Pierre _NNP Vinken _NNP , _, 61 _CD years _NNS old _JJ , _, will _MD join _VB the _DT board _NN as _IN a _DT nonexecutive _JJ director _NN Nov. _NNP 29 _CD . _. Mr. _NNP Vinken _NNP is _VBZ chairman _NN of _IN Elsevier _NNP N.V. _NNP , _, the _DT Dutch _NNP publishing _VBG group _NN . _. Rudolph _NNP Agnew _NNP , _, 55 _CD years _NNS old _JJ and _CC former _JJ chairman _NN of _IN Consolidated _NNP Gold _NNP Fields _NNP PLC _NNP , _, was _VBD named _VBN a _DT nonexecutive _JJ director _NN of _IN this _DT British _JJ industrial _JJ conglomerate _NN . _. A _DT form _NN of _IN asbestos _NN once _RB used _VBN to _TO make _VB Kent _NNP cigarette _NN filters _NNS has _VBZ caused _VBN a _DT high _JJ percentage _NN of _IN cancer _NN deaths _NNS among _IN a _DT group _NN of _IN workers _NNS exposed _VBN to _TO it _PRP more _RBR than _IN 30 _CD years _NNS ago _IN , _, researchers _NNS reported _VBD . _. The _DT asbestos _NN fiber _NN , _, crocidolite _NN , _, is _VBZ unusually _RB resilient _JJ once _IN it _PRP enters _VBZ the _DT lungs _NNS , _, with _IN even _RB brief _JJ exposures _NNS to _TO it _PRP causing _VBG symptoms _NNS that _WDT show _VBP up _IN decades _NNS later _JJ , _, researchers _NNS said _VBD . _. Lorillard _NNP Inc. _NNP , _, the _DT unit _NN of _IN New _JJ York-based _JJ Loews _NNP Corp. _NNP that _WDT makes _VBZ Kent _NNP cigarettes _NNS , _, stopped _VBD using _VBG crocidolite _NN in _IN its _PRP$ Micronite _NN cigarette _NN filters _NNS in _IN 1956 _CD . _. Although _IN preliminary _JJ findings _NNS were _VBD reported _VBN more _RBR than _IN a _DT year _NN ago _IN , _, the _DT latest _JJS results _NNS appear _VBP in _IN today _NN 's _POS New _NNP England _NNP Journal _NNP of _IN Medicine _NNP , _, a _DT forum _NN likely _JJ to _TO bring _VB new _JJ attention _NN to _TO the _DT problem _NN . _. A _DT Lorillard _NNP spokewoman _NN said _VBD , _, `` _`` This _DT is _VBZ an _DT old _JJ story _NN . _. We _PRP 're _VBP talking _VBG about _IN years _NNS ago _IN before _IN anyone _NN heard _VBD of _IN asbestos _NN having _VBG any _DT questionable _JJ properties _NNS . _. There _EX is _VBZ no _DT asbestos _NN in _IN our _PRP$ products _NNS now _RB . _. '' _'' Neither _DT Lorillard _NNP nor _CC the _DT researchers _NNS who _WP studied _VBD the _DT workers _NNS were _VBD aware _JJ of _IN any _DT research _NN on _IN smokers _NNS of _IN the _DT Kent _NNP cigarettes _NNS . _. `` _`` We _PRP have _VBP no _DT useful _JJ information _NN on _IN whether _IN users _NNS are _VBP at _IN risk _NN , _, '' _'' said _VBD James _NNP A. _NNP Talcott _NNP of _IN Boston _NNP 's _POS Dana-Farber _NNP Cancer _NNP Institute _NNP . _. Dr. _NNP Talcott _NNP led _VBD a _DT team _NN of _IN researchers _NNS from _IN the _DT National _NNP Cancer _NNP Institute _NNP and _CC the _DT medical _JJ schools _NNS of _IN Harvard _NNP University _NNP and _CC Boston _NNP University _NNP . _. The _DT Lorillard _NNP spokeswoman _NN said _VBD asbestos _NN was _VBD used _VBN in _IN `` _`` very _RB modest _JJ amounts _NNS '' _'' in _IN making _VBG paper _NN for _IN the _DT filters _NNS in _IN the _DT early _JJ 1950s _CD and _CC replaced _VBN with _IN a _DT different _JJ type _NN of _IN filter _NN in _IN 1956 _CD . _. From _IN 1953 _CD to _TO 1955 _CD , _, 9.8 _CD billion _CD Kent _NNP cigarettes _NNS with _IN the _DT filters _NNS were _VBD sold _VBN , _, the _DT company _NN said _VBD . _. Among _IN 33 _CD men _NNS who _WP worked _VBD closely _RB with _IN the _DT substance _NN , _, 28 _CD have _VBP died _VBN -- _: more _JJ than _IN three _CD times _NNS the _DT expected _VBN number _NN . _. Four _CD of _IN the _DT five _CD surviving _VBG workers _NNS have _VBP asbestos-related _JJ diseases _NNS , _, including _VBG three _CD with _IN recently _RB diagnosed _VBN cancer _NN . _. The _DT total _NN of _IN 18 _CD deaths _NNS from _IN malignant _JJ mesothelioma _NN , _, lung _NN cancer _NN and _CC asbestosis _NN was _VBD far _RB higher _JJR than _IN expected _VBN , _, the _DT researchers _NNS said _VBD . _. `` _`` The _DT morbidity _NN rate _NN is _VBZ a _DT striking _JJ finding _NN among _IN those _DT of _IN us _PRP who _WP study _VBP asbestos-related _JJ diseases _NNS , _, '' _'' said _VBD Dr. _NNP Talcott _NNP . _. The _DT percentage _NN of _IN lung _NN cancer _NN deaths _NNS among _IN the _DT workers _NNS at _IN the _DT West _NNP Groton _NNP , _, Mass. _NNP , _, paper _NN factory _NN appears _VBZ to _TO be _VB the _DT highest _JJS for _IN any _DT asbestos _NN workers _NNS studied _VBN in _IN Western _JJ industrialized _VBN countries _NNS , _, he _PRP said _VBD . _. The _DT plant _NN , _, which _WDT is _VBZ owned _VBN by _IN Hollingsworth _NNP & _CC Vose _NNP Co. _NNP , _, was _VBD under _IN contract _NN with _IN Lorillard _NN to _TO make _VB the _DT cigarette _NN filters _NNS . _. The _DT finding _NN probably _RB will _MD support _VB those _DT who _WP argue _VBP that _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP should _MD regulate _VB the _DT class _NN of _IN asbestos _NN including _VBG crocidolite _NN more _RBR stringently _RB than _IN the _DT common _JJ kind _NN of _IN asbestos _NN , _, chrysotile _NN , _, found _VBN in _IN most _JJS schools _NNS and _CC other _JJ buildings _NNS , _, Dr. _NNP Talcott _NNP said _VBD . _. The _DT U.S. _NNP is _VBZ one _CD of _IN the _DT few _JJ industrialized _VBN nations _NNS that _WDT does _VBZ n't _RB have _VB a _DT higher _JJR standard _NN of _IN regulation _NN for _IN the _DT smooth _JJ , _, needle-like _JJ fibers _NNS such _JJ as _IN crocidolite _NN that _WDT are _VBP classified _VBN as _IN amphobiles _NNS , _, according _VBG to _TO Brooke _NNP T. _NNP Mossman _NNP , _, a _DT professor _NN of _IN pathlogy _NN at _IN the _DT University _NNP of _IN Vermont _NNP College _NNP of _IN Medicine _NNP . _. More _RBR common _JJ chrysotile _NN fibers _NNS are _VBP curly _JJ and _CC are _VBP more _RBR easily _RB rejected _VBN by _IN the _DT body _NN , _, Dr. _NNP Mossman _NNP explained _VBD . _. In _IN July _NNP , _, the _DT Environmental _NNP Protection _NNP Agency _NNP imposed _VBD a _DT gradual _JJ ban _NN on _IN virtually _RB all _DT uses _NNS of _IN asbestos _NN . _. By _IN 1997 _CD , _, almost _RB all _DT remaining _VBG uses _NNS of _IN cancer-causing _JJ asbestos _NN will _MD be _VB outlawed _VBN . _. About _IN 160 _CD workers _NNS at _IN a _DT factory _NN that _WDT made _VBD paper _NN for _IN the _DT Kent _NNP filters _NNS were _VBD exposed _VBN to _TO asbestos _NN in _IN the _DT 1950s _CD . _. Areas _NNS of _IN the _DT factory _NN were _VBD particularly _RB dusty _JJ where _WRB the _DT crocidolite _NN was _VBD used _VBN . _. Workers _NNS dumped _VBD large _JJ burlap _NN sacks _NNS of _IN the _DT imported _VBN material _NN into _IN a _DT huge _JJ bin _NN , _, poured _VBD in _IN cotton _NN and _CC acetate _NN fibers _NNS and _CC mechanically _RB mixed _VBD the _DT dry _JJ fibers _NNS in _IN a _DT process _NN used _VBN to _TO make _VB filters _NNS . _. Workers _NNS described _VBD `` _`` clouds _NNS of _IN blue _JJ dust _NN '' _'' that _WDT hung _VBD over _IN parts _NNS of _IN the _DT factory _NN , _, even _RB though _IN exhaust _NN fans _NNS ventilated _VBD the _DT area _NN . _. `` _`` There _EX 's _VBZ no _DT question _NN that _IN some _DT of _IN those _DT workers _NNS and _CC managers _NNS contracted _VBD asbestos-related _JJ diseases _NNS , _, '' _'' said _VBD Darrell _NNP Phillips _NNP , _, vice _NN president _NN of _IN human _JJ resources _NNS for _IN Hollingsworth _NNP & _CC Vose _NNP . _. `` _`` But _CC you _PRP have _VBP to _TO recognize _VB that _IN these _DT events _NNS took _VBD place _NN 35 _CD years _NNS ago _IN . _. It _PRP has _VBZ no _DT bearing _NN on _IN our _PRP$ work _NN force _NN today _NN . _. '' _'' Yields _NNS on _IN money-market _JJ mutual _JJ funds _NNS continued _VBD to _TO slide _VB , _, amid _IN signs _NNS that _IN portfolio _NN managers _NNS expect _VBP further _JJ declines _NNS in _IN interest _NN rates _NNS . _. The _DT average _JJ seven-day _JJ compound _NN yield _NN of _IN the _DT 400 _CD taxable _JJ funds _NNS tracked _VBN by _IN IBC _NNP 's _POS Money _NNP Fund _NNP Report _NNP eased _VBD a _DT fraction _NN of _IN a _DT percentage _NN point _NN to _TO 8.45 _CD % _NN from _IN 8.47 _CD % _NN for _IN the _DT week _NN ended _VBD Tuesday _NNP . _. Compound _NN yields _NNS assume _VBP reinvestment _NN of _IN dividends _NNS and _CC that _IN the _DT current _JJ yield _NN continues _VBZ for _IN a _DT year _NN . _. Average _JJ maturity _NN of _IN the _DT funds _NNS ' _POS investments _NNS lengthened _VBD by _IN a _DT day _NN to _TO 41 _CD days _NNS , _, the _DT longest _JJS since _IN early _JJ August _NNP , _, according _VBG to _TO Donoghue _NNP 's _POS . _. Longer _JJR maturities _NNS are _VBP thought _VBN to _TO indicate _VB declining _VBG interest _NN rates _NNS because _IN they _PRP permit _VBP portfolio _NN managers _NNS to _TO retain _VB relatively _RB higher _JJR rates _NNS for _IN a _DT longer _JJR period _NN . _. Shorter _JJR maturities _NNS are _VBP considered _VBN a _DT sign _NN of _IN rising _VBG rates _NNS because _IN portfolio _NN managers _NNS can _MD capture _VB higher _JJR rates _NNS sooner _RB . _. The _DT average _JJ maturity _NN for _IN funds _NNS open _JJ only _RB to _TO institutions _NNS , _, considered _VBN by _IN some _DT to _TO be _VB a _DT stronger _JJR indicator _NN because _IN those _DT managers _NNS watch _VBP the _DT market _NN closely _RB , _, reached _VBD a _DT high _JJ point _NN for _IN the _DT year _NN -- _: 33 _CD days _NNS . _. Nevertheless _RB , _, said _VBD Brenda _NNP Malizia _NNP Negus _NNP , _, editor _NN of _IN Money _NNP Fund _NNP Report _NNP , _, yields _NNS `` _`` may _MD blip _VB up _RP again _RB before _IN they _PRP blip _VBP down _RP '' _'' because _IN of _IN recent _JJ rises _NNS in _IN short-term _JJ interest _NN rates _NNS . _. The _DT yield _NN on _IN six-month _JJ Treasury _NNP bills _NNS sold _VBN at _IN Monday _NNP 's _POS auction _NN , _, for _IN example _NN , _, rose _VBD to _TO 8.04 _CD % _NN from _IN 7.90 _CD % _NN . _. Despite _IN recent _JJ declines _NNS in _IN yields _NNS , _, investors _NNS continue _VBP to _TO pour _VB cash _NN into _IN money _NN funds _NNS . _. Assets _NNS of _IN the _DT 400 _CD taxable _JJ funds _NNS grew _VBD by _IN $ _$ 1.5 _CD billion _CD during _IN the _DT latest _JJS week _NN , _, to _TO $ _$ 352.7 _CD billion _CD . _. Typically _RB , _, money-fund _NN yields _NNS beat _VBP comparable _JJ short-term _JJ investments _NNS because _IN portfolio _NN managers _NNS can _MD vary _VB maturities _NNS and _CC go _VB after _IN the _DT highest _JJS rates _NNS . _. The _DT top _JJ money _NN funds _NNS are _VBP currently _RB yielding _VBG well _RB over _IN 9 _CD % _NN . _. Dreyfus _NNP World-Wide _NNP Dollar _NNP , _, the _DT top-yielding _JJ fund _NN , _, had _VBD a _DT seven-day _JJ compound _NN yield _NN of _IN 9.37 _CD % _NN during _IN the _DT latest _JJS week _NN , _, down _RB from _IN 9.45 _CD % _NN a _DT week _NN earlier _JJR . _. It _PRP invests _VBZ heavily _RB in _IN dollar-denominated _JJ securities _NNS overseas _RB and _CC is _VBZ currently _RB waiving _VBG management _NN fees _NNS , _, which _WDT boosts _VBZ its _PRP$ yield _NN . _. The _DT average _JJ seven-day _JJ simple _JJ yield _NN of _IN the _DT 400 _CD funds _NNS was _VBD 8.12 _CD % _NN , _, down _RB from _IN 8.14 _CD % _NN . _. The _DT 30-day _JJ simple _JJ yield _NN fell _VBD to _TO an _DT average _JJ 8.19 _CD % _NN from _IN 8.22 _CD % _NN ; _: the _DT 30-day _JJ compound _NN yield _NN slid _VBD to _TO an _DT average _JJ 8.53 _CD % _NN from _IN 8.56 _CD % _NN . _. J.P. _NNP Bolduc _NNP , _, vice _NN chairman _NN of _IN W.R. _NNP Grace _NNP & _CC Co. _NNP , _, which _WDT holds _VBZ a _DT 83.4 _CD % _NN interest _NN in _IN this _DT energy-services _JJ company _NN , _, was _VBD elected _VBN a _DT director _NN . _. He _PRP succeeds _VBZ Terrence _NNP D. _NNP Daniels _NNP , _, formerly _RB a _DT W.R. _NNP Grace _NNP vice _NN chairman _NN , _, who _WP resigned _VBD . _. W.R. _NNP Grace _NNP holds _VBZ three _CD of _IN Grace _NNP Energy _NNP 's _POS seven _CD board _NN seats _NNS . _. Pacific _NNP First _NNP Financial _NNP Corp. _NNP said _VBD shareholders _NNS approved _VBD its _PRP$ acquisition _NN by _IN Royal _NNP Trustco _NNP Ltd. _NNP of _IN Toronto _NNP for _IN $ _$ 27 _CD a _DT share _NN , _, or _CC $ _$ 212 _CD million _CD . _. The _DT thrift _NN holding _VBG company _NN said _VBD it _PRP expects _VBZ to _TO obtain _VB regulatory _JJ approval _NN and _CC complete _VB the _DT transaction _NN by _IN year-end _NN . _. McDermott _NNP International _NNP Inc. _NNP said _VBD its _PRP$ Babcock _NNP & _CC Wilcox _NNP unit _NN completed _VBD the _DT sale _NN of _IN its _PRP$ Bailey _NNP Controls _NNP Operations _NNP to _TO Finmeccanica _NNP S.p _NNP . _. A. _NNP for _IN $ _$ 295 _CD million _CD . _. Finmeccanica _NNP is _VBZ an _DT Italian _JJ state-owned _JJ holding _VBG company _NN with _IN interests _NNS in _IN the _DT mechanical _JJ engineering _NN industry _NN . _. Bailey _NNP Controls _NNP , _, based _VBN in _IN Wickliffe _NNP , _, Ohio _NNP , _, makes _VBZ computerized _JJ industrial _JJ controls _NNS systems _NNS . _. It _PRP employs _VBZ 2,700 _CD people _NNS and _CC has _VBZ annual _JJ revenue _NN of _IN about _IN $ _$ 370 _CD million _CD . _. The _DT federal _JJ government _NN suspended _VBD sales _NNS of _IN U.S. _NNP savings _NNS bonds _NNS because _IN Congress _NNP has _VBZ n't _RB lifted _VBN the _DT ceiling _NN on _IN government _NN debt _NN . _. Until _IN Congress _NNP acts _VBZ , _, the _DT government _NN has _VBZ n't _RB any _DT authority _NN to _TO issue _VB new _JJ debt _NN obligations _NNS of _IN any _DT kind _NN , _, the _DT Treasury _NNP said _VBD . _. The _DT government _NN 's _POS borrowing _NN authority _NN dropped _VBD at _IN midnight _NN Tuesday _NNP to _TO $ _$ 2.80 _CD trillion _CD from _IN $ _$ 2.87 _CD trillion _CD . _. Legislation _NN to _TO lift _VB the _DT debt _NN ceiling _NN is _VBZ ensnarled _VBN in _IN the _DT fight _NN over _IN cutting _VBG capital-gains _JJ taxes _NNS . _. The _DT House _NNP has _VBZ voted _VBN to _TO raise _VB the _DT ceiling _NN to _TO $ _$ 3.1 _CD trillion _CD , _, but _CC the _DT Senate _NNP is _VBZ n't _RB expected _VBN to _TO act _VB until _IN next _JJ week _NN at _IN the _DT earliest _JJS . _. The _DT Treasury _NNP said _VBD the _DT U.S. _NNP will _MD default _VB on _IN Nov. _NNP 9 _CD if _IN Congress _NNP does _VBZ n't _RB act _VB by _IN then _RB . _. Clark _NNP J. _NNP Vitulli _NNP was _VBD named _VBN senior _JJ vice _NN president _NN and _CC general _JJ manager _NN of _IN this _DT U.S. _NNP sales _NNS and _CC marketing _NN arm _NN of _IN Japanese _JJ auto _NN maker _NN Mazda _NNP Motor _NNP Corp _NNP . _. In _IN the _DT new _JJ position _NN he _PRP will _MD oversee _VB Mazda _NNP 's _POS U.S. _NNP sales _NNS , _, service _NN , _, parts _NNS and _CC marketing _NN operations _NNS . _. Previously _RB , _, Mr. _NNP Vitulli _NNP , _, 43 _CD years _NNS old _JJ , _, was _VBD general _JJ marketing _NN manager _NN of _IN Chrysler _NNP Corp. _NNP 's _POS Chrysler _NNP division _NN . _. He _PRP had _VBD been _VBN a _DT sales _NNS and _CC marketing _NN executive _NN with _IN Chrysler _NNP for _IN 20 _CD years _NNS . _. When _WRB it _PRP 's _VBZ time _NN for _IN their _PRP$ biannual _JJ powwow _NN , _, the _DT nation _NN 's _POS manufacturing _VBG titans _NNS typically _RB jet _VBP off _RP to _TO the _DT sunny _JJ confines _NNS of _IN resort _NN towns _NNS like _IN Boca _NNP Raton _NNP and _CC Hot _NNP Springs _NNP . _. Not _RB this _DT year _NN . _. The _DT National _NNP Association _NNP of _IN Manufacturers _NNP settled _VBD on _IN the _DT Hoosier _NNP capital _NN of _IN Indianapolis _NNP for _IN its _PRP$ fall _NN board _NN meeting _NN . _. And _CC the _DT city _NN decided _VBD to _TO treat _VB its _PRP$ guests _NNS more _JJR like _IN royalty _NN or _CC rock _NN stars _NNS than _IN factory _NN owners _NNS . _. The _DT idea _NN , _, of _IN course _NN : _: to _TO prove _VB to _TO 125 _CD corporate _JJ decision _NN makers _NNS that _IN the _DT buckle _NN on _IN the _DT Rust _NNP Belt _NNP is _VBZ n't _RB so _RB rusty _JJ after _IN all _DT , _, that _IN it _PRP 's _VBZ a _DT good _JJ place _NN for _IN a _DT company _NN to _TO expand _VB . _. On _IN the _DT receiving _VBG end _NN of _IN the _DT message _NN were _VBD officials _NNS from _IN giants _NNS like _IN Du _NNP Pont _NNP and _CC Maytag _NNP , _, along _IN with _IN lesser _JJR knowns _NNS like _IN Trojan _NNP Steel _NNP and _CC the _DT Valley _NNP Queen _NNP Cheese _NNP Factory _NNP . _. For _IN starters _NNS , _, the _DT executives _NNS joined _VBD Mayor _NNP William _NNP H. _NNP Hudnut _NNP III _NNP for _IN an _DT evening _NN of _IN the _DT Indianapolis _NNP Symphony _NNP Orchestra _NNP and _CC a _DT guest _NN pianist-comedian _NN Victor _NNP Borge _NNP . _. Champagne _NN and _CC dessert _NN followed _VBD . _. The _DT next _JJ morning _NN , _, with _IN a _DT police _NN escort _NN , _, busloads _NNS of _IN executives _NNS and _CC their _PRP$ wives _NNS raced _VBD to _TO the _DT Indianapolis _NNP Motor _NNP Speedway _NNP , _, unimpeded _JJ by _IN traffic _NN or _CC red _JJ lights _NNS . _. The _DT governor _NN could _MD n't _RB make _VB it _PRP , _, so _IN the _DT lieutenant _NN governor _NN welcomed _VBD the _DT special _JJ guests _NNS . _. A _DT buffet _NN breakfast _NN was _VBD held _VBN in _IN the _DT museum _NN , _, where _WRB food _NN and _CC drinks _NNS are _VBP banned _VBN to _TO everyday _JJ visitors _NNS . _. Then _RB , _, in _IN the _DT guests _NNS ' _POS honor _NN , _, the _DT speedway _NN hauled _VBD out _IN four _CD drivers _NNS , _, crews _NNS and _CC even _RB the _DT official _JJ Indianapolis _NNP 500 _CD announcer _NN for _IN a _DT 10-lap _JJ exhibition _NN race _NN . _. After _IN the _DT race _NN , _, Fortune _NNP 500 _CD executives _NNS drooled _VBD like _IN schoolboys _NNS over _IN the _DT cars _NNS and _CC drivers _NNS . _. No _DT dummies _NNS , _, the _DT drivers _NNS pointed _VBD out _IN they _PRP still _RB had _VBD space _NN on _IN their _PRP$ machines _NNS for _IN another _DT sponsor _NN 's _POS name _NN or _CC two _CD . _. Back _RB downtown _NN , _, the _DT execs _NNS squeezed _VBD in _IN a _DT few _JJ meetings _NNS at _IN the _DT hotel _NN before _IN boarding _VBG the _DT buses _NNS again _RB . _. This _DT time _NN , _, it _PRP was _VBD for _IN dinner _NN and _CC dancing _NN -- _: a _DT block _NN away _RB . _. Under _IN the _DT stars _NNS and _CC moons _NNS of _IN the _DT renovated _VBN Indiana _NNP Roof _NNP ballroom _NN , _, nine _CD of _IN the _DT hottest _JJS chefs _NNS in _IN town _NN fed _VBD them _PRP Indiana _NNP duckling _NN mousseline _NN , _, lobster _NN consomme _NN , _, veal _NN mignon _NN and _CC chocolate _JJ terrine _NN with _IN a _DT raspberry _NN sauce _NN . _. Knowing _VBG a _DT tasty _JJ -- _: and _CC free _JJ -- _: meal _NN when _WRB they _PRP eat _VBP one _CD , _, the _DT executives _NNS gave _VBD the _DT chefs _NNS a _DT standing _JJ ovation _NN . _. More _JJR than _IN a _DT few _JJ CEOs _NNS say _VBP the _DT red-carpet _JJ treatment _NN tempts _VBZ them _PRP to _TO return _VB to _TO a _DT heartland _NN city _NN for _IN future _JJ meetings _NNS . _. But _CC for _IN now _RB , _, they _PRP 're _VBP looking _VBG forward _RB to _TO their _PRP$ winter _NN meeting _NN -- _: Boca _NNP in _IN February _NNP . _. South _NNP Korea _NNP registered _VBD a _DT trade _NN deficit _NN of _IN $ _$ 101 _CD million _CD in _IN October _NNP , _, reflecting _VBG the _DT country _NN 's _POS economic _JJ sluggishness _NN , _, according _VBG to _TO government _NN figures _NNS released _VBD Wednesday _NNP . _. Preliminary _JJ tallies _NNS by _IN the _DT Trade _NNP and _CC Industry _NNP Ministry _NNP showed _VBD another _DT trade _NN deficit _NN in _IN October _NNP , _, the _DT fifth _JJ monthly _JJ setback _NN this _DT year _NN , _, casting _VBG a _DT cloud _NN on _IN South _NNP Korea _NNP 's _POS export-oriented _JJ economy _NN . _. Exports _NNS in _IN October _NNP stood _VBD at _IN $ _$ 5.29 _CD billion _CD , _, a _DT mere _JJ 0.7 _CD % _NN increase _NN from _IN a _DT year _NN earlier _JJR , _, while _IN imports _NNS increased _VBD sharply _RB to _TO $ _$ 5.39 _CD billion _CD , _, up _RB 20 _CD % _NN from _IN last _JJ October _NNP . _. South _NNP Korea _NNP 's _POS economic _JJ boom _NN , _, which _WDT began _VBD in _IN 1986 _CD , _, stopped _VBD this _DT year _NN because _IN of _IN prolonged _VBN labor _NN disputes _NNS , _, trade _NN conflicts _NNS and _CC sluggish _JJ exports _NNS . _. Government _NN officials _NNS said _VBD exports _NNS at _IN the _DT end _NN of _IN the _DT year _NN would _MD remain _VB under _IN a _DT government _NN target _NN of _IN $ _$ 68 _CD billion _CD . _. Despite _IN the _DT gloomy _JJ forecast _NN , _, South _NNP Korea _NNP has _VBZ recorded _VBN a _DT trade _NN surplus _NN of _IN $ _$ 71 _CD million _CD so _IN far _IN this _DT year _NN . _. From _IN January _NNP to _TO October _NNP , _, the _DT nation _NN 's _POS accumulated _VBN exports _NNS increased _VBD 4 _CD % _NN from _IN the _DT same _JJ period _NN last _JJ year _NN to _TO $ _$ 50.45 _CD billion _CD . _. Imports _NNS were _VBD at _IN $ _$ 50.38 _CD billion _CD , _, up _RB 19 _CD % _NN . _. Newsweek _NNP , _, trying _VBG to _TO keep _VB pace _NN with _IN rival _JJ Time _NNP magazine _NN , _, announced _VBD new _JJ advertising _NN rates _NNS for _IN 1990 _CD and _CC said _VBD it _PRP will _MD introduce _VB a _DT new _JJ incentive _NN plan _NN for _IN advertisers _NNS . _. The _DT new _JJ ad _NN plan _NN from _IN Newsweek _NNP , _, a _DT unit _NN of _IN the _DT Washington _NNP Post _NNP Co. _NNP , _, is _VBZ the _DT second _JJ incentive _NN plan _NN the _DT magazine _NN has _VBZ offered _VBN advertisers _NNS in _IN three _CD years _NNS . _. Plans _NNS that _WDT give _VBP advertisers _NNS discounts _NNS for _IN maintaining _VBG or _CC increasing _VBG ad _NN spending _NN have _VBP become _VBN permanent _JJ fixtures _NNS at _IN the _DT news _NN weeklies _NNS and _CC underscore _VBP the _DT fierce _JJ competition _NN between _IN Newsweek _NNP , _, Time _NNP Warner _NNP Inc. _NNP 's _POS Time _NNP magazine _NN , _, and _CC Mortimer _NNP B. _NNP Zuckerman _NNP 's _POS U.S. _NNP News _NNP & _CC World _NNP Report _NNP . _. Alan _NNP Spoon _NNP , _, recently _RB named _VBN Newsweek _NNP president _NN , _, said _VBD Newsweek _NNP 's _POS ad _NN rates _NNS would _MD increase _VB 5 _CD % _NN in _IN January _NNP . _. A _DT full _JJ , _, four-color _JJ page _NN in _IN Newsweek _NNP will _MD cost _VB $ _$ 100,980 _CD . _. In _IN mid-October _NNP , _, Time _NNP magazine _NN lowered _VBD its _PRP$ guaranteed _VBN circulation _NN rate _NN base _NN for _IN 1990 _CD while _IN not _RB increasing _VBG ad _NN page _NN rates _NNS ; _: with _IN a _DT lower _JJR circulation _NN base _NN , _, Time _NNP 's _POS ad _NN rate _NN will _MD be _VB effectively _RB 7.5 _CD % _NN higher _JJR per _IN subscriber _NN ; _: a _DT full _JJ page _NN in _IN Time _NNP costs _VBZ about _IN $ _$ 120,000 _CD . _. U.S. _NNP News _NNP has _VBZ yet _RB to _TO announce _VB its _PRP$ 1990 _CD ad _NN rates _NNS . _. Newsweek _NNP said _VBD it _PRP will _MD introduce _VB the _DT Circulation _NNP Credit _NNP Plan _NNP , _, which _WDT awards _VBZ space _NN credits _NNS to _TO advertisers _NNS on _IN `` _`` renewal _NN advertising _NN . _. '' _'' The _DT magazine _NN will _MD reward _VB with _IN `` _`` page _NN bonuses _NNS '' _'' advertisers _NNS who _WP in _IN 1990 _CD meet _VBP or _CC exceed _VBP their _PRP$ 1989 _CD spending _NN , _, as _RB long _RB as _IN they _PRP spent _VBD $ _$ 325,000 _CD in _IN 1989 _CD and _CC $ _$ 340,000 _CD in _IN 1990 _CD . _. Mr. _NNP Spoon _NNP said _VBD the _DT plan _NN is _VBZ not _RB an _DT attempt _NN to _TO shore _VB up _IN a _DT decline _NN in _IN ad _NN pages _NNS in _IN the _DT first _JJ nine _CD months _NNS of _IN 1989 _CD ; _: Newsweek _NNP 's _POS ad _NN pages _NNS totaled _VBD 1,620 _CD , _, a _DT drop _NN of _IN 3.2 _CD % _NN from _IN last _JJ year _NN , _, according _VBG to _TO Publishers _NNP Information _NNP Bureau _NNP . _. `` _`` What _WP matters _VBZ is _VBZ what _WP advertisers _NNS are _VBP paying _VBG per _IN page _NN , _, and _CC in _IN that _DT department _NN we _PRP are _VBP doing _VBG fine _RB this _DT fall _NN , _, '' _'' said _VBD Mr. _NNP Spoon _NNP . _. Both _DT Newsweek _NNP and _CC U.S. _NNP News _NNP have _VBP been _VBN gaining _VBG circulation _NN in _IN recent _JJ years _NNS without _IN heavy _JJ use _NN of _IN electronic _JJ giveaways _NNS to _TO subscribers _NNS , _, such _JJ as _IN telephones _NNS or _CC watches _NNS . _. However _RB , _, none _NN of _IN the _DT big _JJ three _CD weeklies _NNS recorded _VBD circulation _NN gains _NNS recently _RB . _. According _VBG to _TO Audit _NNP Bureau _NNP of _IN Circulations _NNP , _, Time _NNP , _, the _DT largest _JJS newsweekly _RB , _, had _VBD average _JJ circulation _NN of _IN 4,393,237 _CD , _, a _DT decrease _NN of _IN 7.3 _CD % _NN . _. Newsweek _NNP 's _POS circulation _NN for _IN the _DT first _JJ six _CD months _NNS of _IN 1989 _CD was _VBD 3,288,453 _CD , _, flat _JJ from _IN the _DT same _JJ period _NN last _JJ year _NN . _. U.S. _NNP News _NNP ' _POS circulation _NN in _IN the _DT same _JJ time _NN was _VBD 2,303,328 _CD , _, down _RB 2.6 _CD % _NN . _. New _NNP England _NNP Electric _NNP System _NNP bowed _VBD out _IN of _IN the _DT bidding _NN for _IN Public _NNP Service _NNP Co. _NNP of _IN New _NNP Hampshire _NNP , _, saying _VBG that _IN the _DT risks _NNS were _VBD too _RB high _JJ and _CC the _DT potential _JJ payoff _NN too _RB far _RB in _IN the _DT future _NN to _TO justify _VB a _DT higher _JJR offer _NN . _. The _DT move _NN leaves _VBZ United _NNP Illuminating _NNP Co. _NNP and _CC Northeast _NNP Utilities _NNP as _IN the _DT remaining _VBG outside _JJ bidders _NNS for _IN PS _NNP of _IN New _NNP Hampshire _NNP , _, which _WDT also _RB has _VBZ proposed _VBN an _DT internal _JJ reorganization _NN plan _NN in _IN Chapter _NN 11 _CD bankruptcy _NN proceedings _NNS under _IN which _WDT it _PRP would _MD remain _VB an _DT independent _JJ company _NN . _. New _NNP England _NNP Electric _NNP , _, based _VBN in _IN Westborough _NNP , _, Mass. _NNP , _, had _VBD offered _VBN $ _$ 2 _CD billion _CD to _TO acquire _VB PS _NNP of _IN New _NNP Hampshire _NNP , _, well _RB below _IN the _DT $ _$ 2.29 _CD billion _CD value _NN United _NNP Illuminating _NNP places _NNS on _IN its _PRP$ bid _NN and _CC the _DT $ _$ 2.25 _CD billion _CD Northeast _NNP says _VBZ its _PRP$ bid _NN is _VBZ worth _IN . _. United _NNP Illuminating _NNP is _VBZ based _VBN in _IN New _NNP Haven _NNP , _, Conn. _NNP , _, and _CC Northeast _NNP is _VBZ based _VBN in _IN Hartford _NNP , _, Conn _NNP . _. PS _NNP of _IN New _NNP Hampshire _NNP , _, Manchester _NNP , _, N.H. _NNP , _, values _VBZ its _PRP$ internal _JJ reorganization _NN plan _NN at _IN about _IN $ _$ 2.2 _CD billion _CD . _. John _NNP Rowe _NNP , _, president _NN and _CC chief _JJ executive _JJ officer _NN of _IN New _NNP England _NNP Electric _NNP , _, said _VBD the _DT company _NN 's _POS return _NN on _IN equity _NN could _MD suffer _VB if _IN it _PRP made _VBD a _DT higher _JJR bid _NN and _CC its _PRP$ forecasts _NNS related _VBN to _TO PS _NNP of _IN New _NNP Hampshire _NNP -- _: such _JJ as _IN growth _NN in _IN electricity _NN demand _NN and _CC improved _VBN operating _NN efficiencies _NNS -- _: did _VBD n't _RB come _VB true _JJ . _. `` _`` When _WRB we _PRP evaluated _VBD raising _VBG our _PRP$ bid _NN , _, the _DT risks _NNS seemed _VBD substantial _JJ and _CC persistent _JJ over _IN the _DT next _JJ five _CD years _NNS , _, and _CC the _DT rewards _NNS seemed _VBD a _DT long _JJ way _NN out _IN . _. That _WDT got _VBD hard _RB to _TO take _VB , _, '' _'' he _PRP added _VBD . _. Mr. _NNP Rowe _NNP also _RB noted _VBD that _IN political _JJ concerns _NNS also _RB worried _VBN New _NNP England _NNP Electric _NNP . _. No _DT matter _NN who _WP owns _VBZ PS _NNP of _IN New _NNP Hampshire _NNP , _, after _IN it _PRP emerges _VBZ from _IN bankruptcy _NN proceedings _NNS its _PRP$ rates _NNS will _MD be _VB among _IN the _DT highest _JJS in _IN the _DT nation _NN , _, he _PRP said _VBD . _. `` _`` That _DT attracts _VBZ attention _NN ... _: it _PRP was _VBD just _RB another _DT one _CD of _IN the _DT risk _NN factors _NNS '' _'' that _WDT led _VBD to _TO the _DT company _NN 's _POS decision _NN to _TO withdraw _VB from _IN the _DT bidding _NN , _, he _PRP added _VBD . _. Wilbur _NNP Ross _NNP Jr. _NNP of _IN Rothschild _NNP Inc. _NNP , _, the _DT financial _JJ adviser _NN to _TO the _DT troubled _JJ company _NN 's _POS equity _NN holders _NNS , _, said _VBD the _DT withdrawal _NN of _IN New _NNP England _NNP Electric _NNP might _MD speed _VB up _IN the _DT reorganization _NN process _NN . _. The _DT fact _NN that _IN New _NNP England _NNP proposed _VBD lower _JJR rate _NN increases _NNS -- _: 4.8 _CD % _NN over _IN seven _CD years _NNS against _IN around _IN 5.5 _CD % _NN boosts _NNS proposed _VBN by _IN the _DT other _JJ two _CD outside _JJ bidders _NNS -- _: complicated _IN negotiations _NNS with _IN state _NN officials _NNS , _, Mr. _NNP Ross _NNP asserted _VBD . _. `` _`` Now _RB the _DT field _NN is _VBZ less _RBR cluttered _VBN , _, '' _'' he _PRP added _VBD . _. Separately _RB , _, the _DT Federal _NNP Energy _NNP Regulatory _NNP Commission _NNP turned _VBD down _IN for _IN now _RB a _DT request _NN by _IN Northeast _NNP seeking _VBG approval _NN of _IN its _PRP$ possible _JJ purchase _NN of _IN PS _NNP of _IN New _NNP Hampshire _NNP . _. Northeast _NNP said _VBD it _PRP would _MD refile _VB its _PRP$ request _NN and _CC still _RB hopes _VBZ for _IN an _DT expedited _VBN review _NN by _IN the _DT FERC _NNP so _IN that _IN it _PRP could _MD complete _VB the _DT purchase _NN by _IN next _JJ summer _NN if _IN its _PRP$ bid _NN is _VBZ the _DT one _NN approved _VBD by _IN the _DT bankruptcy _NN court _NN . _. PS _NNP of _IN New _NNP Hampshire _NNP shares _NNS closed _VBD yesterday _NN at _IN $ _$ 3.75 _CD , _, off _IN 25 _CD cents _NNS , _, in _IN New _NNP York _NNP Stock _NNP Exchange _NNP composite _JJ trading _NN . _. Norman _NNP Ricken _NNP , _, 52 _CD years _NNS old _JJ and _CC former _JJ president _NN and _CC chief _NN operating _VBG officer _NN of _IN Toys _NNPS `` _`` R _NNP '' _'' Us _NNP Inc. _NNP , _, and _CC Frederick _NNP Deane _NNP Jr. _NNP , _, 63 _CD , _, chairman _NN of _IN Signet _NNP Banking _NNP Corp. _NNP , _, were _VBD elected _VBN directors _NNS of _IN this _DT consumer _NN electronics _NNS and _CC appliances _NNS retailing _NN chain _NN . _. They _PRP succeed _VBP Daniel _NNP M. _NNP Rexinger _NNP , _, retired _VBN Circuit _NNP City _NNP executive _JJ vice _NN president _NN , _, and _CC Robert _NNP R. _NNP Glauber _NNP , _, U.S. _NNP Treasury _NNP undersecretary _NN , _, on _IN the _DT 12-member _JJ board _NN . _. Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP Co. _NNP was _VBD ordered _VBN to _TO refund _VB about _IN $ _$ 250 _CD million _CD to _TO its _PRP$ current _JJ and _CC former _JJ ratepayers _NNS for _IN illegal _JJ rates _NNS collected _VBN for _IN cost _NN overruns _NNS on _IN a _DT nuclear _JJ power _NN plant _NN . _. The _DT refund _NN was _VBD about _IN $ _$ 55 _CD million _CD more _JJR than _IN previously _RB ordered _VBN by _IN the _DT Illinois _NNP Commerce _NNP Commission _NNP and _CC trade _NN groups _NNS said _VBD it _PRP may _MD be _VB the _DT largest _JJS ever _RB required _VBN of _IN a _DT state _NN or _CC local _JJ utility _NN . _. State _NN court _NN Judge _NNP Richard _NNP Curry _NNP ordered _VBD Edison _NNP to _TO make _VB average _JJ refunds _NNS of _IN about _IN $ _$ 45 _CD to _TO $ _$ 50 _CD each _DT to _TO Edison _NNP customers _NNS who _WP have _VBP received _VBN electric _JJ service _NN since _IN April _NNP 1986 _CD , _, including _VBG about _IN two _CD million _CD customers _NNS who _WP have _VBP moved _VBN during _IN that _DT period _NN . _. Judge _NNP Curry _NNP ordered _VBD the _DT refunds _NNS to _TO begin _VB Feb. _NNP 1 _CD and _CC said _VBD that _IN he _PRP would _MD n't _RB entertain _VB any _DT appeals _NNS or _CC other _JJ attempts _NNS to _TO block _VB his _PRP$ order _NN by _IN Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP . _. `` _`` The _DT refund _NN pool _NN ... _: may _MD not _RB be _VB held _VBN hostage _NN through _IN another _DT round _NN of _IN appeals _NNS , _, '' _'' Judge _NNP Curry _NNP said _VBD . _. Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP said _VBD it _PRP is _VBZ already _RB appealing _VBG the _DT underlying _VBG commission _NN order _NN and _CC is _VBZ considering _VBG appealing _VBG Judge _NNP Curry _NNP 's _POS order _NN . _. The _DT exact _JJ amount _NN of _IN the _DT refund _NN will _MD be _VB determined _VBN next _JJ year _NN based _VBN on _IN actual _JJ collections _NNS made _VBN until _IN Dec. _NNP 31 _CD of _IN this _DT year _NN . _. Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP said _VBD the _DT ruling _NN could _MD force _VB it _PRP to _TO slash _VB its _PRP$ 1989 _CD earnings _NNS by _IN $ _$ 1.55 _CD a _DT share _NN . _. For _IN 1988 _CD , _, Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP reported _VBD earnings _NNS of _IN $ _$ 737.5 _CD million _CD , _, or _CC $ _$ 3.01 _CD a _DT share _NN . _. A _DT Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP spokesman _NN said _VBD that _IN tracking _VBG down _RP the _DT two _CD million _CD customers _NNS whose _WP$ addresses _NNS have _VBP changed _VBN during _IN the _DT past _JJ 3 _CD 1\ _2 years _NNS would _MD be _VB `` _`` an _DT administrative _JJ nightmare _NN . _. '' _'' In _IN New _NNP York _NNP Stock _NNP Exchange _NNP composite _JJ trading _NN yesterday _NN , _, Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP closed _VBD at _IN $ _$ 38.375 _CD , _, down _RB 12.5 _CD cents _NNS . _. The _DT $ _$ 2.5 _CD billion _CD Byron _NNP 1 _CD plant _NN near _IN Rockford _NNP , _, Ill. _NNP , _, was _VBD completed _VBN in _IN 1985 _CD . _. In _IN a _DT disputed _VBN 1985 _CD ruling _NN , _, the _DT Commerce _NNP Commission _NNP said _VBD Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP could _MD raise _VB its _PRP$ electricity _NN rates _NNS by _IN $ _$ 49 _CD million _CD to _TO pay _VB for _IN the _DT plant _NN . _. But _CC state _NN courts _NNS upheld _VBD a _DT challenge _NN by _IN consumer _NN groups _NNS to _TO the _DT commission _NN 's _POS rate _NN increase _NN and _CC found _VBD the _DT rates _NNS illegal _JJ . _. The _DT Illinois _NNP Supreme _NNP Court _NNP ordered _VBD the _DT commission _NN to _TO audit _VB Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP 's _POS construction _NN expenses _NNS and _CC refund _VB any _DT unreasonable _JJ expenses _NNS . _. The _DT utility _NN has _VBZ been _VBN collecting _VBG for _IN the _DT plant _NN 's _POS construction _NN cost _NN from _IN its _PRP$ 3.1 _CD million _CD customers _NNS subject _JJ to _TO a _DT refund _NN since _IN 1986 _CD . _. In _IN August _NNP , _, the _DT commission _NN ruled _VBD that _IN between _IN $ _$ 190 _CD million _CD and _CC $ _$ 195 _CD million _CD of _IN the _DT plant _NN 's _POS construction _NN cost _NN was _VBD unreasonable _JJ and _CC should _MD be _VB refunded _VBN , _, plus _CC interest _NN . _. In _IN his _PRP$ ruling _NN , _, Judge _NNP Curry _NNP added _VBD an _DT additional _JJ $ _$ 55 _CD million _CD to _TO the _DT commission _NN 's _POS calculations _NNS . _. Last _JJ month _NN , _, Judge _NNP Curry _NNP set _VBD the _DT interest _NN rate _NN on _IN the _DT refund _NN at _IN 9 _CD % _NN . _. Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP now _RB faces _VBZ an _DT additional _JJ court-ordered _JJ refund _NN on _IN its _PRP$ summer\ _winter rate _NN differential _JJ collections _NNS that _IN the _DT Illinois _NNP Appellate _NNP Court _NNP has _VBZ estimated _VBN at _IN $ _$ 140 _CD million _CD . _. And _CC consumer _NN groups _NNS hope _VBP that _IN Judge _NNP Curry _NNP 's _POS Byron _NNP 1 _CD order _NN may _MD set _VB a _DT precedent _NN for _IN a _DT second _JJ nuclear _JJ rate _NN case _NN involving _VBG Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP 's _POS Braidwood _NNP 2 _CD plant _NN . _. Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP is _VBZ seeking _VBG about _IN $ _$ 245 _CD million _CD in _IN rate _NN increases _NNS to _TO pay _VB for _IN Braidwood _NNP 2 _CD . _. The _DT commission _NN is _VBZ expected _VBN to _TO rule _VB on _IN the _DT Braidwood _NNP 2 _CD case _NN by _IN year _NN end _NN . _. Last _JJ year _NN Commonwealth _NNP Edison _NNP had _VBD to _TO refund _VB $ _$ 72.7 _CD million _CD for _IN poor _JJ performance _NN of _IN its _PRP$ LaSalle _NNP I _NNP nuclear _JJ plant _NN . _. Japan _NNP 's _POS domestic _JJ sales _NNS of _IN cars _NNS , _, trucks _NNS and _CC buses _NNS in _IN October _NNP rose _VBD 18 _CD % _NN from _IN a _DT year _NN earlier _JJR to _TO 500,004 _CD units _NNS , _, a _DT record _NN for _IN the _DT month _NN , _, the _DT Japan _NNP Automobile _NNP Dealers _NNPS ' _POS Association _NNP said _VBD . _. The _DT strong _JJ growth _NN followed _VBD year-to-year _JJ increases _NNS of _IN 21 _CD % _NN in _IN August _NNP and _CC 12 _CD % _NN in _IN September _NNP . _. The _DT monthly _JJ sales _NNS have _VBP been _VBN setting _VBG records _NNS every _DT month _NN since _IN March _NNP . _. October _NNP sales _NNS , _, compared _VBN with _IN the _DT previous _JJ month _NN , _, inched _VBD down _RB 0.4 _CD % _NN . _. Sales _NNS of _IN passenger _NN cars _NNS grew _VBD 22 _CD % _NN from _IN a _DT year _NN earlier _JJR to _TO 361,376 _CD units _NNS . _. Sales _NNS of _IN medium-sized _JJ cars _NNS , _, which _WDT benefited _VBD from _IN price _NN reductions _NNS arising _VBG from _IN introduction _NN of _IN the _DT consumption _NN tax _NN , _, more _RBR than _IN doubled _VBD to _TO 30,841 _CD units _NNS from _IN 13,056 _CD in _IN October _NNP 1988 _CD . _. Texas _NNP Instruments _NNPS Japan _NNP Ltd. _NNP , _, a _DT unit _NN of _IN Texas _NNP Instruments _NNPS Inc. _NNP , _, said _VBD it _PRP opened _VBD a _DT plant _NN in _IN South _NNP Korea _NNP to _TO manufacture _VB control _NN devices _NNS . _. The _DT new _JJ plant _NN , _, located _VBN in _IN Chinchon _NNP about _IN 60 _CD miles _NNS from _IN Seoul _NNP , _, will _MD help _VB meet _VB increasing _VBG and _CC diversifying _VBG demand _NN for _IN control _NN products _NNS in _IN South _NNP Korea _NNP , _, the _DT company _NN said _VBD . _. The _DT plant _NN will _MD produce _VB control _NN devices _NNS used _VBN in _IN motor _NN vehicles _NNS and _CC household _NN appliances _NNS . _. The _DT survival _NN of _IN spinoff _NN Cray _NNP Computer _NNP Corp. _NNP as _IN a _DT fledgling _NN in _IN the _DT supercomputer _NN business _NN appears _VBZ to _TO depend _VB heavily _RB on _IN the _DT creativity _NN -- _: and _CC longevity _NN -- _: of _IN its _PRP$ chairman _NN and _CC chief _NN designer _NN , _, Seymour _NNP Cray _NNP . _. Not _RB only _RB is _VBZ development _NN of _IN the _DT new _JJ company _NN 's _POS initial _JJ machine _NN tied _VBD directly _RB to _TO Mr. _NNP Cray _NNP , _, so _RB is _VBZ its _PRP$ balance _NN sheet _NN . _. Documents _NNS filed _VBN with _IN the _DT Securities _NNPS and _CC Exchange _NNP Commission _NNP on _IN the _DT pending _VBG spinoff _NN disclosed _VBD that _IN Cray _NNP Research _NNP Inc. _NNP will _MD withdraw _VB the _DT almost _RB $ _$ 100 _CD million _CD in _IN financing _NN it _PRP is _VBZ providing _VBG the _DT new _JJ firm _NN if _IN Mr. _NNP Cray _NNP leaves _VBZ or _CC if _IN the _DT product-design _JJ project _NN he _PRP heads _VBZ is _VBZ scrapped _VBN . _. The _DT documents _NNS also _RB said _VBD that _IN although _IN the _DT 64-year-old _JJ Mr. _NNP Cray _NNP has _VBZ been _VBN working _VBG on _IN the _DT project _NN for _IN more _RBR than _IN six _CD years _NNS , _, the _DT Cray-3 _NNP machine _NN is _VBZ at _IN least _JJS another _DT year _NN away _RB from _IN a _DT fully _RB operational _JJ prototype _NN . _. Moreover _JJR , _, there _EX have _VBP been _VBN no _DT orders _NNS for _IN the _DT Cray-3 _NNP so _RB far _RB , _, though _IN the _DT company _NN says _VBZ it _PRP is _VBZ talking _VBG with _IN several _JJ prospects _NNS . _. While _IN many _JJ of _IN the _DT risks _NNS were _VBD anticipated _VBN when _WRB Minneapolis-based _JJ Cray _NNP Research _NNP first _RB announced _VBD the _DT spinoff _NN in _IN May _NNP , _, the _DT strings _NNS it _PRP attached _VBD to _TO the _DT financing _NN had _VBD n't _RB been _VBN made _VBN public _JJ until _IN yesterday _NN . _. `` _`` We _PRP did _VBD n't _RB have _VB much _RB of _IN a _DT choice _NN , _, '' _'' Cray _NNP Computer _NNP 's _POS chief _NN financial _JJ officer _NN , _, Gregory _NNP Barnum _NNP , _, said _VBD in _IN an _DT interview _NN . _. `` _`` The _DT theory _NN is _VBZ that _IN Seymour _NNP is _VBZ the _DT chief _JJ designer _NN of _IN the _DT Cray-3 _NNP , _, and _CC without _IN him _PRP it _PRP could _MD not _RB be _VB completed _VBN . _. Cray _NNP Research _NNP did _VBD not _RB want _VB to _TO fund _VB a _DT project _NN that _WDT did _VBD not _RB include _VB Seymour _NNP . _. '' _'' The _DT documents _NNS also _RB said _VBD that _IN Cray _NNP Computer _NNP anticipates _VBZ needing _VBG perhaps _RB another _DT $ _$ 120 _CD million _CD in _IN financing _NN beginning _VBG next _JJ September _NNP . _. But _CC Mr. _NNP Barnum _NNP called _VBD that _IN `` _`` a _DT worst-case _JJ '' _'' scenario _NN . _. The _DT filing _NN on _IN the _DT details _NNS of _IN the _DT spinoff _NN caused _VBD Cray _NNP Research _NNP stock _NN to _TO jump _VB $ _$ 2.875 _CD yesterday _NN to _TO close _VB at _IN $ _$ 38 _CD in _IN New _NNP York _NNP Stock _NNP Exchange _NNP composite _JJ trading _NN . _. Analysts _NNS noted _VBD yesterday _NN that _IN Cray _NNP Research _NNP 's _POS decision _NN to _TO link _VB its _PRP$ $ _$ 98.3 _CD million _CD promissory _JJ note _NN to _TO Mr. _NNP Cray _NNP 's _POS presence _NN will _MD complicate _VB a _DT valuation _NN of _IN the _DT new _JJ company _NN . _. `` _`` It _PRP has _VBZ to _TO be _VB considered _VBN as _IN an _DT additional _JJ risk _NN for _IN the _DT investor _NN , _, '' _'' said _VBD Gary _NNP P. _NNP Smaby _NNP of _IN Smaby _NNP Group _NNP Inc. _NNP , _, Minneapolis _NNP . _. `` _`` Cray _NNP Computer _NNP will _MD be _VB a _DT concept _NN stock _NN , _, '' _'' he _PRP said _VBD . _. `` _`` You _PRP either _RB believe _VBP Seymour _NNP can _MD do _VB it _PRP again _RB or _CC you _PRP do _VBP n't _RB . _. '' _'' Besides _IN the _DT designer _NN 's _POS age _NN , _, other _JJ risk _NN factors _NNS for _IN Mr. _NNP Cray _NNP 's _POS new _JJ company _NN include _VBP the _DT Cray-3 _NNP 's _POS tricky _JJ , _, unproven _JJ chip _NN technology _NN . _. The _DT SEC _NNP documents _NNS describe _VBP those _DT chips _NNS , _, which _WDT are _VBP made _VBN of _IN gallium _NN arsenide _NN , _, as _IN being _VBG so _RB fragile _JJ and _CC minute _JJ they _PRP will _MD require _VB special _JJ robotic _JJ handling _NN equipment _NN . _. In _IN addition _NN , _, the _DT Cray-3 _NNP will _MD contain _VB 16 _CD processors _NNS -- _: twice _RB as _RB many _JJ as _IN the _DT largest _JJS current _JJ supercomputer _NN . _. Cray _NNP Computer _NNP also _RB will _MD face _VB intense _JJ competition _NN , _, not _RB only _RB from _IN Cray _NNP Research _NNP , _, which _WDT has _VBZ about _RB 60 _CD % _NN of _IN the _DT world-wide _JJ supercomputer _NN market _NN and _CC which _WDT is _VBZ expected _VBN to _TO roll _VB out _RP the _DT C-90 _NN machine _NN , _, a _DT direct _JJ competitor _NN with _IN the _DT Cray-3 _NNP , _, in _IN 1991 _CD . _. The _DT spinoff _NN also _RB will _MD compete _VB with _IN International _NNP Business _NNP Machines _NNPS Corp. _NNP and _CC Japan _NNP 's _POS Big _JJ Three _CD -- _: Hitachi _NNP Ltd. _NNP , _, NEC _NNP Corp. _NNP and _CC Fujitsu _NNP Ltd _NNP . _. The _DT new _JJ company _NN said _VBD it _PRP believes _VBZ there _EX are _VBP fewer _JJR than _IN 100 _CD potential _JJ customers _NNS for _IN supercomputers _NNS priced _VBN between _IN $ _$ 15 _CD million _CD and _CC $ _$ 30 _CD million _CD -- _: presumably _RB the _DT Cray-3 _NNP price _NN range _NN . _. Under _IN terms _NNS of _IN the _DT spinoff _NN , _, Cray _NNP Research _NNP stockholders _NNS are _VBP to _TO receive _VB one _CD Cray _NNP Computer _NNP share _NN for _IN every _DT two _CD Cray _NNP Research _NNP shares _NNS they _PRP own _VBP in _IN a _DT distribution _NN expected _VBN to _TO occur _VB in _IN about _IN two _CD weeks _NNS . _. No _DT price _NN for _IN the _DT new _JJ shares _NNS has _VBZ been _VBN set _VBN . _. Instead _RB , _, the _DT companies _NNS will _MD leave _VB it _PRP up _IN to _TO the _DT marketplace _NN to _TO decide _VB . _. Cray _NNP Computer _NNP has _VBZ applied _VBN to _TO trade _VB on _IN Nasdaq _NNP . _. Analysts _NNS calculate _VBP Cray _NNP Computer _NNP 's _POS initial _JJ book _NN value _NN at _IN about _IN $ _$ 4.75 _CD a _DT share _NN . _. Along _IN with _IN the _DT note _NN , _, Cray _NNP Research _NNP is _VBZ transferring _VBG about _IN $ _$ 53 _CD million _CD in _IN assets _NNS , _, primarily _RB those _DT related _VBN to _TO the _DT Cray-3 _CD development _NN , _, which _WDT has _VBZ been _VBN a _DT drain _NN on _IN Cray _NNP Research _NNP 's _POS earnings _NNS . _. Pro-forma _JJ balance _NN sheets _NNS clearly _RB show _VBP why _WRB Cray _NNP Research _NNP favored _VBD the _DT spinoff _NN . _. Without _IN the _DT Cray-3 _NNP research _NN and _CC development _NN expenses _NNS , _, the _DT company _NN would _MD have _VB been _VBN able _JJ to _TO report _VB a _DT profit _NN of _IN $ _$ 19.3 _CD million _CD for _IN the _DT first _JJ half _DT of _IN 1989 _CD rather _RB than _IN the _DT $ _$ 5.9 _CD million _CD it _PRP posted _VBD . _. On _IN the _DT other _JJ hand _NN , _, had _VBD it _PRP existed _VBN then _RB , _, Cray _NNP Computer _NNP would _MD have _VB incurred _VBN a _DT $ _$ 20.5 _CD million _CD loss _NN . _. Mr. _NNP Cray _NNP , _, who _WP could _MD n't _RB be _VB reached _VBN for _IN comment _NN , _, will _MD work _VB for _IN the _DT new _JJ Colorado _NNP Springs _NNPS , _, Colo. _NNP , _, company _NN as _IN an _DT independent _JJ contractor _NN -- _: the _DT arrangement _NN he _PRP had _VBD with _IN Cray _NNP Research _NNP . _. Regarded _VBN as _IN the _DT father _NN of _IN the _DT supercomputer _NN , _, Mr. _NNP Cray _NNP was _VBD paid _VBN $ _$ 600,000 _CD at _IN Cray _NNP Research _NNP last _JJ year _NN . _. At _IN Cray _NNP Computer _NNP , _, he _PRP will _MD be _VB paid _VBN $ _$ 240,000 _CD . _. Besides _IN Messrs. _NNP Cray _NNP and _CC Barnum _NNP , _, other _JJ senior _JJ management _NN at _IN the _DT company _NN includes _VBZ Neil _NNP Davenport _NNP , _, 47 _CD , _, president _NN and _CC chief _NN executive _NN officer _NN ; _: Joseph _NNP M. _NNP Blanchard _NNP , _, 37 _CD , _, vice _NN president _NN , _, engineering _NN ; _: Malcolm _NNP A. _NN Hammerton _NNP , _, 40 _CD , _, vice _NN president _NN , _, software _NN ; _: and _CC Douglas _NNP R. _NNP Wheeland _NNP , _, 45 _CD , _, vice _NN president _NN , _, hardware _NN . _. All _DT came _VBD from _IN Cray _NNP Research _NNP . _. Cray _NNP Computer _NNP , _, which _WDT currently _RB employs _VBZ 241 _CD people _NNS , _, said _VBD it _PRP expects _VBZ a _DT work _NN force _NN of _IN 450 _CD by _IN the _DT end _NN of _IN 1990 _CD . _. John _NNP R. _NNP Stevens _NNP , _, 49 _CD years _NNS old _JJ , _, was _VBD named _VBN senior _JJ executive _NN vice _NN president _NN and _CC chief _NN operating _VBG officer _NN , _, both _DT new _JJ positions _NNS . _. He _PRP will _MD continue _VB to _TO report _VB to _TO Donald _NNP Pardus _NNP , _, president _NN and _CC chief _NN executive _NN officer _NN . _. Mr. _NNP Stevens _NNP was _VBD executive _NN vice _NN president _NN of _IN this _DT electric-utility _NN holding _NN company _NN . _. Arthur _NNP A. _NNP Hatch _NNP , _, 59 _CD , _, was _VBD named _VBN executive _NN vice _NN president _NN of _IN the _DT company _NN . _. He _PRP was _VBD previously _RB president _NN of _IN the _DT company _NN 's _POS Eastern _NNP Edison _NNP Co. _NNP unit _NN . _. John _NNP D. _NNP Carney _NNP , _, 45 _CD , _, was _VBD named _VBN to _TO succeed _VB Mr. _NNP Hatch _NNP as _IN president _NN of _IN Eastern _NNP Edison _NNP . _. Previously _RB he _PRP was _VBD vice _RB president _NN of _IN Eastern _NNP Edison _NNP . _. Robert _NNP P. _NNP Tassinari _NNP , _, 63 _CD , _, was _VBD named _VBN senior _JJ vice _NN president _NN of _IN Eastern _NNP Utilities _NNPS . _. He _PRP was _VBD previously _RB vice _NN president _NN . _. The _DT U.S. _NNP , _, claiming _VBG some _DT success _NN in _IN its _PRP$ trade _NN diplomacy _NN , _, removed _VBD South _NNP Korea _NNP , _, Taiwan _NNP and _CC Saudi _NNP Arabia _NNP from _IN a _DT list _NN of _IN countries _NNS it _PRP is _VBZ closely _RB watching _VBG for _IN allegedly _RB failing _VBG to _TO honor _VB U.S. _NNP patents _NNS , _, copyrights _NNS and _CC other _JJ intellectual-property _JJ rights _NNS . _. However _RB , _, five _CD other _JJ countries _NNS -- _: China _NNP , _, Thailand _NNP , _, India _NNP , _, Brazil _NNP and _CC Mexico _NNP -- _: will _MD remain _VB on _IN that _DT so-called _JJ priority _NN watch _NN list _NN as _IN a _DT result _NN of _IN an _DT interim _JJ review _NN , _, U.S. _NNP Trade _NNP Representative _NNP Carla _NNP Hills _NNP announced _VBD . _. Under _IN the _DT new _JJ U.S. _NNP trade _NN law _NN , _, those _DT countries _NNS could _MD face _VB accelerated _JJ unfair-trade _JJ investigations _NNS and _CC stiff _JJ trade _NN sanctions _NNS if _IN they _PRP do _VBP n't _RB improve _VB their _PRP$ protection _NN of _IN intellectual _JJ property _NN by _IN next _JJ spring _NN . _. Mrs. _NNP Hills _NNP said _VBD many _JJ of _IN the _DT 25 _CD countries _NNS that _IN she _PRP placed _VBD under _IN varying _VBG degrees _NNS of _IN scrutiny _NN have _VBP made _VBN `` _`` genuine _JJ progress _NN '' _'' on _IN this _DT touchy _JJ issue _NN . _. She _PRP said _VBD there _EX is _VBZ `` _`` growing _VBG realization _NN '' _'' around _IN the _DT world _NN that _DT denial _NN of _IN intellectual-property _JJ rights _NNS harms _VBZ all _DT trading _VBG nations _NNS , _, and _CC particularly _RB the _DT `` _`` creativity _NN and _CC inventiveness _NN of _IN an _DT { _( offending _VBG } _) country _NN 's _POS own _JJ citizens _NNS . _. '' _'' U.S. _NNP trade _NN negotiators _NNS argue _VBP that _IN countries _NNS with _IN inadequate _JJ protections _NNS for _IN intellectual-property _JJ rights _NNS could _MD be _VB hurting _VBG themselves _PRP by _IN discouraging _VBG their _PRP$ own _JJ scientists _NNS and _CC authors _NNS and _CC by _IN deterring _VBG U.S. _NNP high-technology _NN firms _NNS from _IN investing _VBG or _CC marketing _VBG their _PRP$ best _JJS products _NNS there _RB . _. Mrs. _NNP Hills _NNP lauded _VBD South _NNP Korea _NNP for _IN creating _VBG an _DT intellectual-property _JJ task _NN force _NN and _CC special _JJ enforcement _NN teams _NNS of _IN police _NN officers _NNS and _CC prosecutors _NNS trained _VBN to _TO pursue _VB movie _NN and _CC book _NN pirates _NNS . _. Seoul _NNP also _RB has _VBZ instituted _VBN effective _JJ search-and-seizure _JJ procedures _NNS to _TO aid _VB these _DT teams _NNS , _, she _PRP said _VBD . _. Taiwan _NNP has _VBZ improved _VBN its _PRP$ standing _NN with _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP by _IN initialing _VBG a _DT bilateral _JJ copyright _NN agreement _NN , _, amending _VBG its _PRP$ trademark _NN law _NN and _CC introducing _VBG legislation _NN to _TO protect _VB foreign _JJ movie _NN producers _NNS from _IN unauthorized _JJ showings _NNS of _IN their _PRP$ films _NNS . _. That _DT measure _NN could _MD compel _VB Taipei _NNP 's _POS growing _VBG number _NN of _IN small _JJ video-viewing _JJ parlors _NNS to _TO pay _VB movie _NN producers _NNS for _IN showing _VBG their _PRP$ films _NNS . _. Saudi _NNP Arabia _NNP , _, for _IN its _PRP$ part _NN , _, has _VBZ vowed _VBN to _TO enact _VB a _DT copyright _NN law _NN compatible _JJ with _IN international _JJ standards _NNS and _CC to _TO apply _VB the _DT law _NN to _TO computer _NN software _NN as _RB well _RB as _IN to _TO literary _JJ works _NNS , _, Mrs. _NNP Hills _NNP said _VBD . _. These _DT three _CD countries _NNS are _VBP n't _RB completely _RB off _IN the _DT hook _NN , _, though _RB . _. They _PRP will _MD remain _VB on _IN a _DT lower-priority _JJ list _NN that _WDT includes _VBZ 17 _CD other _JJ countries _NNS . _. Those _DT countries _NNS -- _: including _IN Japan _NNP , _, Italy _NNP , _, Canada _NNP , _, Greece _NNP and _CC Spain _NNP -- _: are _VBP still _RB of _IN some _DT concern _NN to _TO the _DT U.S. _NNP but _CC are _VBP deemed _VBN to _TO pose _VB less-serious _JJ problems _NNS for _IN American _JJ patent _NN and _CC copyright _NN owners _NNS than _IN those _DT on _IN the _DT `` _`` priority _NN '' _'' list _NN . _. Gary _NNP Hoffman _NNP , _, a _DT Washington _NNP lawyer _NN specializing _VBG in _IN intellectual-property _JJ cases _NNS , _, said _VBD the _DT threat _NN of _IN U.S. _NNP retaliation _NN , _, combined _VBN with _IN a _DT growing _VBG recognition _NN that _IN protecting _VBG intellectual _JJ property _NN is _VBZ in _IN a _DT country _NN 's _POS own _JJ interest _NN , _, prompted _VBD the _DT improvements _NNS made _VBN by _IN South _NNP Korea _NNP , _, Taiwan _NNP and _CC Saudi _NNP Arabia _NNP . _. `` _`` What _WP this _DT tells _VBZ us _PRP is _VBZ that _DT U.S. _NNP trade _NN law _NN is _VBZ working _VBG , _, '' _'' he _PRP said _VBD . _. He _PRP said _VBD Mexico _NNP could _MD be _VB one _CD of _IN the _DT next _JJ countries _NNS to _TO be _VB removed _VBN from _IN the _DT priority _NN list _NN because _IN of _IN its _PRP$ efforts _NNS to _TO craft _VB a _DT new _JJ patent _NN law _NN . _. Mrs. _NNP Hills _NNP said _VBD that _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP is _VBZ still _RB concerned _VBN about _IN `` _`` disturbing _JJ developments _NNS in _IN Turkey _NNP and _CC continuing _VBG slow _JJ progress _NN in _IN Malaysia _NNP . _. '' _'' She _PRP did _VBD n't _RB elaborate _JJ , _, although _IN earlier _JJR U.S. _NNP trade _NN reports _NNS have _VBP complained _VBN of _IN videocassette _NN piracy _NN in _IN Malaysia _NNP and _CC disregard _NN for _IN U.S. _NNP pharmaceutical _JJ patents _NNS in _IN Turkey _NNP . _. The _DT 1988 _CD trade _NN act _NN requires _VBZ Mrs. _NNP Hills _NNP to _TO issue _VB another _DT review _NN of _IN the _DT performance _NN of _IN these _DT countries _NNS by _IN April _NNP 30 _CD . _. So _IN far _RB , _, Mrs. _NNP Hills _NNP has _VBZ n't _RB deemed _VBD any _DT cases _NNS bad _JJ enough _RB to _TO merit _VB an _DT accelerated _VBN investigation _NN under _IN the _DT so-called _JJ special _JJ 301 _CD provision _NN of _IN the _DT act _NN . _. Argentina _NNP said _VBD it _PRP will _MD ask _VB creditor _NN banks _NNS to _TO halve _VB its _PRP$ foreign _JJ debt _NN of _IN $ _$ 64 _CD billion _CD -- _: the _DT third-highest _JJS in _IN the _DT developing _VBG world _NN . _. The _DT declaration _NN by _IN Economy _NNP Minister _NNP Nestor _NNP Rapanelli _NNP is _VBZ believed _VBN to _TO be _VB the _DT first _JJ time _NN such _JJ an _DT action _NN has _VBZ been _VBN called _VBN for _IN by _IN an _DT Argentine _JJ official _NN of _IN such _JJ stature _NN . _. The _DT Latin _NNP American _NNP nation _NN has _VBZ paid _VBN very _RB little _RB on _IN its _PRP$ debt _NN since _IN early _JJ last _JJ year _NN . _. `` _`` Argentina _NNP aspires _VBZ to _TO reach _VB a _DT reduction _NN of _IN 50 _CD % _NN in _IN the _DT value _NN of _IN its _PRP$ external _JJ debt _NN , _, '' _'' Mr. _NNP Rapanelli _NNP said _VBD through _IN his _PRP$ spokesman _NN , _, Miguel _NNP Alurralde _NNP . _. Mr. _NNP Rapanelli _NNP met _VBD in _IN August _NNP with _IN U.S. _NNP Assistant _NNP Treasury _NNP Secretary _NNP David _NNP Mulford _NNP . _. Argentine _JJ negotiator _NN Carlos _NNP Carballo _NNP was _VBD in _IN Washington _NNP and _CC New _NNP York _NNP this _DT week _NN to _TO meet _VB with _IN banks _NNS . _. Mr. _NNP Rapanelli _NNP recently _RB has _VBZ said _VBD the _DT government _NN of _IN President _NNP Carlos _NNP Menem _NNP , _, who _WP took _VBD office _NN July _NNP 8 _CD , _, feels _VBZ a _DT significant _JJ reduction _NN of _IN principal _NN and _CC interest _NN is _VBZ the _DT only _JJ way _NN the _DT debt _NN problem _NN may _MD be _VB solved _VBN . _. But _CC he _PRP has _VBZ not _RB said _VBD before _IN that _IN the _DT country _NN wants _VBZ half _PDT the _DT debt _NN forgiven _VBN . _. ( _( During _IN its _PRP$ centennial _NN year _NN , _, The _NNP Wall _NNP Street _NNP Journal _NNP will _MD report _VB events _NNS of _IN the _DT past _JJ century _NN that _WDT stand _VBP as _IN milestones _NNS of _IN American _JJ business _NN history _NN . _. ) _) THREE _CD COMPUTERS _NNS THAT _WDT CHANGED _VBD the _DT face _NN of _IN personal _JJ computing _NN were _VBD launched _VBN in _IN 1977 _CD . _. That _DT year _NN the _DT Apple _NNP II _NNP , _, Commodore _NNP Pet _NNP and _CC Tandy _NNP TRS-80 _NNP came _VBD to _TO market _NN . _. The _DT computers _NNS were _VBD crude _JJ by _IN today _NN 's _POS standards _NNS . _. Apple _NNP II _NNP owners _NNS , _, for _IN example _NN , _, had _VBD to _TO use _VB their _PRP$ television _NN sets _NNS as _IN screens _NNS and _CC stored _VBD data _NNS on _IN audiocassettes _NNS . _. But _CC Apple _NNP II _NNP was _VBD a _DT major _JJ advance _NN from _IN Apple _NNP I _NNP , _, which _WDT was _VBD built _VBN in _IN a _DT garage _NN by _IN Stephen _NNP Wozniak _NNP and _CC Steven _NNP Jobs _NNP for _IN hobbyists _NNS such _JJ as _IN the _DT Homebrew _NNP Computer _NNP Club _NNP . _. In _IN addition _NN , _, the _DT Apple _NNP II _NNP was _VBD an _DT affordable _JJ $ _$ 1,298 _CD . _. Crude _JJ as _IN they _PRP were _VBD , _, these _DT early _JJ PCs _NNS triggered _VBD explosive _JJ product _NN development _NN in _IN desktop _NN models _NNS for _IN the _DT home _NN and _CC office _NN . _. Big _JJ mainframe _NN computers _NNS for _IN business _NN had _VBD been _VBN around _IN for _IN years _NNS . _. But _CC the _DT new _JJ 1977 _CD PCs _NNS -- _: unlike _JJ earlier _JJR built-from-kit _JJ types _NNS such _JJ as _IN the _DT Altair _NNP , _, Sol _NNP and _CC IMSAI _NNP -- _: had _VBD keyboards _NNS and _CC could _MD store _VB about _IN two _CD pages _NNS of _IN data _NNS in _IN their _PRP$ memories _NNS . _. Current _JJ PCs _NNS are _VBP more _RBR than _IN 50 _CD times _NNS faster _JJR and _CC have _VBP memory _NN capacity _NN 500 _CD times _NNS greater _JJR than _IN their _PRP$ 1977 _CD counterparts _NNS . _. There _EX were _VBD many _JJ pioneer _NN PC _NN contributors _NNS . _. William _NNP Gates _NNP and _CC Paul _NNP Allen _NNP in _IN 1975 _CD developed _VBD an _DT early _JJ language-housekeeper _JJ system _NN for _IN PCs _NNS , _, and _CC Gates _NNP became _VBD an _DT industry _NN billionaire _NN six _CD years _NNS after _IN IBM _NNP adapted _VBD one _CD of _IN these _DT versions _NNS in _IN 1981 _CD . _. Alan _NNP F. _NNP Shugart _NNP , _, currently _RB chairman _NN of _IN Seagate _NNP Technology _NNP , _, led _VBD the _DT team _NN that _WDT developed _VBD the _DT disk _NN drives _NNS for _IN PCs _NNS . _. Dennis _NNP Hayes _NNP and _CC Dale _NNP Heatherington _NNP , _, two _CD Atlanta _NNP engineers _NNS , _, were _VBD co-developers _NNS of _IN the _DT internal _JJ modems _NNS that _WDT allow _VBP PCs _NNS to _TO share _VB data _NNS via _IN the _DT telephone _NN . _. IBM _NNP , _, the _DT world _NN leader _NN in _IN computers _NNS , _, did _VBD n't _RB offer _VB its _PRP$ first _JJ PC _NN until _IN August _NNP 1981 _CD as _IN many _JJ other _JJ companies _NNS entered _VBD the _DT market _NN . _. Today _NN , _, PC _NN shipments _NNS annually _RB total _VBP some _DT $ _$ 38.3 _CD billion _CD world-wide _JJ . _. F.H. _NNP Faulding _NNP & _CC Co. _NNP , _, an _DT Australian _JJ pharmaceuticals _NNS company _NN , _, said _VBD its _PRP$ Moleculon _NNP Inc. _NNP affiliate _NN acquired _VBD Kalipharma _NNP Inc. _NNP for _IN $ _$ 23 _CD million _CD . _. Kalipharma _NNP is _VBZ a _DT New _JJ Jersey-based _JJ pharmaceuticals _NNS concern _NN that _WDT sells _VBZ products _NNS under _IN the _DT Purepac _NNP label _NN . _. Faulding _NNP said _VBD it _PRP owns _VBZ 33 _CD % _NN of _IN Moleculon _NNP 's _POS voting _NN stock _NN and _CC has _VBZ an _DT agreement _NN to _TO acquire _VB an _DT additional _JJ 19 _CD % _NN . _. That _DT stake _NN , _, together _RB with _IN its _PRP$ convertible _JJ preferred _VBN stock _NN holdings _NNS , _, gives _VBZ Faulding _NNP the _DT right _NN to _TO increase _VB its _PRP$ interest _NN to _TO 70 _CD % _NN of _IN Moleculon _NNP 's _POS voting _NN stock _NN . _. Oil _NN production _NN from _IN Australia _NNP 's _POS Bass _NNP Strait _NNP fields _NNS will _MD be _VB raised _VBN by _IN 11,000 _CD barrels _NNS a _DT day _NN to _TO about _IN 321,000 _CD barrels _NNS with _IN the _DT launch _NN of _IN the _DT Whiting _NNP field _NN , _, the _DT first _JJ of _IN five _CD small _JJ fields _NNS scheduled _VBN to _TO be _VB brought _VBN into _IN production _NN before _IN the _DT end _NN of _IN 1990 _CD . _. Esso _NNP Australia _NNP Ltd. _NNP , _, a _DT unit _NN of _IN New _JJ York-based _JJ Exxon _NNP Corp. _NNP , _, and _CC Broken _NNP Hill _NNP Pty. _NNP operate _VBP the _DT fields _NNS in _IN a _DT joint _JJ venture _NN . _. Esso _NNP said _VBD the _DT Whiting _NNP field _NN started _VBD production _NN Tuesday _NNP . _. Output _NN will _MD be _VB gradually _RB increased _VBN until _IN it _PRP reaches _VBZ about _IN 11,000 _CD barrels _NNS a _DT day _NN . _. The _DT field _NN has _VBZ reserves _NNS of _IN 21 _CD million _CD barrels _NNS . _. Reserves _NNS for _IN the _DT five _CD new _JJ fields _NNS total _VBP 50 _CD million _CD barrels _NNS . _. The _DT Perch _NNP and _CC Dolphin _NNP fields _NNS are _VBP expected _VBN to _TO start _VB producing _VBG early _JJ next _JJ year _NN , _, and _CC the _DT Seahorse _NNP and _CC Tarwhine _NNP fields _NNS later _JJ next _JJ year _NN . _. Esso _NN said _VBD the _DT fields _NNS were _VBD developed _VBN after _IN the _DT Australian _JJ government _NN decided _VBD in _IN 1987 _CD to _TO make _VB the _DT first _JJ 30 _CD million _CD barrels _NNS from _IN new _JJ fields _NNS free _JJ of _IN excise _JJ tax _NN . _. R.P. _NNP Scherer _NNP Corp. _NNP said _VBD it _PRP completed _VBD the _DT $ _$ 10.2 _CD million _CD sale _NN of _IN its _PRP$ Southern _NNP Optical _NNP subsidiary _NN to _TO a _DT group _NN led _VBD by _IN the _DT unit _NN 's _POS president _NN , _, Thomas _NNP R. _NNP Sloan _NNP , _, and _CC other _JJ managers _NNS . _. Following _VBG the _DT acquisition _NN of _IN R.P. _NNP Scherer _NNP by _IN a _DT buy-out _JJ group _NN led _VBN by _IN Shearson _NNP Lehman _NNP Hutton _NNP earlier _JJR this _DT year _NN , _, the _DT maker _NN of _IN gelatin _NN capsules _NNS decided _VBD to _TO divest _VB itself _PRP of _IN certain _JJ of _IN its _PRP$ non-encapsulating _JJ businesses _NNS . _. The _DT sale _NN of _IN Southern _NNP Optical _NNP is _VBZ a _DT part _NN of _IN the _DT program _NN . _. The _DT White _NNP House _NNP said _VBD President _NNP Bush _NNP has _VBZ approved _VBN duty-free _JJ treatment _NN for _IN imports _NNS of _IN certain _JJ types _NNS of _IN watches _NNS that _WDT are _VBP n't _RB produced _VBN in _IN `` _`` significant _JJ quantities _NNS '' _'' in _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP , _, the _DT Virgin _NNP Islands _NNPS and _CC other _JJ U.S. _NNP possessions _NNS . _. The _DT action _NN came _VBD in _IN response _NN to _TO a _DT petition _NN filed _VBN by _IN Timex _NNP Inc. _NNP for _IN changes _NNS in _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP Generalized _NNP System _NNP of _IN Preferences _NNPS for _IN imports _NNS from _IN developing _VBG nations _NNS . _. Previously _RB , _, watch _NN imports _NNS were _VBD denied _VBN such _JJ duty-free _JJ treatment _NN . _. Timex _NNP had _VBD requested _VBN duty-free _JJ treatment _NN for _IN many _JJ types _NNS of _IN watches _NNS , _, covered _VBN by _IN 58 _CD different _JJ U.S. _NNP tariff _NN classifications _NNS . _. The _DT White _NNP House _NNP said _VBD Mr. _NNP Bush _NNP decided _VBD to _TO grant _VB duty-free _JJ status _NN for _IN 18 _CD categories _NNS , _, but _CC turned _VBD down _RP such _JJ treatment _NN for _IN other _JJ types _NNS of _IN watches _NNS `` _`` because _RB of _IN the _DT potential _NN for _IN material _NN injury _NN to _TO watch _VB producers _NNS located _VBN in _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP and _CC the _DT Virgin _NNP Islands _NNPS . _. '' _'' Timex _NNP is _VBZ a _DT major _JJ U.S. _NNP producer _NN and _CC seller _NN of _IN watches _NNS , _, including _VBG low-priced _JJ battery-operated _JJ watches _NNS assembled _VBN in _IN the _DT Philippines _NNP and _CC other _JJ developing _VBG nations _NNS covered _VBN by _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP tariff _NN preferences _NNS . _. U.S. _NNP trade _NN officials _NNS said _VBD the _DT Philippines _NNP and _CC Thailand _NNP would _MD be _VB the _DT main _JJ beneficiaries _NNS of _IN the _DT president _NN 's _POS action _NN . _. Imports _NNS of _IN the _DT types _NNS of _IN watches _NNS that _WDT now _RB will _MD be _VB eligible _JJ for _IN duty-free _JJ treatment _NN totaled _VBD about _IN $ _$ 37.3 _CD million _CD in _IN 1988 _CD , _, a _DT relatively _RB small _JJ share _NN of _IN the _DT $ _$ 1.5 _CD billion _CD in _IN U.S. _NNP watch _NN imports _NNS that _DT year _NN , _, according _VBG to _TO an _DT aide _NN to _TO U.S. _NNP Trade _NNP Representative _NNP Carla _NNP Hills _NNP . _. Magna _NNP International _NNP Inc. _NNP 's _POS chief _JJ financial _JJ officer _NN , _, James _NNP McAlpine _NNP , _, resigned _JJ and _CC its _PRP$ chairman _NN , _, Frank _NNP Stronach _NNP , _, is _VBZ stepping _VBG in _IN to _TO help _VB turn _VB the _DT automotive-parts _JJ manufacturer _NN around _IN , _, the _DT company _NN said _VBD . _. Mr. _NNP Stronach _NNP will _MD direct _VB an _DT effort _NN to _TO reduce _VB overhead _NN and _CC curb _VB capital _NN spending _NN `` _`` until _IN a _DT more _RBR satisfactory _JJ level _NN of _IN profit _NN is _VBZ achieved _VBN and _CC maintained _VBN , _, '' _'' Magna _NNP said _VBD . _. Stephen _NNP Akerfeldt _NNP , _, currently _RB vice _NN president _NN finance _NN , _, will _MD succeed _VB Mr. _NNP McAlpine _NNP . _. An _DT ambitious _JJ expansion _NN has _VBZ left _VBN Magna _NNP with _IN excess _JJ capacity _NN and _CC a _DT heavy _JJ debt _NN load _NN as _IN the _DT automotive _JJ industry _NN enters _VBZ a _DT downturn _NN . _. The _DT company _NN has _VBZ reported _VBN declines _NNS in _IN operating _NN profit _NN in _IN each _DT of _IN the _DT past _JJ three _CD years _NNS , _, despite _IN steady _JJ sales _NNS growth _NN . _. Magna _NNP recently _RB cut _VBD its _PRP$ quarterly _JJ dividend _NN in _IN half _DT and _CC the _DT company _NN 's _POS Class _NNP A _NNP shares _NNS are _VBP wallowing _VBG far _RB below _IN their _PRP$ 52-week _JJ high _NN of _IN 16.125 _CD Canadian _JJ dollars _NNS ( _( US$ _$ 13.73 _CD ) _) . _. On _IN the _DT Toronto _NNP Stock _NNP Exchange _NNP yesterday _NN , _, Magna _NNP shares _NNS closed _VBD up _IN 37.5 _CD Canadian _JJ cents _NNS to _TO C$ _$ 9.625 _CD . _. Mr. _NNP Stronach _NNP , _, founder _NN and _CC controlling _VBG shareholder _NN of _IN Magna _NNP , _, resigned _VBD as _IN chief _NN executive _NN officer _NN last _JJ year _NN to _TO seek _VB , _, unsuccessfully _RB , _, a _DT seat _NN in _IN Canada _NNP 's _POS Parliament _NNP . _. Analysts _NNS said _VBD Mr. _NNP Stronach _NNP wants _VBZ to _TO resume _VB a _DT more _RBR influential _JJ role _NN in _IN running _VBG the _DT company _NN . _. They _PRP expect _VBP him _PRP to _TO cut _VB costs _NNS throughout _IN the _DT organization _NN . _. The _DT company _NN said _VBD Mr. _NNP Stronach _NNP will _MD personally _RB direct _VB the _DT restructuring _NN , _, assisted _VBN by _IN Manfred _NNP Gingl _NNP , _, president _NN and _CC chief _NN executive _NN . _. Neither _DT they _PRP nor _CC Mr. _NNP McAlpine _NNP could _MD be _VB reached _VBN for _IN comment _NN . _. Magna _NNP said _VBD Mr. _NNP McAlpine _NNP resigned _VBD to _TO pursue _VB a _DT consulting _NN career _NN , _, with _IN Magna _NNP as _IN one _CD of _IN his _PRP$ clients _NNS . _. Lord _NNP Chilver _NNP , _, 63-year-old _JJ chairman _NN of _IN English _NNP China _NNP Clays _NNP PLC _NNP , _, was _VBD named _VBN a _DT nonexecutive _JJ director _NN of _IN this _DT British _JJ chemical _NN company _NN . _. Japanese _JJ investors _NNS nearly _RB single-handedly _RB bought _VBD up _RP two _CD new _JJ mortgage _NN securities-based _JJ mutual _JJ funds _NNS totaling _VBG $ _$ 701 _CD million _CD , _, the _DT U.S. _NNP Federal _NNP National _NNP Mortgage _NNP Association _NNP said _VBD . _. The _DT purchases _NNS show _VBP the _DT strong _JJ interest _NN of _IN Japanese _JJ investors _NNS in _IN U.S. _NNP mortgage-based _JJ instruments _NNS , _, Fannie _NNP Mae _NNP 's _POS chairman _NN , _, David _NNP O. _NNP Maxwell _NNP , _, said _VBD at _IN a _DT news _NN conference _NN . _. He _PRP said _VBD more _RBR than _IN 90 _CD % _NN of _IN the _DT funds _NNS were _VBD placed _VBN with _IN Japanese _JJ institutional _JJ investors _NNS . _. The _DT rest _NN went _VBD to _TO investors _NNS from _IN France _NNP and _CC Hong _NNP Kong _NNP . _. Earlier _JJR this _DT year _NN , _, Japanese _JJ investors _NNS snapped _VBD up _RP a _DT similar _JJ , _, $ _$ 570 _CD million _CD mortgage-backed _JJ securities _NNS mutual _JJ fund _NN . _. That _DT fund _NN was _VBD put _VBN together _RB by _IN Blackstone _NNP Group _NNP , _, a _DT New _NNP York _NNP investment _NN bank _NN . _. The _DT latest _JJS two _CD funds _NNS were _VBD assembled _VBN jointly _RB by _IN Goldman _NNP , _, Sachs _NNP & _CC Co. _NNP of _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP and _CC Japan _NNP 's _POS Daiwa _NNP Securities _NNPS Co _NNP . _. The _DT new _JJ , _, seven-year _JJ funds _NNS -- _: one _CD offering _VBG a _DT fixed-rate _JJ return _NN and _CC the _DT other _JJ with _IN a _DT floating-rate _JJ return _NN linked _VBN to _TO the _DT London _NNP interbank _NN offered _VBD rate _NN -- _: offer _VBP two _CD key _JJ advantages _NNS to _TO Japanese _JJ investors _NNS . _. First _JJ , _, they _PRP are _VBP designed _VBN to _TO eliminate _VB the _DT risk _NN of _IN prepayment _NN -- _: mortgage-backed _JJ securities _NNS can _MD be _VB retired _VBN early _RB if _IN interest _NN rates _NNS decline _VBP , _, and _CC such _JJ prepayment _NN forces _VBZ investors _NNS to _TO redeploy _VB their _PRP$ money _NN at _IN lower _JJR rates _NNS . _. Second _JJ , _, they _PRP channel _VBP monthly _JJ mortgage _NN payments _NNS into _IN semiannual _JJ payments _NNS , _, reducing _VBG the _DT administrative _JJ burden _NN on _IN investors _NNS . _. By _IN addressing _VBG those _DT problems _NNS , _, Mr. _NNP Maxwell _NNP said _VBD , _, the _DT new _JJ funds _NNS have _VBP become _VBN `` _`` extremely _RB attractive _JJ to _TO Japanese _JJ and _CC other _JJ investors _NNS outside _IN the _DT U.S _NNP . _. '' _'' Such _JJ devices _NNS have _VBP boosted _VBN Japanese _JJ investment _NN in _IN mortgage-backed _JJ securities _NNS to _TO more _RBR than _IN 1 _CD % _NN of _IN the _DT $ _$ 900 _CD billion _CD in _IN such _JJ instruments _NNS outstanding _JJ , _, and _CC their _PRP$ purchases _NNS are _VBP growing _VBG at _IN a _DT rapid _JJ rate _NN . _. They _PRP also _RB have _VBP become _VBN large _JJ purchasers _NNS of _IN Fannie _NNP Mae _NNP 's _POS corporate _JJ debt _NN , _, buying _VBG $ _$ 2.4 _CD billion _CD in _IN Fannie _NNP Mae _NNP bonds _NNS during _IN the _DT first _JJ nine _CD months _NNS of _IN the _DT year _NN , _, or _CC almost _RB a _DT tenth _NN of _IN the _DT total _JJ amount _NN issued _VBN . _. James _NNP L. _NNP Pate _NNP , _, 54-year-old _JJ executive _NN vice _NN president _NN , _, was _VBD named _VBN a _DT director _NN of _IN this _DT oil _NN concern _NN , _, expanding _VBG the _DT board _NN to _TO 14 _CD members _NNS . _. LTV _NNP Corp. _NNP said _VBD a _DT federal _JJ bankruptcy _NN court _NN judge _NN agreed _VBD to _TO extend _VB until _IN March _NNP 8 _CD , _, 1990 _CD , _, the _DT period _NN in _IN which _WDT the _DT steel _NN , _, aerospace _NN and _CC energy _NN products _NNS company _NN has _VBZ the _DT exclusive _JJ right _NN to _TO file _VB a _DT reorganization _NN plan _NN . _. The _DT company _NN is _VBZ operating _VBG under _IN Chapter _NN 11 _CD of _IN the _DT federal _JJ Bankruptcy _NNP Code _NNP , _, giving _VBG it _PRP court _NN protection _NN from _IN creditors _NNS ' _POS lawsuits _NNS while _IN it _PRP attempts _VBZ to _TO work _VB out _RP a _DT plan _NN to _TO pay _VB its _PRP$ debts _NNS . _. Italian _JJ chemical _NN giant _NN Montedison _NNP S.p.A. _NNP , _, through _IN its _PRP$ Montedison _NNP Acquisition _NNP N.V. _NNP indirect _JJ unit _NN , _, began _VBD its _PRP$ $ _$ 37-a-share _JJ tender _NN offer _NN for _IN all _DT the _DT common _JJ shares _NNS outstanding _JJ of _IN Erbamont _NNP N.V. _NNP , _, a _DT maker _NN of _IN pharmaceuticals _NNS incorporated _VBN in _IN the _DT Netherlands _NNPS . _. The _DT offer _NN , _, advertised _VBN in _IN today _NN 's _POS editions _NNS of _IN The _DT Wall _NNP Street _NNP Journal _NNP , _, is _VBZ scheduled _VBN to _TO expire _VB at _IN the _DT end _NN of _IN November _NNP . _. Montedison _NN currently _RB owns _VBZ about _IN 72 _CD % _NN of _IN Erbamont _NN 's _POS common _JJ shares _NNS outstanding _JJ . _. The _DT offer _NN is _VBZ being _VBG launched _VBN pursuant _JJ to _TO a _DT previously _RB announced _VBN agreement _NN between _IN the _DT companies _NNS . _. Japan _NNP 's _POS reserves _NNS of _IN gold _NN , _, convertible _JJ foreign _JJ currencies _NNS , _, and _CC special _JJ drawing _NN rights _NNS fell _VBD by _IN a _DT hefty _JJ $ _$ 1.82 _CD billion _CD in _IN October _NNP to _TO $ _$ 84.29 _CD billion _CD , _, the _DT Finance _NNP Ministry _NNP said _VBD . _. The _DT total _NN marks _VBZ the _DT sixth _JJ consecutive _JJ monthly _JJ decline _NN . _. The _DT protracted _JJ downturn _NN reflects _VBZ the _DT intensity _NN of _IN Bank _NNP of _IN Japan _NNP yen-support _JJ intervention _NN since _IN June _NNP , _, when _WRB the _DT U.S. _NNP currency _NN temporarily _RB surged _VBD above _IN the _DT 150.00 _CD yen _NNS level _NN . _. The _DT announcement _NN follows _VBZ a _DT sharper _JJR $ _$ 2.2 _CD billion _CD decline _NN in _IN the _DT country _NN 's _POS foreign _JJ reserves _NNS in _IN September _NNP to _TO $ _$ 86.12 _CD billion _CD . _. Pick _VB a _DT country _NN , _, any _DT country _NN . _. It _PRP 's _VBZ the _DT latest _JJS investment _NN craze _NN sweeping _VBG Wall _NNP Street _NNP : _: a _DT rash _NN of _IN new _JJ closed-end _JJ country _NN funds _NNS , _, those _DT publicly _RB traded _VBN portfolios _NNS that _WDT invest _VBP in _IN stocks _NNS of _IN a _DT single _JJ foreign _JJ country _NN . _. No _RB fewer _JJR than _IN 24 _CD country _NN funds _NNS have _VBP been _VBN launched _VBN or _CC registered _VBN with _IN regulators _NNS this _DT year _NN , _, triple _RB the _DT level _NN of _IN all _DT of _IN 1988 _CD , _, according _VBG to _TO Charles _NNP E. _NNP Simon _NNP & _CC Co. _NNP , _, a _DT Washington-based _JJ research _NN firm _NN . _. The _DT turf _NN recently _RB has _VBZ ranged _VBN from _IN Chile _NNP to _TO Austria _NNP to _TO Portugal _NNP . _. Next _JJ week _NN , _, the _DT Philippine _NNP Fund _NNP 's _POS launch _NN will _MD be _VB capped _VBN by _IN a _DT visit _NN by _IN Philippine _JJ President _NNP Corazon _NNP Aquino _NNP -- _: the _NNP first _JJ time _NN a _DT head _NN of _IN state _NN has _VBZ kicked _VBN off _RP an _DT issue _NN at _IN the _DT Big _NNP Board _NNP here _RB . _. The _DT next _JJ province _NN ? _. `` _`` Anything _NN 's _VBZ possible _JJ -- _: how _WRB about _RP the _DT New _NNP Guinea _NNP Fund _NNP ? _. '' _'' quips _VBZ George _NNP Foot _NNP , _, a _DT managing _VBG partner _NN at _IN Newgate _NNP Management _NNP Associates _NNP of _IN Northampton _NNP , _, Mass _NNP . _. The _DT recent _JJ explosion _NN of _IN country _NN funds _NNS mirrors _VBZ the _DT `` _`` closed-end _JJ fund _NN mania _NN '' _'' of _IN the _DT 1920s _NNS , _, Mr. _NNP Foot _NNP says _VBZ , _, when _WRB narrowly _RB focused _VBN funds _NNS grew _VBD wildly _RB popular _JJ . _. They _PRP fell _VBD into _IN oblivion _NN after _IN the _DT 1929 _CD crash _NN . _. Unlike _IN traditional _JJ open-end _JJ mutual _JJ funds _NNS , _, most _RBS of _IN these _DT one-country _JJ portfolios _NNS are _VBP the _DT `` _`` closed-end _JJ '' _'' type _NN , _, issuing _VBG a _DT fixed _VBN number _NN of _IN shares _NNS that _WDT trade _VBP publicly _RB . _. The _DT surge _NN brings _VBZ to _TO nearly _RB 50 _CD the _DT number _NN of _IN country _NN funds _NNS that _WDT are _VBP or _CC soon _RB will _MD be _VB listed _VBN in _IN New _NNP York _NNP or _CC London _NNP . _. These _DT funds _NNS now _RB account _VBP for _IN several _JJ billions _NNS of _IN dollars _NNS in _IN assets _NNS . _. `` _`` People _NNS are _VBP looking _VBG to _TO stake _VB their _PRP$ claims _NNS '' _'' now _RB before _RB the _DT number _NN of _IN available _JJ nations _NNS runs _VBZ out _RP , _, says _VBZ Michael _NNP Porter _NNP , _, an _DT analyst _NN at _IN Smith _NNP Barney _NNP , _, Harris _NNP Upham _NNP & _CC Co. _NNP , _, New _NNP York _NNP . _. Behind _IN all _DT the _DT hoopla _NN is _VBZ some _DT heavy-duty _JJ competition _NN . _. As _IN individual _JJ investors _NNS have _VBP turned _VBN away _RB from _IN the _DT stock _NN market _NN over _IN the _DT years _NNS , _, securities _NNS firms _NNS have _VBP scrambled _VBN to _TO find _VB new _JJ products _NNS that _WDT brokers _NNS find _VBP easy _JJ to _TO sell _VB . _. And _CC the _DT firms _NNS are _VBP stretching _VBG their _PRP$ nets _NNS far _RB and _CC wide _RB to _TO do _VB it _PRP . _. Financial _JJ planners _NNS often _RB urge _VBP investors _NNS to _TO diversify _VB and _CC to _TO hold _VB a _DT smattering _NN of _IN international _JJ securities _NNS . _. And _CC many _JJ emerging _VBG markets _NNS have _VBP outpaced _VBN more _RBR mature _JJ markets _NNS , _, such _JJ as _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP and _CC Japan _NNP . _. Country _NN funds _NNS offer _VBP an _DT easy _JJ way _NN to _TO get _VB a _DT taste _NN of _IN foreign _JJ stocks _NNS without _IN the _DT hard _JJ research _NN of _IN seeking _VBG out _RP individual _JJ companies _NNS . _. But _CC it _PRP does _VBZ n't _RB take _VB much _JJ to _TO get _VB burned _VBN . _. Political _JJ and _CC currency _NN gyrations _NNS can _MD whipsaw _VB the _DT funds _NNS . _. Another _DT concern _NN : _: The _DT funds _NNS ' _POS share _NN prices _NNS tend _VBP to _TO swing _VB more _RBR than _IN the _DT broader _JJR market _NN . _. When _WRB the _DT stock _NN market _NN dropped _VBD nearly _RB 7 _CD % _NN Oct. _NNP 13 _CD , _, for _IN instance _NN , _, the _DT Mexico _NNP Fund _NNP plunged _VBD about _RB 18 _CD % _NN and _CC the _DT Spain _NNP Fund _NNP fell _VBD 16 _CD % _NN . _. And _CC most _JJS country _NN funds _NNS were _VBD clobbered _VBN more _RBR than _IN most _JJS stocks _NNS after _IN the _DT 1987 _CD crash _NN . _. What _WP 's _VBZ so _RB wild _JJ about _IN the _DT funds _NNS ' _POS frenzy _NN right _RB now _RB is _VBZ that _IN many _JJ are _VBP trading _VBG at _IN historically _RB fat _JJ premiums _NNS to _TO the _DT value _NN of _IN their _PRP$ underlying _JJ portfolios _NNS . _. After _IN trading _VBG at _IN an _DT average _JJ discount _NN of _IN more _JJR than _IN 20 _CD % _NN in _IN late _JJ 1987 _CD and _CC part _NN of _IN last _JJ year _NN , _, country _NN funds _NNS currently _RB trade _VBP at _IN an _DT average _JJ premium _NN of _IN 6 _CD % _NN . _. The _DT reason _NN : _: Share _NN prices _NNS of _IN many _JJ of _IN these _DT funds _NNS this _DT year _NN have _VBP climbed _VBN much _RB more _RBR sharply _RB than _IN the _DT foreign _JJ stocks _NNS they _PRP hold _VBP . _. It _PRP 's _VBZ probably _RB worth _IN paying _VBG a _DT premium _NN for _IN funds _NNS that _WDT invest _VBP in _IN markets _NNS that _WDT are _VBP partially _RB closed _VBN to _TO foreign _JJ investors _NNS , _, such _JJ as _IN South _NNP Korea _NNP , _, some _DT specialists _NNS say _VBP . _. But _CC some _DT European _JJ funds _NNS recently _RB have _VBP skyrocketed _VBN ; _: Spain _NNP Fund _NNP has _VBZ surged _VBN to _TO a _DT startling _JJ 120 _CD % _NN premium _NN . _. It _PRP has _VBZ been _VBN targeted _VBN by _IN Japanese _JJ investors _NNS as _IN a _DT good _JJ long-term _JJ play _NN tied _VBN to _TO 1992 _CD 's _POS European _JJ economic _JJ integration _NN . _. And _CC several _JJ new _JJ funds _NNS that _WDT are _VBP n't _RB even _RB fully _RB invested _VBN yet _RB have _VBP jumped _VBN to _TO trade _VB at _IN big _JJ premiums _NNS . _. `` _`` I _PRP 'm _VBP very _RB alarmed _VBN to _TO see _VB these _DT rich _JJ valuations _NNS , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Smith _NNP Barney _NNP 's _POS Mr. _NNP Porter _NNP . _. The _DT newly _RB fattened _VBN premiums _NNS reflect _VBP the _DT increasingly _RB global _JJ marketing _NN of _IN some _DT country _NN funds _NNS , _, Mr. _NNP Porter _NNP suggests _VBZ . _. Unlike _IN many _JJ U.S. _NNP investors _NNS , _, those _DT in _IN Asia _NNP or _CC Europe _NNP seeking _VBG foreign-stock _JJ exposure _NN may _MD be _VB less _RBR resistant _JJ to _TO paying _VBG higher _JJR prices _NNS for _IN country _NN funds _NNS . _. `` _`` There _EX may _MD be _VB an _DT international _JJ viewpoint _NN cast _VBN on _IN the _DT funds _NNS listed _VBN here _RB , _, '' _'' Mr. _NNP Porter _NNP says _VBZ . _. Nonetheless _RB , _, plenty _JJ of _IN U.S. _NNP analysts _NNS and _CC money _NN managers _NNS are _VBP aghast _JJ at _IN the _DT lofty _JJ trading _NN levels _NNS of _IN some _DT country _NN funds _NNS . _. They _PRP argue _VBP that _IN U.S. _NNP investors _NNS often _RB can _MD buy _VB American _JJ depositary _JJ receipts _NNS on _IN the _DT big _JJ stocks _NNS in _IN many _JJ funds _NNS ; _: these _DT so-called _JJ ADRs _NNPS represent _VBP shares _NNS of _IN foreign _JJ companies _NNS traded _VBN in _IN the _DT U.S _NNP . _. That _DT way _NN investors _NNS can _MD essentially _RB buy _VB the _DT funds _NNS without _IN paying _VBG the _DT premium _NN . _. For _IN people _NNS who _WP insist _VBP on _RP jumping _VBG in _RB now _RB to _TO buy _VB the _DT funds _NNS , _, Newgate _NNP 's _POS Mr. _NNP Foot _NNP says _VBZ : _: `` _`` The _DT only _JJ advice _NN I _PRP have _VBP for _IN these _DT folks _NNS is _VBZ that _IN those _DT who _WP come _VBP to _TO the _DT party _NN late _RB had _VBD better _RBR be _VB ready _JJ to _TO leave _VB quickly _RB . _. '' _'' The _DT U.S. _NNP and _CC Soviet _NNP Union _NNP are _VBP holding _VBG technical _JJ talks _NNS about _IN possible _JJ repayment _NN by _IN Moscow _NNP of _IN $ _$ 188 _CD million _CD in _IN pre-Communist _JJ Russian _JJ debts _NNS owed _VBD to _TO the _DT U.S. _NNP government _NN , _, the _DT State _NNP Department _NNP said _VBD . _. If _IN the _DT debts _NNS are _VBP repaid _VBN , _, it _PRP could _MD clear _VB the _DT way _NN for _IN Soviet _JJ bonds _NNS to _TO be _VB sold _VBN in _IN the _DT U.S _NNP . _. However _RB , _, after _IN two _CD meetings _NNS with _IN the _DT Soviets _NNS , _, a _DT State _NNP Department _NNP spokesman _NN said _VBD that _IN it _PRP 's _VBZ `` _`` too _RB early _RB to _TO say _VB '' _'' whether _IN that _DT will _MD happen _VB . _. Coincident _JJ with _IN the _DT talks _NNS , _, the _DT State _NNP Department _NNP said _VBD it _PRP has _VBZ permitted _VBN a _DT Soviet _JJ bank _NN to _TO open _VB a _DT New _NNP York _NNP branch _NN . _. The _DT branch _NN of _IN the _DT Bank _NNP for _IN Foreign _NNP Economic _NNP Affairs _NNP was _VBD approved _VBN last _JJ spring _NN and _CC opened _VBD in _IN July _NNP . _. But _CC a _DT Soviet _JJ bank _NN here _RB would _MD be _VB crippled _VBN unless _IN Moscow _NNP found _VBD a _DT way _NN to _TO settle _VB the _DT $ _$ 188 _CD million _CD debt _NN , _, which _WDT was _VBD lent _VBN to _TO the _DT country _NN 's _POS short-lived _JJ democratic _JJ Kerensky _NNP government _NN before _IN the _DT Communists _NNS seized _VBD power _NN in _IN 1917 _CD . _. Under _IN a _DT 1934 _CD law _NN , _, the _DT Johnson _NNP Debt _NNP Default _NNP Act _NNP , _, as _RB amended _VBN , _, it _PRP 's _VBZ illegal _JJ for _IN Americans _NNS to _TO extend _VB credit _NN to _TO countries _NNS in _IN default _NN to _TO the _DT U.S. _NNP government _NN , _, unless _IN they _PRP are _VBP members _NNS of _IN the _DT World _NNP Bank _NNP and _CC International _NNP Monetary _NNP Fund _NNP . _. The _DT U.S.S.R. _NNP belongs _VBZ to _TO neither _DT organization _NN . _. Moscow _NNP has _VBZ settled _VBN pre-1917 _JJ debts _NNS with _IN other _JJ countries _NNS in _IN recent _JJ years _NNS at _IN less _JJR than _IN face _NN value _NN . _. The _DT State _NNP Department _NNP stressed _VBD the _DT pre-1933 _JJ debts _NNS as _IN the _DT key _NN to _TO satisfying _VBG the _DT Johnson _NNP Act _NNP . _. But _CC the _DT Soviets _NNS might _MD still _RB face _VB legal _JJ obstacles _NNS to _TO raising _VBG money _NN in _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP until _IN they _PRP settle _VBP hundreds _NNS of _IN millions _NNS of _IN dollars _NNS in _IN additional _JJ debt _NN still _RB outstanding _JJ from _IN the _DT World _NNP War _NNP II _NNP lend-lease _JJ program _NN . _. In _IN another _DT reflection _NN that _IN the _DT growth _NN of _IN the _DT economy _NN is _VBZ leveling _VBG off _RP , _, the _DT government _NN said _VBD that _IN orders _NNS for _IN manufactured _VBN goods _NNS and _CC spending _NN on _IN construction _NN failed _VBD to _TO rise _VB in _IN September _NNP . _. Meanwhile _RB , _, the _DT National _NNP Association _NNP of _IN Purchasing _NNP Management _NNP said _VBD its _PRP$ latest _JJS survey _NN indicated _VBD that _IN the _DT manufacturing _NN economy _NN contracted _VBD in _IN October _NNP for _IN the _DT sixth _JJ consecutive _JJ month _NN . _. Its _PRP$ index _NN inched _VBD up _RB to _TO 47.6 _CD % _NN in _IN October _NNP from _IN 46 _CD % _NN in _IN September _NNP . _. Any _DT reading _NN below _IN 50 _CD % _NN suggests _VBZ the _DT manufacturing _NN sector _NN is _VBZ generally _RB declining _VBG . _. The _DT purchasing _VBG managers _NNS , _, however _RB , _, also _RB said _VBD that _IN orders _NNS turned _VBD up _RB in _IN October _NNP after _IN four _CD months _NNS of _IN decline _NN . _. Factories _NNS booked _VBD $ _$ 236.74 _CD billion _CD in _IN orders _NNS in _IN September _NNP , _, nearly _RB the _DT same _JJ as _IN the _DT $ _$ 236.79 _CD billion _CD in _IN August _NNP , _, the _DT Commerce _NNP Department _NNP said _VBD . _. If _IN not _RB for _IN a _DT 59.6 _CD % _NN surge _NN in _IN orders _NNS for _IN capital _NN goods _NNS by _IN defense _NN contractors _NNS , _, factory _NN orders _NNS would _MD have _VB fallen _VBN 2.1 _CD % _NN . _. In _IN a _DT separate _JJ report _NN , _, the _DT department _NN said _VBD construction _NN spending _NN ran _VBD at _IN an _DT annual _JJ rate _NN of _IN $ _$ 415.6 _CD billion _CD , _, not _RB significantly _RB different _JJ from _IN the _DT $ _$ 415.8 _CD billion _CD reported _VBN for _IN August _NNP . _. Private _JJ construction _NN spending _NN was _VBD down _RB , _, but _CC government _NN building _NN activity _NN was _VBD up _RB . _. The _DT figures _NNS in _IN both _DT reports _NNS were _VBD adjusted _VBN to _TO remove _VB the _DT effects _NNS of _IN usual _JJ seasonal _JJ patterns _NNS , _, but _CC were _VBD n't _RB adjusted _VBN for _IN inflation _NN . _. Kenneth _NNP Mayland _NNP , _, economist _NN for _IN Society _NNP Corp. _NNP , _, a _DT Cleveland _NNP bank _NN , _, said _VBD demand _NN for _IN exports _NNS of _IN factory _NN goods _NNS is _VBZ beginning _VBG to _TO taper _VB off _RP . _. At _IN the _DT same _JJ time _NN , _, the _DT drop _NN in _IN interest _NN rates _NNS since _IN the _DT spring _NN has _VBZ failed _VBN to _TO revive _VB the _DT residential _JJ construction _NN industry _NN . _. `` _`` What _WP sector _NN is _VBZ stepping _VBG forward _RB to _TO pick _VB up _RP the _DT slack _NN ? _. '' _'' he _PRP asked _VBD . _. `` _`` I _PRP draw _VBP a _DT blank _NN . _. '' _'' By _IN most _JJS measures _NNS , _, the _DT nation _NN 's _POS industrial _JJ sector _NN is _VBZ now _RB growing _VBG very _RB slowly _RB -- _: if _IN at _IN all _DT . _. Factory _NN payrolls _NNS fell _VBD in _IN September _NNP . _. So _RB did _VBD the _DT Federal _NNP Reserve _NNP Board _NNP 's _POS industrial-production _JJ index _NN . _. Yet _CC many _JJ economists _NNS are _VBP n't _RB predicting _VBG that _IN the _DT economy _NN is _VBZ about _IN to _TO slip _VB into _IN recession _NN . _. They _PRP cite _VBP a _DT lack _NN of _IN `` _`` imbalances _NNS '' _'' that _WDT provide _VBP early _JJ warning _NN signals _NNS of _IN a _DT downturn _NN . _. Inventories _NNS are _VBP closely _RB watched _VBN for _IN such _JJ clues _NNS , _, for _IN instance _NN . _. Economists _NNS say _VBP a _DT buildup _NN in _IN inventories _NNS can _MD provoke _VB cutbacks _NNS in _IN production _NN that _WDT can _MD lead _VB to _TO a _DT recession _NN . _. But _CC yesterday _NN 's _POS factory _NN orders _NNS report _NN had _VBD good _JJ news _NN on _IN that _DT front _NN : _: it _PRP said _VBD factory _NN inventories _NNS fell _VBD 0.1 _CD % _NN in _IN September _NNP , _, the _DT first _JJ decline _NN since _IN February _NNP 1987 _CD . _. `` _`` This _DT conforms _VBZ to _TO the _DT ` _`` soft _JJ landing _NN ' _'' scenario _NN , _, '' _'' said _VBD Elliott _NNP Platt _NNP , _, an _DT economist _NN at _IN Donaldson _NNP , _, Lufkin _NNP & _CC Jenrette _NNP Securities _NNP Corp _NNP . _. `` _`` I _PRP do _VBP n't _RB see _VB any _DT signs _NNS that _IN inventories _NNS are _VBP excessive _JJ . _. '' _'' A _DT soft _JJ landing _NN is _VBZ an _DT economic _JJ slowdown _NN that _WDT eases _VBZ inflation _NN without _IN leading _VBG to _TO a _DT recession _NN . _. The _DT department _NN said _VBD orders _NNS for _IN nondurable _JJ goods _NNS -- _: those _DT intended _VBN to _TO last _VB fewer _JJR than _IN three _CD years _NNS -- _: fell _VBD 0.3 _CD % _NN in _IN September _NNP to _TO $ _$ 109.73 _CD billion _CD after _RB climbing _VBG 0.9 _CD % _NN the _DT month _NN before _RB . _. Orders _NNS for _IN durable _JJ goods _NNS were _VBD up _RB 0.2 _CD % _NN to _TO $ _$ 127.03 _CD billion _CD after _IN rising _VBG 3.9 _CD % _NN the _DT month _NN before _RB . _. The _DT department _NN previously _RB estimated _VBD that _IN durable-goods _NNS orders _NNS fell _VBD 0.1 _CD % _NN in _IN September _NNP . _. Factory _NN shipments _NNS fell _VBD 1.6 _CD % _NN to _TO $ _$ 234.4 _CD billion _CD after _IN rising _VBG 5.4 _CD % _NN in _IN August _NNP . _. Shipments _NNS have _VBP been _VBN relatively _RB level _JJ since _IN January _NNP , _, the _DT Commerce _NNP Department _NNP noted _VBD . _. Manufacturers _NNS ' _POS backlogs _NNS of _IN unfilled _JJ orders _NNS rose _VBD 0.5 _CD % _NN in _IN September _NNP to _TO $ _$ 497.34 _CD billion _CD , _, helped _VBN by _IN strength _NN in _IN the _DT defense _NN capital _NN goods _NNS sector _NN . _. Excluding _VBG these _DT orders _NNS , _, backlogs _NNS declined _VBD 0.3 _CD % _NN . _. In _IN its _PRP$ construction _NN spending _NN report _NN , _, the _DT Commerce _NNP Department _NNP said _VBD residential _JJ construction _NN , _, which _WDT accounts _VBZ for _IN nearly _RB half _NN of _IN all _DT construction _NN spending _NN , _, was _VBD off _JJ 0.9 _CD % _NN in _IN September _NNP to _TO an _DT annual _JJ rate _NN of _IN $ _$ 191.9 _CD billion _CD . _. David _NNP Berson _NNP , _, economist _NN for _IN the _DT Mortgage _NNP Bankers _NNP Association _NNP , _, predicted _VBD the _DT drop _NN in _IN interest _NN rates _NNS eventually _RB will _MD boost _VB spending _NN on _IN single-family _JJ homes _NNS , _, but _CC probably _RB not _RB until _IN early _JJ next _JJ year _NN . _. Spending _NN on _IN private _JJ , _, nonresidential _JJ construction _NN was _VBD off _JJ 2.6 _CD % _NN to _TO an _DT annual _JJ rate _NN of _IN $ _$ 99.1 _CD billion _CD with _IN no _DT sector _NN showing _VBG strength _NN . _. Government _NNP construction _NN spending _NN rose _VBD 4.3 _CD % _NN to _TO $ _$ 88 _CD billion _CD . _. After _RB adjusting _VBG for _IN inflation _NN , _, the _DT Commerce _NNP Department _NNP said _VBD construction _NN spending _NN did _VBD n't _RB change _VB in _IN September _NNP . _. For _IN the _DT first _JJ nine _CD months _NNS of _IN the _DT year _NN , _, total _JJ construction _NN spending _NN ran _VBD about _RB 2 _CD % _NN above _IN last _JJ year _NN 's _POS level _NN . _. The _DT government _NN 's _POS construction _NN spending _NN figures _NNS contrast _VBP with _IN a _DT report _NN issued _VBD earlier _RBR in _IN the _DT week _NN by _IN McGraw-Hill _NNP Inc. _NNP 's _POS F.W. _NNP Dodge _NNP Group _NNP . _. Dodge _NNP reported _VBD an _DT 8 _CD % _NN increase _NN in _IN construction _NN contracts _NNS awarded _VBN in _IN September _NNP . _. The _DT goverment _NN counts _VBZ money _NN as _IN it _PRP is _VBZ spent _VBN ; _: Dodge _NNP counts _VBZ contracts _NNS when _WRB they _PRP are _VBP awarded _VBN . _. The _DT government _NN includes _VBZ money _NN spent _VBN on _IN residential _JJ renovation _NN ; _: Dodge _NNP does _VBZ n't _RB . _. Although _IN the _DT purchasing _NN managers _NNS ' _POS index _NN continues _VBZ to _TO indicate _VB a _DT slowing _VBG economy _NN , _, it _PRP is _VBZ n't _RB signaling _VBG an _DT imminent _JJ recession _NN , _, said _VBD Robert _NNP Bretz _NNP , _, chairman _NN of _IN the _DT association _NN 's _POS survey _NN committee _NN and _CC director _NN of _IN materials _NNS management _NN at _IN Pitney _NNP Bowes _NNP Inc. _NNP , _, Stamford _NNP , _, Conn _NNP . _. He _PRP said _VBD the _DT index _NN would _MD have _VB to _TO be _VB in _IN the _DT low _JJ 40 _CD % _NN range _NN for _IN several _JJ months _NNS to _TO be _VB considered _VBN a _DT forecast _NN of _IN recession _NN . _. The _DT report _NN offered _VBD new _JJ evidence _NN that _IN the _DT nation _NN 's _POS export _NN growth _NN , _, though _IN still _RB continuing _VBG , _, may _MD be _VB slowing _VBG . _. Only _RB 19 _CD % _NN of _IN the _DT purchasing _VBG managers _NNS reported _VBD better _JJR export _NN orders _NNS in _IN October _NNP , _, down _RB from _IN 27 _CD % _NN in _IN September _NNP . _. And _CC 8 _CD % _NN said _VBD export _NN orders _NNS were _VBD down _RB last _JJ month _NN , _, compared _VBN with _IN 6 _CD % _NN the _DT month _NN before _RB . _. The _DT purhasing _NN managers _NNS ' _POS report _NN also _RB added _VBD evidence _NN that _IN inflation _NN is _VBZ under _IN control _NN . _. For _IN the _DT fifth _JJ consecutive _JJ month _NN , _, purchasing _VBG managers _NNS said _VBD prices _NNS for _IN the _DT goods _NNS they _PRP purchased _VBD fell _VBD . _. The _DT decline _NN was _VBD even _RB steeper _JJR than _IN in _IN September _NNP . _. They _PRP also _RB said _VBD that _IN vendors _NNS were _VBD delivering _VBG goods _NNS more _RBR quickly _RB in _IN October _NNP than _IN they _PRP had _VBD for _IN each _DT of _IN the _DT five _CD previous _JJ months _NNS . _. Economists _NNS consider _VBP that _DT a _DT sign _NN that _IN inflationary _JJ pressures _NNS are _VBP abating _VBG . _. When _WRB demand _NN is _VBZ stronger _JJR than _IN suppliers _NNS can _MD handle _VB and _CC delivery _NN times _NNS lengthen _VBP , _, prices _NNS tend _VBP to _TO rise _VB . _. The _DT purchasing _NN managers _NNS ' _POS report _NN is _VBZ based _VBN on _IN data _NNS provided _VBN by _IN more _RBR than _IN 250 _CD purchasing _NN executives _NNS . _. Each _DT of _IN the _DT survey _NN 's _POS indicators _NNS gauges _VBZ the _DT difference _NN between _IN the _DT number _NN of _IN purchasers _NNS reporting _VBG improvement _NN in _IN a _DT particular _JJ area _NN and _CC the _DT number _NN reporting _VBG a _DT worsening _NN . _. For _IN the _DT first _JJ time _NN , _, the _DT October _NNP survey _NN polled _VBD members _NNS on _IN imports _NNS . _. It _PRP found _VBD that _IN of _IN the _DT 73 _CD % _NN who _WP import _VBP , _, 10 _CD % _NN said _VBD they _PRP imported _VBD more _RBR in _IN October _NNP and _CC 12 _CD % _NN said _VBD they _PRP imported _VBD less _JJR than _IN the _DT previous _JJ month _NN . _. While _IN acknowledging _VBG one _CD month _NN 's _POS figures _NNS do _VBP n't _RB prove _VB a _DT trend _NN , _, Mr. _NNP Bretz _NNP said _VBD , _, `` _`` It _PRP does _VBZ lead _VB you _PRP to _TO suspect _VB imports _NNS are _VBP going _VBG down _RB , _, or _CC at _IN least _JJS not _RB increasing _VBG that _RB much _RB . _. '' _'' Items _NNS listed _VBN as _IN being _VBG in _IN short _JJ supply _NN numbered _VBD only _RB about _RB a _DT dozen _NN , _, but _CC they _PRP included _VBD one _CD newcomer _NN : _: milk _NN and _CC milk _NN powder _NN . _. `` _`` It _PRP 's _VBZ an _DT odd _JJ thing _NN to _TO put _VB on _IN the _DT list _NN , _, '' _'' Mr. _NNP Bretz _NNP noted _VBD . _. He _PRP said _VBD that _IN for _IN the _DT second _JJ month _NN in _IN a _DT row _NN , _, food _NN processors _NNS reported _VBD a _DT shortage _NN of _IN nonfat _JJ dry _JJ milk _NN . _. They _PRP blamed _VBD increased _VBN demand _NN for _IN dairy _NN products _NNS at _IN a _DT time _NN of _IN exceptionally _RB high _JJ U.S. _NNP exports _NNS of _IN dry _JJ milk _NN , _, coupled _VBN with _IN very _RB low _JJ import _NN quotas _NNS . _. Pamela _NNP Sebastian _NNP in _IN New _NNP York _NNP contributed _VBD to _TO this _DT article _NN . _. Here _RB are _VBP the _DT Commerce _NNP Department _NNP 's _POS figures _NNS for _IN construction _NN spending _NN in _IN billions _NNS of _IN dollars _NNS at _IN seasonally _RB adjusted _VBN annual _JJ rates _NNS . _. Here _RB are _VBP the _DT Commerce _NNP Department _NNP 's _POS latest _JJS figures _NNS for _IN manufacturers _NNS in _IN billions _NNS of _IN dollars _NNS , _, seasonally _RB adjusted _VBN . _. Judging _VBG from _IN the _DT Americana _NNS in _IN Haruki _NNP Murakami _NNP 's _POS `` _`` A _DT Wild _NNP Sheep _NNP Chase _NNP '' _'' ( _( Kodansha _NNP , _, 320 _CD pages _NNS , _, $ _$ 18.95 _CD ) _) , _, baby _NN boomers _NNS on _IN both _DT sides _NNS of _IN the _DT Pacific _NNP have _VBP a _DT lot _NN in _IN common _NN . _. Although _IN set _VBN in _IN Japan _NNP , _, the _DT novel _NN 's _POS texture _NN is _VBZ almost _RB entirely _RB Western _JJ , _, especially _RB American _JJ . _. Characters _NNS drink _VBP Salty _NNP Dogs _NNP , _, whistle _VBP `` _`` Johnny _NNP B. _NNP Goode _NNP '' _'' and _CC watch _VBP Bugs _NNP Bunny _NNP reruns _NNS . _. They _PRP read _VBP Mickey _NNP Spillane _NNP and _CC talk _VBP about _IN Groucho _NNP and _CC Harpo _NNP . _. They _PRP worry _VBP about _IN their _PRP$ careers _NNS , _, drink _VBP too _RB much _RB and _CC suffer _VBP through _IN broken _VBN marriages _NNS and _CC desultory _JJ affairs _NNS . _. This _DT is _VBZ Japan _NNP ? _. For _IN an _DT American _JJ reader _NN , _, part _NN of _IN the _DT charm _NN of _IN this _DT engaging _JJ novel _NN should _MD come _VB in _IN recognizing _VBG that _IN Japan _NNP is _VBZ n't _RB the _DT buttoned-down _JJ society _NN of _IN contemporary _JJ American _JJ lore _NN . _. It _PRP 's _VBZ also _RB refreshing _VBG to _TO read _VB a _DT Japanese _JJ author _NN who _WP clearly _RB does _VBZ n't _RB belong _VB to _TO the _DT self-aggrandizing _JJ `` _`` we-Japanese _JJ '' _'' school _NN of _IN writers _NNS who _WP perpetuate _VBP the _DT notion _NN of _IN the _DT unique _JJ Japanese _NN , _, unfathomable _JJ by _IN outsiders _NNS . _. If _IN `` _`` A _DT Wild _NNP Sheep _NNP Chase _NNP '' _'' carries _VBZ an _DT implicit _JJ message _NN for _IN international _JJ relations _NNS , _, it _PRP 's _VBZ that _IN the _DT Japanese _NNS are _VBP more _RBR like _IN us _PRP than _IN most _JJS of _IN us _PRP think _VBP . _. That _DT 's _VBZ not _RB to _TO say _VB that _IN the _DT nutty _JJ plot _NN of _IN `` _`` A _DT Wild _NNP Sheep _NNP Chase _NNP '' _'' is _VBZ rooted _VBN in _IN reality _NN . _. It _PRP 's _VBZ imaginative _JJ and _CC often _RB funny _JJ . _. A _DT disaffected _JJ , _, hard-drinking _JJ , _, nearly-30 _JJ hero _NN sets _VBZ off _IN for _IN snow _NN country _NN in _IN search _NN of _IN an _DT elusive _JJ sheep _NN with _IN a _DT star _NN on _IN its _PRP$ back _NN at _IN the _DT behest _NN of _IN a _DT sinister _JJ , _, erudite _JJ mobster _NN with _IN a _DT Stanford _NNP degree _NN . _. He _PRP has _VBZ in _IN tow _NN his _PRP$ prescient _JJ girlfriend _NN , _, whose _WP$ sassy _JJ retorts _NNS mark _VBP her _PRP as _IN anything _NN but _CC a _DT docile _JJ butterfly _NN . _. Along _IN the _DT way _NN , _, he _PRP meets _VBZ a _DT solicitous _JJ Christian _JJ chauffeur _NN who _WP offers _VBZ the _DT hero _NN God _NNP 's _POS phone _NN number _NN ; _: and _CC the _DT Sheep _NNP Man _NNP , _, a _DT sweet _JJ , _, roughhewn _JJ figure _NN who _WP wears _VBZ -- _: what _WP else _RB -- _: a _JJ sheepskin _NN . _. The _DT 40-year-old _JJ Mr. _NNP Murakami _NNP is _VBZ a _DT publishing _NN sensation _NN in _IN Japan _NNP . _. A _DT more _RBR recent _JJ novel _NN , _, `` _`` Norwegian _NNP Wood _NNP '' _'' ( _( every _DT Japanese _NN under _IN 40 _CD seems _VBZ to _TO be _VB fluent _JJ in _IN Beatles _NNP lyrics _NNS ) _) , _, has _VBZ sold _VBN more _JJR than _IN four _CD million _CD copies _NNS since _IN Kodansha _NNP published _VBD it _PRP in _IN 1987 _CD . _. But _CC he _PRP is _VBZ just _RB one _CD of _IN several _JJ youthful _JJ writers _NNS -- _: Tokyo _NNP 's _POS brat _NN pack _NN -- _: who _WP are _VBP dominating _VBG the _DT best-seller _NN charts _NNS in _IN Japan _NNP . _. Their _PRP$ books _NNS are _VBP written _VBN in _IN idiomatic _JJ , _, contemporary _JJ language _NN and _CC usually _RB carry _VBP hefty _JJ dashes _NNS of _IN Americana _NNS . _. In _IN Robert _NNP Whiting _NNP 's _POS `` _`` You _PRP Gotta _NNP Have _NNP Wa _, '' _'' ( _( Macmillan _NNP , _, 339 _CD pages _NNS , _, $ _$ 17.95 _CD ) _) , _, the _DT Beatles _NNP give _VBP way _NN to _TO baseball _NN , _, in _IN the _DT Nipponese _JJ version _NN we _PRP would _MD be _VB hard _RB put _VBN to _TO call _VB a _DT `` _`` game _NN . _. '' _'' As _IN Mr. _NNP Whiting _NNP describes _VBZ it _PRP , _, Nipponese _JJ baseball _NN is _VBZ a _DT `` _`` mirror _NN of _IN Japan _NNP 's _POS fabled _JJ virtues _NNS of _IN hard _JJ work _NN and _CC harmony _NN . _. '' _'' `` _`` Wa _NNP '' _'' is _VBZ Japanese _NNP for _IN `` _`` team _NN spirit _NN '' _'' and _CC Japanese _JJ ballplayers _NNS have _VBP miles _NNS and _CC miles _NNS of _IN it _PRP . _. A _DT player _NN 's _POS commitment _NN to _TO practice _NN and _CC team _NN image _NN is _VBZ as _RB important _JJ as _IN his _PRP$ batting _NN average _NN . _. Polls _NNS once _RB named _VBD Tokyo _NNP Giants _NNP star _NN Tatsunori _NNP Hara _NNP , _, a _DT `` _`` humble _JJ , _, uncomplaining _JJ , _, obedient _JJ soul _NN , _, '' _'' as _IN the _DT male _JJ symbol _NN of _IN Japan _NNP . _. But _CC other _JJ than _IN the _DT fact _NN that _DT besuboru _FW is _VBZ played _VBN with _IN a _DT ball _NN and _CC a _DT bat _NN , _, it _PRP 's _VBZ unrecognizable _JJ : _: Fans _NNS politely _RB return _VBP foul _JJ balls _NNS to _TO stadium _NN ushers _NNS ; _: the _DT strike _NN zone _NN expands _VBZ depending _VBG on _IN the _DT size _NN of _IN the _DT hitter _NN ; _: ties _NNS are _VBP permitted _VBN -- _: even _JJ welcomed _VBN -- _: since _IN they _PRP honorably _RB sidestep _VBP the _DT shame _NN of _IN defeat _NN ; _: players _NNS must _MD abide _VB by _IN strict _JJ rules _NNS of _IN conduct _NN even _RB in _IN their _PRP$ personal _JJ lives _NNS -- _: players _NNS for _IN the _DT Tokyo _NNP Giants _NNP , _, for _IN example _NN , _, must _MD always _RB wear _VB ties _NNS when _WRB on _IN the _DT road _NN . _. `` _`` You _PRP Gotta _NNP Have _NNP Wa _NNP '' _'' is _VBZ the _DT often _RB amusing _JJ chronicle _NN of _IN how _WRB American _JJ ballplayers _NNS , _, rationed _VBN to _TO two _CD per _IN team _NN , _, fare _VBP in _IN Japan _NNP . _. Despite _IN the _DT enormous _JJ sums _NNS of _IN money _NN they _PRP 're _VBP paid _VBN to _TO stand _VB up _RP at _IN a _DT Japanese _JJ plate _NN , _, a _DT good _JJ number _NN decide _VBP it _PRP 's _VBZ not _RB worth _JJ it _PRP and _CC run _VBP for _IN home _NN . _. `` _`` Funny _NNP Business _NNP '' _'' ( _( Soho _NNP , _, 228 _CD pages _NNS , _, $ _$ 17.95 _CD ) _) by _IN Gary _NNP Katzenstein _NNP is _VBZ anything _NN but _RB . _. It _PRP 's _VBZ the _DT petulant _JJ complaint _NN of _IN an _DT impudent _JJ American _NN whom _WP Sony _NNP hosted _VBD for _IN a _DT year _NN while _IN he _PRP was _VBD on _IN a _DT Luce _NNP Fellowship _NNP in _IN Tokyo _NNP -- _: to _IN the _DT regret _NN of _IN both _DT parties _NNS . _. In _IN sometimes _RB amusing _JJ , _, more _RBR often _RB supercilious _JJ , _, even _RB vicious _JJ passages _NNS , _, Mr. _NNP Katzenstein _NNP describes _VBZ how _WRB Sony _NNP invades _VBZ even _RB the _DT most _RBS mundane _JJ aspects _NNS of _IN its _PRP$ workers _NNS ' _POS lives _NNS -- _: at _IN the _DT regimented _JJ office _NN , _, where _WRB employees _NNS are _VBP assigned _VBN lunch _NN partners _NNS -- _: and _JJ at _IN `` _`` home _NN '' _'' in _IN the _DT austere _JJ company _NN dormitory _NN run _VBN by _IN a _DT prying _JJ caretaker _NN . _. Some _DT of _IN his _PRP$ observations _NNS about _IN Japanese _JJ management _NN style _NN are _VBP on _IN the _DT mark _NN . _. It _PRP 's _VBZ probably _RB true _JJ that _IN many _JJ salarymen _NNS put _VBN in _IN unproductive _JJ overtime _NN just _RB for _IN the _DT sake _NN of _IN solidarity _NN , _, that _IN the _DT system _NN is _VBZ so _RB hierarchical _JJ that _IN only _RB the _DT assistant _JJ manager _NN can _MD talk _VB to _TO the _DT manager _NN and _CC the _DT manager _NN to _TO the _DT general _JJ manager _NN , _, and _CC that _IN Sony _NNP was _VBD chary _JJ of _IN letting _VBG a _DT young _JJ , _, short-term _JJ American _JJ employee _NN take _VB on _IN any _DT responsibility _NN . _. All _DT of _IN this _DT must _MD have _VB been _VBN enormously _RB frustrating _VBG to _TO Mr. _NNP Katzenstein _NNP , _, who _WP went _VBD to _TO Sony _NNP with _IN degrees _NNS in _IN business _NN and _CC computer _NN science _NN and _CC was _VBD raring _JJ to _TO invent _VB another _DT Walkman _NNP . _. But _CC Sony _NNP ultimately _RB took _VBD a _DT lesson _NN from _IN the _DT American _JJ management _NN books _NNS and _CC fired _VBD Mr. _NNP Katzenstein _NNP , _, after _IN he _PRP committed _VBD the _DT social _JJ crime _NN of _IN making _VBG an _DT appointment _NN to _TO see _VB the _DT venerable _JJ Akio _NNP Morita _NNP , _, founder _NN of _IN Sony _NNP . _. It _PRP 's _VBZ a _DT shame _NN their _PRP$ meeting _NN never _RB took _VBD place _NN . _. Mr. _NNP Katzenstein _NNP certainly _RB would _MD have _VB learned _VBD something _NN , _, and _CC it _PRP 's _VBZ even _RB possible _JJ Mr. _NNP Morita _NNP would _MD have _VB too _RB . _. Ms. _NNP Kirkpatrick _NNP , _, the _DT Journal _NNP 's _POS deputy _NN editorial _NN features _NNS editor _NN , _, worked _VBD in _IN Tokyo _NNP for _IN three _CD years _NNS . _. More _JJR and _CC more _JJR corners _NNS of _IN the _DT globe _NN are _VBP becoming _VBG free _JJ of _IN tobacco _NN smoke _NN . _. In _IN Singapore _NNP , _, a _DT new _JJ law _NN requires _VBZ smokers _NNS to _TO put _VB out _RP their _PRP$ cigarettes _NNS before _IN entering _VBG restaurants _NNS , _, department _NN stores _NNS and _CC sports _NNS centers _NNS or _CC face _VB a _DT $ _$ 250 _CD fine _NN . _. Discos _NNS and _CC private _JJ clubs _NNS are _VBP exempt _JJ from _IN the _DT ban _NN , _, and _CC smoking _NN will _MD be _VB permitted _VBN in _IN bars _NNS except _IN during _IN meal _NN hours _NNS , _, an _DT official _NN said _VBD . _. Singapore _NNP already _RB bans _VBZ smoking _NN in _IN all _DT theaters _NNS , _, buses _NNS , _, public _JJ elevators _NNS , _, hospitals _NNS and _CC fast-food _NN restaurants _NNS . _. In _IN Malaysia _NNP , _, Siti _NNP Zaharah _NNP Sulaiman _NNP , _, a _DT deputy _NN minister _NN in _IN the _DT prime _JJ minister _NN 's _POS office _NN , _, launched _VBD a _DT `` _`` No-Smoking _NNP Week _NNP '' _'' at _IN the _DT Mara _NNP Institute _NNP of _IN Technology _NNP near _IN Kuala _NNP Lumpur _NNP and _CC urged _VBD other _JJ schools _NNS to _TO ban _VB on-campus _JJ smoking _NN . _. South _NNP Korea _NNP has _VBZ different _JJ concerns _NNS . _. In _IN Seoul _NNP , _, officials _NNS began _VBD visiting _VBG about _RB 26,000 _CD cigarette _NN stalls _NNS to _TO remove _VB illegal _JJ posters _NNS and _CC signboards _NNS advertising _VBG imported _VBN cigarettes _NNS . _. South _NNP Korea _NNP has _VBZ opened _VBN its _PRP$ market _NN to _TO foreign _JJ cigarettes _NNS but _CC restricts _VBZ advertising _NN to _TO designated _VBN places _NNS . _. A _DT marketing _NN study _NN indicates _VBZ that _IN Hong _NNP Kong _NNP consumers _NNS are _VBP the _DT most _RBS materialistic _JJ in _IN the _DT 14 _CD major _JJ markets _NNS where _WRB the _DT survey _NN was _VBD carried _VBN out _RP . _. The _DT study _NN by _IN the _DT Backer _NNP Spielvogel _NNP Bates _NNP ad _NN agency _NN also _RB found _VBD that _IN the _DT colony _NN 's _POS consumers _NNS feel _VBP more _RBR pressured _JJ than _IN those _DT in _IN any _DT of _IN the _DT other _JJ surveyed _VBN markets _NNS , _, which _WDT include _VBP the _DT U.S. _NNP and _CC Japan _NNP . _. The _DT survey _NN found _VBD that _IN nearly _RB half _NN of _IN Hong _NNP Kong _NNP consumers _NNS espouse _VBP what _WP it _PRP identified _VBD as _IN materialistic _JJ values _NNS , _, compared _VBN with _IN about _RB one-third _JJ in _IN Japan _NNP and _CC the _DT U.S _NNP . _. More _JJR than _IN three _CD in _IN five _CD said _VBD they _PRP are _VBP under _IN a _DT great _JJ deal _NN of _IN stress _NN most _JJS of _IN the _DT time _NN , _, compared _VBN with _IN less _JJR than _IN one _CD in _IN two _CD U.S. _NNP consumers _NNS and _CC one _CD in _IN four _CD in _IN Japan _NNP . _. The _DT Thai _NNP cabinet _NN endorsed _VBD Finance _NNP Minister _NNP Pramual _NNP Sabhavasu _NNP 's _POS proposal _NN to _TO build _VB a _DT $ _$ 19 _CD million _CD conference _NN center _NN for _IN a _DT joint _JJ meeting _NN of _IN the _DT World _NNP Bank _NNP and _CC International _NNP Monetary _NNP Fund _NNP two _CD years _NNS from _IN now _RB . _. The _DT meeting _NN , _, which _WDT is _VBZ expected _VBN to _TO draw _VB 20,000 _CD to _TO Bangkok _NNP , _, was _VBD going _VBG to _TO be _VB held _VBN at _IN the _DT Central _NNP Plaza _NNP Hotel _NNP , _, but _CC the _DT government _NN balked _VBD at _IN the _DT hotel _NN 's _POS conditions _NNS for _IN undertaking _VBG necessary _JJ expansion _NN . _. A _DT major _JJ concern _NN about _IN the _DT current _JJ plan _NN is _VBZ whether _IN the _DT new _JJ center _NN can _MD be _VB built _VBN in _IN such _JJ a _DT short _JJ time _NN . _. Yasser _NNP Arafat _NNP has _VBZ written _VBN to _TO the _DT chairman _NN of _IN the _DT International _NNP Olympic _NNP Committee _NNP asking _VBG him _PRP to _TO back _VB a _DT Palestinian _JJ bid _NN to _TO join _VB the _DT committee _NN , _, the _DT Palestine _NNP Liberation _NNP Organization _NNP news _NN agency _NN WAFA _NNP said _VBD . _. An _DT official _NN of _IN the _DT Palestinian _NNP Olympic _NNP Committee _NNP said _VBD the _DT committee _NN first _RB applied _VBD for _IN membership _NN in _IN 1979 _CD and _CC renewed _VBD its _PRP$ application _NN in _IN August _NNP of _IN this _DT year _NN . _. The _DT PLO _NNP in _IN recent _JJ months _NNS has _VBZ been _VBN trying _VBG to _TO join _VB international _JJ organizations _NNS but _CC failed _VBD earlier _RBR this _DT year _NN to _TO win _VB membership _NN in _IN the _DT World _NNP Health _NNP Organization _NNP and _CC the _DT World _NNP Tourism _NNP Organization _NNP . _. A _DT Beijing _NNP food-shop _JJ assistant _NN has _VBZ become _VBN the _DT first _JJ mainland _NN Chinese _NN to _TO get _VB AIDS _NNP through _IN sex _NN , _, the _DT People _NNP 's _POS Daily _NNP said _VBD . _. It _PRP said _VBD the _DT man _NN , _, whom _WP it _PRP did _VBD not _RB name _VB , _, had _VBD been _VBN found _VBN to _TO have _VB the _DT disease _NN after _IN hospital _NN tests _NNS . _. Once _RB the _DT disease _NN was _VBD confirmed _VBN , _, all _DT the _DT man _NN 's _POS associates _NNS and _CC family _NN were _VBD tested _VBN , _, but _CC none _NN have _VBP so _RB far _RB been _VBN found _VBN to _TO have _VB AIDS _NNP , _, the _DT newspaper _NN said _VBD . _. The _DT man _NN had _VBD for _IN a _DT long _JJ time _NN had _VBN `` _`` a _DT chaotic _JJ sex _NN life _NN , _, '' _'' including _VBG relations _NNS with _IN foreign _JJ men _NNS , _, the _DT newspaper _NN said _VBD . _. The _DT Polish _JJ government _NN increased _VBD home _NN electricity _NN charges _NNS by _IN 150 _CD % _NN and _CC doubled _VBD gas _NN prices _NNS . _. The _DT official _JJ news _NN agency _NN PAP _NNP said _VBD the _DT increases _NNS were _VBD intended _VBN to _TO bring _VB unrealistically _RB low _JJ energy _NN charges _NNS into _IN line _NN with _IN production _NN costs _NNS and _CC compensate _VB for _IN a _DT rise _NN in _IN coal _NN prices _NNS . _. In _IN happier _JJR news _NN , _, South _NNP Korea _NNP , _, in _IN establishing _VBG diplomatic _JJ ties _NNS with _IN Poland _NNP yesterday _NN , _, announced _VBD $ _$ 450 _CD million _CD in _IN loans _NNS to _TO the _DT financially _RB strapped _VBN Warsaw _NNP government _NN . _. In _IN a _DT victory _NN for _IN environmentalists _NNS , _, Hungary _NNP 's _POS parliament _NN terminated _VBD a _DT multibillion-dollar _JJ River _NNP Danube _NNP dam _NN being _VBG built _VBN by _IN Austrian _JJ firms _NNS . _. The _DT Nagymaros _NNP dam _NN was _VBD designed _VBN to _TO be _VB twinned _VBN with _IN another _DT dam _NN , _, now _RB nearly _RB complete _JJ , _, 100 _CD miles _NNS upstream _RB in _IN Czechoslovakia _NNP . _. In _IN ending _VBG Hungary _NNP 's _POS part _NN of _IN the _DT project _NN , _, Parliament _NNP authorized _VBD Prime _NNP Minister _NNP Miklos _NNP Nemeth _NNP to _TO modify _VB a _DT 1977 _CD agreement _NN with _IN Czechoslovakia _NNP , _, which _WDT still _RB wants _VBZ the _DT dam _NN to _TO be _VB built _VBN . _. Mr. _NNP Nemeth _NNP said _VBD in _IN parliament _NN that _IN Czechoslovakia _NNP and _CC Hungary _NNP would _MD suffer _VB environmental _JJ damage _NN if _IN the _DT twin _NN dams _NNS were _VBD built _VBN as _IN planned _VBN . _. Czechoslovakia _NNP said _VBD in _IN May _NNP it _PRP could _MD seek _VB $ _$ 2 _CD billion _CD from _IN Hungary _NNP if _IN the _DT twindam _NN contract _NN were _VBD broken _VBN . _. The _DT Czech _JJ dam _NN ca _MD n't _RB be _VB operated _VBN solely _RB at _IN peak _NN periods _NNS without _IN the _DT Nagymaros _NNP project _NN . _. A _DT painting _NN by _IN August _NNP Strindberg _NNP set _VBD a _DT Scandinavian _JJ price _NN record _NN when _WRB it _PRP sold _VBD at _IN auction _NN in _IN Stockholm _NNP for _IN $ _$ 2.44 _CD million _CD . _. `` _`` Lighthouse _NNP II _NNP '' _'' was _VBD painted _VBN in _IN oils _NNS by _IN the _DT playwright _NN in _IN 1901 _CD ... _: After _IN years _NNS of _IN decline _NN , _, weddings _NNS in _IN France _NNP showed _VBD a _DT 2.2 _CD % _NN upturn _NN last _JJ year _NN , _, with _IN 6,000 _CD more _JJR couples _NNS exchanging _VBG rings _NNS in _IN 1988 _CD than _IN in _IN the _DT previous _JJ year _NN , _, the _DT national _JJ statistics _NNS office _NN said _VBD . _. But _CC the _DT number _NN of _IN weddings _NNS last _JJ year _NN -- _: 271,124 _CD -- _: was _VBD still _RB well _RB below _IN the _DT 400,000 _CD registered _VBN in _IN 1972 _CD , _, the _DT last _JJ year _NN of _IN increasing _VBG marriages _NNS . _. BRAMALEA _NNP Ltd. _NNP said _VBD it _PRP agreed _VBD to _TO issue _VB 100 _CD million _CD Canadian _JJ dollars _NNS ( _( US$ _$ 85.1 _CD million _CD ) _) of _IN 10.5 _CD % _NN senior _JJ debentures _NNS due _JJ Nov. _NNP 30 _CD , _, 1999 _CD , _, together _RB with _IN 100,000 _CD bond _NN purchase _NN warrants _NNS . _. The _DT Toronto-based _JJ real _JJ estate _NN concern _NN said _VBD each _DT bond _NN warrant _NN entitles _VBZ the _DT holder _NN to _TO buy _VB C$ _$ 1,000 _CD principal _NN amount _NN of _IN debentures _NNS at _IN par _NN plus _CC accrued _VBN interest _NN to _TO the _DT date _NN of _IN purchase _NN . _. The _DT warrants _NNS expire _VBP Nov. _NNP 30 _CD , _, 1990 _CD . _. The _DT issue _NN will _MD be _VB swapped _VBN into _IN fixed-rate _JJ U.S. _NNP dollars _NNS at _IN a _DT rate _NN the _DT company _NN said _VBD is _VBZ less _JJR than _IN 9 _CD % _NN ; _: a _DT spokesman _NN declined _VBD to _TO elaborate _VB . _. Lead _JJ underwriters _NNS for _IN the _DT issue _NN are _VBP Scotia _NNP McLeod _NNP Inc. _NNP and _CC RBC _NNP Dominion _NNP Securities _NNP Inc. _NNP , _, both _DT Toronto-based _JJ investment _NN dealers _NNS . _. Bramalea _NNP said _VBD it _PRP expects _VBZ to _TO complete _VB the _DT issue _NN by _IN the _DT end _NN of _IN the _DT month _NN . _. As _IN an _DT actor _NN , _, Charles _NNP Lane _NNP is _VBZ n't _RB the _DT inheritor _NN of _IN Charlie _NNP Chaplin _NNP 's _POS spirit _NN . _. Steve _NNP Martin _NNP has _VBZ already _RB laid _VBN his _PRP$ claim _NN to _TO that _DT . _. But _CC it _PRP is _VBZ Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP , _, as _IN movie _NN director _NN , _, producer _NN and _CC writer _NN , _, who _WP has _VBZ been _VBN obsessed _VBN with _IN refitting _VBG Chaplin _NNP 's _POS Little _NNP Tramp _NNP in _IN a _DT contemporary _JJ way _NN . _. In _IN 1976 _CD , _, as _IN a _DT film _NN student _NN at _IN the _DT Purchase _NNP campus _NN of _IN the _DT State _NNP University _NNP of _IN New _NNP York _NNP , _, Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP shot _VBD `` _`` A _DT Place _NNP in _IN Time _NNP , _, '' _'' a _DT 36-minute _JJ black-and-white _JJ film _NN about _IN a _DT sketch _NN artist _NN , _, a _DT man _NN of _IN the _DT streets _NNS . _. Now _RB , _, 13 _CD years _NNS later _RBR , _, Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP has _VBZ revived _VBN his _PRP$ Artist _NNP in _IN a _DT full-length _JJ movie _NN called _VBN `` _`` Sidewalk _NNP Stories _NNP , _, '' _'' a _DT poignant _JJ piece _NN of _IN work _NN about _IN a _DT modern-day _JJ tramp _NN . _. Of _IN course _NN , _, if _IN the _DT film _NN contained _VBD dialogue _NN , _, Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP 's _POS Artist _NNP would _MD be _VB called _VBN a _DT homeless _JJ person _NN . _. So _RB would _MD the _DT Little _NNP Tramp _NNP , _, for _IN that _DT matter _NN . _. I _PRP say _VBP `` _`` contained _VBD dialogue _NN '' _'' because _IN `` _`` Sidewalk _NNP Stories _NNP '' _'' is _VBZ n't _RB really _RB silent _JJ at _IN all _DT . _. Composer _NN Marc _NNP Marder _NNP , _, a _DT college _NN friend _NN of _IN Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP 's _POS who _WP earns _VBZ his _PRP$ living _NN playing _VBG the _DT double _JJ bass _NN in _IN classical _JJ music _NN ensembles _NNS , _, has _VBZ prepared _VBN an _DT exciting _JJ , _, eclectic _JJ score _NN that _WDT tells _VBZ you _PRP what _WP the _DT characters _NNS are _VBP thinking _VBG and _CC feeling _VBG far _RB more _RBR precisely _RB than _IN intertitles _NNS , _, or _CC even _RB words _NNS , _, would _MD . _. Much _RB of _IN Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP 's _POS film _NN takes _VBZ a _DT highly _RB romanticized _VBN view _NN of _IN life _NN on _IN the _DT streets _NNS ( _( though _IN probably _RB no _DT more _RBR romanticized _VBN than _IN Mr. _NNP Chaplin _NNP 's _POS notion _NN of _IN the _DT Tramp _NNP as _IN the _DT good-hearted _JJ free _JJ spirit _NN ) _) . _. Filmed _VBN in _IN lovely _JJ black _NN and _CC white _NN by _IN Bill _NNP Dill _NNP , _, the _DT New _NNP York _NNP streets _NNS of _IN `` _`` Sidewalk _NNP Stories _NNP '' _'' seem _VBP benign _JJ . _. On _IN Wall _NNP Street _NNP men _NNS and _CC women _NNS walk _VBP with _IN great _JJ purpose _NN , _, noticing _VBG one _CD another _DT only _RB when _WRB they _PRP jostle _VBP for _IN cabs _NNS . _. The _DT Artist _NNP hangs _VBZ out _RP in _IN Greenwich _NNP Village _NNP , _, on _IN a _DT strip _NN of _IN Sixth _NNP Avenue _NNP populated _VBN by _IN jugglers _NNS , _, magicians _NNS and _CC other _JJ good-natured _JJ hustlers _NNS . _. ( _( This _DT clearly _RB is _VBZ not _RB real _JJ life _NN : _: no _DT crack _NN dealers _NNS , _, no _DT dead-eyed _JJ men _NNS selling _VBG four-year-old _JJ copies _NNS of _IN Cosmopolitan _NNP , _, no _DT one _PRP curled _VBD up _RP in _IN a _DT cardboard _NN box _NN . _. ) _) The _DT Artist _NNP has _VBZ his _PRP$ routine _NN . _. He _PRP spends _VBZ his _PRP$ days _NNS sketching _VBG passers-by _NNS , _, or _CC trying _VBG to _TO . _. At _IN night _NN he _PRP returns _VBZ to _TO the _DT condemned _VBN building _NN he _PRP calls _VBZ home _NN . _. His _PRP$ life _NN , _, including _VBG his _PRP$ skirmishes _NNS with _IN a _DT competing _VBG sketch _NN artist _NN , _, seems _VBZ carefree _JJ . _. He _PRP is _VBZ his _PRP$ own _JJ man _NN . _. Then _RB , _, just _RB as _IN the _DT Tramp _NNP is _VBZ given _VBN a _DT blind _JJ girl _NN to _TO cure _VB in _IN `` _`` City _NNP Lights _NNP , _, '' _'' the _DT Artist _NNP is _VBZ put _VBN in _IN charge _NN of _IN returning _VBG a _DT two-year-old _JJ waif _NN ( _( Nicole _NNP Alysia _NNP ) _) , _, whose _WP$ father _NN has _VBZ been _VBN murdered _VBN by _IN thugs _NNS , _, to _TO her _PRP$ mother _NN . _. This _DT cute _JJ child _NN turns _VBZ out _RP to _TO be _VB a _DT blessing _NN and _CC a _DT curse _NN . _. She _PRP gives _VBZ the _DT Artist _NNP a _DT sense _NN of _IN purpose _NN , _, but _CC also _RB alerts _VBZ him _PRP to _TO the _DT serious _JJ inadequacy _NN of _IN his _PRP$ vagrant _JJ life _NN . _. The _DT beds _NNS at _IN the _DT Bowery _NNP Mission _NNP seem _VBP far _JJ drearier _RBR when _WRB he _PRP has _VBZ to _TO tuck _VB a _DT little _JJ girl _NN into _IN one _CD of _IN them _PRP at _IN night _NN . _. To _TO further _RBR load _VB the _DT stakes _NNS , _, Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP dreamed _VBD up _RP a _DT highly _RB improbable _JJ romance _NN for _IN the _DT Artist _NNP , _, with _IN a _DT young _JJ woman _NN who _WP owns _VBZ her _PRP$ own _JJ children _NNS 's _POS shop _NN and _CC who _WP lives _VBZ in _IN an _DT expensive _JJ high-rise _JJ apartment _NN building _NN . _. This _DT story _NN line _NN might _MD resonate _VB more _RBR strongly _RB if _IN Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP had _VBD as _RB strong _JJ a _DT presence _NN in _IN front _NN of _IN the _DT camera _NN as _IN he _PRP does _VBZ behind _IN it _PRP . _. Mr. _NNP Lane _NNP 's _POS final _JJ purpose _NN is _VBZ n't _RB to _TO glamorize _VB the _DT Artist _NNP 's _POS vagabond _NN existence _NN . _. He _PRP has _VBZ a _DT point _NN he _PRP wants _VBZ to _TO make _VB , _, and _CC he _PRP makes _VBZ it _PRP , _, with _IN a _DT great _JJ deal _NN of _IN force _NN . _. The _DT movie _NN ends _VBZ with _IN sound _NN , _, the _DT sound _NN of _IN street _NN people _NNS talking _VBG , _, and _CC there _EX is _VBZ n't _RB anything _NN whimsical _JJ or _CC enviable _JJ in _IN those _DT rough _JJ , _, beaten _JJ voices _NNS . _. The _DT French _JJ film _NN maker _NN Claude _NNP Chabrol _NNP has _VBZ managed _VBN another _DT kind _NN of _IN weird _JJ achievement _NN with _IN his _PRP$ `` _`` Story _NNP of _IN Women _NNP . _. '' _'' He _PRP has _VBZ made _VBN a _DT harsh _JJ , _, brilliant _JJ picture _NN -- _: one _CD that _WDT 's _VBZ captivating _JJ -- _: about _IN a _DT character _NN who _WP , _, viewed _VBN from _IN the _DT most _RBS sympathetic _JJ angle _NN , _, would _MD seem _VB disagreeable _JJ . _. Yet _RB this _DT woman _NN , _, Marie-Louise _NNP Giraud _NNP , _, carries _VBZ historical _JJ significance _NN , _, both _DT as _IN one _CD of _IN the _DT last _JJ women _NNS to _TO be _VB executed _VBN in _IN France _NNP and _CC as _IN a _DT symbol _NN of _IN the _DT Vichy _NNP government _NN 's _POS hypocrisy _NN . _. While _IN Vichy _NNP collaborated _VBD with _IN the _DT Germans _NNS during _IN World _NNP War _NNP II _NNP in _IN the _DT deaths _NNS of _IN thousands _NNS of _IN Resistance _NNP fighters _NNS and _CC Jews _NNS , _, its _PRP$ officials _NNS needed _VBD a _DT diversionary _JJ symbolic _JJ traitor _NN . _. Marie-Louise _NNP , _, a _DT small-time _JJ abortionist _NN , _, was _VBD their _PRP$ woman _NN . _. She _PRP became _VBD an _DT abortionist _NN accidentally _RB , _, and _CC continued _VBD because _IN it _PRP enabled _VBD her _PRP to _TO buy _VB jam _NN , _, cocoa _NN and _CC other _JJ war-rationed _JJ goodies _NNS . _. She _PRP was _VBD untrained _JJ and _CC , _, in _IN one _CD botched _JJ job _NN killed _VBD a _DT client _NN . _. Her _PRP$ remorse _NN was _VBD shallow _JJ and _CC brief _JJ . _. Although _IN she _PRP was _VBD kind _JJ and _CC playful _JJ to _TO her _PRP$ children _NNS , _, she _PRP was _VBD dreadful _JJ to _TO her _PRP$ war-damaged _JJ husband _NN ; _: she _PRP openly _RB brought _VBD her _PRP$ lover _NN into _IN their _PRP$ home _NN . _. As _IN presented _VBN by _IN Mr. _NNP Chabrol _NNP , _, and _CC played _VBN with _IN thin-lipped _JJ intensity _NN by _IN Isabelle _NNP Huppert _NNP , _, Marie-Louise _NNP ( _( called _VBN Marie _NNP Latour _NNP in _IN the _DT film _NN ) _) was _VBD not _RB a _DT nice _JJ person _NN . _. But _CC she _PRP did _VBD n't _RB deserve _VB to _TO have _VB her _PRP$ head _NN chopped _VBN off _RP . _. There _EX is _VBZ very _RB little _JJ to _TO recommend _VB `` _`` Old _NNP Gringo _NNP , _, '' _'' a _DT confused _JJ rendering _NN of _IN the _DT Carlos _NNP Fuentes _NNP novel _NN of _IN the _DT Mexican _NNP Revolution _NNP . _. Most _JJS of _IN the _DT picture _NN is _VBZ taken _VBN up _RP with _IN endless _JJ scenes _NNS of _IN many _JJ people _NNS either _CC fighting _VBG or _CC eating _VBG and _CC drinking _VBG to _TO celebrate _VB victory _NN . _. I _PRP mention _VBP the _DT picture _NN only _RB because _IN many _JJ bad _JJ movies _NNS have _VBP a _DT bright _JJ spot _NN , _, and _CC this _DT one _CD has _VBZ Gregory _NNP Peck _NNP , _, in _IN a _DT marvelously _RB loose _JJ and _CC energetic _JJ portrayal _NN of _IN an _DT old _JJ man _NN who _WP wants _VBZ to _TO die _VB the _DT way _NN he _PRP wants _VBZ to _TO die _VB . _. Video _NNP Tip _NNP : _: Before _IN seeing _VBG `` _`` Sidewalk _NNP Stories _NNP , _, '' _'' take _VB a _DT look _NN at _IN `` _`` City _NNP Lights _NNP , _, '' _'' Chaplin _NNP 's _POS Tramp _NNP at _IN his _PRP$ finest _JJS . _. Boeing _NNP Co. _NNP said _VBD it _PRP is _VBZ discussing _VBG plans _NNS with _IN three _CD of _IN its _PRP$ regular _JJ Japanese _JJ suppliers _NNS to _TO possibly _RB help _VB build _VB a _DT larger _JJR version _NN of _IN its _PRP$ popular _JJ 767 _CD twin-jet _NN . _. The _DT discussions _NNS are _VBP still _RB in _IN preliminary _JJ stages _NNS , _, and _CC the _DT specific _JJ details _NNS have _VBP n't _RB been _VBN worked _VBN out _RP between _IN the _DT Seattle _NNP aerospace _NN company _NN and _CC Kawasaki _NNP Heavy _NNP Industries _NNP Ltd. _NNP , _, Mitsubishi _NNP Heavy _NNP Industries _NNP Ltd. _NNP and _CC Fuji _NNP Heavy _NNP Industries _NNP Ltd _NNP . _. The _DT three _CD Japanese _JJ companies _NNS build _VBP the _DT body _NN sections _NNS of _IN the _DT 767 _CD , _, accounting _VBG for _IN a _DT combined _JJ 15 _CD % _NN of _IN the _DT aircraft _NN . _. Japanese _JJ press _NN reports _NNS have _VBP speculated _VBN that _IN the _DT Japanese _JJ contribution _NN could _MD rise _VB to _TO between _IN 20 _CD % _NN and _CC 25 _CD % _NN under _IN the _DT new _JJ program _NN . _. If _IN Boeing _NNP goes _VBZ ahead _RB with _IN the _DT larger _JJR 767 _CD , _, the _DT plane _NN could _MD hit _VB the _DT market _NN in _IN the _DT mid-1990s _NNS . _. This _DT is _VBZ the _DT year _NN the _DT negative _JJ ad _NN , _, for _IN years _NNS a _DT secondary _JJ presence _NN in _IN most _JJS political _JJ campaigns _NNS , _, became _VBD the _DT main _JJ event _NN . _. The _DT irony _NN is _VBZ that _IN the _DT attack _NN commercial _NN , _, after _IN getting _VBG a _DT boost _NN in _IN last _JJ year _NN 's _POS presidential _JJ campaign _NN , _, has _VBZ come _VBN of _IN age _NN in _IN an _DT off-off _JJ election _NN year _NN with _IN only _RB a _DT few _JJ contests _NNS scattered _VBN across _IN the _DT country _NN . _. But _IN in _IN the _DT three _CD leading _VBG political _JJ contests _NNS of _IN 1989 _CD , _, the _DT negative _JJ ads _NNS have _VBP reached _VBN new _JJ levels _NNS of _IN hostility _NN , _, raising _VBG fears _NNS that _IN this _DT kind _NN of _IN mudslinging _NN , _, empty _JJ of _IN significant _JJ issues _NNS , _, is _VBZ ushering _VBG in _IN a _DT new _JJ era _NN of _IN campaigns _NNS without _IN content _NN . _. `` _`` Now _RB , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Joseph _NNP Napolitan _NNP , _, a _DT pioneer _NN in _IN political _JJ television _NN , _, `` _`` the _DT idea _NN is _VBZ to _TO attack _VB first _RB , _, last _RB and _CC always _RB . _. '' _'' A _DT trend _NN that _WDT started _VBD with _IN the _DT first _JJ stirrings _NNS of _IN politics _NNS , _, accelerated _VBD with _IN the _DT dawn _NN of _IN the _DT television _NN age _NN and _CC became _VBD a _DT sometimes-tawdry _JJ art _NN form _NN in _IN 1988 _CD , _, has _VBZ reached _VBN an _DT entirely _RB new _JJ stage _NN . _. `` _`` To _TO get _VB people _NNS 's _POS attention _NN these _DT days _NNS , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Douglas _NNP Bailey _NNP , _, a _DT political _JJ consultant _NN , _, `` _`` your _PRP$ TV _NN ad _NN needs _VBZ to _TO be _VB bold _JJ and _CC entertaining _JJ , _, and _CC , _, more _RBR often _RB than _IN not _RB , _, that _WDT means _VBZ confrontational _JJ . _. And _CC , _, unlike _IN a _DT few _JJ years _NNS ago _RB , _, you _PRP do _VBP n't _RB even _RB have _VB to _TO worry _VB whether _IN the _DT ad _NN is _VBZ truthful _JJ . _. '' _'' In _IN 1989 _CD , _, as _RB often _RB as _IN not _RB , _, the _DT principal _JJ fights _NNS in _IN the _DT major _JJ campaigns _NNS are _VBP prompted _VBN by _IN the _DT ads _NNS themselves _PRP . _. Take _VB a _DT look _NN , _, then _RB , _, at _IN the _DT main _JJ attack _NN commercials _NNS that _WDT set _VBD the _DT tone _NN for _IN Tuesday _NNP 's _POS elections _NNS in _IN New _NNP York _NNP City _NNP , _, New _NNP Jersey _NNP and _CC Virginia _NNP : _: New _NNP York _NNP City _NNP : _: The _DT screen _NN fills _VBZ with _IN a _DT small _JJ , _, tight _JJ facial _JJ shot _NN of _IN David _NNP Dinkins _NNP , _, Democratic _JJ candidate _NN for _IN mayor _NN of _IN New _NNP York _NNP City _NNP . _. `` _`` David _NNP Dinkins _NNP failed _VBD to _TO file _VB his _PRP$ income _NN taxes _NNS for _IN four _CD straight _JJ years _NNS , _, '' _'' says _VBZ a _DT disembodied _JJ male _NN voice _NN . _. And _CC then _RB this _DT television _NN commercial _NN , _, paid _VBN for _RB by _IN Republican _NNP Rudolph _NNP Giuliani _NNP 's _POS campaign _NN and _CC produced _VBN by _IN Roger _NNP Ailes _NNP , _, the _DT master _NN of _IN negative _JJ TV _NN ads _NNS , _, really _RB gets _VBZ down _RB to _TO business _NN . _. Mr. _NNP Dinkins _NNP , _, the _DT ad _NN charges _VBZ , _, also _RB failed _VBD to _TO report _VB his _PRP$ campaign _NN contributions _NNS accurately _RB , _, hid _VBD his _PRP$ links _NNS to _TO a _DT failing _VBG insurance _NN company _NN and _CC paid _VBD a _DT convicted _VBN kidnapper _NN `` _`` through _IN a _DT phony _JJ organization _NN with _IN no _DT members _NNS , _, no _DT receipts _NNS and _CC no _DT office _NN . _. '' _'' `` _`` David _NNP Dinkins _NNP , _, '' _'' says _VBZ the _DT kicker _NN , _, `` _`` Why _WRB does _VBZ he _PRP always _RB wait _VB until _IN he _PRP 's _VBZ caught _VBN ? _. '' _'' `` _`` Nasty _JJ innuendoes _NNS , _, '' _'' says _VBZ John _NNP Siegal _NNP , _, Mr. _NNP Dinkins _NNP 's _POS issues _NNS director _NN , _, `` _`` designed _VBN to _TO prosecute _VB a _DT case _NN of _IN political _JJ corruption _NN that _WDT simply _RB does _VBZ n't _RB exist _VB . _. '' _'' Stung _VBN by _IN the _DT Giuliani _NNP ads _NNS , _, Mr. _NNP Dinkins _NNP 's _POS TV _NN consultants _NNS , _, Robert _NNP Shrum _NNP and _CC David _NNP Doak _NNP , _, finally _RB unleashed _VBD a _DT negative _JJ ad _NN of _IN their _PRP$ own _JJ . _. The _DT screen _NN shows _VBZ two _CD distorted _JJ , _, unrecognizable _JJ photos _NNS , _, presumably _RB of _IN two _CD politicians _NNS . _. `` _`` Compare _VB two _CD candidates _NNS for _IN mayor _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ the _DT announcer _NN . _. `` _`` One _NN says _VBZ he _PRP 's _VBZ for _IN banning _VBG cop-killer _JJ bullets _NNS . _. The _DT other _JJ has _VBZ opposed _VBN a _DT ban _NN on _IN cop-killer _JJ bullets _NNS . _. One _NN claims _VBZ he _PRP 's _VBZ pro-choice _JJ . _. The _DT other _JJ has _VBZ opposed _VBN a _DT woman _NN 's _POS right _NN to _TO choose _VB . _. '' _'' `` _`` Funny _JJ thing _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ the _DT kicker _NN , _, `` _`` both _DT these _DT candidates _NNS are _VBP named _VBN Rudolph _NNP Giuliani _NNP . _. '' _'' Who _WP 's _VBZ telling _VBG the _DT truth _NN ? _. Everybody _NN -- _: and _IN nobody _NN . _. It _PRP 's _VBZ a _DT classic _JJ situation _NN of _IN ads _NNS that _WDT are _VBP true _JJ but _CC not _RB always _RB fully _RB accurate _JJ . _. Mr. _NNP Dinkins _NNP did _VBD fail _VB to _TO file _VB his _PRP$ income _NN taxes _NNS for _IN four _CD years _NNS , _, but _CC he _PRP insists _VBZ he _PRP voluntarily _RB admitted _VBD the _DT `` _`` oversight _NN '' _'' when _WRB he _PRP was _VBD being _VBG considered _VBN for _IN a _DT city _NN job _NN . _. He _PRP was _VBD on _IN the _DT board _NN of _IN an _DT insurance _NN company _NN with _IN financial _JJ problems _NNS , _, but _CC he _PRP insists _VBZ he _PRP made _VBD no _DT secret _NN of _IN it _PRP . _. The _DT city _NN 's _POS Campaign _NNP Finance _NNP Board _NNP has _VBZ refused _VBN to _TO pay _VB Mr. _NNP Dinkins _NNP $ _$ 95,142 _CD in _IN matching _JJ funds _NNS because _IN his _PRP$ campaign _NN records _NNS are _VBP incomplete _JJ . _. The _DT campaign _NN has _VBZ blamed _VBN these _DT reporting _NN problems _NNS on _IN computer _NN errors _NNS . _. And _CC , _, says _VBZ Mr. _NNP Dinkins _NNP , _, he _PRP did _VBD n't _RB know _VB the _DT man _NN his _PRP$ campaign _NN paid _VBD for _IN a _DT get-out-the-vote _JJ effort _NN had _VBD been _VBN convicted _VBN of _IN kidnapping _NN . _. But _CC , _, say _VBP Mr. _NNP Dinkins _NNP 's _POS managers _NNS , _, he _PRP did _VBD have _VB an _DT office _NN and _CC his _PRP$ organization _NN did _VBD have _VB members _NNS . _. Mr. _NNP Giuliani _NNP 's _POS campaign _NN chairman _NN , _, Peter _NNP Powers _NNP , _, says _VBZ the _DT Dinkins _NNP ad _NN is _VBZ `` _`` deceptive _JJ . _. '' _'' The _DT other _JJ side _NN , _, he _PRP argues _VBZ , _, `` _`` knows _VBZ Giuliani _NNP has _VBZ always _RB been _VBN pro-choice _JJ , _, even _RB though _IN he _PRP has _VBZ personal _JJ reservations _NNS . _. They _PRP know _VBP he _PRP is _VBZ generally _RB opposed _VBN to _TO cop-killer _JJ bullets _NNS , _, but _CC that _IN he _PRP had _VBD some _DT reservations _NNS about _IN the _DT language _NN in _IN the _DT legislation _NN . _. '' _'' Virginia _NNP : _: Democratic _JJ Lt. _NNP Gov. _NNP Douglas _NNP Wilder _NNP opened _VBD his _PRP$ gubernatorial _JJ battle _NN with _IN Republican _JJ Marshall _NNP Coleman _NNP with _IN an _DT abortion _NN commercial _NN produced _VBN by _IN Frank _NNP Greer _NNP that _IN analysts _NNS of _IN every _DT political _JJ persuasion _NN agree _VBP was _VBD a _DT tour _NN de _FW force _NN . _. Against _IN a _DT shot _NN of _IN Monticello _NNP superimposed _VBN on _IN an _DT American _JJ flag _NN , _, an _DT announcer _NN talks _VBZ about _IN the _DT `` _`` strong _JJ tradition _NN of _IN freedom _NN and _CC individual _JJ liberty _NN '' _'' that _IN Virginians _NNPS have _VBP nurtured _VBN for _IN generations _NNS . _. Then _RB , _, just _RB as _IN an _DT image _NN of _IN the _DT statue _NN of _IN Thomas _NNP Jefferson _NNP dissolves _VBZ from _IN the _DT screen _NN , _, the _DT announcer _NN continues _VBZ : _: `` _`` On _IN the _DT issue _NN of _IN abortion _NN , _, Marshall _NNP Coleman _NNP wants _VBZ to _TO take _VB away _RB your _PRP$ right _NN to _TO choose _VB and _CC give _VB it _PRP to _TO the _DT politicians _NNS . _. '' _'' That _DT commercial _JJ -- _: which _WDT said _VBD Mr. _NNP Coleman _NNP wanted _VBD to _TO take _VB away _RB the _DT right _NN of _IN abortion _NN `` _`` even _RB in _IN cases _NNS of _IN rape _NN and _CC incest _NN , _, '' _'' a _DT charge _NN Mr. _NNP Coleman _NNP denies _VBZ -- _: changed _VBD the _DT dynamics _NNS of _IN the _DT campaign _NN , _, transforming _VBG it _PRP , _, at _IN least _JJS in _IN part _NN , _, into _IN a _DT referendum _NN on _IN abortion _NN . _. The _DT ad _NN prompted _VBD Mr. _NNP Coleman _NNP , _, the _DT former _JJ Virginia _NNP attorney _NN general _NN , _, to _TO launch _VB a _DT series _NN of _IN advertisements _NNS created _VBN by _IN Bob _NNP Goodman _NNP and _CC designed _VBN to _TO shake _VB Mr. _NNP Wilder _NNP 's _POS support _NN among _IN the _DT very _JJ women _NNS who _WP were _VBD attracted _VBN by _IN the _DT abortion _NN ad _NN . _. The _DT Coleman _NNP counterattack _NN featured _VBD a _DT close-up _NN of _IN a _DT young _JJ woman _NN in _IN shadows _NNS and _CC the _DT ad _NN suggested _VBD that _IN she _PRP was _VBD recalling _VBG an _DT unpleasant _JJ courtroom _NN ordeal _NN . _. A _DT voice _NN says _VBZ , _, `` _`` C'mon _VB , _, now _RB , _, do _VBP n't _RB you _PRP have _VB boyfriends _NNS ? _. '' _'' Then _RB an _DT announcer _NN interjects _VBZ : _: `` _`` It _PRP was _VBD Douglas _NNP Wilder _NNP who _WP introduced _VBD a _DT bill _NN to _TO force _VB rape _NN victims _NNS age _NN 13 _CD and _CC younger _JJR to _TO be _VB interrogated _VBN about _IN their _PRP$ private _JJ lives _NNS by _IN lawyers _NNS for _IN accused _VBN rapists _NNS . _. So _RB the _DT next _JJ time _NN Mr. _NNP Wilder _NNP talks _VBZ about _IN the _DT rights _NNS of _IN women _NNS , _, ask _VB him _PRP about _IN this _DT law _NN he _PRP tried _VBD to _TO pass _VB . _. '' _'' Mr. _NNP Wilder _NNP did _VBD introduce _VB such _JJ legislation _NN 17 _CD years _NNS ago _RB , _, but _CC he _PRP did _VBD so _RB at _IN the _DT request _NN of _IN a _DT constituent _NN , _, a _DT common _JJ legislative _JJ technique _NN used _VBN by _IN lawmakers _NNS . _. The _DT legislation _NN itself _PRP noted _VBD that _IN it _PRP was _VBD introduced _VBN `` _`` by _IN request _NN , _, '' _'' and _CC in _IN 1983 _CD Mr. _NNP Wilder _NNP introduced _VBD a _DT bill _NN to _TO protect _VB rape _NN victims _NNS from _IN unfounded _JJ interrogation _NN . _. `` _`` People _NNS have _VBP grown _VBN tired _JJ of _IN these _DT ads _NNS and _CC Coleman _NNP has _VBZ gotten _VBN the _DT stigma _NN of _IN being _VBG a _DT negative _JJ campaigner _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Mark _NNP Rozell _NNP , _, a _DT political _JJ scientist _NN at _IN Mary _NNP Washington _NNP College _NNP . _. `` _`` Wilder _NNP has _VBZ managed _VBN to _TO get _VB across _RP the _DT idea _NN that _IN Coleman _NNP will _MD say _VB anything _NN to _TO get _VB elected _VBN governor _NN and _CC -- _: more _RBR important _JJ -- _: has _VBZ been _VBN able _JJ to _TO put _VB the _DT onus _NN for _IN all _PDT the _DT negative _JJ campaigning _NN on _IN Coleman _NNP . _. '' _'' Mr. _NNP Coleman _NNP said _VBD this _DT week _NN that _IN he _PRP would _MD devote _VB the _DT remainder _NN of _IN the _DT political _JJ season _NN to _TO positive _JJ campaigning _NN , _, but _CC the _DT truce _NN lasted _VBD only _RB hours _NNS . _. By _IN Tuesday _NNP night _NN , _, television _NN stations _NNS were _VBD carrying _VBG new _JJ ads _NNS featuring _VBG Mr. _NNP Coleman _NNP himself _PRP raising _VBG questions _NNS about _IN Mr. _NNP Wilder _NNP 's _POS sensitivity _NN to _TO rape _NN victims _NNS . _. New _NNP Jersey _NNP : _: The _DT attacks _NNS began _VBD when _WRB Democratic _JJ Rep. _NNP James _NNP Florio _NNP aired _VBD an _DT ad _NN featuring _VBG a _DT drawing _NN of _IN Pinocchio _NNP and _CC a _DT photograph _NN of _IN Mr. _NNP Florio _NNP 's _POS rival _NN , _, Republican _JJ Rep. _NNP Jim _NNP Courter _NNP . _. `` _`` Remember _VB Pinocchio _NNP ? _. '' _'' says _VBZ a _DT female _JJ voice _NN . _. `` _`` Consider _VB Jim _NNP Courter _NNP . _. '' _'' And _CC then _RB this _DT commercial _NN , _, produced _VBN by _IN Bob _NNP Squier _NNP , _, gets _VBZ down _IN to _TO its _PRP$ own _JJ mean _JJ and _CC dirty _JJ business _NN . _. Pictures _NNS of _IN rusted _VBN oil _NN drums _NNS swim _VBP into _IN focus _NN , _, and _CC the _DT female _JJ voice _NN purrs _VBZ , _, `` _`` That _DT hazardous _JJ waste _NN on _IN his _PRP$ { _( Mr. _NNP Courter _NNP 's _POS } _) property _NN -- _: the _DT neighbors _NNS are _VBP suing _VBG for _IN consumer _NN fraud _NN . _. '' _'' And _CC the _DT nose _NN on _IN Mr. _NNP Courter _NNP 's _POS face _NN grows _VBZ . _. The _DT only _JJ fraud _NN involved _VBN , _, cry _VBP Mr. _NNP Courter _NNP 's _POS partisans _NNS , _, is _VBZ the _DT Florio _NNP commercial _NN itself _PRP , _, and _CC so _RB the _DT Courter _NNP campaign _NN has _VBZ responded _VBN with _IN its _PRP$ own _JJ Pinocchio _NNP commercial _NN , _, produced _VBN by _IN Mr. _NNP Ailes _NNP . _. In _IN this _DT one _NN , _, the _DT screen _NN fills _VBZ with _IN photographs _NNS of _IN both _DT candidates _NNS . _. `` _`` Who _WP 's _VBZ really _RB lying _VBG ? _. '' _'' asks _VBZ a _DT female _JJ voice _NN . _. `` _`` Florio _NNP 's _VBZ lying _VBG , _, '' _'' the _DT voice _NN goes _VBZ on _RP , _, because _IN `` _`` the _DT barrel _NN on _IN Courter _NNP 's _POS land _NN ... _: contained _VBD heating _NN oil _NN , _, was _VBD cleaned _VBN up _RP and _CC caused _VBD no _DT pollution _NN . _. '' _'' Mr. _NNP Courter _NNP 's _POS long _JJ nose _NN shrinks _VBZ while _IN Mr. _NNP Florio _NNP 's _POS grows _VBZ . _. Who _WP 's _VBZ telling _VBG the _DT truth _NN ? _. Stephen _NNP Salmore _NNP , _, a _DT political _JJ scientist _NN at _IN New _NNP Jersey _NNP 's _POS Eagleton _NNP Institute _NNP , _, says _VBZ it _PRP 's _VBZ another _DT example _NN of _IN an _DT ad _NN that _WDT 's _VBZ true _JJ but _CC not _RB fully _RB accurate _JJ . _. Barrels _NNS were _VBD dumped _VBN on _IN the _DT Courter _NNP property _NN , _, a _DT complaint _NN was _VBD made _VBN , _, but _CC there _EX is _VBZ no _DT evidence _NN the _DT barrels _NNS were _VBD a _DT serious _JJ threat _NN to _TO the _DT environment _NN . _. Even _RB so _RB , _, according _VBG to _TO Mr. _NNP Salmore _NNP , _, the _DT ad _NN was _VBD `` _`` devastating _VBG '' _'' because _IN it _PRP raised _VBD questions _NNS about _IN Mr. _NNP Courter _NNP 's _POS credibility _NN . _. But _CC it _PRP 's _VBZ building _VBG on _IN a _DT long _JJ tradition _NN . _. In _IN 1966 _CD , _, on _IN route _NN to _TO a _DT re-election _NN rout _NN of _IN Democrat _NNP Frank _NNP O'Connor _NNP , _, GOP _NNP Gov. _NNP Nelson _NNP Rockefeller _NNP of _IN New _NNP York _NNP appeared _VBD in _IN person _NN saying _VBG , _, `` _`` If _IN you _PRP want _VBP to _TO keep _VB the _DT crime _NN rates _NNS high _JJ , _, O'Connor _NNP is _VBZ your _PRP$ man _NN . _. '' _'' A _DT seat _NN on _IN the _DT Chicago _NNP Board _NNP of _IN Trade _NNP was _VBD sold _VBN for _IN $ _$ 350,000 _CD , _, down _RB $ _$ 16,000 _CD from _IN the _DT previous _JJ sale _NN last _JJ Friday _NNP . _. Seats _NNS currently _RB are _VBP quoted _VBN at _IN $ _$ 331,000 _CD , _, bid _NN , _, and _CC $ _$ 350,000 _CD , _, asked _VBN . _. The _DT record _JJ price _NN for _IN a _DT full _JJ membership _NN on _IN the _DT exchange _NN is _VBZ $ _$ 550,000 _CD , _, set _VBN Aug. _NNP 31 _CD , _, 1987 _CD . _. Japanese _JJ investment _NN in _IN Southeast _NNP Asia _NNP is _VBZ propelling _VBG the _DT region _NN toward _IN economic _JJ integration _NN . _. Interviews _NNS with _IN analysts _NNS and _CC business _NN people _NNS in _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP suggest _VBP that _IN Japanese _JJ capital _NN may _MD produce _VB the _DT economic _JJ cooperation _NN that _IN Southeast _JJ Asian _JJ politicians _NNS have _VBP pursued _VBN in _IN fits _NNS and _CC starts _NNS for _IN decades _NNS . _. But _CC Japan _NNP 's _POS power _NN in _IN the _DT region _NN also _RB is _VBZ sparking _VBG fears _NNS of _IN domination _NN and _CC posing _VBG fresh _JJ policy _NN questions _NNS . _. The _DT flow _NN of _IN Japanese _JJ funds _NNS has _VBZ set _VBN in _IN motion _NN `` _`` a _DT process _NN whereby _WRB these _DT economies _NNS will _MD be _VB knitted _VBN together _RB by _IN the _DT great _JJ Japanese _JJ investment _NN machine _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Robert _NNP Hormats _NNP , _, vice _NN chairman _NN of _IN Goldman _NNP Sachs _NNP International _NNP Corp _NNP . _. In _IN the _DT past _JJ five _CD years _NNS , _, Japanese _JJ companies _NNS have _VBP tripled _VBN their _PRP$ commitments _NNS in _IN Asia _NNP to _TO $ _$ 5.57 _CD billion _CD . _. In _IN Thailand _NNP , _, for _IN example _NN , _, the _DT government _NN 's _POS Board _NNP of _IN Investment _NNP approved _VBD $ _$ 705.6 _CD million _CD of _IN Japanese _JJ investment _NN in _IN 1988 _CD , _, 10 _CD times _NNS the _DT U.S. _NNP investment _NN figure _NN for _IN the _DT year _NN . _. Japan _NNP 's _POS commitment _NN in _IN Southeast _NNP Asia _NNP also _RB includes _VBZ steep _JJ increases _NNS in _IN foreign _JJ assistance _NN and _CC trade _NN . _. Asia _NNP 's _POS other _JJ cash-rich _JJ countries _NNS are _VBP following _VBG Japan _NNP 's _POS lead _NN and _CC pumping _VBG capital _NN into _IN the _DT region _NN . _. In _IN Taiwan _NNP and _CC South _NNP Korea _NNP , _, rising _VBG wages _NNS are _VBP forcing _VBG manufacturers _NNS to _TO seek _VB other _JJ overseas _JJ sites _NNS for _IN labor-intensive _JJ production _NN . _. These _DT nations _NNS , _, known _VBN as _IN Asia _NNP 's _POS `` _`` little _JJ tigers _NNS , _, '' _'' also _RB are _VBP contributing _VBG to _TO Southeast _NNP Asia _NNP 's _POS integration _NN , _, but _CC their _PRP$ influence _NN will _MD remain _VB subordinate _JJ to _TO Japan _NNP 's _POS . _. For _IN recipient _JJ countries _NNS such _JJ as _IN Thailand _NNP and _CC Malaysia _NNP , _, the _DT investment _NN will _MD provide _VB needed _JJ jobs _NNS and _CC spur _VB growth _NN . _. But _CC Asian _JJ nations _NNS ' _POS harsh _JJ memories _NNS of _IN their _PRP$ military _JJ domination _NN by _IN Japan _NNP in _IN the _DT early _JJ part _NN of _IN this _DT century _NN make _VBP them _PRP fearful _JJ of _IN falling _VBG under _IN Japanese _JJ economic _JJ hegemony _NN now _RB . _. Because _IN of _IN budget _NN constraints _NNS in _IN Washington _NNP , _, the _DT U.S. _NNP encourages _VBZ Japan _NNP to _TO share _VB economic _JJ burdens _NNS in _IN the _DT region _NN . _. But _CC it _PRP resists _VBZ yielding _VBG political _JJ ground _NN . _. In _IN the _DT coming _VBG decade _NN , _, analysts _NNS say _VBP , _, U.S.-Japanese _JJ relations _NNS will _MD be _VB tested _VBN as _IN Tokyo _NNP comes _VBZ to _TO terms _NNS with _IN its _PRP$ new _JJ status _NN as _IN the _DT region _NN 's _POS economic _JJ behemoth _NN . _. Japan _NNP 's _POS swelling _VBG investment _NN in _IN Southeast _NNP Asia _NNP is _VBZ part _NN of _IN its _PRP$ economic _JJ evolution _NN . _. In _IN the _DT past _NN decade _NN , _, Japanese _JJ manufacturers _NNS concentrated _VBD on _IN domestic _JJ production _NN for _IN export _NN . _. In _IN the _DT 1990s _NNS , _, spurred _VBN by _IN rising _VBG labor _NN costs _NNS and _CC the _DT strong _JJ yen _NNS , _, these _DT companies _NNS will _MD increasingly _RB turn _VB themselves _PRP into _IN multinationals _NNS with _IN plants _NNS around _IN the _DT world _NN . _. To _TO capture _VB the _DT investment _NN , _, Southeast _JJ Asian _JJ nations _NNS will _MD move _VB to _TO accommodate _VB Japanese _JJ business _NN . _. These _DT nations _NNS ' _POS internal _JJ decisions _NNS `` _`` will _MD be _VB made _VBN in _IN a _DT way _NN not _RB to _TO offend _VB their _PRP$ largest _JJS aid _NN donor _NN , _, largest _JJS private _JJ investor _NN and _CC largest _JJS lender _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Richard _NNP Drobnick _NNP , _, director _NN of _IN the _DT international _JJ business _NN and _CC research _NN program _NN at _IN the _DT University _NNP of _IN Southern _NNP California _NNP 's _POS Graduate _NNP School _NNP of _IN Business _NNP . _. Japanese _JJ money _NN will _MD help _VB turn _VB Southeast _NNP Asia _NNP into _IN a _DT more _RBR cohesive _JJ economic _JJ region _NN . _. But _CC , _, analysts _NNS say _VBP , _, Asian _JJ cooperation _NN is _VBZ n't _RB likely _JJ to _TO parallel _VB the _DT European _NNP Common _NNP Market _NNP approach _NN . _. Rather _RB , _, Japanese _JJ investment _NN will _MD spur _VB integration _NN of _IN certain _JJ sectors _NNS , _, says _VBZ Kent _NNP Calder _NNP , _, a _DT specialist _NN in _IN East _JJ Asian _JJ economies _NNS at _IN the _DT Woodrow _NNP Wilson _NNP School _NNP for _IN Public _NNP and _CC Internatonal _NNP Affairs _NNP at _IN Princeton _NNP University _NNP . _. In _IN electronics _NNS , _, for _IN example _NN , _, a _DT Japanese _JJ company _NN might _MD make _VB television _NN picture _NN tubes _NNS in _IN Japan _NNP , _, assemble _VB the _DT sets _NNS in _IN Malaysia _NNP and _CC export _VB them _PRP to _TO Indonesia _NNP . _. `` _`` The _DT effect _NN will _MD be _VB to _TO pull _VB Asia _NN together _RB not _RB as _IN a _DT common _JJ market _NN but _CC as _IN an _DT integrated _JJ production _NN zone _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Goldman _NNP Sachs _NNP 's _POS Mr. _NNP Hormats _NNP . _. Countries _NNS in _IN the _DT region _NN also _RB are _VBP beginning _VBG to _TO consider _VB a _DT framework _NN for _IN closer _JJR economic _JJ and _CC political _JJ ties _NNS . _. The _DT economic _JJ and _CC foreign _JJ ministers _NNS of _IN 12 _CD Asian _JJ and _CC Pacific _NNP nations _NNS will _MD meet _VB in _IN Australia _NNP next _JJ week _NN to _TO discuss _VB global _JJ trade _NN issues _NNS as _RB well _RB as _IN regional _JJ matters _NNS such _JJ as _IN transportation _NN and _CC telecommunications _NN . _. Participants _NNS will _MD include _VB the _DT U.S. _NNP , _, Australia _NNP , _, Canada _NNP , _, Japan _NNP , _, South _NNP Korea _NNP and _CC New _NNP Zealand _NNP as _RB well _RB as _IN the _DT six _CD members _NNS of _IN the _DT Association _NNP of _IN Southeast _NNP Asian _NNP Nations _NNPS -- _: Thailand _NNP , _, Malaysia _NNP , _, Singapore _NNP , _, Indonesia _NNP , _, the _DT Philippines _NNPS and _CC Brunei _NNP . _. In _IN addition _NN , _, the _DT U.S. _NNP this _DT year _NN offered _VBD its _PRP$ own _JJ plan _NN for _IN cooperation _NN around _IN the _DT Pacific _NNP rim _NN in _IN a _DT major _JJ speech _NN by _IN Secretary _NNP of _IN State _NNP James _NNP Baker _NNP , _, following _VBG up _RB a _DT proposal _NN made _VBN in _IN January _NNP by _IN Australian _NNP Prime _NNP Minister _NNP Bob _NNP Hawke _NNP . _. The _DT Baker _NNP proposal _NN reasserts _VBZ Washington _NNP 's _POS intention _NN to _TO continue _VB playing _VBG a _DT leading _VBG political _JJ role _NN in _IN the _DT region _NN . _. `` _`` In _IN Asia _NNP , _, as _IN in _IN Europe _NNP , _, a _DT new _JJ order _NN is _VBZ taking _VBG shape _NN , _, '' _'' Mr. _NNP Baker _NNP said _VBD . _. `` _`` The _DT U.S. _NNP , _, with _IN its _PRP$ regional _JJ friends _NNS , _, must _MD play _VB a _DT crucial _JJ role _NN in _IN designing _VBG its _PRP$ architecture _NN . _. '' _'' But _CC maintaining _VBG U.S. _NNP influence _NN will _MD be _VB difficult _JJ in _IN the _DT face _NN of _IN Japanese _JJ dominance _NN in _IN the _DT region _NN . _. Japan _NNP not _RB only _RB outstrips _VBZ the _DT U.S. _NNP in _IN investment _NN flows _NNS but _CC also _RB outranks _VBZ it _PRP in _IN trade _NN with _IN most _JJS Southeast _JJ Asian _JJ countries _NNS ( _( although _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP remains _VBZ the _DT leading _VBG trade _NN partner _NN for _IN all _DT of _IN Asia _NNP ) _) . _. Moreover _RB , _, the _DT Japanese _JJ government _NN , _, now _RB the _DT world _NN 's _POS largest _JJS aid _NN donor _NN , _, is _VBZ pumping _VBG far _RB more _JJR assistance _NN into _IN the _DT region _NN than _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP is _VBZ . _. While _IN U.S. _NNP officials _NNS voice _VBP optimism _NN about _IN Japan _NNP 's _POS enlarged _JJ role _NN in _IN Asia _NNP , _, they _PRP also _RB convey _VBP an _DT undertone _NN of _IN caution _NN . _. `` _`` There _EX 's _VBZ an _DT understanding _NN on _IN the _DT part _NN of _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP that _IN Japan _NNP has _VBZ to _TO expand _VB its _PRP$ functions _NNS '' _'' in _IN Asia _NNP , _, says _VBZ J. _NNP Michael _NNP Farren _NNP , _, undersecretary _NN of _IN commerce _NN for _IN trade _NN . _. `` _`` If _IN they _PRP approach _VBP it _PRP with _IN a _DT benevolent _JJ , _, altruistic _JJ attitude _NN , _, there _EX will _MD be _VB a _DT net _JJ gain _NN for _IN everyone _NN . _. '' _'' Some _DT Asian _JJ nations _NNS are _VBP apprehensive _JJ about _IN Washington _NNP 's _POS demand _NN that _IN Tokyo _NNP step _VB up _RP its _PRP$ military _JJ spending _NN to _TO ease _VB the _DT U.S. _NNP security _NN burden _NN in _IN the _DT region _NN . _. The _DT issue _NN is _VBZ further _RBR complicated _JJ by _IN uncertainty _NN over _IN the _DT future _NN of _IN the _DT U.S. _NNP 's _POS leases _NNS on _IN military _JJ bases _NNS in _IN the _DT Philippines _NNPS and _CC by _IN a _DT possible _JJ U.S. _NNP troop _NN reduction _NN in _IN South _NNP Korea _NNP . _. Many _JJ Asians _NNPS regard _VBP a _DT U.S. _NNP presence _NN as _IN a _DT desirable _JJ counterweight _NN to _TO Japanese _JJ influence _NN . _. `` _`` No _DT one _NN wants _VBZ the _DT U.S. _NNP to _TO pick _VB up _RP its _PRP$ marbles _NNS and _CC go _VB home _RB , _, '' _'' Mr. _NNP Hormats _NNP says _VBZ . _. For _IN their _PRP$ part _NN , _, Taiwan _NNP and _CC South _NNP Korea _NNP are _VBP expected _VBN to _TO step _VB up _RP their _PRP$ own _JJ investments _NNS in _IN the _DT next _JJ decade _NN to _TO try _VB to _TO slow _VB the _DT Japanese _JJ juggernaut _NN . _. `` _`` They _PRP do _VBP n't _RB want _VB Japan _NNP to _TO monopolize _VB the _DT region _NN and _CC sew _VB it _PRP up _RP , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Chong-sik _NNP Lee _NNP , _, professor _NN of _IN East _JJ Asian _JJ politics _NNS at _IN the _DT University _NNP of _IN Pennsylvania _NNP . _. Cathryn _NNP Rice _NNP could _MD hardly _RB believe _VB her _PRP$ eyes _NNS . _. While _IN giving _VBG the _DT Comprehensive _JJ Test _NN of _IN Basic _JJ Skills _NNS to _TO ninth _JJ graders _NNS at _IN Greenville _NNP High _NNP School _NNP last _JJ March _NNP 16 _CD , _, she _PRP spotted _VBD a _DT student _NN looking _VBG at _IN crib _JJ sheets _NNS . _. She _PRP had _VBD seen _VBN cheating _NN before _RB , _, but _CC these _DT notes _NNS were _VBD uncanny _JJ . _. `` _`` A _DT stockbroker _NN is _VBZ an _DT example _NN of _IN a _DT profession _NN in _IN trade _NN and _CC finance _NN ... _: . _. At _IN the _DT end _NN of _IN World _NNP War _NNP II _NNP , _, Germany _NNP surrendered _VBD before _IN Japan _NNP ... _: . _. The _DT Senate-House _JJ conference _NN committee _NN is _VBZ used _VBN when _WRB a _DT bill _NN is _VBZ passed _VBN by _IN the _DT House _NNP and _CC Senate _NNP in _IN different _JJ forms _NNS . _. '' _'' Virtually _RB word _NN for _IN word _NN , _, the _DT notes _NNS matched _VBD questions _NNS and _CC answers _NNS on _IN the _DT social-studies _NN section _NN of _IN the _DT test _NN the _DT student _NN was _VBD taking _VBG . _. In _IN fact _NN , _, the _DT student _NN had _VBD the _DT answers _NNS to _TO almost _RB all _DT of _IN the _DT 40 _CD questions _NNS in _IN that _DT section _NN . _. The _DT student _NN surrendered _VBD the _DT notes _NNS , _, but _CC not _RB without _IN a _DT protest _NN . _. `` _`` My _PRP$ teacher _NN said _VBD it _PRP was _VBD OK _UH for _IN me _PRP to _TO use _VB the _DT notes _NNS on _IN the _DT test _NN , _, '' _'' he _PRP said _VBD . _. The _DT teacher _NN in _IN question _NN was _VBD Nancy _NNP Yeargin _NNP -- _: considered _VBN by _IN many _JJ students _NNS and _CC parents _NNS to _TO be _VB one _CD of _IN the _DT best _JJS at _IN the _DT school _NN . _. Confronted _VBN , _, Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP admitted _VBD she _PRP had _VBD given _VBN the _DT questions _NNS and _CC answers _VBZ two _CD days _NNS before _IN the _DT examination _NN to _TO two _CD low-ability _JJ geography _NN classes _NNS . _. She _PRP had _VBD gone _VBN so _RB far _RB as _IN to _TO display _VB the _DT questions _NNS on _IN an _DT overhead _JJ projector _NN and _CC underline _VB the _DT answers _NNS . _. Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP was _VBD fired _VBN and _CC prosecuted _VBN under _IN an _DT unusual _JJ South _NNP Carolina _NNP law _NN that _WDT makes _VBZ it _PRP a _DT crime _NN to _TO breach _VB test _NN security _NN . _. In _IN September _NNP , _, she _PRP pleaded _VBD guilty _JJ and _CC paid _VBD a _DT $ _$ 500 _CD fine _NN . _. Her _PRP$ alternative _NN was _VBD 90 _CD days _NNS in _IN jail _NN . _. Her _PRP$ story _NN is _VBZ partly _RB one _NN of _IN personal _JJ downfall _NN . _. She _PRP was _VBD an _DT unstinting _JJ teacher _NN who _WP won _VBD laurels _NNS and _CC inspired _VBD students _NNS , _, but _CC she _PRP will _MD probably _RB never _RB teach _VB again _RB . _. In _IN her _PRP$ wake _NN she _PRP left _VBD the _DT bitterness _NN and _CC anger _NN of _IN a _DT principal _NN who _WP was _VBD her _PRP$ friend _NN and _CC now _RB calls _VBZ her _PRP a _DT betrayer _NN ; _: of _IN colleagues _NNS who _WP say _VBP she _PRP brought _VBD them _PRP shame _NN ; _: of _IN students _NNS and _CC parents _NNS who _WP defended _VBD her _PRP and _CC insist _VBP she _PRP was _VBD treated _VBN harshly _RB ; _: and _CC of _IN school-district _NN officials _NNS stunned _JJ that _IN despite _IN the _DT bald-faced _JJ nature _NN of _IN her _PRP$ actions _NNS , _, she _PRP became _VBD something _NN of _IN a _DT local _JJ martyr _NN . _. Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP 's _POS case _NN also _RB casts _VBZ some _DT light _NN on _IN the _DT dark _JJ side _NN of _IN school _NN reform _NN , _, where _WRB pressures _NNS on _IN teachers _NNS are _VBP growing _VBG and _CC where _WRB high-stakes _JJ testing _NN has _VBZ enhanced _VBN the _DT temptation _NN to _TO cheat _VB . _. The _DT 1987 _CD statute _NN Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP violated _VBD was _VBD designed _VBN to _TO enforce _VB provisions _NNS of _IN South _NNP Carolina _NNP 's _POS school-improvement _JJ laws _NNS . _. Prosecutors _NNS alleged _VBD that _IN she _PRP was _VBD trying _VBG to _TO bolster _VB students _NNS ' _POS scores _NNS to _TO win _VB a _DT bonus _NN under _IN the _DT state _NN 's _POS 1984 _CD Education _NNP Improvement _NNP Act _NNP . _. The _DT bonus _NN depended _VBD on _IN her _PRP$ ability _NN to _TO produce _VB higher _JJR student-test _JJ scores _NNS . _. `` _`` There _EX is _VBZ incredible _JJ pressure _NN on _IN school _NN systems _NNS and _CC teachers _NNS to _TO raise _VB test _NN scores _NNS , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Walt _NNP Haney _NNP , _, an _DT education _NN professor _NN and _CC testing _NN specialist _NN at _IN Boston _NNP College _NNP . _. `` _`` So _RB efforts _NNS to _TO beat _VB the _DT tests _NNS are _VBP also _RB on _IN the _DT rise _NN . _. '' _'' And _CC most _RBS disturbing _JJ , _, it _PRP is _VBZ educators _NNS , _, not _RB students _NNS , _, who _WP are _VBP blamed _VBN for _IN much _RB of _IN the _DT wrongdoing _NN . _. A _DT 50-state _JJ study _NN released _VBN in _IN September _NNP by _IN Friends _NNPS for _IN Education _NNP , _, an _DT Albuquerque _NNP , _, N.M. _NNP , _, school-research _JJ group _NN , _, concluded _VBD that _IN `` _`` outright _JJ cheating _NN by _IN American _JJ educators _NNS '' _'' is _VBZ `` _`` common _JJ . _. '' _'' The _DT group _NN says _VBZ standardized _JJ achievement _NN test _NN scores _NNS are _VBP greatly _RB inflated _VBN because _IN teachers _NNS often _RB `` _`` teach _VBP the _DT test _NN '' _'' as _IN Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP did _VBD , _, although _IN most _JJS are _VBP never _RB caught _VBN . _. Evidence _NN of _IN widespread _JJ cheating _NN has _VBZ surfaced _VBN in _IN several _JJ states _NNS in _IN the _DT last _JJ year _NN or _CC so _RB . _. California _NNP 's _POS education _NN department _NN suspects _VBZ adult _NN responsibility _NN for _IN erasures _NNS at _IN 40 _CD schools _NNS that _WDT changed _VBD wrong _JJ answers _NNS to _TO right _JJ ones _NNS on _IN a _DT statewide _JJ test _NN . _. After _IN numerous _JJ occurrences _NNS of _IN questionable _JJ teacher _NN help _NN to _TO students _NNS , _, Texas _NNP is _VBZ revising _VBG its _PRP$ security _NN practices _NNS . _. And _CC sales _NNS of _IN test-coaching _JJ booklets _NNS for _IN classroom _NN instruction _NN are _VBP booming _VBG . _. These _DT materials _NNS , _, including _VBG Macmillan\ _McGraw-Hill School _NNP Publishing _NNP Co. _NNP 's _POS Scoring _NNP High _NNP and _CC Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS -- _: are _VBP nothing _NN short _JJ of _IN sophisticated _JJ crib _NN sheets _NNS , _, according _VBG to _TO some _DT recent _JJ academic _JJ research _NN . _. By _IN using _VBG them _PRP , _, teachers _NNS -- _: with _IN administrative _JJ blessing _NN -- _: telegraph _VBP to _TO students _NNS beforehand _RB the _DT precise _JJ areas _NNS on _IN which _WDT a _DT test _NN will _MD concentrate _VB , _, and _CC sometimes _RB give _VB away _RB a _DT few _JJ exact _JJ questions _NNS and _CC answers _NNS . _. Use _NN of _IN Scoring _NNP High _NNP is _VBZ widespread _JJ in _IN South _NNP Carolina _NNP and _CC common _JJ in _IN Greenville _NNP County _NNP , _, Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP 's _POS school _NN district _NN . _. Experts _NNS say _VBP there _EX is _VBZ n't _RB another _DT state _NN in _IN the _DT country _NN where _WRB tests _NNS mean _VBP as _RB much _JJ as _IN they _PRP do _VBP in _IN South _NNP Carolina _NNP . _. Under _IN the _DT state _NN 's _POS Education _NNP Improvement _NNP Act _NNP , _, low _JJ test _NN scores _NNS can _MD block _VB students _NNS ' _POS promotions _NNS or _CC force _VB entire _JJ districts _NNS into _IN wrenching _JJ , _, state-supervised _JJ `` _`` interventions _NNS '' _'' that _WDT can _MD mean _VB firings _NNS . _. High _JJ test _NN scores _NNS , _, on _IN the _DT other _JJ hand _NN , _, bring _VB recognition _NN and _CC extra _JJ money _NN -- _: a _IN new _JJ computer _NN lab _NN for _IN a _DT school _NN , _, grants _NNS for _IN special _JJ projects _NNS , _, a _DT bonus _NN for _IN the _DT superintendent _NN . _. And _CC South _NNP Carolina _NNP says _VBZ it _PRP is _VBZ getting _VBG results _NNS . _. Since _IN the _DT reforms _NNS went _VBD in _IN place _NN , _, for _IN example _NN , _, no _DT state _NN has _VBZ posted _VBN a _DT higher _JJR rate _NN of _IN improvement _NN on _IN the _DT Scholastic _NNP Aptitude _NNP Test _NNP than _IN South _NNP Carolina _NNP , _, although _IN the _DT state _NN still _RB posts _VBZ the _DT lowest _JJS average _JJ score _NN of _IN the _DT about _IN 21 _CD states _NNS who _WP use _VBP the _DT SAT _NNP as _IN the _DT primary _JJ college _NN entrance _NN examination _NN . _. Critics _NNS say _VBP South _NNP Carolina _NNP is _VBZ paying _VBG a _DT price _NN by _IN stressing _VBG improved _VBN test _NN scores _NNS so _RB much _RB . _. Friends _NNPS of _IN Education _NNP rates _VBZ South _NNP Carolina _NNP one _CD of _IN the _DT worst _JJS seven _CD states _NNS in _IN its _PRP$ study _NN on _IN academic _JJ cheating _NN . _. Says _VBZ the _DT organization _NN 's _POS founder _NN , _, John _NNP Cannell _NNP , _, prosecuting _VBG Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP is _VBZ `` _`` a _DT way _NN for _IN administrators _NNS to _TO protect _VB themselves _PRP and _CC look _VB like _IN they _PRP take _VBP cheating _NN seriously _RB , _, when _WRB in _IN fact _NN they _PRP do _VBP n't _RB take _VB it _PRP seriously _RB at _IN all _DT . _. '' _'' Paul _NNP Sandifer _NNP , _, director _NN of _IN testing _NN for _IN the _DT South _NNP Carolina _NNP department _NN of _IN education _NN , _, says _VBZ Mr. _NNP Cannell _NNP 's _POS allegations _NNS of _IN cheating _NN `` _`` are _VBP purely _RB without _IN foundation _NN , _, '' _'' and _CC based _VBN on _IN unfair _JJ inferences _NNS . _. Partly _RB because _IN of _IN worries _NNS about _IN potential _JJ abuse _NN , _, however _RB , _, he _PRP says _VBZ the _DT state _NN will _MD begin _VB keeping _VBG closer _JJR track _NN of _IN achievement-test _NN preparation _NN booklets _NNS next _JJ spring _NN . _. South _NNP Carolina _NNP 's _POS reforms _NNS were _VBD designed _VBN for _IN schools _NNS like _IN Greenville _NNP High _NNP School _NNP . _. Standing _VBG on _IN a _DT shaded _JJ hill _NN in _IN a _DT run-down _JJ area _NN of _IN this _DT old _JJ textile _NN city _NN , _, the _DT school _NN has _VBZ educated _VBN many _JJ of _IN South _NNP Carolina _NNP 's _POS best _JJS and _CC brightest _JJS , _, including _VBG the _DT state _NN 's _POS last _JJ two _CD governors _NNS , _, Nobel _NNP Prize _NNP winning _JJ physicist _NN Charles _NNP Townes _NNP and _CC actress _NN Joanne _NNP Woodward _NNP . _. But _CC by _IN the _DT early _JJ 1980s _NN , _, its _PRP$ glory _NN had _VBD faded _VBN like _IN the _DT yellow _JJ bricks _NNS of _IN its _PRP$ broad _JJ facade _NN . _. `` _`` It _PRP was _VBD full _JJ of _IN violence _NN and _CC gangs _NNS and _CC kids _NNS cutting _VBG class _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Linda _NNP Ward _NNP , _, the _DT school _NN 's _POS principal _NN . _. `` _`` Crime _NN was _VBD awful _JJ , _, test _NN scores _NNS were _VBD low _JJ , _, and _CC there _EX was _VBD no _DT enrollment _NN in _IN honors _NNS programs _NNS . _. '' _'' Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP took _VBD over _RB in _IN 1986 _CD , _, becoming _VBG the _DT school _NN 's _POS seventh _JJ principal _NN in _IN 15 _CD years _NNS . _. Her _PRP$ immediate _JJ predecessor _NN suffered _VBD a _DT nervous _JJ breakdown _NN . _. Prior _RB to _TO his _PRP$ term _NN , _, a _DT teacher _NN bled _VBD to _TO death _NN in _IN the _DT halls _NNS , _, stabbed _VBN by _IN a _DT student _NN . _. Academically _RB , _, Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP says _VBZ , _, the _DT school _NN was _VBD having _VBG trouble _NN serving _VBG in _IN harmony _NN its _PRP$ two _CD disparate _JJ , _, and _CC evenly _RB split _JJ , _, student _NN groups _NNS : _: a _DT privileged _JJ white _JJ elite _NN from _IN old _JJ monied _JJ neighborhoods _NNS and _CC blacks _NNS , _, many _JJ of _IN them _PRP poor _JJ , _, from _IN run-down _JJ , _, inner _JJ city _NN neighborhoods _NNS . _. Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP resolved _VBD to _TO clean _VB out _RP `` _`` deadwood _NN '' _'' in _IN the _DT school _NN 's _POS faculty _NN and _CC restore _VB safety _NN , _, and _CC she _PRP also _RB had _VBD some _DT new _JJ factors _NNS working _VBG in _IN her _PRP$ behalf _NN . _. One _CD was _VBD statewide _JJ school _NN reform _NN , _, which _WDT raised _VBD overall _JJ educational _JJ funding _NN and _CC ushered _VBD in _IN a _DT new _JJ public _JJ spirit _NN for _IN school _NN betterment _NN . _. Another _DT was _VBD Nancy _NNP Yeargin _NNP , _, who _WP came _VBD to _TO Greenville _NNP in _IN 1985 _CD , _, full _JJ of _IN the _DT energy _NN and _CC ambitions _NNS that _IN reformers _NNS wanted _VBD to _TO reward _VB . _. `` _`` Being _VBG a _DT teacher _NN just _RB became _VBD my _PRP$ life _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ the _DT 37-year-old _JJ Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP , _, a _DT teacher _NN for _IN 12 _CD years _NNS before _IN her _PRP$ dismissal _NN . _. `` _`` I _PRP loved _VBD the _DT school _NN , _, its _PRP$ history _NN . _. I _PRP even _RB dreamt _VBD about _IN school _NN and _CC new _JJ things _NNS to _TO do _VB with _IN my _PRP$ students _NNS . _. '' _'' While _IN Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP fired _VBD and _CC restructured _VBD staff _NN and _CC struggled _VBD to _TO improve _VB curriculum _NN , _, Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP worked _VBD 14-hour _JJ days _NNS and _CC fast _RB became _VBD a _DT student _NN favorite _JJ . _. In _IN 1986-87 _CD and _CC 1987-88 _CD , _, she _PRP applied _VBD for _IN and _CC won _VBD bonus _NN pay _NN under _IN the _DT reform _NN law _NN . _. Encouraged _JJ by _IN Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP , _, Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP taught _VBD honor _NN students _NNS in _IN the _DT state _NN `` _`` teacher _NN cadet _NN '' _'' program _NN , _, a _DT reform _NN creation _NN designed _VBN to _TO encourage _VB good _JJ students _NNS to _TO consider _VB teaching _NN as _IN a _DT career _NN . _. She _PRP won _VBD grant _NN money _NN for _IN the _DT school _NN , _, advised _VBD cheerleaders _NNS , _, ran _VBD the _DT pep _NN club _NN , _, proposed _VBD and _CC taught _VBD a _DT new _JJ `` _`` Cultural _JJ Literacy _NN '' _'' class _NN in _IN Western _JJ Civilization _NN and _CC was _VBD chosen _VBN by _IN the _DT school _NN PTA _NNP as _IN `` _`` Teacher _NN of _IN the _DT Year _NN . _. '' _'' `` _`` She _PRP was _VBD an _DT inspirational _JJ lady _NN ; _: she _PRP had _VBD it _PRP all _RB together _RB , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Laura _NNP Dobson _NNP , _, a _DT freshman _NN at _IN the _DT University _NNP of _IN South _NNP Carolina _NNP who _WP had _VBD Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP in _IN the _DT teacher-cadet _JJ class _NN last _JJ year _NN . _. She _PRP says _VBZ that _IN because _IN of _IN Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP she _PRP gave _VBD up _RP ambitions _NNS in _IN architecture _NN and _CC is _VBZ studying _VBG to _TO become _VB a _DT teacher _NN . _. Mary _NNP Beth _NNP Marchand _NNP , _, a _DT Greenville _NNP 11th _JJ grader _NN , _, also _RB says _VBZ Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP inspired _VBD her _PRP to _TO go _VB into _IN education _NN . _. `` _`` She _PRP taught _VBD us _PRP more _JJR in _IN Western _JJ Civilization _NN than _IN I _PRP 've _VBP ever _RB learned _VBN in _IN other _JJ classes _NNS , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Kelli _NNP Green _NNP , _, a _DT Greenville _NNP senior _NN . _. In _IN the _DT classroom _NN , _, students _NNS say _VBP , _, Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP distinguished _VBD herself _PRP by _IN varying _VBG teaching _NN approaches _NNS -- _: forcing _JJ kids _NNS to _TO pair _VB up _RB to _TO complete _VB classroom _NN work _NN or _CC using _VBG college-bowl _NN type _NN competitions _NNS . _. On _IN weekends _NNS , _, she _PRP came _VBD to _TO work _VB to _TO prepare _VB study _NN plans _NNS or _CC sometimes _RB , _, even _RB to _TO polish _VB the _DT furniture _NN in _IN her _PRP$ classroom _NN . _. `` _`` She _PRP just _RB never _RB gave _VBD it _PRP up _RP , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Mary _NNP Marchand _NNP , _, Mary _NNP Beth _NNP 's _POS mother _NN . _. `` _`` You _PRP 'd _MD see _VB her _PRP correcting _VBG homework _NN in _IN the _DT stands _NNS at _IN a _DT football _NN game _NN . _. '' _'' Some _DT fellow _JJ teachers _NNS , _, however _RB , _, viewed _VBD Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP as _IN cocky _JJ and _CC too _RB yielding _JJ to _TO students _NNS . _. Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP says _VBZ she _PRP often _RB defended _VBD her _PRP to _TO colleagues _NNS who _WP called _VBD her _PRP a _DT grandstander _NN . _. Pressures _NNS began _VBD to _TO build _VB . _. Friends _NNS told _VBD her _PRP she _PRP was _VBD pushing _VBG too _RB hard _RB . _. Because _IN of _IN deteriorating _VBG hearing _NN , _, she _PRP told _VBD colleagues _NNS she _PRP feared _VBD she _PRP might _MD not _RB be _VB able _JJ to _TO teach _VB much _RB longer _RBR . _. Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP 's _POS extra _JJ work _NN was _VBD also _RB helping _VBG her _PRP earn _VB points _NNS in _IN the _DT state _NN 's _POS incentive-bonus _NN program _NN . _. But _CC the _DT most _RBS important _JJ source _NN of _IN points _NNS was _VBD student _NN improvement _NN on _IN tests _NNS . _. Huge _JJ gains _NNS by _IN her _PRP$ students _NNS in _IN 1987 _CD and _CC 1988 _CD meant _VBD a _DT total _NN of _IN $ _$ 5,000 _CD in _IN bonuses _NNS over _IN two _CD years _NNS -- _: a _JJ meaningful _JJ addition _NN to _TO her _PRP$ annual _JJ salary _NN of _IN $ _$ 23,000 _CD . _. Winning _VBG a _DT bonus _NN for _IN a _DT third _JJ year _NN was _VBD n't _RB that _RB important _JJ to _TO her _PRP , _, Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP insists _VBZ . _. But _CC others _NNS at _IN Greenville _NNP High _NNP say _VB she _PRP was _VBD eager _JJ to _TO win _VB -- _: if _JJ not _RB for _IN money _NN , _, then _RB for _IN pride _NN and _CC recognition _NN . _. Mary _NNP Elizabeth _NNP Ariail _NNP , _, another _DT social-studies _NN teacher _NN , _, says _VBZ she _PRP believed _VBD Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP wanted _VBD to _TO keep _VB her _PRP standing _NN high _RB so _IN she _PRP could _MD get _VB a _DT new _JJ job _NN that _WDT would _MD n't _RB demand _VB good _JJ hearing _NN . _. Indeed _RB , _, Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP was _VBD interested _JJ in _IN a _DT possible _JJ job _NN with _IN the _DT state _NN teacher _NN cadet _NN program _NN . _. Last _JJ March _NNP , _, after _IN attending _VBG a _DT teaching _NN seminar _NN in _IN Washington _NNP , _, Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP says _VBZ she _PRP returned _VBD to _TO Greenville _NNP two _CD days _NNS before _IN annual _JJ testing _NN feeling _VBG that _IN she _PRP had _VBD n't _RB prepared _VBN her _PRP$ low-ability _JJ geography _NN students _NNS adequately _RB . _. When _WRB test _NN booklets _NNS were _VBD passed _VBN out _RB 48 _CD hours _NNS ahead _RB of _IN time _NN , _, she _PRP says _VBZ she _PRP copied _VBD questions _NNS in _IN the _DT social _JJ studies _NNS section _NN and _CC gave _VBD the _DT answers _NNS to _TO students _NNS . _. Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP admits _VBZ she _PRP made _VBD a _DT big _JJ mistake _NN but _CC insists _VBZ her _PRP$ motives _NNS were _VBD correct _JJ . _. `` _`` I _PRP was _VBD trying _VBG to _TO help _VB kids _NNS in _IN an _DT unfair _JJ testing _NN situation _NN , _, '' _'' she _PRP says _VBZ . _. `` _`` Only _RB five _CD of _IN the _DT 40 _CD questions _NNS were _VBD geography _NN questions _NNS . _. The _DT rest _NN were _VBD history _NN , _, sociology _NN , _, finance _NN -- _: subjects _NNS they _PRP never _RB had _VBD . _. '' _'' Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP says _VBZ that _IN she _PRP also _RB wanted _VBD to _TO help _VB lift _VB Greenville _NNP High _NNP School _NNP 's _POS overall _JJ test _NN scores _NNS , _, usually _RB near _IN the _DT bottom _NN of _IN 14 _CD district _NN high _JJ schools _NNS in _IN rankings _NNS carried _VBN annually _RB by _IN local _JJ newspapers _NNS . _. Mostly _RB , _, she _PRP says _VBZ , _, she _PRP wanted _VBD to _TO prevent _VB the _DT damage _NN to _TO self-esteem _NN that _IN her _PRP$ low-ability _JJ students _NNS would _MD suffer _VB from _IN doing _VBG badly _RB on _IN the _DT test _NN . _. `` _`` These _DT kids _NNS broke _VBD my _PRP$ heart _NN , _, '' _'' she _PRP says _VBZ . _. `` _`` A _DT whole _JJ day _NN goes _VBZ by _RB and _CC no _DT one _NN even _RB knows _VBZ they _PRP 're _VBP alive _JJ . _. They _PRP desperately _RB needed _VBD somebody _NN who _WP showed _VBD they _PRP cared _VBD for _IN them _PRP , _, who _WP loved _VBD them _PRP . _. The _DT last _JJ thing _NN they _PRP needed _VBD was _VBD another _DT drag-down _JJ blow _NN . _. '' _'' School _NNP officials _NNS and _CC prosecutors _NNS say _VB Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP is _VBZ lying _VBG . _. They _PRP found _VBD students _NNS in _IN an _DT advanced _JJ class _NN a _DT year _NN earlier _RB who _WP said _VBD she _PRP gave _VBD them _PRP similar _JJ help _NN , _, although _IN because _IN the _DT case _NN was _VBD n't _RB tried _VBN in _IN court _NN , _, this _DT evidence _NN was _VBD never _RB presented _VBN publicly _RB . _. `` _`` That _DT pretty _RB much _RB defeats _VBZ any _DT inkling _NN that _IN she _PRP was _VBD out _RP to _TO help _VB the _DT poor _JJ underprivileged _JJ child _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Joe _NNP Watson _NNP , _, the _DT prosecutor _NN in _IN the _DT case _NN , _, who _WP is _VBZ also _RB president _NN of _IN Greenville _NNP High _NNP School _NNP 's _POS alumni _NNS association _NN . _. Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP concedes _VBZ that _IN she _PRP went _VBD over _RB the _DT questions _NNS in _IN the _DT earlier _JJR class _NN , _, adding _VBG : _: `` _`` I _PRP wanted _VBD to _TO help _VB all _DT '' _'' students _NNS . _. Mr. _NNP Watson _NNP says _VBZ Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP never _RB complained _VBD to _TO school _NN officials _NNS that _IN the _DT standardized _JJ test _NN was _VBD unfair _JJ . _. `` _`` Do _VBP I _PRP have _VB much _JJ sympathy _NN for _IN her _PRP ? _. '' _'' Mr. _NNP Watson _NNP asks _VBZ . _. `` _`` Not _RB really _RB . _. I _PRP believe _VBP in _IN the _DT system _NN . _. I _PRP believe _VBP you _PRP have _VBP to _TO use _VB the _DT system _NN to _TO change _VB it _PRP . _. What _WP she _PRP did _VBD was _VBD like _IN taking _VBG the _DT law _NN into _IN your _PRP$ own _JJ hands _NNS . _. '' _'' Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP says _VBZ that _IN when _WRB the _DT cheating _NN was _VBD discovered _VBN , _, she _PRP wanted _VBD to _TO avoid _VB the _DT morale-damaging _JJ public _JJ disclosure _NN that _IN a _DT trial _NN would _MD bring _VB . _. She _PRP says _VBZ she _PRP offered _VBD Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP a _DT quiet _JJ resignation _NN and _CC thought _VBD she _PRP could _MD help _VB save _VB her _PRP teaching _NN certificate _NN . _. Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP declined _VBD . _. `` _`` She _PRP said _VBD something _NN like _IN ` _`` You _PRP just _RB want _VBP to _TO make _VB it _PRP easy _JJ for _IN the _DT school _NN . _. ' _'' I _PRP was _VBD dumbfounded _JJ , _, '' _'' Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP recalls _VBZ . _. `` _`` It _PRP was _VBD like _IN someone _NN had _VBD turned _VBN a _DT knife _NN in _IN me _PRP . _. '' _'' To _TO the _DT astonishment _NN and _CC dismay _NN of _IN her _PRP$ superiors _NNS and _CC legal _JJ authorities _NNS -- _: and _JJ perhaps _RB as _IN a _DT measure _NN of _IN the _DT unpopularity _NN of _IN standardized _JJ tests _NNS -- _: Mrs _NNP . _. Yeargin _NNP won _VBD widespread _JJ local _JJ support _NN . _. The _DT school-board _NN hearing _NN at _IN which _WDT she _PRP was _VBD dismissed _VBN was _VBD crowded _VBN with _IN students _NNS , _, teachers _NNS and _CC parents _NNS who _WP came _VBD to _TO testify _VB on _IN her _PRP$ behalf _NN . _. Supportive _JJ callers _NNS decried _VBD unfair _JJ testing _NN , _, not _RB Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP , _, on _IN a _DT local _JJ radio _NN talk _NN show _NN on _IN which _WDT she _PRP appeared _VBD . _. The _DT show _NN did _VBD n't _RB give _VB the _DT particulars _NNS of _IN Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP 's _POS offense _NN , _, saying _VBG only _RB that _IN she _PRP helped _VBD students _NNS do _VB better _RBR on _IN the _DT test _NN . _. `` _`` The _DT message _NN to _TO the _DT board _NN of _IN education _NN out _IN of _IN all _PDT this _DT is _VBZ we _PRP 've _VBP got _VBN to _TO take _VB a _DT serious _JJ look _NN at _IN how _WRB we _PRP 're _VBP doing _VBG our _PRP$ curriculum _NN and _CC our _PRP$ testing _NN policies _NNS in _IN this _DT state _NN , _, '' _'' said _VBD the _DT talk-show _NN host _NN . _. Editorials _NNS in _IN the _DT Greenville _NNP newspaper _NN allowed _VBD that _IN Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP was _VBD wrong _JJ , _, but _CC also _RB said _VBD the _DT case _NN showed _VBD how _WRB testing _NN was _VBD being _VBG overused _VBN . _. The _DT radio _NN show _NN `` _`` enraged _VBD us _PRP , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP . _. Partly _RB because _IN of _IN the _DT show _NN , _, Mr. _NNP Watson _NNP says _VBZ , _, the _DT district _NN decided _VBD not _RB to _TO recommend _VB Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP for _IN a _DT first-time _JJ offenders _NNS program _NN that _WDT could _MD have _VB expunged _VBN the _DT charges _NNS and _CC the _DT conviction _NN from _IN her _PRP$ record _NN . _. And _CC legal _JJ authorities _NNS cranked _VBD up _RP an _DT investigation _NN worthy _JJ of _IN a _DT murder _NN case _NN . _. Over _IN 50 _CD witnesses _NNS , _, mostly _RB students _NNS , _, were _VBD interviewed _VBN . _. At _IN Greenville _NNP High _NNP School _NNP , _, meanwhile _RB , _, some _DT students _NNS -- _: especially _RB on _IN the _DT cheerleading _NN squad _NN -- _: were _VBD crushed _JJ . _. `` _`` It _PRP 's _VBZ hard _JJ to _TO explain _VB to _TO a _DT 17-year-old _JJ why _WRB someone _NN they _PRP like _VBP had _VBD to _TO go _VB , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP . _. Soon _RB , _, T-shirts _NNS appeared _VBD in _IN the _DT corridors _NNS that _WDT carried _VBD the _DT school _NN 's _POS familiar _JJ red-and-white _JJ GHS _NNP logo _NN on _IN the _DT front _NN . _. On _IN the _DT back _NN , _, the _DT shirts _NNS read _VBD , _, `` _`` We _PRP have _VBP all _PDT the _DT answers _NNS . _. '' _'' Many _JJ colleagues _NNS are _VBP angry _JJ at _IN Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP . _. `` _`` She _PRP did _VBD a _DT lot _NN of _IN harm _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ Cathryn _NNP Rice _NNP , _, who _WP had _VBD discovered _VBN the _DT crib _NN notes _NNS . _. `` _`` We _PRP work _VBP damn _RB hard _RB at _IN what _WP we _PRP do _VBP for _IN damn _RB little _JJ pay _NN , _, and _CC what _WP she _PRP did _VBD cast _VBN unfair _JJ aspersions _NNS on _IN all _DT of _IN us _PRP . _. '' _'' But _CC several _JJ teachers _NNS also _RB say _VBP the _DT incident _NN casts _VBZ doubt _NN on _IN the _DT wisdom _NN of _IN evaluating _VBG teachers _NNS or _CC schools _NNS by _IN using _VBG standardized _JJ test _NN scores _NNS . _. Says _VBZ Gayle _NNP Key _NNP , _, a _DT mathematics _NN teacher _NN , _, `` _`` The _DT incentive _NN pay _NN thing _NN has _VBZ opened _VBN up _RP a _DT can _NN of _IN worms _NNS . _. There _EX may _MD be _VB others _NNS doing _VBG what _WP she _PRP did _VBD . _. '' _'' Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP says _VBZ she _PRP pleaded _VBD guilty _JJ because _IN she _PRP realized _VBD it _PRP would _MD no _RB longer _RBR be _VB possible _JJ to _TO win _VB reinstatement _NN , _, and _CC because _IN she _PRP was _VBD afraid _JJ of _IN further _JJ charges _NNS . _. Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP , _, for _IN one _CD , _, was _VBD relieved _JJ . _. Despite _IN the _DT strong _JJ evidence _NN against _IN Mrs. _NNP Yeargin _NNP , _, popular _JJ sentiment _NN was _VBD so _RB strong _JJ in _IN her _PRP$ favor _NN , _, Mrs. _NNP Ward _NNP says _VBZ , _, that _IN `` _`` I _PRP 'm _VBP afraid _JJ a _DT jury _NN would _MD n't _RB have _VB convicted _VBN her _PRP . _. '' _''Since chalk _NN first _RB touched _VBD slate _NN , _, schoolchildren _NN have _VBP wanted _VBN to _TO know _VB : _: What _WP 's _VBZ on _IN the _DT test _NN ? _. These _DT days _NNS , _, students _NNS can _MD often _RB find _VB the _DT answer _NN in _IN test-coaching _JJ workbooks _NNS and _CC worksheets _NNS their _PRP$ teachers _NNS give _VBP them _PRP in _IN the _DT weeks _NNS prior _RB to _TO taking _VBG standardized _JJ achievement _NN tests _NNS . _. The _DT mathematics _NN section _NN of _IN the _DT widely _RB used _JJ California _NNP Achievement _NNP Test _NNP asks _VBZ fifth _JJ graders _NNS : _: `` _`` What _WP is _VBZ another _DT name _NN for _IN the _DT Roman _JJ numeral _NN IX _CD ? _. '' _'' It _PRP also _RB asks _VBZ them _PRP to _TO add _VB two-sevenths _NNS and _CC three-sevenths _NNS . _. Worksheets _NNS in _IN a _DT test-practice _JJ kit _NN called _VBN Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS , _, sold _VBN to _TO schools _NNS across _IN the _DT country _NN by _IN Macmillan\ _McGraw-Hill School _NNP Publishing _NNP Co. _NNP , _, contain _VBP the _DT same _JJ questions _NNS . _. In _IN many _JJ other _JJ instances _NNS , _, there _EX is _VBZ almost _RB no _DT difference _NN between _IN the _DT real _JJ test _NN and _CC Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS . _. What _WP 's _VBZ more _JJR , _, the _DT test _NN and _CC Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS are _VBP both _DT produced _VBN by _IN the _DT same _JJ company _NN , _, Macmillan\ _McGraw-Hill , _, a _DT joint _JJ venture _NN of _IN McGraw-Hill _NNP Inc. _NNP and _CC Macmillan _NNP 's _POS parent _NN , _, Britain _NNP 's _POS Maxwell _NNP Communication _NNP Corp _NNP . _. Close _JJ parallels _NNS between _IN tests _NNS and _CC practice _NN tests _NNS are _VBP common _JJ , _, some _DT educators _NNS and _CC researchers _NNS say _VBP . _. Test-preparation _JJ booklets _NNS , _, software _NN and _CC worksheets _NNS are _VBP a _DT booming _VBG publishing _VBG subindustry _NN . _. But _CC some _DT practice _NN products _NNS are _VBP so _RB similar _JJ to _TO the _DT tests _NNS themselves _PRP that _IN critics _NNS say _VBP they _PRP represent _VBP a _DT form _NN of _IN school-sponsored _JJ cheating _NN . _. `` _`` If _IN I _PRP took _VBD { _( these _DT preparation _NN booklets _NNS } _) into _IN my _PRP$ classroom _NN , _, I _PRP 'd _MD have _VB a _DT hard _JJ time _NN justifying _VBG to _TO my _PRP$ students _NNS and _CC parents _NNS that _IN it _PRP was _VBD n't _RB cheating _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ John _NNP Kaminski _NNP , _, a _DT Traverse _NNP City _NNP , _, Mich. _NNP , _, teacher _NN who _WP has _VBZ studied _VBN test _NN coaching _NN . _. He _PRP and _CC other _JJ critics _NNS say _VBP such _JJ coaching _NN aids _NNS can _MD defeat _VB the _DT purpose _NN of _IN standardized _JJ tests _NNS , _, which _WDT is _VBZ to _TO gauge _VB learning _NN progress _NN . _. `` _`` It _PRP 's _VBZ as _IN if _IN France _NNP decided _VBD to _TO give _VB only _JJ French _JJ history _NN questions _NNS to _TO students _NNS in _IN a _DT European _JJ history _NN class _NN , _, and _CC when _WRB everybody _NN aces _VBZ the _DT test _NN , _, they _PRP say _VBP their _PRP$ kids _NNS are _VBP good _JJ in _IN European _JJ history _NN , _, '' _'' says _VBZ John _NNP Cannell _NNP , _, an _DT Albuquerque _NNP , _, N.M. _NNP , _, psychiatrist _NN and _CC founder _NN of _IN an _DT educational _JJ research _NN organization _NN , _, Friends _NNPS for _IN Education _NNP , _, which _WDT has _VBZ studied _VBN standardized _JJ testing _NN . _. Standardized _JJ achievement _NN tests _NNS are _VBP given _VBN about _IN 10 _CD million _CD times _NNS a _DT year _NN across _IN the _DT country _NN to _TO students _NNS generally _RB from _IN kindergarten _NN through _IN eighth _JJ grade _NN . _. The _DT most _RBS widely _RB used _JJ of _IN these _DT tests _NNS are _VBP Macmillan\ _McGraw 's _POS CAT _NNP and _CC Comprehensive _NNP Test _NN of _IN Basic _JJ Skills _NNS ; _: the _DT Iowa _NNP Test _NN of _IN Basic _JJ Skills _NNS , _, by _IN Houghton _NNP Mifflin _NNP Co. _NNP ; _: and _CC Harcourt _NNP Brace _NNP Jovanovich _NNP Inc. _NNP 's _POS Metropolitan _NNP Achievement _NNP Test _NNP and _CC Stanford _NNP Achievement _NNP Test _NNP . _. Sales _NNS figures _NNS of _IN the _DT test-prep _JJ materials _NNS are _VBP n't _RB known _JJ , _, but _CC their _PRP$ reach _NN into _IN schools _NNS is _VBZ significant _JJ . _. In _IN Arizona _NNP , _, California _NNP , _, Florida _NNP , _, Louisiana _NNP , _, Maryland _NNP , _, New _NNP Jersey _NNP , _, South _NNP Carolina _NNP and _CC Texas _NNP , _, educators _NNS say _VBP they _PRP are _VBP common _JJ classroom _NN tools _NNS . _. Macmillan\ _McGraw says _VBZ `` _`` well _RB over _IN 10 _CD million _CD '' _'' of _IN its _PRP$ Scoring _NNP High _NNP test-preparation _JJ books _NNS have _VBP been _VBN sold _VBN since _IN their _PRP$ introduction _NN 10 _CD years _NNS ago _RB , _, with _IN most _JJS sales _NNS in _IN the _DT last _JJ five _CD years _NNS . _. About _IN 20,000 _CD sets _NNS of _IN Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS teachers _NNS ' _POS binders _NNS have _VBP also _RB been _VBN sold _VBN in _IN the _DT past _JJ four _CD years _NNS . _. The _DT materials _NNS in _IN each _DT set _NN reach _VBP about _IN 90 _CD students _NNS . _. Scoring _NNP High _NNP and _CC Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS are _VBP the _DT best-selling _JJS preparation _NN tests _NNS . _. Michael _NNP Kean _NNP , _, director _NN of _IN marketing _NN for _IN CTB _NNP Macmillan\ _McGraw , _, the _DT Macmillan\ _McGraw division _NN that _WDT publishes _VBZ Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS , _, says _VBZ it _PRP is _VBZ n't _RB aimed _VBN at _IN improving _VBG test _NN scores _NNS . _. He _PRP also _RB asserted _VBD that _IN exact _JJ questions _NNS were _VBD n't _RB replicated _VBN . _. When _WRB referred _VBN to _TO the _DT questions _NNS that _WDT matched _VBN , _, he _PRP said _VBD it _PRP was _VBD coincidental _JJ . _. Mr. _NNP Kaminski _NNP , _, the _DT schoolteacher _NN , _, and _CC William _NNP Mehrens _NNP , _, a _DT Michigan _NNP State _NNP University _NNP education _NN professor _NN , _, concluded _VBD in _IN a _DT study _NN last _JJ June _NNP that _IN CAT _NNP test _NN versions _NNS of _IN Scoring _NNP High _NNP and _CC Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS should _MD n't _RB be _VB used _VBN in _IN the _DT classroom _NN because _IN of _IN their _PRP$ similarity _NN to _TO the _DT actual _JJ test _NN . _. They _PRP devised _VBD a _DT 69-point _JJ scale _NN -- _: awarding _VBG one _CD point _NN for _IN each _DT subskill _NN measured _VBN on _IN the _DT CAT _NNP test _NN -- _: to _TO rate _VB the _DT closeness _NN of _IN test _NN preparatives _NNS to _TO the _DT fifth-grade _NN CAT _NNP . _. Because _IN many _JJ of _IN these _DT subskills _NNS -- _: the _JJ symmetry _NN of _IN geometrical _JJ figures _NNS , _, metric _JJ measurement _NN of _IN volume _NN , _, or _CC pie _NN and _CC bar _NN graphs _NNS , _, for _IN example _NN -- _: are _NN only _RB a _DT small _JJ part _NN of _IN the _DT total _JJ fifth-grade _NN curriculum _NN , _, Mr. _NNP Kaminski _NNP says _VBZ , _, the _DT preparation _NN kits _NNS would _MD n't _RB replicate _VB too _RB many _JJ , _, if _IN their _PRP$ real _JJ intent _NN was _VBD general _JJ instruction _NN or _CC even _RB general _JJ familiarization _NN with _IN test _NN procedures _NNS . _. But _CC Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS matched _VBD on _IN 66.5 _CD of _IN 69 _CD subskills _NNS . _. Scoring _NNP High _NNP matched _VBD on _IN 64.5 _CD . _. In _IN CAT _NNP sections _NNS where _WRB students _NNS ' _POS knowledge _NN of _IN two-letter _JJ consonant _JJ sounds _NNS is _VBZ tested _VBN , _, the _DT authors _NNS noted _VBD that _IN Scoring _NNP High _NNP concentrated _VBD on _IN the _DT same _JJ sounds _NNS that _IN the _DT test _NN does _VBZ -- _: to _IN the _DT exclusion _NN of _IN other _JJ sounds _NNS that _IN fifth _JJ graders _NNS should _MD know _VB . _. Learning _NNP Materials _NNPS for _IN the _DT fifth-grade _NN contains _VBZ at _IN least _JJS a _DT dozen _NN examples _NNS of _IN exact _JJ matches _NNS or _CC close _JJ parallels _NNS to _TO test _NN items _NNS . _. Rick _NNP Brownell _NNP , _, senior _JJ editor _NN of _IN Scoring _NNP High _NNP , _, says _VBZ that _IN Messrs. _NNPS Kaminski _NNP and _CC Mehrens _NNP are _VBP ignoring _VBG `` _`` the _DT need _NN students _NNS have _VBP for _IN becoming _VBG familiar _JJ with _IN tests _NNS and _CC testing _NN format _NN . _. '' _'' He _PRP said _VBD authors _NNS of _IN Scoring _NNP High _NNP `` _`` scrupulously _RB avoid _VBP '' _'' replicating _VBG exact _JJ questions _NNS , _, but _CC he _PRP does _VBZ n't _RB deny _VB that _IN some _DT items _NNS are _VBP similar _JJ . _. When _WRB Scoring _NNP High _NNP first _RB came _VBD out _RB in _IN 1979 _CD , _, it _PRP was _VBD a _DT publication _NN of _IN Random _NNP House _NNP . _. McGraw-Hill _NNP was _VBD outraged _JJ . _. In _IN a _DT 1985 _CD advisory _NN to _TO educators _NNS , _, McGraw-Hill _NNP said _VBD Scoring _NNP High _NNP should _MD n't _RB be _VB used _VBN because _IN it _PRP represented _VBD a _DT `` _`` parallel _JJ form _NN '' _'' of _IN the _DT CAT _NNP and _CC CTBS _NNP tests _NNS . _. But _CC in _IN 1988 _CD , _, McGraw-Hill _NNP purchased _VBD the _DT Random _NNP House _NNP unit _NN that _WDT publishes _VBZ Scoring _NNP High _NNP , _, which _WDT later _RBR became _VBD part _NN of _IN Macmillan\ _McGraw . _. Messrs. _NNPS Brownell _NNP and _CC Kean _NNP say _VBP they _PRP are _VBP unaware _JJ of _IN any _DT efforts _NNS by _IN McGraw-Hill _NNP to _TO modify _VB or _CC discontinue _VB Scoring _NNP High _NNP . _. Alleghany _NNP Corp. _NNP said _VBD it _PRP completed _VBD the _DT acquisition _NN of _IN Sacramento _NNP Savings _NNPS & _CC Loan _NNP Association _NNP from _IN the _DT H.N. _NNP & _CC Frances _NNP C. _NNP Berger _NNP Foundation _NNP for _IN $ _$ 150 _CD million _CD . _. The _DT Sacramento-based _JJ S&L _NN , _, which _WDT has _VBZ 44 _CD branch _NN offices _NNS in _IN north _JJ central _JJ California _NNP , _, had _VBD assets _NNS of _IN $ _$ 2.4 _CD billion _CD at _IN the _DT end _NN of _IN September _NNP . _. New _NNP York-based _JJ Alleghany _NNP is _VBZ an _DT insurance _NN and _CC financial _JJ services _NNS concern _NN . _. The _DT purchase _NN price _NN includes _VBZ two _CD ancillary _JJ companies _NNS . _. The _DT Department _NNP of _IN Health _NNP and _CC Human _NNP Services _NNPS plans _VBZ to _TO extend _VB its _PRP$ moratorium _NN on _IN federal _JJ funding _NN of _IN research _NN involving _VBG fetal-tissue _JJ transplants _NNS . _. Medical _JJ researchers _NNS believe _VBP the _DT transplantation _NN of _IN small _JJ amounts _NNS of _IN fetal _JJ tissue _NN into _IN humans _NNS could _MD help _VB treat _VB juvenile _JJ diabetes _NN and _CC such _JJ degenerative _JJ diseases _NNS as _IN Alzheimer _NNP 's _POS , _, Parkinson _NNP 's _POS and _CC Huntington _NNP 's _POS . _. But _CC anti-abortionists _NNS oppose _VBP such _JJ research _NN because _IN they _PRP worry _VBP that _IN the _DT development _NN of _IN therapies _NNS using _VBG fetal-tissue _JJ transplants _NNS could _MD lead _VB to _TO an _DT increase _NN in _IN abortions _NNS . _. James _NNP Mason _NNP , _, assistant _NN secretary _NN for _IN health _NN , _, said _VBD the _DT ban _NN on _IN federal _JJ funding _NN of _IN fetal-tissue _JJ transplant _NN research _NN `` _`` should _MD be _VB continued _VBN indefinitely _RB . _. '' _'' He _PRP said _VBD the _DT ban _NN wo _MD