>>> CHRYSLER TELLS
THE OWNERS OF FOUR MILLION
MINIVANS, REPLACE THE REAR
DOOR LATCH NOW.
AT THE O.J. SIMPSON TRIAL,
KATO KAELIN BECOMES
A HOSTILE WITNESS
FOR THE PROSECUTION.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
CAPITAL CITIES/ABC, INC.,
AND U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION]
>>> GOOD EVENING.
WITHIN A WEEK, THE OWNERS
OF FOUR MILLION MINIVANS
MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER ARE
GOING TO BE TOLD THE REAR
DOOR LATCHES ON YOUR
VEHICLES SHOULD BE REPLACED.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT AFFECTS
NEARLY HALF OF ALL
THE MINIVANS ON THE ROAD
TODAY.
THIS IS THE OUTCOME
OF AN 18-MONTH GOVERNMENT
INVESTIGATION, AND SOME
SAFETY ANALYSTS ARE ANYTHING
BUT SATISFIED.
HERE'S ABC'S LISA STARK.
>>> THE LATCH REPLACEMENT
AFFECTS DODGE CARAVANS,
PLYMOUTH VOYAGERS,
AND CHRYSLER TOWN
AND COUNTRY MODELS MADE
FROM 1984 TO 1994.
CHRYSLER STRENGTHENED
THE LATCH IN ITS
1995 MODELS.
THIS IS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE
CAMPAIGN BY THE AUTOMAKER.
IT FALLS SHORT OF A RECALL,
WHICH WOULD HAVE FORCED
CHRYSLER TO ADMIT A SAFETY
DEFECT.
>> THROUGHOUT THIS
INVESTIGATION, CHRYSLER HAS
MAINTAINED THAT THERE IS
NO SAFETY DEFECT
IN OUR MINIVAN LATCHES.
AND WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE
THAT TODAY.
>> THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY
TRAFFIC SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN
INVESTIGATING REPORTS THAT
29 PEOPLE HAVE DIED,
AND DOZENS OF OTHERS HAVE
BEEN INJURED AFTER REAR
LATCHES ON THE CHRYSLER
MINIVANS POPPED OPEN
UNEXPECTEDLY DURING CRASHES,
ALLOWING PASSENGERS TO BE
EJECTED OUT THE BACK DOOR.
AN AUTO SAFETY CONSULTANT
WHO HAS BEEN PRESSING
THE CASE AGAINST CHRYSLER
SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD
HAVE FORCED A RECALL.
>> I THINK THERE'S
ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION THAT
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT
EXISTS HERE, AND BOTH
CHRYSLER AND THE GOVERNMENT
OUGHT TO ACT ACCORDINGLY.
>> BUT GOVERNMENT
INVESTIGATORS SAY CHRYSLER
IS ACTING RESPONSIBLY.
>> THE GOVERNMENT'S GOAL
FROM THE OUTSET HAS BEEN
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REAR
LATCHES ARE REPLACED
WITH A STRONGER LATCH.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
CHRYSLER HAS AGREED TO DO.
>> CHRYSLER SAYS IT WILL
TAKE UP TO A YEAR TO REPLACE
AND STRENGTHEN THE REAR
LATCHES, A MOVE THAT IS LONG
OVERDUE ACCORDING
TO SUZANNE CLARK, WHOSE SON
ALEX WAS EJECTED
FROM THE BACK OF THE FAMILY
MINIVAN DURING AN ACCIDENT.
ALEX SURVIVED.
HIS MOTHER QUESTIONS WHETHER
CHRYSLER'S EFFORTS WILL BE
EFFECTIVE.
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT
THE OWNERS ARE GOING
TO UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET
THEIR VANS IN AND GET THEM
FIXED.
>> SAFETY EXPERTS ARE
QUESTIONING WHETHER
THE REPLACEMENT LATCHES WILL
BE GOOD ENOUGH, SINCE
THEY DON'T MEASURE UP
TO THE STRENGTH OF
THE DOUBLE LATCHES USED
BY OTHER MINIVANS AND SINCE
THE GOVERNMENT, AS OF NOW,
HAS NO STANDARDS FOR REAR
LATCHES.
LISA STARK, ABC NEWS,
WASHINGTON.
>>> AT THE O.J. SIMPSON
TRIAL TODAY, BRIAN "KATO"
KAELIN WAS BACK ON
THE WITNESS STAND, BUT THERE
WAS A MARKED CHANGE
IN THE WAY HE WAS TREATED.
PROSECUTOR MARCIA CLARK
QUESTIONED HIM AS A HOSTILE
WITNESS AS SHE TRIED TO PIN
HIM DOWN ON SOME TESTIMONY
THAT SEEMED TO KEEP
CHANGING.
HERE'S ABC'S BILL REDEKER.
>>> IN HIS FOURTH DAY
ON THE WITNESS STAND,
KAELIN HIMSELF SEEMED TO BE
ON TRIAL.
>> IS THAT WHAT YOU
TESTIFIED TO?
>> YES.
YES, YES, YES.
>> I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW.
>> AGAIN AND AGAIN,
PROSECUTOR MARCIA CLARK
CONFRONTED KAELIN
WITH INCONSISTENCIES
IN HIS TESTIMONY.
FOR EXAMPLE, LAST WEEK,
KAELIN TESTIFIED THAT
ON THE DAY OF THE MURDERS
SIMPSON WAS UPSET
WITH HIS FORMER WIFE
BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT HIM
TO SPEND TIME WITH
HIS DAUGHTER SYDNEY AFTER
A DANCE RECITAL.
KAELIN ALSO TESTIFIED THAT
SIMPSON WAS UPSET SHE WAS
WEARING A TIGHT DRESS
TO THE PERFORMANCE.
>> NOW, IS IT YOUR TESTIMONY
TODAY THAT HE WAS MORE UPSET
ABOUT SYDNEY THAN HE WAS
ABOUT NICOLE WEARING
THE TIGHT DRESSES?
>> YES.
>> BUT THAT WAS NOT
YOUR TESTIMONY BEFORE,
WAS IT, MR. KAELIN?
>> NO.
>> AND NOW YOU'RE CHANGING
THAT TESTIMONY.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING,
SIR?
>> YES.
>> CLARK THEN STUNNED
COURTROOM OBSERVERS.
>> YOUR HONOR, I'M GOING ASK
LEAVE OF THE COURT TO TAKE
THIS WITNESS AS A HOSTILE
WITNESS.
>> ALTHOUGH JUDGE ITO TOLD
JURORS TO DISREGARD THAT
CHARACTERIZATION OF KAELIN,
HE DID ALLOW CLARK WIDE
LATITUDE IN QUESTIONING
KAELIN.
>> SHE ASKED FOR PERMISSION,
AND I THINK SHE RECEIVED IT,
TO TREAT HIM AS A HOSTILE
WITNESS SO SHE COULD ASK
MORE LEADING QUESTIONS
TO THIS WITNESS.
>> AND SHE DID, GOING SO FAR
AS TO SUGGEST WHAT WAS
IN THE KNAPSACK, KAELIN SAID
SIMPSON INSISTED ON LOADING
IT INTO THE LIMOUSINE BEFORE
HE LEFT FOR CHICAGO.
>> NOW, THAT KNAPSACK,
WAS IT BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD
A KNIFE?
>> OBJECTION.
>> SUSTAINED.
>> WAS THAT KNAPSACK BIG
ENOUGH TO HOLD BLOODY
CLOTHING AND BLOODY SHOES?
>> OBJECTION.
>> SUSTAINED.
>> CLARK ALSO SUGGESTED
FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT
SIMPSON SPOKE TO HIS FORMER
WIFE ON THE MORNING
OF THE MURDERS BEFORE
THE RECITAL.
>> ISN'T IT TRUE,
MR. KAELIN, THAT MR. SIMPSON
TOLD YOU HE HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH NICOLE
ON HIS CELL PHONE WHILE
HE WAS AT THE RIVIERA
COUNTRY CLUB, IN WHICH
HE HAD HAD AN ARGUMENT
WITH HER?
>> NO.
>> ALTHOUGH PROSECUTORS MAY
CONSIDER KAELIN A HOSTILE
WITNESS, TOMORROW THEY WILL
HAVE A CHANCE TO UNDERSCORE
A PART OF HIS TESTIMONY THAT
IS CRUCIAL TO THEIR CASE --
WHEN KAELIN'S FRIEND RACHEL
FERRARA IS EXPECTED
TO TESTIFY THAT SHE WAS
ON THE TELEPHONE WITH HIM
WHEN HE HEARD THREE THUMPS
AT 10:45 ON THE NIGHT
OF THE MURDERS.
BILL REDEKER, ABC NEWS,
LOS ANGELES.
>>> IN A MOMENT, THE HIGH
COST OF PENTAGON TRAVEL ALL
TIED UP IN RED TAPE.
WHO WOULD WANT TO CARRY
A CONCEALED WEAPON?
IN COLORADO SPRINGS,
THE ANSWER HAS BEEN
A SURPRISE.
AND MRS. CLINTON BRINGS
A POWERFUL MESSAGE
TO PAKISTAN.
>>> IN WASHINGTON TONIGHT,
GOVERNMENT OVERKILL.
THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING
OFFICE, IN A REPORT TO BE
RELEASED TOMORROW,
HAS STUDIED HOW MUCH
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
SPENDS TO SEND ITS EMPLOYEES
ON BUSINESS TRIPS.
JUST MAKING SURE PENTAGON
TRAVEL RULES ARE OBEYED IS
COSTING THE TAXPAYERS
PLENTY.
HERE'S ABC'S JACKIE JUDD.
>>> THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
LIKES TO SAY THAT A MILITARY
CAREER IS AN ADVENTURE.
THE G.A.O. REPORT DESCRIBES
AN ADVENTURE IN RED TAPE.
>> THESE ARE ALL PART
OF THE D.O.D. TRAVEL
REGULATIONS THAT HAVE TO BE
COMPLIED WITH, WHICH IS WHY
IT'S COSTING US AT LEAST
A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
JUST IN ADMINISTERING THESE
REGULATIONS.
>> THAT'S $1 BILLION OUT
OF THE $3.5 BILLION
THE PENTAGON SPENT
ON SHORT-TERM TRAVEL
IN 1993.
THE G.A.O. ESTIMATES THAT
THE 30 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR
SPENT ON PAPERWORK
PROCESSING IS THREE TIMES
THE AVERAGE SPENT BY PRIVATE
INDUSTRY.
AND IT SAYS THIS IS THE MAZE
THAT MILITARY TRAVELERS MUST
NAVIGATE BEFORE THEY CAN GET
TICKETS AND REIMBURSEMENTS.
AND A MISSTEP COULD MEAN
GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING.
FOR EVEN THE SHORTEST
ONE-DAY TRIP, AN EMPLOYEE
HAS TO DEAL WITH ONE
OF THE DEPARTMENT'S
700 VOUCHER PROCESSING
CENTERS.
THE G.A.O. SAID TRAVELERS
AT ONE FACILITY SPEND UP
TO SIX HOURS ON PAPERWORK
AND WAIT 19 DAYS FOR IT
TO BE PROCESSED.
COHEN SAYS THE PENTAGON IS
WELL INTENTIONED.
IT'S JUST GONE OVERBOARD.
>> THE PENTAGON'S SOLUTION
TO PROTECTING AGAINST FRAUD
AND ABUSE, TO MAKE SURE
THE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS ARE
WELL SPENT IS THE EQUIVALENT
OF TAKING A COMPLETE ARMORED
DIVISION AND SURROUNDING
AN A.T.M. MACHINE.
>> THE PENTAGON IS
IN THE PROCESS OF
OVERHAULING ITS TRAVEL
REGULATIONS AND SAYS IT
PLANS TO BRING ITS COSTS
IN LINE WITH PRIVATE
INDUSTRY.
COHEN SAYS TOO MANY
REGULATIONS ARE STILL
ON THE BOOKS TO EVER REACH
THAT GOAL.
JACKIE JUDD, ABC NEWS,
CAPITOL HILL.
>>> THAT'S A BILLION DOLLARS
OF POTENTIAL WASTE.
OUR NEXT STORY DEALS
WITH A COST OVERRUN NINE
TIMES THAT SIZE.
FOR OUR WEEKLY LOOK AT HOW
THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS
"YOUR MONEY," ABC'S
JOHN MARTIN FOCUSES TONIGHT
ON A PENTAGON CLEANUP WHERE
INVESTIGATORS SAY COSTS HAVE
REALLY GOTTEN OUT OF HAND.
>>> ON JOHNSTON ATOLL
IN THE PACIFIC, THE ARMY HAS
BEGUN DESTROYING THE FIRST
OF 25,000 TONS OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS, THE NERVE GASES
AND BLISTER AGENTS.
IT IS ALSO BUILDING EIGHT
STATESIDE DISPOSAL PLANTS
TO DO THE JOB.
ORIGINALLY, IT TOLD CONGRESS
THIS WOULD COST $2 BILLION.
BUT IN WASHINGTON TODAY,
CIVILIAN ENVIRONMENTAL
OPPONENTS SAID THE DISPOSAL
EFFORT IS OUT OF CONTROL.
>> THE ARMY'S DISREGARD
FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
IS MATCHED ONLY BY
THEIR MISUSE OF THE
TAXPAYERS' WALLET.
>> THE PROJECT HAS BEEN
RIDDLED WITH MISSTEPS
AND MISTAKES INCLUDING THREE
ACCIDENTAL RELEASES
OF DEADLY AGENTS
INTO THE AIR, THE MOST
RECENT JUST THIS MONTH
IN THE PACIFIC.
YET EACH TIME, THE ARMY HAS
COME BACK TO CONGRESS
FOR MORE MONEY, CLAIMING IT
HAD NO IDEA THINGS COULD GO
SO WRONG OR COST SO MUCH
MORE.
BUT THIS GENERAL ACCOUNTING
OFFICE LETTER TO
THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
SAYS THE ARMY HAS ONLY
ITSELF TO BLAME.
AT THE JOHNSTON ATOLL PLANT,
THE G.A.O. FOUND COST
OVERRUNS CAUSED BY
"MANAGEMENT CONTROL
WEAKNESSES" AND "RECURRING
EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS."
IT SAYS THE ARMY SHOULD HAVE
HAD CONCERNS ABOUT STAFF
QUALIFICATIONS TO OPERATE
THE PLANT.
CHARLES OUGHTON KNOWS.
HE WAS THE COST ANALYST
AT JOHNSTON ISLAND FOR THREE
YEARS UNTIL HE QUIT,
DISGUSTED BY THE WASTE.
>> THE ARMY HAD A BLANK
CHECK ON THIS PROJECT.
I THINK THE TAXPAYERS
WOULD -- WOULD REVOLT
IF THEY KNEW HOW MUCH MONEY
WAS BEING SPENT ON THIS
CONTRACT.
>> OUGHTON SAID THE ARMY
SPENT FOOLISHLY.
IT GAVE WORKERS TWO-WEEK
VACATIONS EVERY EIGHT WEEKS
INSTEAD OF EVERY 12 WEEKS,
AS CUSTOMARY FOR SUCH
HAZARDOUS DUTY.
WORSE, HE SAYS, THE ARMY
BOUGHT EQUIPMENT IT KNEW HAD
NOT BEEN FULLY TESTED.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT INSTALLED
A FURNACE THAT MELTED
ALUMINUM SHELL CASINGS THAT
DRIPPED AND CLOGGED
A CONVEYOR BELT CARRYING
THE WEAPONS.
>> WHENEVER THEY PUT NEW
EQUIPMENT IN, THEY JUST KIND
OF HOPED THAT IT WOULD WORK
OUT THE RIGHT WAY.
>> AFTER ALL THIS, THE ARMY
STILL WANTS FIVE TIMES
ITS ORIGINAL ESTIMATE
TO COMPLETE THE WORK,
MORE THAN $11 BILLION.
THAT'S "YOUR MONEY."
JOHN MARTIN, ABC NEWS,
WASHINGTON.
>>> IN THE BASEBALL STRIKE,
LAWYERS FOR THE NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD WENT
TO COURT TODAY SEEKING
AN INJUNCTION AGAINST
THE OWNERS.
A FEDERAL JUDGE SET
A HEARING FOR FRIDAY,
JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE
THE SEASON BEGINS.
NEGOTIATORS MEET IN NEW YORK
TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST TALKS
IN THREE WEEKS.
ONE OWNER SAID, "IF
SOMETHING'S GOING TO GIVE,
IT HAS TO GIVE NOW."
>>> IN MARYLAND, A NEW
ANTI-SMOKING BAN WENT
INTO EFFECT TODAY,
BUT WITH A MAJOR EXEMPTION.
AT THE LAST MINUTE,
THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS AGREED TO ALLOW
SMOKING AT MOST HOTELS,
BARS, AND RESTAURANTS,
BOWING TO PRESSURE
FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THE BAN DOES APPLY
AT THE WORKPLACE,
IN SCHOOLS, AND PRISONS,
EVEN IN COMPANY-RUN
CAR-POOLS.
>>> ON WALL STREET TODAY,
A NEW RECORD HIGH
FOR THE THIRD SESSION
IN A ROW.
THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL
AVERAGE GAINED MORE THAN
18 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 4157.
TRADING WAS MODERATE.
ON THE NASDAQ MARKET,
STOCKS GAINED NEARLY FOUR
