European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 0 the stars and stripes Friday april 10, 1992 Senate backs Bush plan for $292 billion defense Washington apr the Senate refused thursday to trim about $4 billion from president Bush a tanned $292 billion defense budget for next year Anding another defeat to democratic leaders trying to Cut Pentagon spending. On a vote of 50-45, the lawmakers rejected a proposal by sen. J. James Exon d-neb., to trim Bush a military spending plan by less than 2 percent. The vote came As the Senate debated a $1.5 trillion Federal budget for fiscal 1993, which starts oct. 1. It is the first lawmakers have written since the soviet unions breakup. Exon blamed his defeat on Quot the military Industrial Complex which is still alive and  Exon proposed reducing Bush a defense proposal by $4.2 billion. But Senate minority Leader Bob Dole r-kan., said exons plan ignored past instances in which enemies such As iraqis Saddam Hussein arose unexpectedly. Quot there seem to be some pretty Short memories around Here Quot Dole said. The Senate spending plan also contains slightly More Washington apr the antihistamines found in most of the cold remedies on the Market May do More harm than Good experts said wednesday. One of the experts said a shot or two of whiskey before bedtime might be better for a cold sufferer than a nip of nyquil. While antihistamines Are useful in treating allergies their effect in treating the symptoms of a cold Are marginal at Best witnesses told a House panel. Quot since antihistamines have the potential to cause harmful effects the risks associated with their use outweigh any meager Benefit a said Leslie Hendeles a professor of pharmacy and paediatrics at the University of Florida. Quot it is my opinion that these drugs should be removed from All non prescription products promoted for the Relief of cough and cold  Hendeles said studies going Back to the mid-1970s found that cold sufferers Given antihistamines did no better than those Given a Placebo. In addition he said the antihistamines have potentially dangerous Side effects such As drowsiness. People with allergies get Runny noses and watery eyes when the linings of their noses and eyes release histamine Hendeles said. The treatment for that is an Antihistamine. But a cold is a virus and studies have found that it does not cause a release of histamine he said. However one Side effect of antihistamines called the Anticholinergic effect is to dry up a Runny nose and because of that they spending than Bush prefers for transportation and a bit less than he wants for space. T but the sharpest dispute was Over defense which democrats insist can be slashed with the faded soviet threat. Quot its time we managed the department of defense budget to bring it kicking and screaming in line with the Post cold War world a said Exon who introduced the amendment holding military spending to $288 billion. The amendment had the support of democratic leaders. But republicans countered that exons plan would Cut too deeply at a time of uncertainty. Quot lets Cut in an orderly manner and wait and see for a few years How this world pans out a said sen. Pete Domenici of new Mexico the budget panels ranking Republican. Despite their 57-43 majority in the Senate democrats Hunter desperately for votes As several of their pro defense members defected to the gop Side. Senate armed services chairman Sam Nunn d-ga., said cutting much below Bush a proposal would cause Quot very severe disruptions not Only in our defense but also in our Overall  have been approved for use in cold preparations. The non prescription drug manufacturers association issued a statement defending the use of antihistamines. Quot people know if they have a Runny nose and they know what provides Relief a it said. Quot people  continue using these products if they did no to  Hendeles named nyquil As one of the cold preparations in which antihistamines have doubtful Benefit. The product is 25 percent alcohol Quot Many patients have told me that they like nyquil because it puts them to sleep a he said. Quot considering the Antihistamine and alcohol have an additive effect it is not surprising that a they feel no  Quot they would probably obtain the same desired effect from a few shots of their favorite whiskey at far less expense and without the added  a spokeswoman for Richardson Vicks health care the maker of nyquil did not immediately return a phone Call to comment on Hendeles testimony. The government operations subcommittee on health is looking into Why the food and drug administration permits the drug to remain on the Market in cold remedies if it has no beneficial effect and carries risks. Or. Carl Peck director of the of Day Scenter for drug evaluation and research said the Agency is continuing to look into the use of antihistamines in non prescription cold medicines but added that it is Quot an enormous  United Way officer files $3 million lawsuit from wire reports Washington a the United Way of America was sued wednesday by its former chief financial officer who was dismissed on the eve of critical press accounts about the organization. Thomas j. Merlo a longtime Friend of former Una president William Aramony alleged that United Way of America breached his employment contract wrongfully discharged him and then defamed him and invaded his privacy in a report released last week. Merlo 61, a Florida accountant asked $3 million in damages in the suit filed in Palm Beach county Fla. _ _ the suit challenges numerous details in the 59-Page report and rejects any suggestion that Merlo took personal trips at Una expense or acted improperly in any  sent to journalist Brownsville Texas a a severed Tongue was mailed to a newspaper reporter possibly because of her reporting on drug traffickers police said wednesday. The Tongue was delivered tuesday to Rebecca Thatcher a reporter with the Brownsville Herald in an envelope bearing the return address of a House that was seized in 1990 in a drug related Case. The Fri was asked to Analyse the  Poison scam costs City Chicago a a rat Poison scam Cost the City $100,000, Chicago a inspector general says. Two employees of the Bureau of rodent control allegedly stole the Poison and sold it to a private exterminating company inspector general Alexander Vroustouris said tuesday. The exterminators then sold it Back to the City at least twice he said. Deputy commissioner Roger Monaco resigned last month from his $63,564-a-year Job because of the incident. Supervisor Paul Mostacchio was laced on paid administrative leave from his 39,492-a-year Job. Recruits fired for cribbing fort Worth Texas a nine police recruits were fired wednesday because they allegedly cheated on a routine first Aid examination. Four others were suspended without pay for failing to report the cheating. Police said one of the nine fired recruits a certified red Cross cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor gave materials for the car test to the eight others. After completing their five Day suspension the four cadets will continue the six month training course police said $61 betting Pool probed Asheville . A a state probe was launched into an Mcaa basketball tournament betting Pool in which staff at the University of North Carolina at Asheville wagered a total of $61. No arrests were made the state Bureau of investigation said. A the complaint was ludicrous a said vice Chancellor Larry Wilson. He said the betting Wasny to done on state time and the stakes were Only about $1 a person. About 40 people were in the Pool. Chancellor Sam Schuman had already ordered the Pool disbanded and the Money returned in response to an Anonymous letter said Wilson. Sports pools Arentt specifically prohibited by state Law out they fall under the general statute Banning gambling. Gambling is a Misdemeanour that generally carries a maximum penalty of two years in  haitians returned Miami a the . Coast guard repatriated 245 haitians on wednesday one Day after Crews picked up the boat people from overcrowded vessels in International Waters off the coast of the troubled Caribbean nation. The coast guard Cutter Legare returned the haitians to port a Prince where they were turned Over to the International red Cross. At putting into port the Mega cruise ship the majesty or the seas slides across the Atlantic that began in France. The majesty into new York after completing its Maiden voyage was photographed from the aircraft Carrier intrepid. Antihistamines risky experts warn