled when it rammed into the Tower about 10 20 . Friday night. Graham whose productions helped launch the careers of the Jefferson air plane the grateful dead and Janis Joplin was returning from a concert by Huey Lewis and the news when the Accident  of reported crimes increases 2 percent Washington a the amount of crime reported to police Rose 2 percent in the first half of 1991, the Fri said sunday and some criminal Justice experts say weak economic conditions May be a Factor. Violent crime reported to Law enforcement agencies increased 5 percent compared with the same period last year while property crime edged up 1 percent the Fri said. The Fri report comes on the heels of a household Survey released a week ago showing that crime Overall for  of 1990 declined 3.9 percent. That household Survey issued by the Justice department is considered a More accurate reflection of crime trends because it measures crime generally not just crime reported to police. According to the Fri Index there was a 3 percent decline in the Northeast in the amount of reported crime in the first six months of 1991. But there were increases elsewhere 4 percent in the Midwest 3 percent in the South and 2 percent in the West. The increases have some connection to unemployment and drug addiction among poor youths in the most crime prone age group Ages 15 to 24, said Gene Stephens a professor in College of criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina. The youths situation a never Good a is worse with the Economy in the doldrums Stephens said. There were indications in the Justice department s household Survey that crime might be turning up said Alfred Blumstein Dean of the school of Urban and Public affairs at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. For example robberies in 1990 were up sharply by 5.3 percent. The Fri said that in the first six months of this year a robberies reported to police were up 9 percent. Other violent crime categories Rose As Well murders 5 percent forcible rape 4 percent and aggravated assault 2 percent. A in property crimes there was a 1 percent increase in each of three categories burglaries larceny thefts and motor vehicle thefts. Arson showed no change. A the nations biggest cities showed a 2 percent decline in reported crime. The largest increase was in cities of less than 10,000 population where there was a 5 percent Rise. Fire scare prompts churches to ignore police Post guards n a Vicci ii i a / a a 17a i. N , Gainesville Fla. A Church congregations Are ignoring the advice of police and breaking out sleeping bags for guard duty after a rash of fires. Churches in Gainesville and Ocala Are letting parishioners sleep in sanctuaries following five Church fires in four Days. A a that should be a Job for trained Security personnel or Law enforcement Quot said Lynn Cyprian Ocala police spokeswoman Quot it could be very to Crous. If they were by Chance to by asleep and the Church is set on Hichey could Burn to  Fly latest string of blazes began oct. If and brings to 23 the number of Church fires in Florida since the summer of 1990. A state arson task Force Hasni to found any suspects or motives. Police departments in Gainesville and Ocala report numerous Calls alerting them that parishioners Are sleeping in Church buildings. First Assembly of god pastor . Lastinger said his Gainesville congregation has spent the last several nights guarding the Church. A a we la do it As Long As we have to a Lastinger said. A we Don t feel quite As vulnerable because we already have someone on the premises 24 hours a Day. We also have installed a closed circuit to system because of the arson  the worst of the recent blazes destroyed first Baptist Church of Ocala on thursday. The latest damaged a storage room Friday at first lutheran Church in Gainesville. Like three other Church fires in Gainesville during the week a  deliberately set a and a Church fire in Lake City last week the Gainesville Blaze was preceded by a break in and began in the morning. Arson is suspected in the fire that destroyed the Ocala Church. Gang members trial to Start in murder of Utah tourist new York apr relatives of a Utah tourist slain on a subway platform while trying to protect his family Are scheduled to testify against Young gang members charged with his stabbing death. Eight defendants Are to be tried in groups of four. A jury has been selected for the first group  age 19, and opening statements were to be made today. Brian Watkins and his family came to new York every year from Provo to attend the . Open Tennis tournament. His relatives plan to Tell of being attacked by eight men the night of sept. 2, 1990, in the heart of Manhattan s theater District. Members of Watkins family were on their Way to dinner in Greenwich Village when they were attacked. When one of the robbers slashed the rear pants pocket and buttock of Watkins father Sherman and ripped away $200, his Mother Karen tried to Stop the mugging. She was kneed in the face and knocked to the pavement. Brian Watkins 22, went to defend his Mother and was stabbed. After the robbers ran off the injured son chased two of the attackers up a flight of stairs before he collapsed. Michelle Watkins Brian s sister in Law ran to two men and asked them for help. To her horror she found that one was in on the robbery. He grabbed her to keep her from getting help. She is expected to testify that she was the first to see members of the gang lurking behind a staircase on the subway platform then running toward her family just before the robbery. On trial Are Pascal Carpenter Johnny Hincapie Emiliano Fernandez and Ricardo Nova  from Queens. They told police that they went Hunting for victims so they could get Money to go to Rose land a dance Hall but that murder was never part of their plan. All face life prison terms. The Watkins family has filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the City