
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 16, 1991                   TAG: 9103190382
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SEEK STRONG DEFENSE WITHOUT GROSS WASTE

ON THE ISSUE of $600 toilet seats, Cal Thomas (Commentary Page, March 6) missed the point completely. We who have worked against gross cost overruns for the past several decades have not all been opposed to a strong and well-funded defense system. What we have always been angry about is waste, whether from incompetence or corruption.

We can understand and accept having to pay $1.25 or even $1.50 to get a dollar's worth of military capability. Spending $10, $20 or even $50 for each dollar's worth gets our goat.

We have supported our troops throughout the Middle East conflict. We not only backed Bush; we also consider him to be executing our intentions. Nonetheless, we remain dedicated to persuading our congressmen to do everything they can to combat waste and corruption. That includes support for laws protecting "whistle-blowers," laws discouraging conflict of interest, career moves and vigorous prosecution of corrupt officials. We won't let up. ROBERT S. TERRY BEDFORD

by CNB