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Show Is everything relative in federal scholarship program? Weekly Special tt:'" Washington A federal scho ship program for American Indians who want to pursue medical careers has been criticized for the second time in 18 months on the same ground: that it may have given special consideration to applicants with relatives in the agency that administers the program. The first investigation was made in March 1984 by the survey and review staff of the Public Health Service. It criticized the award of a $33,264 scholarship for pre-med studies at Harvard to the daughter of Dr. Everett Rhoades, director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), which runs the scholarship program. But the report exonerated Rhoades Rhoad-es of any impropriety. "Whtte there ; is some evidence that the procedures were modified to allow the award to Dorothy Rhoades," it stated, "indications "indi-cations are that Dr. Rhoades did not play a direct role in bending any rules." The later review, completed this month by the inspector general of the Health and Human Services Department, found "weaknesses in many aspects" of the scholarship award and review process. Our associate Tony Capaccio obtained copies of both reports. "Our review of 50 applicants files during the period 1981-1985 disclosed disclos-ed numerous instances where IHS internal controls were bypassed," the report states. Seven of the 50 applications were processed after the filing deadline an average of 12 days past, the report explains. No date of receipt could be found on 25 additional applications. "By granting awards to individuals indivi-duals who may not have met IHS filing deadlines, other qualified applications may have been denied awards," the report states. In addition, the inspector general found 20 applicants who listed agency employees as references. While that's perfectly legal, "examination "exam-ination disclosed many deviations from established procedures" in the applications to those related to agency employees. Eight, for example, ex-ample, got higher academic rating from agency reviewers than their scholastic records justified, and 14 apparently did not have to meet filing deadlines, the report charges. In the Rhoades case, the director's daughter failed by one point to make the minimum score for a scholarship, scholar-ship, but was then re-evaluated outside established procedures and got a higher rating. Rhoades "maintains that he did not receive "negative advice,"" the report states, but "the evidence indicates that elements of his staff did go to him and contend that he could be compromised and possibly embarrassed if the award was accepted by his daughter." The report noted, however, that Rhoades was told by the program coordinator "that there was no ethical problem," and apparently he accepted that advice. The report criticized "the award of a scholarship to the daughter of a high-ranking officer by that person's staff," but blamed the long-standing system at the agency for creating such a situation. Rhoades' attorney said the report "was not grossly inaccurate and we're not saying that it misses the mark, but it does not tell a complete story." He said a forthcoming inspector general's report will conclude that the director's daughter "deserved the scholarship and won it fair and square." WATCH ON WASTE: The Defense De-fense Department would like to get our European allies to adopt its preferred computer language, called "Ada" after Lord Byron's daughter, who was a math whiz. So the Pentagon's five-member Ada board hopped a flight to Paris for four days N of arm-twisting. They stayed in the Montparnasse Park Hotel, dined on caviar, snails and bouillabaisse, and took in the sights of Paree in U.S. government vehicles. Cost to the taxpayers: $9,500. CONFIDENTIAL FILE: When Fidel Castro took over in Cuba, most Jews fled. But about 1,000 remained, remain-ed, and they have been complaining complain-ing for 30 years about the lack of religious freedom. Now, Castro has finally relented and agreed to allow a kosher restaurant, as well as a religious school, to open in Havana. 3. ' A - Hasidic rabbi from Brazil -was recently allowed to visit and other J! rabbis will be given entry visas. BREAK FOR BREEDERS?: Special-interest lobbyists are deter-mindedly deter-mindedly trying to shred tax reform legislation currently being considered consider-ed by Congress. Among those who want special consideration are horse breeders. "It appears," states one letter from the neigh-sayers, "that the horse industry and horse owners and breeders have been singled out as ineligible for capital gains consideration while other investment-type assets, such as stocks and bonds, would remain eligible." DRUG UPDATE: We previously reported on the abuse of constitutional consti-tutional rights by federal and state drug-busters, who seem unable to differentiate between marijuana growers and their innocent neighbors. neigh-bors. Earlier this year, a federal judge issued an injunction forbid- ding the excesses, but residents of northern California have filed 70 sworn statements with the court accusing law enforcement officals of repeated violations. A suit has also been brought in Oregon seeking a nationwide injunction. It charges that similar abuses h?ve occurred in Virginia, West Viiginia, Arkansas and Vermont. |