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Subject: WASHBIZ COLUMN<BY Steven Pearlstein and Maryann Haggerty>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 04:30:31 EST
Message-ID: <23.1992Oct26.043031@AmeriCast.com>

WASHBIZ COLUMN<BY Steven Pearlstein and Maryann Haggerty>

 THE TITAN AND THE TORTS<

 Thanks to determined space shuttle astronauts who put it back
into the proper orbit earlier this year, the Intelsat 6 satellite
is handling television signals and telephone calls from 60 coun-
tries.

  Now a decision by a federal appeals court in Richmond will keep
lawyers arguing over the cost of the rescue mission for years to
come.

 In March 1990, the satellite was launched into the wrong orbit
because of a malfunction in the Titan rocket launcher built by
Bethesda-based Martin Marietta Corp. Although Martin Marietta ad-
mitted it had incorrectly wired the Titan, the company had argued
successfully in a lower court that it was not financially respon-
sible for the mishap under federal law and its contract with
Washington-based Intelsat.  Last Wednesday, an appeals court
disagreed. A three-judge panel sent the case back to district
court in Baltimore to determine whether Martin Marietta made its
"best effort" in building the flawed rocket or was guilty of
gross negligence in the performance of its duties.

 Depending on the outcome, Martin Marietta could be liable for
the $140 million cost of the shuttle rescue.THE BUSINESS OF
GOVERNMENT<

 How well does the area's largest industry follow the principles
of sound business management? Not well, if you ask a lot of poli-
ticians. But what if you ask accountants and finance experts?
The latest issue of Financial World magazine grades the manage-
ment of 10 of the largest federal agencies on the efficiency and
skill with which they fulfill their mission. "We consider not
only the actual delivery of services, but also underlying systems
such as financial management and reporting, information manage-
ment, oversight and performance measurement and evaluation," the
magazine said.

 The top rated agency? The Internal Revenue Service, with a B+.
The magazine said: "Leader of the pack in planning, program
evaluation, financial reporting systems. High integrity, strong
esprit de corps. Basic problem is mission: how to balance need to
collect money with taxpayer rights."

 And at the bottom, the magazine ranks the Department of Housing
and Urban Development, with a D.

 Why? "Poor financial management and data systems plague this em-
battled department, as does a problematic organizational struc-
ture that provides great autonomy to regional and field offices,
often tying the hands of Washington managers. Some improvements
charted since political scandals of 1989, due to HUD Reform Act
and management efforts of Secretary Jack Kemp. But after years of
neglect, department has a long climb out of management basement.
Performance measurement weak; staffing shortages profound; ac-
counting and financial management out of compliance with federal
laws. CPA firm unable to render opinion on fiscal 1991 financial
statements." The other agencies rated, with their grades, were:
Employment and Training Administration (Labor Department), C; En-
ergy Department, D+; Food and Nutrition Service (Agriculture
Department), B-; Health Care Financing Administration (Department
of Health and Human Services), C+; Social Security Administration
(Department of Health and Human Services), B; Transportation
Department, C+; Department of Veterans Affairs, C+.TUESDAY'S
CHILD IS A WORKAHOLIC<

 Not feeling your most productive today? Don't worry - things
will probably pick up tomorrow.

 According to a recent Accountemps survey published in this
month's issue of Working Woman magazine, 53 percent of those sur-
veyed said their staffs get the most work done on Tuesdays. Only
19 percent believe Wednesday is the most productive day. Mondays
and Fridays - no surprise - rate at the bottom.MAYBE MISERY DOES
LOVE COMPANY<More from the seemingly unending stack of minor
statistics: Despite the recession, associations on average held
more meetings in 1990 and 1991 than during the boom years of 1988
and 1989.

The average association held 16.7 meetings in 1991, up from 13.9
meetings in 1989, according to a survey by the District-based
American Society of Association Executives. That count includes
conventions, educational seminars and board and committee meet-
ings.<02:18 10-26C9999-----

Copyright 1992, The Washington Post.  This story is from the
Washington Post's Capitol Edition On-Line and is not to be ar-
chived or redistributed.

For more information, send-email to American Cybercasting Cor-
poration (usa@AmeriCast.COM)