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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 7, 1995                   TAG: 9503010001
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SOCKS

PROBABLY they were joking. But if Republicans were seriously snarling about the postal expenses of Socks, the White House top cat, you have to wonder if they were Doberman pinschers in a past life.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell has uncovered no evidence, that we know of anyway, to suggest that cat critics have been dying mysteriously in Arkansas. But earlier this week, Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., did demand an explanation for the use of taxpayers' money to answer Socks' fan mail.

Socks' press secretary - well, actually, Hillary Rodham Clinton's press secretary - assured him that Socks' correspondence is handled by volunteers at the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's home, and postage costs average just $12.50 a month. That should make congressional hearings unnecessary.

Meanwhile, there is evidence that Socks is not freeloading at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but has been earning his keep. According to earlier news reports, the old White House has lots of mice and rats, and the First Cat got on the case practically the first day he moved there from Arkansas.

If Socks - as a volunteer - can by any measure diminish Washington's dirty-rat population, taxpayers should hardly complain about a measly $12.50 per month.

by CNB