Military

DATE=10/15/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS / ANTHRAX OVERNIGHTER (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-281842

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A letter opened Monday by aides to U-S Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle contained a powdery substance that tested positive for the potentially deadly anthrax bacteria. The incident has sparked a criminal investigation. Correspondent Deborah Tate has more from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: Senator Daschle says his office, which is located a block from the U-S Capitol building, has been quarantined and will remain closed for the next several days.

But he says the incident will not disrupt legislative business.

/// DASCHLE ACTUALITY ///

We have to conduct our business here in the Congress and across this country, and we intend to do that.

/// END ACT ///

Senator Daschle was not in his office at the time the letter was opened, nor could he say how many of his staff had contact with the substance.

John Eisold, the doctor for the U-S Capitol, says up to 50 people, including staffers for Mr. Daschle, mail room employees, and police who responded to the incident, are being treated with antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

U-S Capitol police spokesman Lieutenant Dan Nichols says two field tests on the powdery substance contained in the letter came back positive for anthrax. He says further tests are being conducted at a military facility in Maryland.

For the time being, he says, all mail delivery at the Capitol has been suspended:

/// NICHOLS ACTUALITY ///

We have pulled back all the mail from the House and Senate currently, and we are reestablishing our procedures on how to handle mail in the Capitol complex.

/// END ACT ///

The letter to Senator Daschle's office was one of several anthrax scares at the Capitol Monday.

Republican Senator Frank Murkowsky of Alaska said his office received a suspicious letter and aides reported it to Capitol Police. Senator Murkowsky quoted police as saying it was the 12th such report of the day.

Police are investigating the other cases, but there is no indication at this time that they also involve anthrax. (signed)

NEB/DAT/RH