Rutland Daily Herald from Rutland, Vermont • 1

vr i. i Home: Cleaning Products "page? SportcKRaidei -v 1 'ESTABLISHED IN 1794 The Oldest Family-Owned Newspaper in the United Slates Vol.135-No.41 Rutland, Vermont Copyright 350 2 Sections 24 Pages Saturday Morning, February 16, 1991 'raqs Peace Feeler Jeffords Sees Stalling Tactic The Associated Press MONTPELIER Sen. James Jeffords, R-Vt, said Friday that Saddam Husseins offer to pull Iraqi forces out of Kuwait could be a stalling tactic designed to win him support in other Middle East countries. Jeffords and the rest of Vermonts congressional delegation reacted cautiously to Iraqs offer Friday to pull out All three members of Vermonts delegation oppose linking a cease-fire to an Israeli withdrawal from Arab territories. Jeffords said there was some reason for optimism because the Iraqi offer seemed to acknowledge the notion of a sovereign Kuwait rather than referring to the emirate as the 19th province of Iraq, as Saddam has repeatedly called the small nation since the August invasion.

Jeffords added that any' postwar solution in the Persian Gulf must come from the United Nations and should not be dictated by the United States. We have to emphasize that were there as the policeman and not the judge and jury, Jeffords said. We have to be very careful because our image in the Mideast is not what youd call the greatest." Rep. Bernard Sanders, also expressed concern about what happens after the war. While there is no question that (See Page 12; Reaction) Bush Says Move A Cruel Hoax By PATRICK E.

TYLER The New York Times WASHINGTON Iraq said for the first time Friday it was prepared to discuss compliance with a tl.N. Security Council resolution calling for its withdrawal from Kuwait if numerous condi-tionsofits own were met. But President Blsh rejected the offer as a cruel hoax and urged Iraqs military leaders and civilian population to take matters into their own hands and force Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power. The statement from the ruling Revolutionary Command Council, normally headed by Hussein was read over Baghdad radio and was Welcomed by the Soviet Union, which was simultaneously stepping up diplomatic efforts to end the war. A letter from Soviet President Mikhail S.

Gorbachev sent before the Iraqi offer was announced, urged the leaders of the United States, Britain and France to hold dffi on any ground offensive gainst Iraq until talks scheduled early next week in Moscow with Iraqs foreign minister were completed, according to foreign diplomats and administration officials. The Iraqi announcement, initially reported by news agencies without the qualifying conditions, cahght the world by surprise, setting off a wave of euphoria that I (See Page 12; Gulf) AP Photo British armor moves forward into frontline positions Friday somewhere in Saudi Arabia. Coalition Now Faces A Difficult Test Iraq will withdraw from Kuwait under these terms: Withdrawal should be linked to an Israeli pullout from occupied Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese Allied forces must withdraw from the Gulf region within one month of cease-fire. p. Repeal U.N.

resolutions that condemn the Iraqi invasion, imposed an economic embargo and authorized the use of force to oust Iraq. Kuwaits political future be based on "the wishes of the peqple and not ruling family. Allies repair war damage In Iraq By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN The New York Times WASHINGTON Iraqs proposal on Kuwait Friday appears to open a new phase in the Persian Gulf crisis, in which the cohesion of the anti-Baghdad coalition is likely to be severely tested, particularly the core United States-Soviet alliance. While President Bush dismissed the Iraqi move as a cruel hoax, and encouraged the over- Underlying these contrasting reactions, administration officials say, are different needs.

The United States will not feel that it has achieved a victory unless Hussein is either administered an embarrassing political defeat or removed from power altogether; the Soviets are prepared to live, with him after the war and see in. their efforts to preserve his gov-' eminent a chance to maintain (See Page 12: Analysis) Nevs Analysis throw of President Saddam Hussein, the Soviet foreign minister, Aleksandr A Bessmertnykh, said that after Baghdads latest overture, everything looks rather encouraging. The Soviet government greeted Baghdads statement initially with satisfaction and hope. AP million increase allocated for return on equity to company stockholders. CVPS has also figured in $4.1 million in cost reductions thus bringing the total increase to $26.3 million.

CVPS pointed out in its filing that it has made a strong effort over recent months to trim its budgets, cutting $2.8 million from the 1991 operations and maintenance budget. The company bias eliminated most advertising, closed an administrative office and left some jobs unfilled, among other measures. Asked about wage increases for the companys 750 workers, Simon said increases would average about 4.5 percent. He could not say whether senior management raises would be more. Simons did point out that the company had already said it (See Page 12: CVPS) By BRUCE EDWARDS Faced with what it says are increased costs to purchase electricity, Central Vermont Public Service Corp.

on Friday announced it was seeking a 14.9 rate increase. 8 CVPS, which filed the rate request with the state 1 Public Service Board Friday afternoon, said it' wanted to implement the rate increase beginning in November. The utilitys last rate increase of 8.7 percent went into effect in June. According to CVPS officials, more than 80 percent of the rate request is related to higher power costs associated with several power sources. Those include the utilitys new 30-year contract with Hydro-.

Quebec, along higher costs in the existing contract, higher costs for transmitting power and increases from Vermont Yankee and other nuclear plants. About 60 percent of the companys annual expenses are for purchased power, the company has said. The rate increase, which would raise the companys annual revenue by approximately $26.3 million, is necessary to meet 1992 expenses, Robert H. Young, senior vice president of finance and administration, said in a prepared statement He went on to say that CV limited the rate request to 14.9 percent, despite the fact that expenses are expected to be higher. He said the company would continue to focus on cost control and reduce its spending for next year.

CVPS spokesman Bruce Simons said Friday, the companys purchased power costs have increased 8 to 10 percent a year over the past three years. He said the company had little or no control over those costs. According to Simons, CVPS obtains 35 percent of its power from hydro sources with most of that imported from Hydro-Quebec. He said another 35 percent comes from the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon of which CVPS is a one-third owner. Fourteen percent of the companys power comes from coal-fired plants with the remaining 5 percent generated from oil-fired plants.

According to documents filed with the PSB, CVPS says that through 1992 increases in power and transmission costs will total $22.5 million. Another $5.9 million of the rate request is associated with energy-efficiency programs. There is also a $2 Inside Story Senate Approves Bill Adding $10 Million to Budget Bill 2 i 7 Ik'-njfc. ji V. Snow Possible Saturday, chance of light snow in the Partly sunny during the afternoon.

Highs in the teens. (Page 2) Reservist Resists Marine reservist fights call-up, saying her poor health will hot allow her to serve. (Page 5) School Planning A city aldermanic committee recommended Friday that a $1 million loan to the School Board be continued for planning work on a new Rutland High School. (Page 13) Jail Sentence A Rutland man with a prior' criminal record was sentenced 1 to a jail term Friday in Rutland District Court for molesting a girl. (Page 13) Retires Alltime football great Ozzie Newsome retires from Cleve- land Browns.

(Page 16) -7" V. A fi ii 5 I 7 9 1 sr Mayor Peter Clavelle of Burlington has no Democratic or Republican opponents in his re-election campaign this year. 1 Snelling Doesnt Push Furlough By NANCY WRIGHT Vermont Presa Bureau MONTPELIER Gov. Richard A Snelling met with a state employees union official Friday but did not ask to open negotiations on his proposal to furlough state employees for 12 days without pay. Its hard to deal with a relatively inflamatory term like furlough without specifics, said Thomas Whitney, executive director of the Vermont State Employees Association.

Since he did not ask to bargain, I guess its hypothetical. I doubt very much its going to go anywhere. During a news conference earlier in the day, Snelling said state employees could either go without two-and-a-half. weeks pay ovet the next four months or expect to see more jobs cut from the state payroll in 1992. So far, Snellings 1992 budget incorporates several measures that could result in the loss of as many as 750 state jobs over the next year.

The exact numbers are not yet available. Snelling Baid he didnt like the idea of furloughs, but added that unpaid leave was the least pain ful way to generate a $2.7 millioi savings in an already lean bud g0 (See Page 12: Furloughs) Senators Preserve Their Own Pay By STEVE LAROSE Vermont Press Bureau MONTPELIER A budget adjustment act that adds almost $10 million to the states budget woes won preliminanr approval with little debate Friday in the Senate. The budget bill advanced on a 24-3 roll-call vote, with a handful of Republican senators providing the only opposition. While senators agreed to increase state spending for the current fiscal year, they declined to set a limit on their pay and meal expenses. Amendments offered by Sen, John McClaughry, R- Caledonia, lost narrowly after some senators complained that, the move was an attempt to cir-1 cumvent the Senate Government -Operations Committee.

McClaughry had proposed Iim-. iting lawmakers salaries to $7,650 for. the session, no matter how long it runs. I can see no reason why legislators Bhould be spared the fiscal pain that other Vermonters are being asked to accept in budget cuts, he said. If the session runs 16 weeks, as anticipated, that amount would work out to $478 per week roughly lawmakers current salary level.

If the Session ends more quickly, 1 lawmakers would still keep the money, McClaughry Gov. Richard A. Snelling has deferred action on a proposed furlough of state employees. said, and would realize a higher per-week income. For that reason, the proposal could be thought of as an efficiency bonushe added.

But Sen. Robert T. Gannett, R-Windham, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he was not sympathetic to making an end-run around the process for considering bills in the Senate. McClaughry had taken his case (See Page 12: Budget) By YVONNE DALEY BURLINGTON Mayor Clavelle is selling calico pot holders as fund-raisers for the I Regressive Coalition. The back the pot holder is emblazoned a picture of the mayor I wearing a chefs hat Keep Burlington Cookin, it bays.

Peter Clavelle for Mayor, tffe can take the heat. J. Clavelle isnt getting much heat in the current election Campaign. Two of his three op- pbnents, Including a high school senior, are newcomers to city politics, and the third has run 4 unsuccessfully for state or national office 15 times previously. The general consensus in Burlington is that the challenge will be whether the Progressive Coalition can hold on to its representation on the city Council.

Currently, there are five Progressives, four Democrats and four Republicans on the city council. (See Papre 12: Clavelle) a -i..