( S ( NP-SBJ ( ADJP ( JJ West ) ( JJ German ) ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ special ) ( NN goal ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG holding ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN hope ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP East ) ( NNP Germany ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN fledgling ) ( NN reform ) ( NN movement ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

West German officials also have the special goal of holding out hope for East Germany 's fledgling reform movement


( SINV ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN change ) ) ( VP ( VBG taking ) ( NP-CLR ( NN place ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Soviet ) ( NNP Union ) ) ( NP ( NNP Poland ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Hungary ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN aroused ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN hope ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( JJ German ) ( NNS states ) ) ) ( SBAR-2 ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS reforms ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN undertaken ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP East ) ( NNP Germany ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS relations ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ( JJ German ) ( NNS states ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB too ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( RBR better ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Foreign ) ( NNP Minister ) ( NNP Hans-Dietrich ) ( NNP Genscher ) ) )

The change taking place in the Soviet Union Poland and Hungary has aroused new hope in both German states that reforms will be undertaken in East Germany and that relations between the two German states too will get better said Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher


( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Addressing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN conference ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( NNP New ) ( JJ York-based ) ) ( NNP Institute ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP East-West ) ( NNP Security ) ( NNP Studies ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Frankfurt ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Genscher ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN History ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB judge ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS opportunities ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP emerge ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS reforms ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Addressing a conference of the New York-based Institute for East-West Security Studies in Frankfurt yesterday Mr. Genscher said History will judge us by whether we have taken the opportunities that emerge from these reforms


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ ultimate ) ( NN aim ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ Western ) ( NN support ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP East ) ( NN bloc ) ( NNS reforms ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB create ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( JJ equitable ) ( CC and ) ( JJ stable ) ) ( JJ peaceful ) ( NN order ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Atlantic ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS Urals ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The ultimate aim of Western support for East bloc reforms he said is to create an equitable and stable peaceful order in Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Genscher ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NAC ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNP Secretary ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Commerce ) ) ) ) ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP A. ) ( NNP Mosbacher ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ separate ) ( NNS speeches ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN conference ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD appealed ) ( PP-LOC ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ( JJ Western ) ( NNS contributions ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ economic ) ( NNS reforms ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN business ) ( NN development ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hungary ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Poland ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Genscher and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Robert A. Mosbacher in separate speeches at the conference appealed for more Western contributions to economic reforms and business development in Hungary and Poland


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bonn ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Washington ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ leading ) ( NNS supporters ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Poland ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN request ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( JJ stand-by ) ( NN credit ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP International ) ( NNP Monetary ) ( NNP Fund ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Bonn and Washington are leading supporters of Poland 's request for a 1 billion stand-by credit from the International Monetary Fund


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP want ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ bold ) ( NNS programs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN market ) ( NN development ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ political ) ( NN freedom ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hungary ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Poland ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB succeed ) ) ) ) ) )

We want the bold programs of market development and political freedom in Hungary and in Poland to succeed


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN prepared ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB support ) ( NP ( DT those ) ( NNS changes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mosbacher ) ) )

We are prepared to support those changes said Mr. Mosbacher


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS curbs ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS exports ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ sensitive ) ( NN technology ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP East ) ( NN bloc ) ( NNS countries ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB remain ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN place ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ) ) )

U.S. curbs on the exports of sensitive technology to East bloc countries will remain in place however


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Meanwhile ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNP House ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Representatives ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( VP ( VBD approved ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 837.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN aid ) ( NN package ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Poland ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Hungary ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RBR more ) ( IN than ) ) ( VP ( VBZ doubles ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN amount ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP President ) ( NNP Bush ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN requested ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Meanwhile the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday approved an 837.5 million aid package for Poland and Hungary that more than doubles the amount President Bush had requested


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN package ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN brought ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP House ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( NP-ADV ( QP ( RB just ) ( CD 15 ) ) ( NNS days ) ) ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN introduced ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG indicating ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Congress ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN eagerness ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB reward ) ( NP ( NNP Poland ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Hungary ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS moves ) ) ( PP ( IN toward ) ( NP ( NP ( NN democracy ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ freemarket ) ( JJ economic ) ( NNS reforms ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The package was brought to the House just 15 days after it was introduced indicating Congress 's eagerness to reward Poland and Hungary for their moves toward democracy and freemarket economic reforms


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN legislation ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN approved ) ( ADVP-MNR ( CD 345-47 ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBN sent ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Senate ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ establishes ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NN enterprise ) ( NNS funds ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN governed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJ independent ) ( JJ nonprofit ) ( NNS boards ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-49 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NNS loans ) ( CC and ) ( NNS investments ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN business ) ( NNS ventures ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hungary ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Poland ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The legislation approved 345-47 and sent to the Senate establishes two enterprise funds to be governed by independent nonprofit boards which will make loans and investments in new business ventures in Hungary and Poland


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( JJ Polish ) ( NN fund ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN seeded ) ( PP-CLR-2 ( IN with ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 160 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=1 ( DT the ) ( JJ Hungarian ) ( NN fund ) ) ( PP-CLR=2 ( IN with ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 40 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

The Polish fund would be seeded with 160 million the Hungarian fund with 40 million


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN group ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 24 ) ( VBN industrialized ) ( NNS countries ) ) ) ( UCP ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBN coordinated ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NNP European ) ( NNP Community ) ( NNP Commission ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN promised ) ( NP ( NNP Poland ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Hungary ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN trade ) ( NN advice ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN line ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN credit ) ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ equivalent ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.11 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP European ) ( NNP Investment ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP EC ) ) ( VP ( VBZ plans ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 222 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ direct ) ( NN aid ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition a group of 24 industrialized countries including the U.S. and Japan and coordinated by the European Community Commission has promised Poland and Hungary trade advice and a line of credit equivalent to 1.11 billion through the European Investment Bank while the EC plans 222 million in direct aid


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Chancellor ) ( NNP Helmut ) ( NNP Kohl ) ) ( VP ( VBZ travels ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Poland ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Nov. ) ( CD 9 ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN promise ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD three ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NNP West ) ( NNP German ) ( NNS marks ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.6 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN credit ) ( NNS guarantees ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ industrial ) ( NNS projects ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

When Chancellor Helmut Kohl travels to Poland Nov. 9 he is expected to take with him a promise of three billion West German marks 1.6 billion in new credit guarantees for industrial projects


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN week ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Bonn ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB reschedule ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.5 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NNS marks ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ Polish ) ( NN debt ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD came ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ due ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last week Bonn agreed to reschedule 2.5 billion marks in Polish debt that came due last year


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD one ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NN mark ) ) ( NN credit ) ) ( VP ( VBG dating ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 1974 ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN written ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition a one billion mark credit dating from 1974 is to be written off


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Poland ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN plan ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB switch ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ free-market ) ( NN economy ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( CD 1991 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN hampered ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ foreign ) ( NN debt ) ( NN load ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 39.2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Poland 's plan to switch to a free-market economy by 1991 is hampered by a foreign debt load of 39.2 billion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP West ) ( NNP Germany ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN increased ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN credit ) ( VBZ guarantees ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ Hungary ) ) ) ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 500 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS marks ) ) ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.5 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NNS marks ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( VBG emerging ) ( JJ democratic ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( VBZ rushes ) ( PP-DIR ( IN through ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ own ) ( JJ economic ) ( NNS reforms ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ broad ) ( NN privatization ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ state-owned ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN tax ) ( NNS incentives ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ industrial ) ( NN investment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

West Germany also has increased its credit guarantees to Hungary by 500 million marks to 1.5 billion marks as the emerging democratic state rushes through its own economic reforms including a broad privatization of state-owned industry and tax incentives for industrial investment


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT An ) ( JJ additional ) ( QP ( CD 500 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS marks ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN credit-backing ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN promised ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( JJ West ) ( JJ German ) ) ( NN state ) ( NNS governments ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Bavaria ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Baden-Wuerttemberg ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

An additional 500 million marks in credit-backing was promised by the West German state governments of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Deutsche ) ( NNP Bank ) ( NNP AG ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ( VP ( VBD arranged ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( QP ( CD three ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NN mark ) ( NN credit ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Soviet ) ( NNP Union ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VBG moving ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB become ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( ADJP ( JJ West ) ( JJ German ) ) ( NN bank ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB set ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ independent ) ( NN business ) ( NNS offices ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hungary ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Poland ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP shift ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ free-market ) ( NNS economies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Deutsche Bank AG which last year arranged a three billion mark credit for the Soviet Union is now moving to become the first West German bank to set up independent business offices in Hungary and Poland as they shift to free-market economies


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN maxim ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Frankfurt ) ( NN banking ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ holds ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( SBAR-DIR-TPC-2 ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB wherever ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Deutsche ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ( VP ( VBZ goes ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ other ) ( ADJP ( JJ West ) ( JJ German ) ) ( NNS banks ) ) ( VP ( VBP follow ) ) ) ) ) )

A maxim of Frankfurt banking holds that wherever Deutsche Bank goes other West German banks follow


( S ( ADVP ( RB Indeed ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( CD four ) ) ( JJ other ) ( ADJP ( JJ West ) ( JJ German ) ) ( NNS banks ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN believed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( NNS inquiries ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Indeed at least four other West German banks are believed to be making inquiries


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ net ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD nine ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ first ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP-CLR ( NNP Sept. ) ( CD 30 ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG citing ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS factors ) ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( RB as ) ( VBN varied ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN hurricane ) ( NN damage ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN advance ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS graphics ) ( NN technology ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ strengthening ) ( NN dollar ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Western Digital Corp. reported a net loss of 2.7 million or nine cents a share for its first quarter ended Sept. 30 citing factors as varied as hurricane damage an advance in graphics technology and the strengthening dollar


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( NN period ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 12.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 45 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 247 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In the year-ago period the company earned 12.9 million or 45 cents a share on sales of 247 million


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Sales ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ just-ended ) ( NN period ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 225 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN computer ) ( NNS parts ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Sales for the just-ended period fell to about 225 million the maker of computer parts said


( S ( ADVP ( RB Nonetheless ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Chairman ) ( NNP Roger ) ( NNP W. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ profitable ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ current ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Nonetheless Chairman Roger W. Johnson said he expects the company to be profitable in the current quarter


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN positioned ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RP through ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG noting ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN backlog ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB up ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ previous ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We are positioned to come through he said noting that the company 's backlog was up from the previous quarter


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ second ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 12.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 44 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 258.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In its second quarter last year Western Digital earned 12.7 million or 44 cents a share on sales of 258.4 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NP ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN plant ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Puerto ) ( NNP Rico ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN affected ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Hurricane ) ( NNP Hugo ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG losing ) ( NP ( NP ( CD three ) ( NNS days ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN production ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN storm ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD wrecked ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ much ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Caribbean ) ( NN island ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN infrastructure ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Johnson said Western Digital 's plant in Puerto Rico was affected by Hurricane Hugo losing three days ' production because of the storm which wrecked much of the Caribbean island 's infrastructure


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN Although ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN plant ) ) ( NP ( PRP itself ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBD damaged ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS millions ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS dollars ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ first-quarter ) ( NN revenue ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN lost ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Although the plant itself was n't damaged Mr. Johnson said millions of dollars in first-quarter revenue were lost


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN revenue ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN regained ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ current ) ( NN period ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD added ) ) )

The revenue will be regained in the current period he added


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( DT no ) ( NNS plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB initiate ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ common ) ( NN stock ) ( NN dividend ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG explaining ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( DT the ) ( NN board ) ) ( VP ( VBZ continues ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB believe ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS shareholders ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RBS best ) ) ( VBN served ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG reinvesting ) ( NP ( JJ excess ) ( NN cash ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

There are no plans to initiate a common stock dividend Mr. Johnson said explaining that the board continues to believe shareholders are best served by reinvesting excess cash


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ first-quarter ) ( NN loss ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB heavily ) ) ( VBD reflected ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ rapid ) ( NN change ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS graphics ) ) ( NN technology ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD left ) ( NP ( NN reseller ) ( NNS channels ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( RB too ) ( JJ many ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ old ) ( NN computer ) ( NNS graphics ) ( NNS boards ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB too ) ( JJ few ) ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS monitors ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ compatible ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS graphics ) ( NNS boards ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Johnson said the first-quarter loss also heavily reflected a rapid change in graphics technology that left reseller channels with too many of the old computer graphics boards and too few new monitors compatible with the new graphics boards


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS monitors ) ) ) ) )

Western Digital does n't make the monitors


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT An ) ( JJ accelerating ) ( NN move ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( JJ personal ) ( NN computer ) ( NNS manufacturers ) ( POS ' ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB include ) ( NP ( VBN advanced ) ( NNS graphics ) ( NNS capabilities ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN as ) ( NP ( JJ standard ) ( NN equipment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RBR further ) ) ( VP ( VBD dampened ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR reseller ) ( NNS purchases ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN equipment ) ) ) ) ) )

An accelerating move by personal computer manufacturers ' to include advanced graphics capabilities as standard equipment further dampened reseller purchases of Western Digital 's equipment


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ other ) ( NNS areas ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NN storage ) ( CC and ) ( NNS microcomputers ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB very ) ( JJ good ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

The other areas of the business storage and microcomputers were very good Mr. Johnson said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN reacted ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB swiftly ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN movement ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ video ) ( NNS graphics ) ( NN array ) ( PRN ( NNP VGA ) ) ( NNS graphics ) ( NN technology ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ old ) ( JJ enhanced ) ( NNS graphics ) ( NN adapter ) ( PRN ( NP ( NP ( NNP EGA ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJR lower ) ( NN resolution ) ( NN standard ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NN technology ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBG leading ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( JJR newer ) ( NNS units ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He said Western Digital has reacted swiftly to the movement to video graphics array VGA graphics technology from the old enhanced graphics adapter EGA which has a lower resolution standard technology and now is one of the leading producers of these newer units


( S-2 ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ Other ) ( NNS makers ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ video ) ( NN controller ) ( NN equipment ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN caught ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ EGA-VGA ) ( NN shift ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB respond ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB much ) ( RBR more ) ( RB quickly ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Other makers of video controller equipment also were caught in the EGA-VGA shift he said but we were able to respond much more quickly


( S-1 ( ADVP ( RB Still ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ our ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB grossly ) ( VBN undervalued ) ) ) )

Still Mr. Johnson said our stock is grossly undervalued


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN cut ) ( NP ( NN operating ) ( NNS expenses ) ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 10 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN over ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ last ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS quarters ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN while ) ( S ( VP ( VBG maintaining ) ( NP ( NN research ) ( CC and ) ( NN development ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 8 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 9 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He said the company has cut operating expenses by about 10 % over the last few quarters while maintaining research and development at about 8 % to 9 % of sales


( S ( PP ( IN As ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN reorganization ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN divided ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN business ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS segments ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN storage ) ( NNS products ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS controllers ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN disk ) ( NNS drives ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR microcomputer ) ( NNS products ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP include ) ( NP ( NNS graphics ) ( NNS communications ) ( CC and ) ( JJ peripheral ) ( NN control ) ( NNS chips ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As part of its reorganization this week Western Digital has divided its business into two segments storage products including controllers and disk drives and microcomputer products which include graphics communications and peripheral control chips


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS Graphics ) ( NNS communications ) ( CC and ) ( JJ peripheral ) ( NN control ) ( NNS chips ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN combined ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB increasingly ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( JJ multiple ) ( NNS functions ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBN governed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT a ) ( JJ single ) ( NN chip ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Graphics communications and peripheral control chips were combined because increasingly multiple functions are being governed by a single chip


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Storage ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ includes ) ( NP ( NP ( NN computer ) ( NNS controllers ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ 3.5-inch ) ( NN disk ) ( NNS drives ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ represents ) ( NP ( NP ( RB nearly ) ( NNS two-thirds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) )

Storage which includes computer controllers and 3.5-inch disk drives represents nearly two-thirds of the company 's business


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Disk ) ( NNS drives ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP allow ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN computer ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB access ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN memory ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD generated ) ( NP ( ADJP ( NP-ADV ( CD 38 ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJR more ) ) ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ recent ) ) ( NN period ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fiscal ) ( JJ first ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Disk drives which allow a computer to access its memory generated 38 % more revenue in the most recent period compared with the fiscal first quarter a year earlier


( S-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NN Computer ) ( NNS parts ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VP ( VBG getting ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB ever ) ( JJR smaller ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN shrinking ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN propelled ) ( NP ( NNS laptops ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( NN position ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fastest-growing ) ( NN segment ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN computer ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Computer parts are getting ever smaller Mr. Johnson said a shrinking that has propelled laptops into position as the fastest-growing segment of the computer business


( S-2 ( SBAR-ADV ( IN As ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( ADJP ( ADJP ( JJR smaller ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ powerful ) ) ) ( NNS computers ) ) ( VP ( VBP continue ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN focus ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG strengthening ) ( NP ( NP ( NN development ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN laptop ) ( NNS parts ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As smaller and more powerful computers continue to be the focus of the industry he said Western Digital is strengthening development of laptop parts


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Next ) ( NN year ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ) ( VP ( VBZ plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB consolidate ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 11 ) ( NNS buildings ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Irvine ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS buildings ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ( NN city ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NN headquarters ) ) ( CC and ) ( PRN ( ADVP-LOC ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN block ) ) ( RB away ) ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ modern ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 100 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN silicon ) ( NN wafer ) ( NN fabrication ) ( NN plant ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Next year Western Digital plans to consolidate its operations from 11 buildings in Irvine into two buildings in the same city a new headquarters and a block away a modern 100 million silicon wafer fabrication plant


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN plan ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB help ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( VBG existing ) ( NN joint ) ( NN manufacturing ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP AT&T ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The plan will help the company in its existing joint manufacturing agreement with AT&T


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( IN About ) ( NN half ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-LOC-PRD ( JJ overseas ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ( NN proportion ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ) ) ) ) ) )

About half of Western Digital 's business is overseas and Mr. Johnson expects that proportion to continue


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB dissolve ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ many ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN trade ) ( NNS barriers ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN within ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1992 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ creates ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ significant ) ( NNS opportunities ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( ADVP ( RB particularly ) ) ( IN since ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ) ( ADVP ( RB already ) ) ( VP ( VBZ manufactures ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB there ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Plans to dissolve many of the trade barriers within Europe in 1992 creates significant opportunities for the company he said particularly since Western Digital already manufactures there


( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Capitalizing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN presence ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Western ) ( NNP Digital ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG launching ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN effort ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB develop ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ embryonic ) ( JJR reseller ) ( NN market ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Capitalizing on that presence Western Digital is launching a major effort to develop the embryonic reseller market in Europe


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Amoco ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ third-quarter ) ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( VP ( VBD plunged ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 39 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 336 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 65 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN gasoline ) ( NN refining ) ( CC and ) ( NN marketing ) ( NNS profits ) ) ( VP ( VBD lagged ) ( ADVP ( RB substantially ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN behind ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN record ) ( NN level ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Amoco Corp. said third-quarter net income plunged 39 % to 336 million or 65 cents a share as gasoline refining and marketing profits lagged substantially behind last year 's record level


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN charge ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 80 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN related ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( VBN projected ) ( JJ environmental ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN refining ) ( CC and ) ( NN marketing ) ( NNS operations ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RBR further ) ) ( VP ( VBD depressed ) ( NP ( NNS results ) ) ) )

A charge of 80 million related to projected environmental costs in its refining and marketing operations further depressed results


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Amoco ) ) ( VP ( VBD completed ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ environmental ) ( NN analysis ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT no ) ( JJ single ) ( JJ clean-up ) ( NN project ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ responsible ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A spokesman said Amoco completed an environmental analysis last quarter but that no single clean-up project was responsible


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 1988 ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ Chicago-based ) ( NN oil ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 552 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.07 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) )

In the 1988 third quarter the Chicago-based oil company earned 552 million or 1.07 a share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Revenue ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 12 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 6.6 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 5.91 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) )

Revenue in the latest quarter rose 12 % to 6.6 billion from 5.91 billion


( S ( ADVP ( RB Aside ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ special ) ( NN charge ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Amoco ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( PP-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN line ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Wall ) ( NNP Street ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Aside from the special charge Amoco 's results were in line with Wall Street estimates


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBD ended ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 48.375 ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 25 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ( JJ composite ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ) )

The company 's stock ended at 48.375 up 25 cents in New York Stock Exchange composite trading


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Amoco ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( RB first ) ( JJ major ) ( NN oil ) ( NN company ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS results ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Amoco is the first major oil company to report third-quarter results


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS others ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB show ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ similar ) ( NN pattern ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Analysts expect others to show a similar pattern


( S ( ADVP ( RB Generally ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NN overproduction ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN gasoline ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NN crude ) ( NN oil ) ( NNS prices ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD pressured ) ( NP ( NN profitability ) ) ) )

Generally in the quarter overproduction of gasoline and higher crude oil prices pressured profitability


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN industry ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN chemical ) ( NNS profits ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ excess ) ( NN capacity ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN depressed ) ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The industry 's chemical profits also declined because excess capacity has depressed prices


( S ( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NN Gasoline ) ( NNS margins ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB rebound ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT some ) ( NN industry ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VB say ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP believe ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ chemical ) ( NNS margins ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB worsen ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Gasoline margins may rebound this quarter some industry officials say but they believe chemical margins could worsen


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP American ) ( NNP Petrofina ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ Dallas-based ) ( VBN integrated ) ( NN oil ) ( NN company ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( NN half ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

American Petrofina Inc. a Dallas-based integrated oil company yesterday said its third-quarter earnings declined by more than half


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Fina ) ) ( VP ( VBD blamed ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NN chemical ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( NP ( VBN reduced ) ( NN gasoline ) ( NNS margins ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN refinery ) ( NN maintenance ) ( NNS shutdowns ) ) ) ) )

Fina blamed lower chemical prices reduced gasoline margins and refinery maintenance shutdowns


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( VP ( VBD dropped ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 15.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 98 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 35.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 2.66 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It said net income dropped to 15.1 million or 98 cents a share from 35.2 million or 2.66 a share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Sales ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 2.2 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 711.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 696.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

Sales rose 2.2 % to 711.9 million from 696.1 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Amoco ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN refining ) ( CC and ) ( NN marketing ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 134 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 319 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

Amoco 's refining and marketing profit in the quarter fell to 134 million from 319 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Chemical ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( JJ one-third ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 120 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( X-DIR ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ robust ) ( NNS levels ) ) ) ) )

Chemical earnings declined by one-third to 120 million last year 's robust levels


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Amoco ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ domestic ) ( NN oil ) ( CC and ) ( JJ natural ) ( NN gas ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( VP ( VBD recorded ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 104 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-1 ( ADVP ( RB primarily ) ) ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN strength ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NN crude ) ( NN oil ) ( NNS prices ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Chairman ) ( NNP Richard ) ( NNP M. ) ( NNP Morrow ) ) ) ) ) )

Amoco 's domestic oil and natural gas operations recorded a profit of 104 million in the quarter compared with a loss of 5 million primarily on the strength of higher crude oil prices said Chairman Richard M. Morrow


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Amoco ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB sharply ) ) ( VP ( VBD boosted ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ natural-gas ) ( NN output ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS properties ) ) ( VP ( VBN acquired ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP Tenneco ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Amoco also sharply boosted natural-gas output part of it from properties acquired from Tenneco Inc. last year


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ foreign ) ( NN exploration ) ( CC and ) ( NN production ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB sharply ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 12 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 95 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

But foreign exploration and production earnings fell sharply to 12 million from 95 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJR Higher ) ( NN oil ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ enough ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB offset ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( RB roughly ) ( CD 20 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN charge ) ) ( VP ( VBN related ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 10 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN reduction ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Amoco ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ Canadian ) ( NN work ) ( NN force ) ) ) ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( NP ( VBN increased ) ( NN exploration ) ( NNS expenses ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Higher oil prices were n't enough to offset a roughly 20 million charge related to a 10 % reduction in Amoco 's Canadian work force as well as increased exploration expenses


( S ( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Amoco ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.29 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.69 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ unusual ) ( NNS items ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN excluded ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS operations ) ) ( VP ( VBD produced ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB essentially ) ( JJ flat ) ) ( NNS results ) ) ) ) )

For the nine months Amoco said that net income fell to 1.29 billion from 1.69 billion but if unusual items are excluded operations produced essentially flat results


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 12 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 19.93 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 17.73 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) )

Revenue rose 12 % to 19.93 billion from 17.73 billion


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NNS retailers ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Christmas ) ) ( RB not ) ( NP ( NNP Halloween ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ promises ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS spookiest ) ( NN season ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For retailers Christmas not Halloween promises to be this year 's spookiest season


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Many ) ( NNS retailers ) ) ( VP ( VBP fear ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN price ) ( NN war ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB erupt ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ cash-strapped ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNP Campeau ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP slash ) ( NP ( NNS tags ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB spur ) ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Many retailers fear a price war will erupt if cash-strapped companies such as Campeau Corp. slash tags to spur sales


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNS Concerns ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN stock ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS doubts ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN economy ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( ADJP ( JJ general ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( VBG rising ) ( NN competition ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NN catalog ) ( NNS companies ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBP haunt ) ( NP ( NN store ) ( NNS operators ) ) ) )

Concerns about the stock market doubts about the economy in general and rising competition from catalog companies also haunt store operators


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Profits ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Christmas ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( PP-PRD ( IN under ) ( NP ( NN attack ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT every ) ( NN retailer ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ asserts ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Norman ) ( NNP Abramson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN chief ) ( VBG operating ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Clothestime ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ off-price ) ( NN chain ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Profits at Christmas could be under attack for every retailer asserts Norman Abramson president and chief operating officer of Clothestime Inc. an off-price chain


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( RB Even ) ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( DT any ) ( JJ widespread ) ( NN discounting ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN outlook ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN industry ) ( NNS profits ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ good ) ) ) )

Even if there is n't any widespread discounting the outlook for industry profits is n't good


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Management ) ( NNP Horizons ) ) ( VP ( VBZ forecasts ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 1.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN profit ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ non-auto ) ( NNS retailers ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS drops ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD averaged ) ( NP ( CD 4.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ( CC and ) ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Management Horizons forecasts a 1.4 % profit decline for non-auto retailers this year after annual drops that averaged 4.5 % in 1988 and 1987


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ last ) ( CD two ) ( CC and ) ( DT a ) ( JJ half ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN retailing ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ mild ) ( NN recession ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Carl ) ( NNP Steidtmann ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( NN economist ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Columbus ) ( NNP Ohio ) ) ( VBG consulting ) ( NN firm ) ) ) ) ) )

For the last two and a half years retailing has been in a mild recession says Carl Steidtmann chief economist at the Columbus Ohio consulting firm


( S ( S ( NP-TMP ( DT This ) ( NN year ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ many ) ( NNS stores ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG entering ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Christmas ) ( NN season ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN turmoil ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bonwit ) ( NNP Teller ) ( CC and ) ( NNP B. ) ( NNP Altman ) ( NN parent ) ( NNP L.J. ) ( NNP Hooker ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG operating ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Chapter ) ( CD 11 ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ federal ) ( NNP Bankruptcy ) ( NNP Code ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP B.A.T ) ( NNP Industries ) ( NNP PLC ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ healthy ) ( NNP Saks ) ( NNP Fifth ) ( NNP Avenue ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Marshall ) ( NNP Field ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS chains ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN auction ) ( NN block ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Campeau ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NX ( NNP Bloomingdale ) ( POS 's ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN block ) ) ) ) ) ) )

This year many stores are entering the Christmas season in turmoil Bonwit Teller and B. Altman parent L.J. Hooker Corp. is operating under Chapter 11 of the federal Bankruptcy Code B.A.T Industries PLC 's healthy Saks Fifth Avenue and Marshall Field 's chains are on the auction block Campeau 's Bloomingdale 's is also on the block


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Industry ) ( NNS observers ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ wide ) ( NN divergence ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN performance ) ) ) ) ) )

Industry observers expect a wide divergence in performance


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNS Stores ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN state ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN confusion ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ likely ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fare ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB poorly ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB lose ) ( NP ( NNS customers ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ stable ) ( NNS chains ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Limited ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NNP May ) ( NNP Department ) ( NNP Stores ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Dillard ) ( NNP Department ) ( NNP Stores ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB well ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Stores in a state of confusion are likely to fare poorly and to lose customers to stable chains such as Limited Inc. May Department Stores Co. and Dillard Department Stores Inc. which should do well


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ-2 ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( ADJP ( RB very ) ( JJ clear ) ) ( NNS winners ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB very ) ( JJ clear ) ) ( NNS losers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Cynthia ) ( NNP Turk ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Touche ) ( NNP Ross ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ( JJ retail ) ( NN consultant ) ) ) )

There are going to be very clear winners and very clear losers says Cynthia Turk a Touche Ross & Co. retail consultant


( SINV ( VP ( VBZ Says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Steidtmann ) ) ( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP 'm ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ bi-polar ) ( NNP Christmas ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Says Mr. Steidtmann I 'm looking for a bi-polar Christmas


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Economists ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ general ) ( NN merchandise ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB rise ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 4.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 6 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ year-ago ) ( NNS figures ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Economists expect general merchandise sales in the fourth quarter to rise 4.5 % to 6 % from year-ago figures


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Steidtmann ) ) ( VP ( VBZ predicts ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ healthy ) ( NNS stores ) ) ( VP ( VBG hawking ) ( NP ( RB mostly ) ( NN apparel ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB ring ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS gains ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( RB as ) ( JJ much ) ( IN as ) ( CD 25 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 30 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Mr. Steidtmann predicts that healthy stores hawking mostly apparel could ring up gains of as much as 25 % to 30 %


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( VBN Troubled ) ( NNS chains ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( VP ( VB drop ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( RB as ) ( RB much ) ( IN as ) ( CD 8 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ believes ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS managers ) ) ( VP ( VBN distracted ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNS fears ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN future ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP allow ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS stores ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sloppy ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Troubled chains could see their sales drop as much as 8 % he believes as managers distracted by fears about the future allow their stores to get sloppy


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ Thin ) ( NN merchandise ) ( NNS selections ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( VBN troubled ) ) ( NNS chains ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB hurt ) ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Thin merchandise selections at the most troubled chains are also expected to hurt sales


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN Catalog ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ likely ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pose ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJR bigger ) ( NN threat ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( NNS stores ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB particularly ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP December ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Catalog companies are likely to pose a bigger threat to all stores this year particularly in December


( S ( NP-SBJ ( QP ( JJR More ) ( IN than ) ( CD 200 ) ) ( NN catalog ) ( NN outfits ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG promoting ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ low-cost ) ( NNP Federal ) ( NNP Express ) ( NN service ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ guarantees ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ pre-Christmas ) ( NN delivery ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS orders ) ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT a ) ( JJ certain ) ( NN date ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

More than 200 catalog outfits are promoting a low-cost Federal Express service that guarantees pre-Christmas delivery of orders made by a certain date


( SINV ( S-TPC-3 ( ADVP ( RB Traditionally ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS consumers ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN concerned ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG ordering ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP December ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB believe ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NNP Christmas ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Adam ) ( NNP Strum ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Wine ) ( NNP Enthusiast ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ sells ) ( NP ( NN wine ) ( NNS cellars ) ( CC and ) ( NNS accessories ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN mail ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Traditionally consumers were concerned about ordering after the first of December because they did n't believe they would get it by Christmas says Adam Strum chairman of the Wine Enthusiast Inc. which sells wine cellars and accessories through the mail


( S-1 ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Using ) ( NP ( NNP Federal ) ( NNP Express ) ( NN delivery ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Strum ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP December ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( PRP$ our ) ( JJS biggest ) ( NN month ) ) ) )

Using Federal Express delivery last year Mr. Strum says December was our biggest month


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( RB Even ) ( NNP Sears ) ( NNP Roebuck ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG getting ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN act ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG offering ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN time ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Federal ) ( NNP Express ) ) ( VP ( VB deliver ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS toys ) ) ( VP ( VBN ordered ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Dec. ) ( CD 20 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Wish ) ( NNP Book ) ( NN catalog ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Even Sears Roebuck & Co. is getting into the act offering for the first time to have Federal Express deliver toys ordered by Dec. 20 from its Wish Book catalog


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP K ) ( NNP mart ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( NNP Chairman ) ( NNP Joseph ) ( NNP E. ) ( NNP Antonini ) ) ( VP ( VBD summed ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN outlook ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Christmas ) ( NN season ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( ADJP ( RB not ) ( JJ troublesome ) ) ) ) )

K mart Corp. Chairman Joseph E. Antonini summed up his outlook for the Christmas season as not troublesome


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBG predicting ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN blockbuster ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ optimistic ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD three ) ( NNS months ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN employment ) ) ( VP ( VBZ remains ) ( ADJP-PRD-2 ( JJ strong ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=1 ( NN inflation ) ) ( ADJP-PRD=2 ( JJ low ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He 's not predicting a blockbuster but he is more optimistic than three months ago because employment remains strong and inflation low


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Other ) ( NNS retailers ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBG preparing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ ho-hum ) ( NN holiday ) ) ) ) ) )

Other retailers are also preparing for a ho-hum holiday


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Philip ) ( NNP M. ) ( NNP Hawley ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Carter ) ( NNP Hawley ) ( NNP Hale ) ( NNP Stores ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NN department ) ( NNS stores ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ open ) ( NP-TMP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( DT a ) ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB rise ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ modest ) ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 5 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS totals ) ) ) ) ( PP ( DT both ) ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN company ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN general ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Philip M. Hawley chairman of Carter Hawley Hale Stores Inc. expects sales at department stores open at least a year to rise a modest 3 % to 5 % over last year 's totals both for his company and the industry in general


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP 'm ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ runaway ) ( NNP Christmas ) ) ) ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( DT all ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

I 'm not looking for a runaway Christmas at all he says


( S-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ real ) ( NN boom ) ( NN holiday ) ( NN season ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NNS eyes ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Woolworth ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( NNP Chairman ) ( NNP Harold ) ( NNP E. ) ( NNP Sells ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN bust ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB either ) ) ) ) ) )

It is n't a real boom holiday season in our eyes says Woolworth Corp. Chairman Harold E. Sells but it is n't going to be a bust either


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Sells ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ fourth-quarter ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN company ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( PP ( IN besides ) ( NP ( NNP Woolworth ) ( NNS stores ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ includes ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Kinney ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Foot ) ( NNP Locker ) ( NN shoe ) ( NNS stores ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NN specialty ) ( NNS chains ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB rise ) ( PP-MNR ( ADVP ( RB pretty ) ( RB much ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN line ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ year-to-date ) ( NNS increases ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( IN between ) ( CD 8 ) ( NN % ) ( CC and ) ( CD 9 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Sells expects fourth-quarter sales at his company which besides Woolworth stores includes Kinney and Foot Locker shoe stores and other specialty chains to rise pretty much in line with its year-to-date increases of between 8 % and 9 %


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( VP ( VBZ includes ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS results ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NNS stores ) ) ) ) ) )

The estimate includes the results of new stores


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN consumer ) ( NN poll ) ) ( VP ( VBN conducted ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ early ) ( NNP September ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP Leo ) ( NNP J. ) ( NNP Shapiro ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Associates ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN market ) ( NN researcher ) ) ( VP ( VBN based ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Chicago ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBZ suggests ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ modest ) ( NN holiday ) ) ) )

A consumer poll conducted in early September by Leo J. Shapiro & Associates a market researcher based in Chicago also suggests a modest holiday


( S ( PP-TPC-1 ( IN Of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 450 ) ( NN survey ) ( NNS respondents ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD 35 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB spend ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR less ) ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( NP ( NNP Christmas ) ( NNS gifts ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP-2 ( IN than ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD 28 ) ( NN % ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB spend ) ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD 37 ) ( NN % ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NN gift ) ( NN budget ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB stay ) ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Of the 450 survey respondents 35 % said they expect to spend less buying Christmas gifts this year than last year while 28 % said they expect to spend more and 37 % said their gift budget would stay the same


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB almost ) ( JJ identical ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Shapiro ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP September ) ( CD 1988 ) ( NNS numbers ) ) ) ) ) )

The results are almost identical to Shapiro 's September 1988 numbers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Retailers ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN boost ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN calendar ) ) ) ) ) )

Retailers could get a boost this year from the calendar


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Christmas ) ) ( VP ( VBZ falls ) ( PP-TMP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Monday ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG creating ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ big ) ( JJ last-minute ) ( NN weekend ) ( NN opportunity ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS stores ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Christmas falls on a Monday creating a big last-minute weekend opportunity for stores


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJS Most ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VP ( VB stay ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ open ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( JJ late ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Saturday ) ( NN night ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB open ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS doors ) ) ( ADVP ( RB again ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Sunday ) ) ) ) ) )

Most will stay open late Saturday night and open their doors again Sunday


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ many ) ( NNS consumers ) ) ( ADVP ( RB probably ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB use ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ extra ) ( NN time ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB put ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN purchasing ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN until ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ last ) ( NN minute ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But many consumers probably will use the extra time to put off some purchasing until the last minute


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( SBAR-NOM-SBJ ( WHNP-1 ( WP What ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB hear ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP get ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NNP December ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS sales ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sluggish ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ predicts ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Woolworth ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Sells ) ) )

What you 'll hear as we get into December is that sales are sluggish predicts Woolworth 's Mr. Sells


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN week ) ) ( VP ( VBG ending ) ( NP-TMP ( DT the ) ( JJ 24th ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB save ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ entire ) ( NN month ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN everyone ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The week ending the 24th is going to save the entire month for everyone


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP MARK ) ( NNP RESOURCES ) ( NNP INC. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NP ( NNP Calgary ) ) ( NP ( NNP Alberta ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 75 ) ( CD million ) ) ( JJ Canadian ) ( NNS dollars ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 63.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( ADJP ( CD 8 ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJ convertible ) ( NNS debentures ) ) ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN group ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS securities ) ( NNS dealers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

MARK RESOURCES INC. Calgary Alberta said it agreed to sell 75 million Canadian dollars 63.9 million of 8 % convertible debentures to a group of securities dealers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mark ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN oil ) ( CC and ) ( NN gas ) ( NN concern ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ 15-year ) ( NNS debentures ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ convertible ) ( PP-TMP ( IN before ) ( NP ( NN maturity ) ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 12.50 ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT each ) ( NNP Mark ) ( JJ common ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN redeemed ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN option ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( NNS conditions ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NNP Nov. ) ( CD 30 ) ( CD 1992 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mark an oil and gas concern said the 15-year debentures are convertible before maturity at 12.50 for each Mark common share and can be redeemed at the company 's option under certain conditions after Nov. 30 1992


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Canadian ) ( NN steel ) ( NN ingot ) ( NN production ) ) ( VP ( VBD totaled ) ( NP ( CD 276,334 ) ( JJ metric ) ( NNS tons ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN week ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 14 ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB down ) ( NP ( CD 5.3 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBG preceding ) ( NN week ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN total ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 291,890 ) ( NNS tons ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Statistics ) ( NNP Canada ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN agency ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Canadian steel ingot production totaled 276,334 metric tons in the week ended Oct. 14 down 5.3 % from the preceding week 's total of 291,890 tons Statistics Canada a federal agency said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN week ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN total ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB down ) ( NP ( CD 7.1 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 297,446 ) ( NNS tons ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ) ) )

The week 's total was down 7.1 % from 297,446 tons a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( JJ metric ) ( NN ton ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ equal ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 2,204.62 ) ( NNS pounds ) ) ) ) ) )

A metric ton is equal to 2,204.62 pounds


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ cumulative ) ( NN total ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1989 ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( CD 12,283,217 ) ( NNS tons ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 7.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 11,429,243 ) ( NNS tons ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ) ) )

The cumulative total in 1989 was 12,283,217 tons up 7.5 % from 11,429,243 tons a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS Investors ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Shearson ) ( NNP Lehman ) ( NNP Hutton ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN stock ) ( NN commentary ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN left ) ( PP-MNR ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ blank ) ( NNS expressions ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Investors who received Shearson Lehman Hutton Inc. 's latest stock commentary may be left with blank expressions


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ first ) ( CD 10 ) ( NNS pages ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ 76-page ) ( NNP Weekly ) ( NNP Portfolio ) ( NNP Perspective ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB completely ) ( JJ blank ) ) ( PP ( IN except ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN page ) ( NNS numbers ) ) ) ) ) )

The first 10 pages of the 76-page Weekly Portfolio Perspective are completely blank except for the page numbers


( S ( ADVP ( RB Rather ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( VBG printing ) ( NNS devils ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Shearson ) ) ( VP ( VBZ puts ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( DT the ) ( NN blame ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ unpredictable ) ( NN stock ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) )

Rather than printing devils Shearson puts all the blame on the unpredictable stock market


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN plunge ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Shearson ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN market ) ( NN commentary ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB instantly ) ) ( PP-PRD ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN date ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The plunge made Shearson 's market commentary instantly out of date


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN fact ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NNP Friday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ 190.58-point ) ( NN tumble ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN stock ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD caught ) ( NP ( JJ many ) ( NNS people ) ( CC and ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN by ) ( NP ( NN surprise ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( RB not ) ( DT the ) ( JJS least ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN brokerage ) ( NNS firms ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Shearson ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP print ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ weekly ) ( NN market ) ( NNS commentaries ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNS Fridays ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN dissemination ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT the ) ( JJ following ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In fact last Friday 's 190.58-point tumble in the stock market caught many people and businesses by surprise not the least of them brokerage firms such as Shearson that print their weekly market commentaries on Fridays for dissemination the following week


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Shearson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ 62%-owned ) ( NN unit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP American ) ( NNP Express ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ enough ) ( NN time ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB update ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN market ) ( NN commentary ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( RB so ) ( S-3 ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBD decided ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB kill ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NN strategy ) ( NNS pieces ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Jack ) ( NNP Rivkin ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN head ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Shearson ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN research ) ( NN department ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Shearson a 62%-owned unit of American Express Co. did n't have enough time to update its market commentary so We decided to kill our strategy pieces says Jack Rivkin the head of Shearson 's research department


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ first ) ( VBD thought ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT some ) ( NNS investors ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( SBAR-PRD ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( JJ red-faced ) ( NNP Shearson ) ) ( VP ( MD must ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB wildly ) ( JJ bullish ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNS stocks ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ original ) ( NN commentary ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( SBAR-PRP-PRD ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB why ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD purged ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS pages ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The first thought some investors had was that a red-faced Shearson must have been wildly bullish on stocks in its original commentary and that 's why it purged its pages


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Investors ) ) ( VP ( VBD recalled ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Shearson ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBG advising ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBG exhibiting ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( DT the ) ( NNS signs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ further ) ( NN advance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Investors recalled that Shearson last week had been advising that the market is still exhibiting all the signs of a further advance


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Many ) ( JJ other ) ( NN brokerage ) ( NNS firms ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB similarly ) ( JJ bullish ) ) ( NNS views ) ) ) )

Many other brokerage firms had similarly bullish views


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Rivkin ) ) ( VP ( VBZ insists ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( CD 10 ) ( NNS pages ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN pulled ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB too ) ( JJ bullish ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Mr. Rivkin insists that the 10 pages were n't pulled because they were too bullish


( S-1 ( ADVP ( RB Instead ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ cautious ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN message ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD wanted ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB deliver ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Monday ) ) ) ) ) )

Instead he says they were cautious and that was n't the message we wanted to deliver on Monday


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN As ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Rivkin ) ) ( VP ( VBZ explains ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBG raising ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN caution ) ( NNS flags ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( NN rate ) ( NNS rises ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS concerns ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP LBO ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As Mr. Rivkin explains it We were raising some caution flags about rate rises in Europe and concerns about the LBO market


( S ( CC And ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( JJ late ) ( NNP Friday ) ( NN afternoon ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB actually ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ close ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD decided ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ wrong ) ( NN tone ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB take ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And by late Friday afternoon actually after the close we decided that was the wrong tone to take


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN With ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB down ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD wanted ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB tell ) ( NP-2 ( NNS people ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB put ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS orders ) ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN opening ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

With the market down we wanted to tell people to put their orders in on the opening


( S ( PP-TMP ( DT Both ) ( IN before ) ( CC and ) ( IN after ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Friday ) ( NN plunge ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Shearson ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN maintained ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBN recommended ) ( NN portfolio ) ( NN weighting ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( CD 65 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ( NP ( ADJP ( CD 20 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NNS bonds ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( ADJP ( CD 15 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN cash ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Both before and after the Friday plunge Shearson has maintained a recommended portfolio weighting of 65 % stocks 20 % bonds and 15 % cash


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Democracy ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ cruel ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS politicians ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Sometimes ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ forces ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP them ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NNS choices ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Democracy can be cruel to politicians Sometimes it forces them to make choices


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Supreme ) ( NNP Court ) ) ( VP ( VBD opened ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN door ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN subject ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN abortion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS politicians ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG squinting ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN glare ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ democratic ) ( NN choice ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Now that the Supreme Court opened the door on the subject of abortion politicians are squinting under the glare of democratic choice


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ Their ) ( NN discomfort ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ healthy ) ( NN sign ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rest ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Their discomfort is a healthy sign for the rest of us


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Republicans ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VP ( VBG squinting ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RBS most ) ( RB painfully ) ) ( PP-TMP ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ) ( IN at ) ( ADJP ( JJS first ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB only ) ( JJ fair ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN shielded ) ( NP-ADV ( DT the ) ( JJS most ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Republicans are squinting most painfully at least at first which is only fair because they 've been shielded the most


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB So ) ( RB long ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN abortion ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN question ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN litigation ) ) ( RB not ) ( NP ( NN legislation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Republicans ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB find ) ( NP ( JJ political ) ( NN security ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN absolutism ) ) ) ) ) )

So long as abortion was a question for litigation not legislation Republicans could find political security in absolutism


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB attract ) ( NP ( JJ one-issue ) ( NNS voters ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG adopting ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ right-to-life ) ( NN movement ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS strongest ) ( NN position ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( RB even ) ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ pro-choice ) ( NNS Republicans ) ) ( VP ( VBD knew ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( VBN mattered ) ( NP-ADV ( JJ little ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN issue ) ) ( VP ( VBN monopolized ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NN court ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They could attract one-issue voters by adopting the right-to-life movement 's strongest position even as pro-choice Republicans knew this mattered little on an issue monopolized by the court


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ matters ) ) )

Now it matters


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Much ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Washington ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD thought ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD detected ) ( NP ( NNP George ) ( NNP Bush ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ characteristic ) ( NN waffle ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN abortion ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT the ) ( NN past ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Much of Washington thought it detected George Bush in a characteristic waffle on abortion the past week


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( RB Only ) ( DT a ) ( NN month ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD 'd ) ( VP ( VBN warned ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Congress ) ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pass ) ( NP ( NN legislation ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pay ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS abortions ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS cases ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN rape ) ( CC or ) ( NN incest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Only a month ago he 'd warned Congress not to pass legislation to pay for abortions in cases of rape or incest


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NNP Friday ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Congress ) ) ( VP ( VBD passed ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( ADVP ( RB anyway ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD hinted ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN compromise ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last Friday after Congress passed it anyway he hinted he was looking for compromise


( SQ ( VBD Was ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN man ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB once ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( JJ pro-choice ) ) ( PRN ( CC but ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RBR later ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ pro-life ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG converting ) ( ADVP ( RB again ) ) ) )

Was the man who once was pro-choice but later pro-life converting again


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN fact ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bush ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN dance ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NN wiggle ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( NN waffle ) ) ) ) ) )

In fact Mr. Bush 's dance was more wiggle than waffle


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Pro-life ) ( NNS advocates ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP White ) ( NNP House ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VBD wavered ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN veto ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Pro-life advocates say the White House never wavered over the veto


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Christopher ) ( NNP Smith ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NP ( NNP R. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP N.J. ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ pro-life ) ( NN leader ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP House ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD suggested ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN compromise ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN adapted ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ restrictive ) ( NN language ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NN rape ) ( CC and ) ( NN incest ) ( NNS exceptions ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS states ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Christopher Smith R. N.J. a pro-life leader in the House suggested a compromise that would have adapted restrictive language from rape and incest exceptions in the states


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT The ) ( NNP White ) ( NNP House ) ) ( S-ADV ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ eager ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN fight ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ happy ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB try ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRP-PRD ( WHADVP ( WRB why ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP George ) ( NNP Bush ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN flexibility ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The White House never eager for a fight was happy to try which is why George Bush said he was looking for flexibility last week


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS Democrats ) ) ( VP ( VBD refused ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB budge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ pro-life ) ( NNS Republicans ) ) ( VP ( VBD met ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP White ) ( NNP House ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NAC ( NNP Chief ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Staff ) ) ) ) ( NNP John ) ( NNP Sununu ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Monday ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bush ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB quickly ) ) ( VP ( VBD signaled ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN veto ) ) ) ) )

When Democrats refused to budge pro-life Republicans met at the White House with Chief of Staff John Sununu on Monday and Mr. Bush quickly signaled a veto


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Amid ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS charges ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN timidity ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( UCP ( NP ( NNP Panama ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADVP ( RB elsewhere ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN president ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( IN about ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB offend ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ energetic ) ) ( NN constituency ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Amid charges of timidity on Panama and elsewhere the president was n't about to offend his most energetic constituency


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP GOP ) ( NNS doubters ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Congress ) ) ) ) )

The GOP doubters were in Congress


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP House ) ( NN vote ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( CD 41 ) ( NNS Republicans ) ) ( VP ( VBD defected ) ) )

In last week 's House vote 41 Republicans defected


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN After ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN vote ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Connecticut ) ( NNP Rep. ) ( NNP Nancy ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD rounded ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB nearly ) ( IN as ) ( JJ many ) ) ( NNS signatures ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN letter ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bush ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG urging ) ( NP-1 ( PRP him ) ) ( S ( RB not ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB veto ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

After the vote Connecticut Rep. Nancy Johnson rounded up nearly as many signatures on a letter to Mr. Bush urging him not to veto


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( RB Even ) ( JJ such ) ( DT a ) ( JJ pro-life ) ( NN stalwart ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sen. ) ( NNP Orrin ) ( NNP Hatch ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NP ( NNP R. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Utah ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN counseled ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN kind ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN compromise ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Even such a pro-life stalwart as Sen. Orrin Hatch R. Utah had counseled some kind of compromise


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Senate ) ) ( VP ( VBD passed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ( NN bill ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ veto-proof ) ( NN majority ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 67 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Senate passed the same bill yesterday with a veto-proof majority of 67


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( VBG manuevering ) ) ( VP ( VBZ illustrates ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( VBG emerging ) ( JJ Republican ) ( NN donnybrook ) ) ( VP ( VBD pacified ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( CD 1980s ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The manuevering illustrates an emerging Republican donnybrook pacified since the early 1980s


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN At ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 1988 ) ( NNP GOP ) ( NN convention ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN abortion ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB barely ) ) ( VP ( VBN discussed ) ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( DT all ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS delegates ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB evenly ) ( VBN divided ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN question ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ anti-abortion ) ( JJ constitutional ) ( NN amendment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

At the 1988 GOP convention abortion was barely discussed at all though delegates were evenly divided on the question of an anti-abortion constitutional amendment


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ms. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ passionate ) ( NN statement ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN platform ) ( NN committee ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG talking ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP herself ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ms. Johnson made a passionate statement to the platform committee but she was talking to herself


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT many ) ( NNS Republicans ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG listening ) ) ) )

Now many Republicans are listening


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN frightened ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-1 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP see ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Jersey ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADVP ( RB especially ) ) ( NP ( NNP Virginia ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NP ( JJ pro-life ) ( NNP GOP ) ( NNS candidates ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN governor ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBD pummeled ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN abortion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They 're frightened by what they see in New Jersey and especially Virginia where pro-life GOP candidates for governor are being pummeled on abortion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Eddie ) ( NNP Mahe ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ Republican ) ( NN consultant ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ( NNP GOP ) ( NNS candidates ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN avoided ) ( NP ( NN trouble ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN framed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN issue ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB first ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Eddie Mahe a Republican consultant says the two GOP candidates could have avoided trouble if they had framed the issue first


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NNP Virginia ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Marshall ) ( NNP Coleman ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( VBG running ) ( NN mate ) ) ( NP ( NNP Eddy ) ( NNP Dalton ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( DT both ) ( PP-PRD ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN defensive ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG opposing ) ( NP ( NNS abortions ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS cases ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN rape ) ( CC or ) ( NN incest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In Virginia Marshall Coleman and his running mate Eddy Dalton are both on the defensive for opposing abortions even in cases of rape or incest


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mahe ) ) ( VP ( VBZ adds ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ net ) ( NN loser ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ next ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( JJ right-to-life ) ( NN side ) ) ) ) ) )

But Mr. Mahe adds The net loser in the next few years is the right-to-life side


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Darla ) ( NNP St. ) ( NNP Martin ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP National ) ( NAC ( NNP Right ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Life ) ) ) ) ( NNP Committee ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN exit ) ( NNS polls ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 1988 ) ( NN election ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ single-issue ) ( JJ pro-life ) ( NNS voters ) ) ( VP ( VBG giving ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bush ) ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD five ) ) ( JJR more ) ) ( NN percentage ) ( NNS points ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN support ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN than ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ pro-choice ) ( NNS voters ) ) ( VP ( VBD gave ) ( NP ( NNP Michael ) ( NNP Dukakis ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Darla St. Martin of the National Right to Life Committee says exit polls from the 1988 election had single-issue pro-life voters giving Mr. Bush about five more percentage points of support than pro-choice voters gave Michael Dukakis


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Supreme ) ( NNP Court ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN opening ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN debate ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN changed ) ( NP ( RB even ) ( DT that ) ) ) ) ) )

But the Supreme Court 's opening of debate may have changed even that


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP GOP ) ( NN pollster ) ( NNP Neil ) ( NNP Newhouse ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Wirthlin ) ( NNP Group ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS polls ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN summer ) ) ( VP ( VBD showed ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ single-issue ) ( NNS voters ) ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ( ADVP ( RB about ) ) ( VP ( VBN evened ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

GOP pollster Neil Newhouse of the Wirthlin Group says polls this summer showed that the single-issue voters had about evened out


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Polls ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN substitute ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN principle ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NNS politicians ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Polls are no substitute for principle but they 'll do for some politicians


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ Republican ) ( NN danger ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ( NN abortion ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB become ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ( NP-PRD ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-1 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB long ) ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS Democrats ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ divisive ) ( NN litmus ) ( NN test ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Republican danger is that abortion could become for them what it 's long been for Democrats a divisive litmus test


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADVP ( RB already ) ) ( NP-PRD ( DT that ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Bush ) ( NN administration ) ) ) ( PP ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ) ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT any ) ( NN job ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN in ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN abortion ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB even ) ( RB remotely ) ) ( NP-PRD ( DT an ) ( NN issue ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's already that in the Bush administration at least for any job in which abortion is even remotely an issue


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Oklahoma ) ( NN official ) ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Fulton ) ) ( VP ( VBD lost ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN chance ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ senior ) ( NN job ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Department ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Health ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Human ) ( NNP Services ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ right-to-life ) ( NNS activists ) ) ( VP ( VBD opposed ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Oklahoma official Robert Fulton lost a chance for a senior job in the Department of Health and Human Services after right-to-life activists opposed him


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Caldwell ) ( NNP Butler ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ conservative ) ( JJ former ) ( NN congressman ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN barred ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Legal ) ( NNP Services ) ( NN post ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD gave ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ wrong ) ( NNS answers ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN abortion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Caldwell Butler a conservative former congressman was barred from a Legal Services post after he gave wrong answers on abortion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( RB Even ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN president ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN doctor ) ) ( NP ( NNP Burton ) ( NNP Lee ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN record ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VP ( MD 'd ) ( VP ( VB love ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NN surgeon ) ( JJ general ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB pass ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ pro-life ) ( NN test ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Even the president 's doctor Burton Lee has said on the record that he 'd love to be surgeon general but could n't pass the pro-life test


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN case ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP HHS ) ( NNP Secretary ) ( NNP Louis ) ( NNP Sullivan ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN litmus ) ( NN test ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( ADVP ( RB yet ) ) ( VP ( VB damage ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS issues ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ important ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS parts ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Republican ) ( NN coalition ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In the case of HHS Secretary Louis Sullivan the litmus test could yet damage issues important to other parts of the Republican coalition


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN After ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Sullivan ) ) ( VP ( VBD waffled ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN abortion ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNP White ) ( NNP House ) ) ( VP ( VBD appeased ) ( NP ( NNS right-to-lifers ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG surrounding ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ pro-life ) ( NNS deputies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

After Mr. Sullivan waffled on abortion last year the White House appeased right-to-lifers by surrounding him with pro-life deputies


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ Their ) ( NNS views ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN health ) ( NN care ) ( CC and ) ( NN welfare ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP ( JJ much ) ) ( VP ( NN matter ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP HHS ) ) ( VP ( VBZ spends ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS billions ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT both ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Their views on health care and welfare did n't much matter though HHS spends billions a year on both


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( NP ( NP ( RB only ) ( DT a ) ( NN handful ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ abortion-related ) ( NNS decisions ) ) ) ) ) )

It makes only a handful of abortion-related decisions


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN Though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Democrats ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB gloat ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( DT this ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( ADVP ( RB now ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB want ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB contain ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN glee ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Though Democrats can gloat at all this for now they may want to contain their glee