European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes Money matters wednesday june 29,1994 today a rates following arc fixed rates at which Community banking and credit Union facilities will sell foreign currencies to . Personnel for personal use British Pound 1.59 dutch Guilder 1.73 German Mark 1.55 greek drachma. 233.22 note Tho Rales above apply within Tho Host country. Figures Aro expressed in dollars to the British Pound  to the Dollar following arc Interbank rates that fluctuate and should be regarded As the approximate value of the . Dollar to foreign currencies austrian Schilling .11.1515 Bahrain Dinar. 0.37675 belgian franc. 32.55 British Pound. 1.5529 Canadian Dollar. 1.3906 danish Krone. 6.221 dutch Guilder .1.769 French franc. 5.4197 German mark1.5815 italian lira 1,562.00 Kuwait Dinar. 0.2956 norwegian Krona .6.9015 portuguese escudo 163.15 saudi rial. 3.7501 Spanish peseta 130.82 Swiss franc 1.326 turkish lira 31,000.00 note figures Are expressed in dollars to Tho British Pound other currencies la the Dollar Gold quote $390.25 an ounce a Silver quote $5,33 an ounce sources merchants National Bank 8 Trust co., Tho associated press United press International executive accused of cheating clients out of tax Money san Francisco a the head of i bankrupt payroll services company has been charged with cheating clients out of at least $55 million that was supposed to pay their income taxes. Connie Armstrong jr., chief executive officer of Hamilton Taft amp co., was indicted monday by a Federal grand jury on 21 counts of fraud and related charges. The company s president Richard fowls was indicted on nine charges. Hamilton Taft processed payroll taxes for More than 250 clients including Federal express corp. And Scott paper co. The company failed to turn the taxes Over to the Federal and state governments on time the indictment says. It accuses Armstrong from Dallas of diverting about $55 million for himself and using some of the Money for a $6.8 million 1,700-acre ranch and three sky boxes at Texas stadium. The company was shut Down by a Federal judge in 1991. . District judge Charles Legge later described the company As a scheme in which new clients Money was used to pay old clients taxes. Lawyers for Armstrong and fowls could not be reached for  new York apr saying that people Are fed up with a and fearful  panhandlers at automatic Teller machines lawmakers in cities around the country Are pushing for legislation that would make it a crime to stand near Cash machines and ask for Money. New Laws Banning these activities Are necessary because general atm safety regulations and anti loitering Laws do not protect people from being harassed around Cash machines the lawmakers said. And Banks cannot handle the problem they said. But advocates for the homeless and civil liberties groups say the jaws impede free speech carry excessive punishments and single out poor people for police har Ras Smunt. Washington , passed an Anli pan handling Law last year that bans panhandling within 10 feet of an atm. Breaking the Law carries up to a $300 Fine and a jail sentence of up to 90 Days. In san Francisco 57 percent of the City a voters approved a proposition this month that bans people from standing within 30. Feet of an atm while another person uses the machine. First time offenders can be fined up to $500 and jailed for up to six months. An anti panhandling measure that prohibits soliciting for Money within 25 feet of an atm or Bank Entrance is now before the City Council in nearby Berkeley. And in new York two City Council members have introduced a bilk that makes it a crime to Panhandle within 15 feet of an atm. The penalty includes a $25 Fine a 10-Day jail stay or both a the presence of panhandlers is so intimidating that people wont use arms at certain times of the Day a said Andrew Eristoff one of the sponsors a the Public has the right to enjoy convenient and unimpeded Access to atm  Eristoff who represents residents of. A amps Filo Many people Are becoming wary of using automatic Teller machines because of the presence of panhandlers. The wealthy upper East Side of Manhattan said the majority of his constituents think panhandling near arms should be a crime. A we done to want to see panhandling at All least of All near arms a said Betty Cooper Vav Allenstein an upper East Side resident and head of one of the areas neighbourhood associations. Wallenstein said she no longer uses unenclosed arms because its to dangerous �?o1 feel that its unsafe to get Money on the Street especially with someone standing behind you seeing you take the Money  atm customers said Banks should a Oats More to discourage panhandlers but Bankers contend they done to have the Power to drive beggars away. Several states have Laws that require Banks to provide adequate lighting video monitors Security guards and other safely measures at arms to protect customers. But that does no to solve Alltha problems. A we done town or control the Public sidewalk a said William r. Wipprecht director of Security at Wells Fargo Bank in san Francisco. A there Are things that arc just beyond our control a said David Glass general counsel at the new York state banking association. New York recently enacted some of the toughest atm safety Laws in the country. Dealing with panhandlers is Best left to the police Glass said Norman Siegel head of the new York civil liberties Union said panhandling is a nonviolent form of expression that is protected by the first amendment. He also said Banks and Law enforcement officials can use existing Laws prohibiting harassment and trespassing to Deal with panhandlers. A we should Stop trying to criminalize this act a siege said. A Many of these people Are just trying to survive and Are asking people to help them. A that is protected free speech a he said. The civil liberties Union said it has not yet launched a Challenge to the proposed Law. If it becomes the subject of Council hearings the group said it would consider testifying against it. Although Bankers support the legislation they also done to expect the new Laws to keep panhandlers away from arms for Good. A if nothing else it la keep the aggressive panhandlers moving Quot said Wip procht at we to Fargo. A a it a not a Pana Cea. Payoff allegedly offered in Dod fraud Case Hartford Conn. A United technologies corp. Offered a fired executive $1 million in Severance payments if he would keep quiet about How much the company a Sikorsky aircraft division defrauded the Pentagon a published report said. The executive Douglas d. Keeth a vice president assigned to conduct an internal investigation of Sikorsky was fired feb. 28, 1990, after repeatedly insisting that Etc share All his findings with the government. According to documents obtained by the Hartford courant the $1 million was offered months later on the condition that Keeth Volunteer nothing about the fraud he had reported to executives in March 1989. The Hartford courant published the Story sunday. The offer to Keeth who won a record $22.5 million whistle blowers award this Spring is detailed in a Etc Severance document obtained by the courant from the . Justice department under the Federal Freedom of information act. Keeth rejected the offer. The document interviews with government officials and Keethus false claims suit describe efforts by the defense contractor to minimize How Sikorsky mishandled $2 billion in military helicopter contracts during the 1980s. But Etc denied any wrongdoing and told the associated press on sunday that the Severance offer was a Standard settlement proposal a not a gag order. A the settlement was acceptable to both Etc and the government a Etc spokesman Martin Moore said. A at no time did the company seek to improperly inhibit or. Kecton from dealing with the government. Having settled the Case we believe it is inappropriate to now try the Case in the  Etc had notified the Pentagon in april 1988 of Billing problems at Sikorsky for Black Hawk and Seahawk helicopters. It immediately cancelled $75 million in Billings and assigned a team to investigate. The team included Keeth who concluded in March 1989 after 11 months of study that Sikorsky had disclosed Only a Small portion of the overfilling. Keeth also found that the fraud was continuing and that Etc or Sikorsky had submitted false records to conceal what had happened. Suit says bus Driver sought to silence Spanish san Francisco apr greyhound bus lines is being sued by seven riders who claim a bus Driver shouted at passengers to Stop speaking Spanish. A the Driver first came Over the loud speaker saying could you please Stop speaking in Spanish you re giving me a headache a a said the plaintiffs lawyer Ana Menjivar. A then he pulled the bus Over. To make his  the lawsuit also claims the Driver deliberately shut the bus door on the Arm of one Spanish speaking woman at a rest Stop. Greyhound spokeswoman Liz Dunn said monday that the Driver was disciplined and a settlement offered. Menjivar whose Mother and two cousins Are among those suing said that the plaintiffs were offered Only $25 ticket vouchers and that the Driver Only had to undergo counselling. Menjivar smother Maria Emma Menjivar said she confronted the Driver during the january trip from Lake Tahoe to san Francisco. �?o1 told him the been living Here for almost 50 years and in be never had something like this happen to me a a she said. A the said i done to care if you be been Here a million cars. A Ana Menjivar identified the Driver As . Vaughn and said she planned to serve him with the lawsuit. The plaintiffs include five latinos who were speaking Spanish and two other riders who argued about the incident with the Driver. The lawsuit filed in san Francisco Superior court it March seeks several million dollars in compensator damages Lor humiliation fear of physical assault emotional assault and violation of civil rights. Menan Ai would not say exactly How much the plaintiffs w ant. The lawsuit also asks greyhound to instruct driven to respect passengers right to speak any language