The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 10

10-A Thursday, Sept. 22, 1983 Philadelphia Inquirer GAO says Legal Services used funds improperly in '81 By Dale Mezzacappa Inquirer Washington Bureau WASHINGTON The General Accounting Office (GAO) has concluded that several former officials of the' Legal Services Corp. improperly used federal funds at a 1981 training session when they discussed strategies for opposing expected Reagan administration budget cuts in social programs. The report partially backs up allegations by conservatives in Congress that the Legal Services Corp. has abused its congressional charter by engaging in political advocacy.

The GAO, a nonpartisan investigating arm of Congress, based its conclusions on information if received from several congressional opponents of the Legal Services Corp. The charges had been aired at a stormy congressional hearing earlier this year in which videotapes of the January 1981 meeting were shown. "These illegal activities are tanta-' mount to stealing from the poor," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R, Utah), a leading critic of the Legal Services Corp.

"We should fix the law so that every dime of federal money from this program helps poor people, and not one penny goes for illegal political activities." The 1981 meeting was called largely in response to statements made by the incoming Reagan" administration that it was considering abolishing legal services and cutting domestic social programs. The 16-page GAO report cited a statement by Alan Houseman, then director of the Legal Services Corp. Research Institute, that "what is at stake is not solely the survival of the legal services pro gram. What is at stake is the survival of many social benefits entitlement programs that we struggled, since 1965, to make real for poor people." The training session also focused on "networking and coalition-build- ing" to counter the anticipated poll-: cies of the Reagan administration. The legal services law prohibits training programs for the purpose of advocating particular public policies "as -distinguished from the dissemination of information about such policies or activities." GAO concluded that "although corporation officials did not technically violate this provision, they are not blameless Hatch, chairman of the Labor and Human Resources Committee that has jurisdiction over legal services, has introduced legislation that would impose significant restrictions on legal services lawyers that he says should prevent such political activities.

His legislation was scheduled to be taken up in committee yesterday, but the session was postponed as Hatch and Democratic sup porters of legal services sought to reach a compromise. The GAO report also criticized Alan VaAor loanl corvfs-ao .7 in California, for conducting a campaign against Proposition 9, a state ballot referendum that would have1 cut state income taxes. Legal services officials cited in the GAO report, including Dan Bradley, is luiuicj yicaiuciu, nave contended that the question of whether their activities violated the law was a matter of interpretation. Reagan backs envoy who suggested to U.N. that it leave the U.S.

From Inquirer Wire Services WASHINGTON President Reagan said yesterday that U.S. Ambassador Charles M. Lichenstein "had the hearty approval of most people in America" when he said the United States would not object if delegates to the United Nations want to move their headquarters out of the United States. Nevertheless, 24 House Democrats yesterday called for the ambassador's resignation. Reagan, answering questions as a White House luncheon for broadcasters, said Lichenstein was not asking U.N.

delegates from other countries to leave. "I think the gentleman who spoke for us the other day had the hearty approval of most people in America in. his suggestion that we weren't asking anyone to leave, but if they chose to leave, Reagan said when asked about the furor over the remark by the deputy chief of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Lichenstein, deputy to U.N.

Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, said Monday in response to Soviet assertions that the United States was unfit to be host to the U.N. that the United States "strongly encourages" dissatisfied members states "seriously to consider removing themselves and this organization from the soil of the United States." He said he and other members of the U.S. delegation "will be down on the dockside waving you a fond farewell as you sail into the sunset." Reagan also said he thought Kirk-Patrick's proposal that U.N. delegates should hold half their meetings in Moscow and half in New York was "an interesting suggestion that should be thought about." "Maybe all those delegates should have six months of United Nations meetings in Moscow and six months in New York," Reagan said.

"It would give them an opportunity to see two ways of life. And we'd permit them if they wanted to." The House Democrats, in a written statement, said Lichenstein's statement reflects "outright hostility to the goals and operations of the United Nations, and proves that he is unfit to represent our country in that body." "We therefore call for his immediate resignation." They also asked Secretary of State George P. Shultz to "officially retract the comments of Mr. Lichenstein and fully clarify U.S. policy toward the United Nations." The State Department has said that Lichenstein was speaking personally and was goaded into the remarks by the Soviet delegate.

The statement was signed by Reps. John Seiberling and Donald Pease of Ohio; Anthony Beilenson, Sala Burton, George Miller, Barbara Boxer, Don Edwards, Julian Dixon, Fortney Stark, George Brown Jr. and Norman Mineta of California; Doug Walgren, Bob Edgar and Peter Kostmayer of Pennsylvania; Bob Kastenmeier of Wisconsin; James Scheuer of New York; Howard Wolpe and David Bon-ior of Michigan; Gerry Studds and Edward Markey of Massachusetts; Berkley Bedell of Iowa; Patricia Schroeder of Colorado; James Ober-star of Minnesota and Paul Simon of Illinois. Asiociatad Presi ON THE RUN, firefighters in Salisbury, N.C., retreat from the Five people were injured yesterday in the explosion that scene of an explosion and fire at the Proctor Chemical Co. could be felt at least two miles away.

1 1 SAVS LAYER ON THE NEW: VESTED WARMERS BY IZZI Thornburgh says he'd run Reagan race in Pa. in Pennsylvania in 1980, could hold on to enough blue-collar votes to win the state next year. "I think Pennsylvania is going to be a very difficult state," Lewis said. He added, however, that "Pennsylva- nia is doable." "It's hard to tell at this point," Thornburgh said. "Nevertheless, the recovery is under way." He called the President "a marvelous campaigner." Leading officials, party workers and supporters from the state GOP each paid $250 last, night to attend a reception for Sen.

Paul Laxalt perhaps Reagan's closest ally in the Senate, and dine on steak. Officials, however, said Laxalt had to cancel his appearance because of a Senate debate last night. Thornburgh delivered the keynote address in Laxalt's absence. Along with additional contributions in the next few days, state GOP officials said they expected to raise $225,000 and clear about $180,000 after expenses were paid. That would eliminate the party's $175,000 debt, they said.

By Lawrence J. Haas United International Gov. Thornburgh said last night that he had agreed to run President Reagan's 1984 re-election campaign in Pennsylvania if the President, as expected, seeks another term. Thornburgh's action came in response to a request by former U.S. Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis, a Reagan ally who may serve as the President's national campaign manager next year.

Lewis announced the move during the Republican State Committee's annual fall dinner at the Adam's Mark Hotel, where an estimated 800 people raised about $180,000 to help pay off the state GOP's debt. Lewis, Thornburgh and Robert "Rick" Robb, a Montgomery County businessman and former Lewis aide who is expected to serve as deputy chairman for Reagan's effort in Pennsylvania, all agreed that the President will have trouble carrying the state as he did in 1980. But they expressed confidence that Reagan, who defeated President Jimmy Carter by more than 300,000 votes I SV Vol ril Boyfriend faces 6 years for slaying of actress t. I i SALE 67.45 Regularly 89.90 Reversible layers: jacket quilted vest Slip the vest over the jacket or wear either alone you've got eight possibilities. Lilacpinkwhite video game print acrylic knit jacket reverses to gray polyester-cotton poplin.

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John Sweeney, 27, was found not guilty of assault with Intent to do great bodily harm in an earlier attic on Miss Dunne. The jury found him guilty of misdemeanor assault instead. He faces a maximum term of six years in prison for the manslaughter and of six months for the misdemeanor assault. Gov. George Deukmejian signed a bill Tuesday that increased prison terms for voluntary manslaughter to a maximum 11 years, effective in January.

Prosecutors had asked for a conviction of second-degree murder, which carries a 15-year to life prison term. The defense had argued fot a verdict of involuntary manslaughter on the ground that Sweeney committed the crime "in the heat of passion." Dominic and Erica Dunne, the victim's parents, reacted angrily to the verdict, criticizing Superior Court Judge Burton Katz for not allowing the jury to hear testimony from a woman who contended that Sweeney beat her 10 times during their relationship. Sweeney strangled Miss Dunne last Oct. 30 outside the West Hollywood has lilac flip side; polyester-cotton with polyester fill. SMI IBQ-Qi PHONE TOLL-FREE 800-631-4100 or wnte for delivery in N.J.

and our delivery areas in N.Y Pa Del andMd Thorn I a rialivru hnnMnn r.h, Tl r- 1 ra, IU IBS, mursuay, oepiemoer At all Bamberger's stores. John Sweeney Chef killed Dominique Dunne apartment they formerly shared after she refused to reconcile their relationship. The actress, niece of well-known writers John Gregory Dunne and his wife, Joan Didion, died five days after the attack. Police said Sweeney, a former chef at the exclusive Ma Maison restaurant, confessed to the strangling the night of the attack. He later testified he remembered putting his hands around her neck, but he insisted he could not remember the actual strangling.

Miss Dunne, best known for her part as the teenage daughter in the film Poltergeist, had lived with Sweeney until last summer, when he allegedly began what prosecutors called a pattern of violence. TOMORROW, SHOP ALL BAMBERGER'S STORES TILL 9:30.