European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 6, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Senators Rush to apologize in the Wake of Thomas hearing by Gwen Ifill the new York times Call it the apology bandwagon. In the aftermath of a Rush of Hometown criticism about the Senate judiciary committee s handling of the supreme court confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas a most unusual spectacle has begun to unfold. Sens Howard m. Metzenbaum of Ohio and Edward m. Kennedy of Massachusetts both democrats As Well As Alan k. Simpson r-wyo., have admitted varying degrees of guilt at mishandling the inquiry into claims of sexual harassment. The accusations were lodged by Anita f. Hill a former Thomas aide who is now a Law professor at the University of Oklahoma. Metzenbaum offered his apology on the Senate floor and on the opinion Page of the Plain dealer in Cleveland. Kennedy chose the relatively friendlier climate of Harvard University s John f. Kennedy school of government to admit that he had fallen Short of the Public s expectation that he would carry the Liberal Standard during the confirmation process. And Simpson travelled to Wyoming to offer by far the most self damning apology of the three conceding in a speech that he had been Quot a bit too cocky arrogant a and Quot too smart by half  Back in Washington he told reporters after a meeting at the White House that he had made the speech on the advice of family  action line it is Worth noting that none of the three senators a All of them senior and none yet in any immediate danger of being booted out of office a said How their past behaviour would change their future performance. Quot apologizing is great politics Quot said Alan Ehrenhalt who wrote the politics of ambition published this year by random House and is the editor of the Magazine governing. Quot it s basically quite becoming especially in people you do not expect to  the three senators have turned the tables on the conventional use of political Mea culpa in Washington. In the past the Only people who have Felt compelled to confess missteps were those seeking Senate a confirmation like Robert m. Gates president Bush s Choice for director of Central intelligence or seeking to escape prosecution like Samuel r. Pierce jr., president Reagan s Secretary of housing and Urban development. In past highly publicized hearings it was the members of Congress who emerged As heroes Sens. Daniel k. Inouye of Hawaii Howard h. Bakerjr. Of Tennessee and Sam j. Ervin or. Of North Carolina during watergate and rep. Lee h. Hamilton of Indiana during the Iran Contra hearings. This time it is the members of the Senate who have become the goats. Thomas Mann the director of governmental issues for the Brookings institution a research organization in Washington said the Rush to apologize is remarkable. Quot one might argue it is even unprecedented Quot Mann said. Quot i think it reflects the extraordinary Public attention that was Given to the Thomas Hill  the country is also scrutinizing other less than admirable congressional actions lumping them into one distasteful assessment of the effectiveness of the nations legislature. Reports of overdrawn checking accounts at the House Bank and unpaid restaurant tabs have All combined in the Public mind to symbolize a Congress that is too comfortable with perquisites and privileges. Mann Calls it the Quot scapegoating of Congress Quot and president Bush in a Tough speech last month did not hesitate to Lead the charge against the legislative Branch. Some congressional aides see no Way to score a Clear Victory. Metzenbaum for instance was attacked by letter writers both for being too slow to defend Hill and too Quick to attack one anti Hill witness John Ohio son. Howard Metzenbaum apolo Glood on tha sonata floor. Apap son. Alan k. Simpson wont Homo to Wyoming to . Edward Kennedy says to foil Short of the Public s expectation that he would carry the Liberal Standard during the confirmation process. Doggett Iff. He apologized for both miscalculations and acknowledged having reached a Quot Low Point Quot in his political career. Sen. Arlen Specter r-pa., who incurred the Wrath of women s groups by accusing Hill of perjury said last week that he had no plans to apologize. But even that approach carries risks of fire from the right. The Washington times ridiculed Specter for Quot modelling a Loose fitting hair shirt All Over Pennsylvania Quot and in a comment intended As a demeaning reference to their manhood labelled Specter and Simpson Quot castrati  right or left everyone understands the link Between elections and having to say you re sorry. Sen. Bill Bradley d-n.j., apologized for paying insufficient attention to his constituents Only after he barely survived a surprisingly Strong Challenge from his Republican opponent Christine Todd Whitman in 1990. A Retiree questions annual leave accrual it i retired from the air Force in 1986 and started working for the . Postal service in 1987.1 had almost 21 years of service but was Only Given credit for time served in a combat zone Southeast Asia. I asked Why and was told Quot that s the Way it is in the  they assumed it was because i receive retirement pay. I understand that reasoning for retirement purposes but i Don t understand How that would apply to annual leave accrual. I started my current Job As a department of army civilian in 1990, and have asked the same questions at two separate civilian personnel offices. They gave similar replies. They Don t understand it but that s the Way the regulation is written. So in masking again Why did i earn Only four hours of annual leave per pay period when a person with three years of military service would begin earning six hours a person with 15 years of military time would get credit for All that time and Start earning eight hours a pay period. I know it s in the regulation but i feel the regulation is wrong routed military should not be punished because we get retirement pay or because we wore a uniform to work. Nor should we be penalized because we decided serving our country was the career we wanted and stayed with it until retirement. In be been working for the same . Government for about 25 years. I done to think it s fair to be treated like a newcomer because i change agencies. I m sure there Are several others in the same position please give us the Quot credit Quot we have  t. Hulse Kaiserslautern Germany be Jane Wilson personnel management specialist civilian personnel division office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel Usa eur replies the writer a military Retiree asks for clarification on the policy that deals with crediting military service for the purpose of earning annual leave in a civil service Job title 5 of the United states code is the Law covering employment conditions for government employees in the chapter on leave rules for crediting years of service for the purpose of earning annual leave Are established a special provision for military retirees gives credit for All Active military service Only if retirement is based on disability resulting from injury or disease received in the line of duty As a direct result of armed conflict or caused by an instrumentality of War and incurred in the line of duty during a period of War. If military retirement is not based on disability under these conditions then Only service performed in the armed forces during a War or in a Campaign or expedition for which a Campaign badge has been authorized May be credited. Once years of creditable service Are established leave is earned at the rate of four hours per pay period for an employee with less than three years of service six hours per pay period for an employee with three but less than 15 years of service and eight hours per pay period for an employee with 15 or More years of  write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Apo 09211-4211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those see Keg information of general interest to our readers Page 16 a the stars and stripes wednesday november 6, 1991