European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 b the stars and stripes saturday december 14, 1991thousands cheer former hostage Homecoming Salute highlights tree ceremony Washington apr president Bush joyously saluted five former . Hostages thursday and proclaimed at a festive Christmas tree lighting ceremony that a a american sprayers were answered when these men came Home to  the hostages were loudly cheered As Bush introduced them on stage one by one before thousands of people on the Ellipse. The former hostages were the Star attractions during the annual ceremony of the lighting of the National Christmas tree. A on behalf of our Loving country i say finally to Terry Anderson to Tom Sutherland Joseph Cicippio Alann Steen and Jesse Turner and the others not Here Welcome Home a Bush said. All five hostages were released in the last two months. At Bush a invitation Anderson the longest held and last freed hostage threw a switch to illuminate the huge Christmas tree. It remained dark. Anderson slapped the Button Box a time or two before throwing up his hands in frustration. Bush took Over with no better Success. He Shook the Box and put it Down again. No Joy. A few seconds later however the lights blazed. A it is almost miraculous that we can celebrate with these five the lighting of our nations Christmas tree a Bush said. A the idea is so moving because these men have come out of darkness into the Bright Light of Liberty. A and As you hear these remarkable men talk you realize they were never lost in that darkness of sorrow anguish and despair. Even at the worst moments they were guided by a stubborn spark that cruelty could not extinguish the spark of the human  it was the first time in eight christmases that no american has been held captive in Lebanon. Some of the former hostages went to a White House Christmas party on thursday night. Collectively the former hostages were held for roughly 28 years. Anderson spent 2,455 Days a nearly seven years a in Captivity much of the time in chains. Bush first welcomed the former hostages to the White House where he said that a fall of you have survived an act of unspeakable uncivilized  a we thank god that you Are free a Bush told the men in a ceremony in the East room which was gaily decorated for the Christmas season. The Marine corps a former american hostages share the spotlight thursday at the White House. In front from left Are former hostages Jesse Turner Thomas Sutherland Alann Steen Joseph Cicippio and Terry Anderson. In Back from left Are Presl Dent Bush . Secretary general Javier Frei de Cuellar Secretary of state James a. Baker i and vice president Dan Quayle bands pianist played ill be Home for Christmas. Bush also paid a warm Salute to . Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar and the . Officials special envoy on hostages Giandomenico Picco. Bush said they a represent the highest in humanitarian  he presented p6rez de Cuellar with the medal of Freedom the nations highest civilian Honor and gave Picco a special award for exceptional service. Bush said the United states had refused to negotiate with the kidnappers and had been proven right. Bush singled out Sutherland and Anderson the chief Middle East correspondent for the associated press and said a you were right when you said a no negotiations with  a a seeing Freedom through pc your eyes even for a moment frees us from the Petty concerns that so often hold us hostage a Bush said. Bush called anew for the return of the remains of it. Col. William r. Higgins and Cia official William Buckley who did in Captivity. Asked if there were any Progress on that front p6rez de Cuellar said a i Hope to get some news in the next few  Smith wants refund for some of huge costs West Palm Beach up William Kennedy Smith spent a every Penny he has on his defense and will ask the state of Florida to reimburse part of his trial costs his attorney said thursday. Smiths four woman two Man jury heard 47 witnesses during 10 straight Days of trial. Jurors took 77 minutes to find the 31-year-old medical school graduate not guilty of rape and Battery. Roy Black whose fees have been estimated from $250,000 to $500,000, declined to discuss How much Smiths defense Cost. Lawyer Mark Seiden another member of the defense team told reporters that his impression was the total Cost of the defense could approach $2 million. A my Mother always told me never to discuss Money in polite company a Black said. But he added a i would tend to think he a spent every Penny he has. We will be filing with the county for those parts of the trial that Are reimbursable a that would include costs associated with depositions subpoenas and the like Black said. He could not estimate the amount Smith would seek. A i have not thought about the expense for several weeks a Black said. He acknowledged that Smiths family wealth had enabled him to hire forensic scientists and other experts presenting a More convincing defense than a poor defendant might have been Able to do. A of course Justice Isnit equal a Black said. A because of course Justice in t equal. Because he had the resources he was Able to match the resources of the state a Smith attorney Roy Black he had the resources he was Able to match the resources of the  David Roth the attorney representing the 30-year-old woman who accused Smith of rape said he would not Rule out the possibility of a suit against Smith. Lawyers for Smith and his accuser both said their clients Felt no bitterness toward each other. Smiths accuser released a statement through her attorney after the verdict saying a despite the enormous personal Price i do not for a moment regret the course in be  juror Lea Haller said in a television interview Thal the evidence was not enough to support a conviction. A it was the evidence a she told spec to in Wesl Palm Beach. A i made my decision based on the evidence. The dress was an Issue for me. There was no evidence on the  Black had argued that there was no sign of struggle on the woman a dress and that other physical evidence failed to support the prosecutions Story. Smith testified that the woman picked him up at at bar in Palm Beach and that they Nad sex on the Lawr with her consent As the result of a Mutual  he said she a sort of snapped when he called her by the wrong name and accused him of rape. Smith had been charged with one felony count of sexual Battery a Florida a equivalent of rape a Anc one Misdemeanour county of Battery crimes punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Tentative pact lessens strike threat against United Chicago api a United airlines machinists reached a tentative contract agreement with the airline Friday possibly avoiding a crippling Holiday strike. Negotiators for the airline s largest Union agreed to keep 27,000 members on the Job Friday said Ken theide assistant general chairman of the International association of machinists and aerospace workers. A your negotiating committee is going to be recommending a yes vote a theide said. United said in a statement that both sides agreed not to release details of the tentative pact pending a vote by Union members. Neither Side would say when the vote would be held. The Union could have voted to strike immediately if no agreement was reached by 11 01 . Thursday the end of a 30-Day Cooling off period a spokeswoman at the unions strike hot line said the tentative agreement was reached about 15 minutes later. United and the Union had been negotiating virtually non Stop since monday. The Union representing mechanics and other Blue Collar workers has been without a contract since 1989. Of United battling with american airlines for supremacy As the nations largest air Carrier could have been hit hard by a strike during the Holiday season. United spokesman Tony Molinero would not say thursday if the airline had a contingency plan in Case of a strike. A Carmona Secretary treasurer of to unions District 141, said wednesday the negotiators had agreed on several mint issues. But primary issues such As wages an working hours had gone unresolved. Ual corp., the airlines Parent con Pany signed new contracts this year Wil unions representing pilots and flight a tenants