European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes . Friday. May 20, 1994 Rostenkowski Legal moves reported Washington a attorneys for rep. Dan Rostenkowski Are trying to resolve the nearly completed criminal investigation of the Illinois Democrat sources say. One source speaking on condition of anonymity wednesday said Rostenkowski attorney Robert Bennett was Quot having discussions with prosecutors aimed at avoiding a lengthy criminal trial for the chairman of the ways and Means committee. The new York times and the Chicago Sun times reported thursday that Bennett Hopes to negotiate a plea bargain that would avoid a Broad felony indictment. The Chicago Tribune reported thursday that Rostenkowski attorneys have been trying to convince prosecutors that his spending practices should be dealt with internally by the House or that they warrant civil rather than criminal penalties. A a a a. A /. The . Attorneys office in Washington has been investigating Rostyn Kowskie a use of his office and Campaign accounts and allegations that he improperly received Money in stamp transactions at the House Post office. News organizations including the associated press have reported that . Attorney Eric Holder sent the Justice department a memo recommending that Rostenkowski be indicted. If Rostenkowski were indicted on a Fol ony charge House democratic caucus rules would Force him to step Down As committee chairman. That could harm president Clinton a health care plan since the president is counting on Rostyn Kowskie a clout a which comes with his chairmanship a to line up crucial votes. A a a a a a a a a there was no indication that Rostenkowski has agreed to plead guilty to any charge and he has asserted his innocence of any wrongdoing. Legal sources familiar with High profile criminal investigations said defense lawyers often get a Chance to discuss a Case with prosecutors before an indictment arid one source familiar with the discussions regarding Rostenkowski do scribed the talks As Quot not unusual a sometimes the defense lawyers try to convince prosecutors that they done to have a Case that can be worn other times the discussions involve an agreement to plead guilty to a lesser charge than prosecutors were contemplating. The investigation began As a drug and embezzlement probe of House Post office employees in .1991, but eventually focused on Rostenkowski. I cd in Anchorage Alaska apr Exxon a former chairman says he did no to know what he was talking about five years ago when he accused Tanker Captain Joseph Hazelwood of being drunk when the Exxon Valdez nit a reef. Lawrence Rawls testimony in a multimillion Dollar lawsuit against Exxon corp. And Hazelwood Contra dieted statements he made to Congress and on television two weeks after the March 24, 1989, wreck the worst Oil spill in . History. In addition to the drunkenness accusation Rawl said in 1989 that Hazelwood should not have been commanding Oil Tanker after being treated for alcohol abuse in 1985 and that Exxon made Quot a Gross error in not detecting that the Captain had a drinking problem. On wednesday Rawl said repeatedly that he  be held to those statements which he said were based on flawed or incomplete information a i said a lot of things that if i had More time to get information i  have said a said Rawl who retired last year. A i Wasny to real careful at that time a i was under a lot of  Rawl said he now believes the Captain was t drunk or even impaired when the grounding occurred. More than 10,000 commercial fishermen Alaska natives and property owners Are suing for up to $16.5 billion. The Tanker spilled nearly 11 million Gallons of crude into Prince William sound fouling 1,500 Miles of beaches and killing tens of thousands of seabirds and other animals. An attorney for the plaintiffs Brian of Neill said of Exxon witnesses Quot they give one version of the facts in 1989 and another version in 1994, for them its whatever Story happens to be convenient for Exxon corp. At the  the plaintiffs contend cause Hazelwood was drunk and that Exxon knew pain tits contend that the spill occurred be Hazelwood was drunk and that Exxon knew he had a drinking problem but recklessly Lef him in charge anyway. The defendants say that the Captain had a few drinks before sailing but that the Accident had nothing to do with alcohol. Rawl Laboured particularly hard to distance himself from his statement that Hazelwood was drunk. He said he based his earlier comments on what he thought was Quot irrefutable proof a from the coast guard. Rawl said that he now has doubts about Hazelwoods blood alcohol test results. In 1990, Hazelwood who was fired after the spill was acquitted of operating the Tanker while intoxicated. His attorneys contend that the blood test Isnit reliable because the coast guard and testing lab mishandled the samples. The new York City jail Barge Bibby Resolution sits in the East River off Manhattan in february1992 nyc opens floating jails to buyers new York apr they started As Cellblock now they re going on auction blocks. Two former prison barges Are available to the highest bidder seven years after they first provided new York City inmates with a River View. Quot barges for Sale a read an and for the Bibby Resolution and its sister vessel the Bibby venture in wednesdays new York times. Similar ads ran in the Wall Street journal and four Trade publications As the City moved this week to Cut the barges Loose. The ads make no mention of inmates or cells although potential buyers Are told to Contact the correction department the first jail Barge a converted British troop ship pressed into service to relieve overcrowding arrived in new York to fierce opposition in 1987. Quot Koch a Folly a snarled a City councilwoman re furring to former mayor de Koch. Citizen groups sued to keep the barges from opening alleging in humane conditions and a threat to the Community. The floating jails which once held 380 inmates apiece were abandoned under mayor David Dinkins in 1992, Quot in a glad the City is Selling the barges because in a sorry it bought them in the firs place a said state sen. Manfred Ohrenstein of Manhattan. An attempt to auction the vessels last year failed when the bids were too Low a Only about $3 million compared with the $20 million the City paid to buy and renovate them. A we think the time May Well be. Right for the City to realize a better value a said Fred Winters a spokesman for the City. Department of general services. A a a. A a \ the City will save $167,000 a month a the Cost of keeping the barges afloat one on the East River the other on the Hudson. The barges last Job for the British Empire was carrying troops to the Falkland islands. Many . Teens do Good Washington a of yes they listen to impossible music drink Beer by the Keg can to add without a calculator Are addicted to television use up All the hot water and Wear clothes that show their underwear. But according to a Washington research outfit not All kids in America Are illiterate ill Clad Couch bound and promiscuous. Some Are a or also Are a Good citizens. In a report wednesday Independent sector said 61 percent three out of five if you done to have your calculator of All americans Ages 12 to 17 Volunteer to do Good work. Independent sector is a coalition of More than 800 corporations foundations and Volunteer groups interested in Charity and voluntary action. It said that the average teen age Volunteer is at it for 3.2 hours a week and that one in four puts in More than five hours a week a doing everything from helping a neighbor paint the House to singing in the Church choir. If you had to pay the $4.25-an-hour minimum wage for All the work done by teen volunteers it would Cost about $7 billion and require the full time service of around 1 million people Independent sector said. It cited As the source of these conclusions two National in Home interview surveys conducted by the Gallup organization and a National conference attended by 70 teen volunteers from 28 states. The poll was conducted in 1992