( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP CHARLES ) ( NNP SCHWAB ) ( CC & ) ( NNP CO. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ( NP ( NN discount ) ( NN brokerage ) ( NN firm ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 392 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( JJ only ) ( JJ minor ) ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS headquarters ) ( NN building ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB up ) ( CC and ) ( VBG running ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN yesterday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN market ) ( NN open ) ) ) ) ) )

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. San Francisco discount brokerage firm annual sales of 392 million had only minor damage to headquarters building and was up and running for yesterday 's market open


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Firm ) ) ( VP ( NN will ) ( RB not ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ( VP ( VB resume ) ( NP ( JJ 24-hour ) ( NN service ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NN power ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN city ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN restored ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Firm will not however resume 24-hour service until power in city is restored


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Office ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 4:30 ) ( NN p.m. ) ( NNP EDT ) ) ) ) )

Office closed yesterday at 4:30 p.m. EDT


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP SEAGATE ) ( NNP TECHNOLOGY ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Scotts ) ( NNP Valley ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ hard ) ( NN disk ) ( NNS drives ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS computers ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.37 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP OTC ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB assess ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-1 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD appeared ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ minor ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( CD 20 ) ( NNS buildings ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY Scotts Valley maker of hard disk drives for computers annual sales of 1.37 billion OTC closed to assess what appeared to be minor damage to some of its 20 buildings


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP SOUTHERN ) ( NNP PACIFIC ) ( NNP TRANSPORTATION ) ( NNP CO. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ( NP ( NN railroad ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.41 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB only ) ( JJ minor ) ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN headquarters ) ( CC and ) ( NNS tracks ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB fully ) ( JJ operational ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN tomorrow ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION CO. San Francisco railroad annual sales of 2.41 billion had only minor damage to headquarters and tracks and expects to be fully operational tomorrow


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP St. ) ( NNP Louis ) ( NNP Southwestern ) ( NNP Railway ) ( NNP Co. ) ( NN unit ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD halted ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( NN service ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Tuesday ) ( NN night ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP-TMP ( IN since ) ) ( VP ( VBN restored ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN freight ) ( NNS lines ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ limited ) ( NN commuter ) ( NN service ) ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Jose ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

St. Louis Southwestern Railway Co. unit halted all service Tuesday night but has since restored some freight lines and limited commuter service between San Francisco and San Jose


( NP ( NP ( NNP SUN ) ( NNP MICROSYSTEMS ) ( NNP INC. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Mountain ) ( NNP View ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ desktop ) ( NNS computers ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.77 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP OTC ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT no ) ( JJ injured ) ( NNS employees ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB very ) ( JJ little ) ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS buildings ) ) ) ) ) )

SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC. Mountain View maker of desktop computers annual sales 1.77 billion OTC no injured employees and very little damage to buildings


( FRAG ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN Closed ) ) ( NP-TMP ( RB yesterday ) ) ( PP-PRP ( JJ due ) ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN power ) ( NNS difficulties ) ) ) )

Closed yesterday due to power difficulties


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP TANDEM ) ( NNP COMPUTERS ) ( NNP INC. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Cupertino ) ) ( NP ( NN computer ) ( NN maker ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.6 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP NYSE ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( JJ significant ) ( NN damage ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB fully ) ( JJ operational ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN within ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

TANDEM COMPUTERS INC. Cupertino computer maker annual sales of 1.6 billion NYSE said it had no significant damage and should be fully operational within a week


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Many ) ( NNS employees ) ) ( VP ( VBD stayed ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB home ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN customer ) ( NN service ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBN maintained ) ) ) ) ) )

Many employees stayed home yesterday but customer service was being maintained


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP TRANSAMERICA ) ( NNP CORP. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ( NP ( JJ financial ) ( NNS services ) ( CC and ) ( NN insurance ) ( NN company ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 7.9 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP NYSE ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS headquarters ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ well-known ) ( JJ downtown ) ( JJ pyramid-shaped ) ( NN building ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ intact ) ( CC but ) ( JJ closed ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ) ) ) ) )

TRANSAMERICA CORP. San Francisco financial services and insurance company annual sales of 7.9 billion NYSE said its headquarters the well-known downtown pyramid-shaped building was intact but closed yesterday


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP VARIAN ) ( NNP ASSOCIATES ) ( NNP INC. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Palo ) ( NNP Alto ) ) ( NP ( NN instrumentation ) ( CC and ) ( NN semiconductor ) ( NN equipment ) ( NN company ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.3 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB only ) ( JJ minor ) ) ( NN damage ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT no ) ( NNS slowdowns ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN anticipated ) ) ) ) )

VARIAN ASSOCIATES INC. Palo Alto instrumentation and semiconductor equipment company annual sales of 1.3 billion had only minor damage and no slowdowns were anticipated


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP VLSI ) ( NNP TECHNOLOGY ) ( NNP INC. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP San ) ( NNP Jose ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN semiconductor ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 171.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP OTC ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ minimal ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS facilities ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NNS injuries ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS operations ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB return ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ normal ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB late ) ( NN yesterday ) ) ) ) ) ) )

VLSI TECHNOLOGY INC. San Jose maker of semiconductor products annual sales 171.9 million OTC minimal damage to facilities no injuries expected operations to return to normal late yesterday


( NP ( NP ( NNP WATKINS-JOHNSON ) ( NNP CO. ) ) ( NP ( JJ defense-oriented ) ( NN electronics ) ( NN manufacturer ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 292 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP NYSE ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ minor ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN headquarters ) ( CC and ) ( NN plant ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Palo ) ( NNP Alto ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Jose ) ( NN plant ) ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VBG assessing ) ( NP ( NP ( NN damage ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Scotts ) ( NNP Valley ) ( NN plant ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ main ) ( NN product ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNS furnaces ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN semiconductor ) ( NN production ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

WATKINS-JOHNSON CO. defense-oriented electronics manufacturer annual sales 292 million NYSE minor damage to headquarters and plant in Palo Alto no damage to San Jose plant still assessing damage at Scotts Valley plant where main product is furnaces for semiconductor production


( NP ( NP ( NNP WELLS ) ( NNP FARGO ) ( CC & ) ( NNP CO. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ( NP ( NN bank ) ( NN holding ) ( NN company ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NN revenue ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.9 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP NYSE ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ minor ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NN headquarters ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD 12 ) ( NNS branches ) ) ( PP ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 170 ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Northern ) ( NNP California ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD sustained ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ structural ) ( NN damage ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB preclude ) ( NP-2 ( PRP them ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG opening ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ near ) ( NN future ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 45 ) ( NNS locations ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( CD one ) ) ( JJ automatic ) ( NN teller ) ( NN machine ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ inoperable ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ central ) ( NN computer ) ( NNS systems ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG operating ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NNS injuries ) ) )

WELLS FARGO & CO. San Francisco bank holding company annual revenue 4.9 billion NYSE minor damage at headquarters 12 branches out of 170 in Northern California sustained structural damage that will preclude them from opening in the near future 45 locations with at least one automatic teller machine inoperable central computer systems are operating no injuries


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP WYSE ) ( NNP TECHNOLOGY ) ( NNP INC. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP San ) ( NNP Jose ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ video ) ( NN display ) ( NNS terminals ) ( CC and ) ( NNS workstations ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP IBM\/PC ) ( JJ compatible ) ( NNS computers ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 452 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ slight ) ( JJ structural ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NN headquarters ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NNS injuries ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB back ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ full ) ( NN operation ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ) ) ) ) )

WYSE TECHNOLOGY INC. San Jose maker of video display terminals and workstations and IBM\/PC compatible computers annual sales of 452 million slight structural damage at headquarters no injuries expects to be back to full operation today


( NP ( NP ( NNP 3COM ) ( NNP CORP. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Santa ) ( NNP Clara ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN computer ) ( NNS communications ) ( NNS systems ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 386 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP OTC ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ slight ) ( JJ structural ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS headquarters ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS communications ) ( NNS systems ) ) ( ADJP ( RB already ) ( RB fully ) ( JJ operational ) ) ) )

3COM CORP. Santa Clara maker of computer communications systems annual sales of 386 million OTC slight structural damage to headquarters communications systems already fully operational


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Charles ) ( NNP S. ) ( NNP Mitchell ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Homart ) ( NNP Development ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NN development ) ( NN subsidiary ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Sears ) ( NNP Roebuck ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN named ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Figgie ) ( NNP Properties ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NN development ) ( NN unit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Charles S. Mitchell a vice president with Homart Development Co. the real estate development subsidiary of Sears Roebuck & Co. was named president of Figgie Properties a real estate development unit


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ succeeds ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP William ) ( NNP Kohut ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD resigned ) ( NP-TMP ( RBR earlier ) ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He succeeds William Kohut who resigned earlier this year


( S ( ADVP ( RB Also ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Richard ) ( NN A. ) ( NNP Barkley ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ former ) ( NN marketing ) ( NN executive ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP FMC ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN appointed ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Continental ) ( NNP Container ) ( NNP Systems ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN producer ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN can ) ( VBG closing ) ( NN machinery ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Figgie ) ) ( VP ( VBD acquired ) ( NP-TMP ( RB late ) ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Also Richard A. Barkley a former marketing executive with FMC Corp. was appointed president of Continental Container Systems a producer of can closing machinery that Figgie acquired late last year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Figgie ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN fire ) ( NN protection ) ( NN electronics ) ( CC and ) ( JJ industrial ) ( NNS products ) ( NN concern ) ) ) )

Figgie is a fire protection electronics and industrial products concern


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT A ) ( JJ surprising ) ( NN surge ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN trade ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD raised ) ( NP ( NNS fears ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN nation ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN export ) ( NN drive ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN stalled ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD caused ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN turmoil ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ financial ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ) ) )

A surprising surge in the U.S. trade deficit raised fears that the nation 's export drive has stalled and caused new turmoil in financial markets


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN merchandise ) ( NN trade ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( VP ( VBD widened ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 10.77 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Commerce ) ( NNP Department ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ) ) ) ( NP-2 ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ sharp ) ( NN deterioration ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP July ) ( POS 's ) ) ( QP ( CD 8.24 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS largest ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT any ) ( NN month ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The merchandise trade deficit widened in August to 10.77 billion the Commerce Department reported a sharp deterioration from July 's 8.24 billion and the largest deficit of any month this year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Exports ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ second ) ( NN month ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN row ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS imports ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN record ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Exports fell for the second month in a row while imports rose to a record


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS worst ) ( NN trade ) ( NNS releases ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN since ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN dollar ) ) ( VP ( VBD troughed ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Geoffrey ) ( NNP Dennis ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( JJ international ) ( NN economist ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP Capel ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) )

This is one of the worst trade releases we 've had since the dollar troughed out in 1987 said Geoffrey Dennis chief international economist at James Capel Inc


( S ( S ( PP ( IN Like ) ( NP ( JJS most ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Dennis ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ hesitant ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB read ) ( NP ( RB too ) ( JJ much ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN month ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS numbers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ indicates ) ( ADVP ( RB perhaps ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN balance ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN economy ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB not ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB as ) ( JJ good ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN led ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB believe ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Like most analysts Mr. Dennis was hesitant to read too much into one month 's numbers but he said It indicates perhaps that the balance in the U.S. economy is not as good as we 've been led to believe


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN number ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ troubling ) ( NN effect ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Wall ) ( NNP Street ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG suggesting ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ fundamental ) ) ( JJ economic ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB underlie ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NNP Friday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN stock ) ( NN market ) ( NN slide ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The number had a troubling effect on Wall Street suggesting that more fundamental economic problems may underlie last Friday 's stock market slide


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NNP Dow ) ( NNP Jones ) ( NNP Industrial ) ( NNP Average ) ) ( VP ( VBD tumbled ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 60 ) ) ( NNS points ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN report ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN release ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN before ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG recovering ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB close ) ( ADVP ( NP ( CD 18.65 ) ( NNS points ) ) ( JJR lower ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 2638.73 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled more than 60 points after the report 's release before recovering to close 18.65 points lower at 2638.73


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ( JJ bad ) ( NN trade ) ( NN number ) ) ( VP ( VBZ raises ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJR deeper ) ( NNS issues ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ( NN decline ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Norman ) ( NNP Robertson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( NN economist ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Mellon ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ) ) ) )

This bad trade number raises some deeper issues about the market decline said Norman Robertson chief economist for Mellon Bank


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ raises ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS questions ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ deep-seated ) ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN budget ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN trade ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ seeming ) ( NN lack ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN ability ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS grips ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It raises questions about more deep-seated problems the budget deficit and the trade deficit and the seeming lack of ability to come to grips with them


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN trade ) ( NN report ) ) ( VP ( VBD drew ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB yet ) ( DT another ) ) ( JJ unsettling ) ( NN parallel ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP October ) ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ) ) )

The trade report drew yet another unsettling parallel to October 1987


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN On ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 14 ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN announcement ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( RB unusually ) ( JJ large ) ) ( NNP August ) ( NN trade ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD helped ) ( S ( VP ( NN trigger ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ steep ) ( NN market ) ( NN decline ) ) ) ) ) )

On Oct. 14 of that year the announcement of an unusually large August trade deficit helped trigger a steep market decline


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN slide ) ) ( VP ( VBD continued ) ( PP-TMP ( IN until ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ record ) ( JJ 508-point ) ( NN market ) ( NN drop ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 19 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The slide continued until the record 508-point market drop on Oct. 19


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN news ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN string ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS disappointments ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN trade ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ current ) ( NN report ) ) ( VP ( VBZ comes ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN period ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN improvement ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In 1987 however the news was the latest in a string of disappointments on trade while the current report comes after a period of improvement


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( JJ bleak ) ( NN trade ) ( NN report ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN played ) ( PRT ( RP down ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NNP Bush ) ( NN administration ) ) ) ) ) )

The bleak trade report was played down by the Bush administration


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Commerce ) ( NNP Secretary ) ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Mosbacher ) ) ( VP ( VBD called ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( VBG worsening ) ( NN trade ) ( NNS figures ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ disappointing ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( CD two ) ( ADJP ( RB very ) ( JJ good ) ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ) )

Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher called the worsening trade figures disappointing after two very good months


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP White ) ( NNP House ) ( NN spokesman ) ( NNP Marlin ) ( NNP Fitzwater ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( DT an ) ( JJ unwelcome ) ( NN increase ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG adding ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ hopeful ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( ADVP ( RB simply ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ one-month ) ( NN situation ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB turn ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB around ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the deficit was an unwelcome increase adding that we 're hopeful that it simply is a one-month situation and will turn around


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS figures ) ) ( VP ( VBD reinforced ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN view ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ many ) ( JJ private ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN improvement ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN trade ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN run ) ( ADVP-CLR ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN steam ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But the figures reinforced the view of many private analysts that the improvement in the U.S. trade deficit has run out of steam


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS figures ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP add ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ further ) ( NN evidence ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB support ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN view ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN improvement ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN trade ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP ( RB essentially ) ) ( VP ( VBN stalled ) ( ADVP-CLR ( IN out ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN level ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( RB about ) ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 110 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( JJ annual ) ( NN rate ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Jeffrey ) ( NNP Scott ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN research ) ( NN fellow ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Institute ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP International ) ( NNP Economics ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB here ) ) ) ) )

The figures today add further evidence to support the view that the improvement in the U.S. trade deficit has essentially stalled out at a level of about a 110 billion annual rate said Jeffrey Scott a research fellow at the Institute for International Economics here


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADVP ( RB still ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN improvement ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ leads ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP one ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB conclude ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB basically ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN gotten ) ( NP ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT the ) ( NN mileage ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-CLR ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ past ) ( NN dollar ) ( NN depreciation ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ past ) ( JJ marginal ) ( NNS cuts ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN budget ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That 's still an improvement over last year but it leads one to conclude that basically we 've gotten all the mileage we can out of past dollar depreciation and past marginal cuts in the federal budget deficit


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS Exports ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ second ) ( JJ consecutive ) ( NN month ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG slipping ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 0.2 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 30.41 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Commerce ) ( NNP Department ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ) )

Exports declined for the second consecutive month in August slipping 0.2 % to 30.41 billion the Commerce Department reported


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Imports ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ other ) ( NN hand ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD leaped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 6.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ record ) ( QP ( CD 41.18 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) )

Imports on the other hand leaped 6.4 % to a record 41.18 billion


( S ( CONJP ( RB Not ) ( RB only ) ) ( SINV ( VBD was ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP August ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB far ) ( JJR worse ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( NNP July ) ( POS 's ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN government ) ) ( VP ( VBD revised ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP July ) ( NN figure ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB substantially ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 7.58 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB initially ) ) ( VP ( VBN reported ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN month ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Not only was August 's deficit far worse than July 's but the government revised the July figure substantially from the 7.58 billion deficit it had initially reported last month


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Many ) ( NNS economists ) ) ( VP ( VBP contend ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ deep ) ( NNS cuts ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN budget ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN needed ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ further ) ( NN trade ) ( NN improvement ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB occur ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Many economists contend that deep cuts in the U.S. budget deficit are needed before further trade improvement can occur


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( SBAR-PRP-PRD ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN budget ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( VP ( VBZ feeds ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ enormous ) ( NN appetite ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN country ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( CC both ) ( NP ( JJ foreign ) ( NNS goods ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ foreign ) ( NN capital ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG overwhelming ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN nation ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN capacity ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB export ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That 's because the budget deficit feeds an enormous appetite in this country for both foreign goods and foreign capital overwhelming the nation 's capacity to export


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS People ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sick ) ( CC and ) ( JJ tired ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG hearing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS deficits ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS imbalances ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( ADVP-LOC-PRD ( RB there ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN problem ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Robertson ) ) )

People are sick and tired of hearing about these deficits but the imbalances are still there and they are still a problem said Mr. Robertson


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rise ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN dollar ) ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( JJ foreign ) ( NNS currencies ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN over ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( JJ several ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN increased ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN price ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ overseas ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBN hurt ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN country ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN competitiveness ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition the rise in the value of the dollar against foreign currencies over the past several months has increased the price of U.S. products in overseas markets and hurt the country 's competitiveness


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Since ) ( NP ( NNP March ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS exports ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB virtually ) ( JJ flat ) ) ) ) )

Since March exports have been virtually flat


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN At ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ( NN time ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP William ) ( NNP T. ) ( NNP Archey ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ international ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNP Chamber ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Commerce ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ notes ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB Clearly ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJR stronger ) ( NN dollar ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS imports ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBR more ) ( JJ attractive ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG causing ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB decline ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

At the same time William T. Archey international vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes Clearly the stronger dollar has made imports more attractive by causing their prices to decline


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJS Most ) ( NNS economists ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( VBG slowing ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN economy ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB curb ) ( NP ( NP ( NN demand ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS imports ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Most economists expect the slowing U.S. economy to curb demand for imports


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP foresee ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ little ) ( JJ substantial ) ( NN progress ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS exports ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN unless ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN dollar ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN budget ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD come ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB down ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But they foresee little substantial progress in exports unless the dollar and the federal budget deficit come down


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJS best ) ( NN result ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS numbers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN administration ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Congress ) ) ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ serious ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG putting ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( RB internationally ) ( JJ competitive ) ) ( JJ economic ) ( NN footing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Howard ) ( NNP Lewis ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ international ) ( JJ economic ) ( NNS affairs ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP National ) ( NNP Association ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Manufacturers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The best result we could get from these numbers would be to see the administration and Congress get serious about putting the U.S. on an internationally competitive economic footing said Howard Lewis vice president of international economic affairs at the National Association of Manufacturers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( MD must ) ( VP ( VB start ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG cutting ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN budget ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That must start with cutting the federal budget deficit


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP August ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS exports ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD reflected ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS decreases ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ industrial ) ( NNS supplies ) ) ( NP ( NN capital ) ( NNS goods ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN food ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB abroad ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS increases ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN motor ) ( NNS vehicles ) ) ( NP ( NNS parts ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNS engines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

August 's decline in exports reflected decreases in sales of industrial supplies capital goods and food abroad and increases in sales of motor vehicles parts and engines


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN jump ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS imports ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD stemmed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ across-the-board ) ( NNS increases ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS purchases ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ foreign ) ( NNS goods ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The jump in imports stemmed from across-the-board increases in purchases of foreign goods


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NNS numbers ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN adjusted ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ usual ) ( JJ seasonal ) ( NNS fluctuations ) ) ) ) ) )

The numbers were adjusted for usual seasonal fluctuations


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Alan ) ( NNP Murray ) ) ( VP ( VBD contributed ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN article ) ) ) ) )

Alan Murray contributed to this article


( PRN ( FRAG ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS billions ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS dollars ) ) ) ) ) ( ADJP ( RB not ) ( RB seasonally ) ( VBN adjusted ) ) ) )

In billions of U.S. dollars not seasonally adjusted


( X ( X ( SYM \* ) ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB Newly ) ( VBN industrialized ) ) ( NNS countries ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Singapore ) ) ( NP ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ) ( NP ( NNP Taiwan ) ) ( NP ( NNP South ) ( NNP Korea ) ) ) ) )

\* Newly industrialized countries Singapore Hong Kong Taiwan South Korea


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Times ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ one-time ) ( NN gain ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sale ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN cable-TV ) ( NN system ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

New York Times Co. said net income rose in the third quarter because of a one-time gain on the sale of the company 's cable-TV system


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Net ) ) ( VP ( VBD surged ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 210.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 2.68 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 26.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 33 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ) )

Net surged to 210.8 million or 2.68 a share from 26.7 million or 33 cents a share a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBD included ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN gain ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 193.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 2.46 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sale ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Times ) ( NNP Cable ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN completed ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The latest quarter included a gain of 193.3 million or 2.46 a share from the sale of New York Times Cable completed in August


( S ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ Exclusive ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN gain ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN operating ) ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 35 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 16.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 21 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 25.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 31 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Exclusive of the gain operating profit declined 35 % to 16.4 million or 21 cents a share from 25.2 million or 31 cents a share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN decline ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB primarily ) ) ( VBD reflected ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN dilution ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG acquiring ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP McCall ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Golf ) ( NNP World ) ) ( PRN ( NP-LOC ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Sailing ) ( NNP World ) ( NNS magazines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NN equity ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS forest-products ) ( NN group ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN price ) ( NN discounting ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ unfavorable ) ( NN exchange ) ( NN rate ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( CD 8.7 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN advertising ) ( NN linage ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Times ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ flagship ) ( NN newspaper ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The decline primarily reflected the dilution from acquiring McCall 's Golf World U.S. and Sailing World magazines lower equity earnings from the forest-products group because of price discounting and an unfavorable exchange rate and an 8.7 % decline in advertising linage at the New York Times the company 's flagship newspaper


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Advertising ) ( NN volume ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( CD 35 ) ( JJ regional ) ( NNS newspapers ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD decreased ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 1.1 ) ( NN % ) ) ) )

Advertising volume at the company 's 35 regional newspapers decreased 1.1 %


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ negative ) ( NNS factors ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company said the negative factors are expected to continue into next year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 6.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 415.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 390.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

Revenue rose 6.4 % to 415.3 million from 390.5 million


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Steven ) ( NNP C. ) ( NNP Walker ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ senior ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN bank ) ( NN holding ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN named ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( JJ executive ) ( NN officer ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN director ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CC both ) ( NP ( NNP Commercial ) ( NNP National ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Commercial ) ( NNP National ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Steven C. Walker senior vice president of this bank holding company was named president chief executive officer and a director of both Commercial National and Commercial National Bank


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ succeeds ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP E. ) ( NNP Burt ) ( NNP III ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD resigned ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( CD three ) ( NNS posts ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pursue ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS interests ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He succeeds James E. Burt III who resigned from all three posts to pursue other interests


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ Canadian ) ( NN government ) ) ( VP ( VBD auctioned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 750 ) ( CD million ) ) ( JJ Canadian ) ( NNS dollars ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 637.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( CD 9.25 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NNS bonds ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ due ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Dec. ) ( CD 15 ) ( CD 1994 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Canadian government auctioned 750 million Canadian dollars 637.5 million of 9.25 % bonds due Dec. 15 1994


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ average ) ( JJ accepted ) ( NN yield ) ) ( VP ( NN bid ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( CD 9.617 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN price ) ( NN equivalent ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 98.523 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The average accepted yield bid was 9.617 % for a price equivalent of 98.523


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS Proceeds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sale ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( UCP ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB redeem ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 675 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN government ) ( NNS bonds ) ) ( VP ( VBG maturing ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Nov. ) ( CD 1 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ general ) ( NN government ) ( NNS purposes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Proceeds of the sale will be used to redeem 675 million of government bonds maturing Nov. 1 and for general government purposes


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Hopes ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ quick ) ( NN enactment ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( VBG pending ) ( NN deficit-reduction ) ( NN legislation ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD faded ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS efforts ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB streamline ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP House ) ( NN version ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN advance ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP House-Senate ) ( NN conference ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD broke ) ( PRT ( RP down ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Hopes for quick enactment of pending deficit-reduction legislation faded as efforts to streamline the House version in advance of a House-Senate conference broke down


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP House ) ( NNS leaders ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN hoped ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB follow ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Senate ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN lead ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG getting ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP House ) ( NN committee ) ( NNS chairmen ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-4 ( IN under ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB drop ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS items ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB reduce ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fiscal ) ( CD 1990 ) ( NN budget ) ( NN deficit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ House-passed ) ( NN bill ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS negotiations ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Senate ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD began ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

House leaders had hoped to follow the Senate 's lead by getting an agreement from House committee chairmen under which they would drop items that would n't reduce the fiscal 1990 budget deficit from the House-passed bill before the negotiations with the Senate began


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NN effort ) ) ( VP ( VBD became ) ( VP ( VBN snagged ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN question ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB become ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS issues ) ) ( VP ( VBG ranging ) ( PP ( PP ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG cutting ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS capital-gains ) ( NN tax ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN child ) ( NN care ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN repeal ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN catastrophic-illness ) ( NN insurance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But the effort became snagged on the question of what would become of other issues ranging from cutting the capital-gains tax to child care to repeal of catastrophic-illness insurance


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Many ) ( NNS members ) ) ( VP ( VBP feel ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ important ) ( NNS features ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP House ) ( NN bill ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN enacted ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Speaker ) ( NNP Thomas ) ( NNP Foley ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NNP D. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Wash ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Many members feel there are important features of the House bill that should be enacted Speaker Thomas Foley D. Wash said


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT any ) ( NN support ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG reducing ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bill ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN conditioned ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN desire ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP them ) ) ( VP ( VBN passed ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT another ) ( NN form ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

If there is any support for reducing the bill it is conditioned on their desire to see them passed in another form


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT those ) ( NNS items ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN discussed ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP House-Senate ) ( NN conference ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB begin ) ( ADVP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB as ) ( RB soon ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NN today ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN expectation ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( CC either ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN resolved ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB there ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( VBN placed ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NN legislation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Now those items will be discussed in a House-Senate conference which could begin as soon as today with the expectation that they could either be resolved there or placed into other legislation


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP You ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN got ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS chairmen ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN opportunity ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( SBAR ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB work ) ( NP ( NNS things ) ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP House ) ( NNP Budget ) ( NNP Committee ) ( NNP Chairman ) ( NNP Leon ) ( NNP Panetta ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NNP D. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Calif ) ) ) ) )

You 've got to give these chairmen the opportunity to see if they can work things out said House Budget Committee Chairman Leon Panetta D. Calif


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ democratic ) ( NN process ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB slam-dunk ) ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN around ) ( NP ( RB here ) ) ) ) ) ) )

This is a democratic process you ca n't slam-dunk anything around here


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP White ) ( NNP House ) ( NNP Budget ) ( NNP Director ) ( NNP Richard ) ( NNP Darman ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB press ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS capital-gains ) ( NN provision ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ final ) ( NN version ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bill ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN unless ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP House ) ) ( VP ( VBZ drops ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ many ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ costly ) ( NNS provisions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

White House Budget Director Richard Darman has said he would continue to press to keep the capital-gains provision in the final version of the bill unless the House drops many of its costly provisions


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Senate ) ( NNS leaders ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN hoped ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB send ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN compromise ) ( NN version ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN measure ) ) ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP President ) ( NNP Bush ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Speaker ) ( NNP Foley ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ likely ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Senate leaders had hoped to be able to send a compromise version of the measure to President Bush by the end of the week but Speaker Foley said that was n't likely


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Failure ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pass ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bill ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD meant ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( QP ( CD 16.1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ across-the-board ) ( NN spending ) ( NNS cuts ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD took ) ( NP ( NN effect ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Monday ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Gramm-Rudman ) ( NN budget ) ( NN law ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Failure to pass the bill meant that 16.1 billion in across-the-board spending cuts took effect Monday under the Gramm-Rudman budget law


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN bill ) ) ( VP ( MD must ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN enacted ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NNS cuts ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN restored ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The bill must be enacted before the cuts can be restored


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Northern ) ( NNP Trust ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NN board ) ) ( VP ( VBD adopted ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN shareholder ) ( NNS rights ) ( NN plan ) ) ( VP ( VBN aimed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG deterring ) ( NP ( JJ unwanted ) ( NN takeover ) ( NNS bids ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( RB not ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ aware ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT any ) ( NN plan ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB acquire ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN banking ) ( NN concern ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Northern Trust Corp. said its board adopted a shareholder rights plan aimed at deterring unwanted takeover bids but said it 's not aware of any plan to acquire the banking concern


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Under ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Northern ) ( NNP Trust ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN plan ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS shareholders ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN issued ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS rights ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN event ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( VBN attempted ) ( NNS takeovers ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP allow ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS holders ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( JJ half ) ( NN price ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Under Northern Trust 's plan shareholders were issued rights that in the event of certain attempted takeovers allow holders to buy shares in the company at half price


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP StatesWest ) ( NNP Airlines ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD submitted ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN offer ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS directors ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Mesa ) ( NNP Airlines ) ) ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB acquire ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Farmington ) ( NNP N.M. ) ) ( NN carrier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

StatesWest Airlines said it submitted an offer to the directors of Mesa Airlines to acquire the Farmington N.M. carrier


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN Except ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB characterize ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN offer ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( UCP ( ADJP ( JJ fair ) ( CC and ) ( JJ generous ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS best ) ( NNS interests ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Mesa ) ( NNS shareholders ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP StatesWest ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB discuss ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS details ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN proposal ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Except to characterize its offer as fair and generous and in the best interests of Mesa shareholders StatesWest declined to discuss details of its proposal


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD asked ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mesa ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN proposal ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ confidential ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It also asked Mesa to keep the proposal confidential


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( NNP Mesa ) ( NN official ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD confirmed ) ( NP ( NP ( NN receipt ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN offer ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS directors ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB meet ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB consider ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A Mesa official confirmed receipt of the offer and said directors would meet to consider it


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN week ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mesa ) ) ( VP ( VBD rejected ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN proposal ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NNP StatesWest ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB acquire ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( VB merge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last week Mesa rejected a proposal by StatesWest to acquire it or merge


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP StatesWest ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 7.25 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mesa ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ operates ) ( NP ( CD 20 ) ( JJ twin-engine ) ( CC and ) ( CD two ) ( JJ single-engine ) ( NNS turboprops ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN among ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 42 ) ( NNS cities ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Mexico ) ) ( NP ( NNP Arizona ) ) ( NP ( NNP Wyoming ) ) ( NP ( NNP Colorado ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Texas ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

StatesWest has a 7.25 % stake in Mesa which operates 20 twin-engine and two single-engine turboprops among 42 cities in New Mexico Arizona Wyoming Colorado and Texas


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP StatesWest ) ) ( VP ( VBZ operates ) ( NP ( CD four ) ( JJ twin-engine ) ( NN turboprop ) ( NN aircraft ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG connecting ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10 ) ( NNS cities ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP California ) ( NNP Arizona ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Nevada ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

StatesWest operates four twin-engine turboprop aircraft connecting 10 cities in California Arizona and Nevada


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN carrier ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB yet ) ) ( VP ( VBN turned ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN profit ) ) ) ) )

The carrier has n't yet turned a profit


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Hawker ) ( NNP Siddeley ) ( NNP Group ) ( NNP PLC ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP U.K. ) ( NN engineering ) ( NN company ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 16 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN jump ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ pretax ) ( NN profit ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ six-month ) ( NN period ) ) ( VP ( VBG ending ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP June ) ( CD 30 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Hawker Siddeley Group PLC a U.K. engineering company reported a 16 % jump in pretax profit for the six-month period ending June 30


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( JJ Pretax ) ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 93.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 146.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 80.6 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 127 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG matching ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS analysts ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNS expectations ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD ranged ) ( PP-DIR ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 90 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 95 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Pretax profit rose to 93.2 million 146.8 million from 80.6 million 127 million matching analysts ' expectations which ranged from 90 million to 95 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Profit ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS taxes ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN minority ) ( NNS interests ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD increased ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 16 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 55.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 47.6 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NN period ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN per ) ( NP ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 16 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 27.9 ) ( NNS pence ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( CD 44 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 24.1 ) ( NNS pence ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( CD 38 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Profit after taxes and minority interests increased 16 % to 55.2 million from 47.6 million in the year-earlier period while earnings per share rose 16 % to 27.9 pence 44 cents from 24.1 pence 38 cents


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Hawker ) ( NNP Siddeley ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ core ) ( JJ electrical ) ( NNS products ) ( NN division ) ) ( VP ( VBD enjoyed ) ( NP ( JJ strong ) ( NN growth ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 20 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN rise ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN operating ) ( NN profit ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN period ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Hawker Siddeley said its core electrical products division enjoyed strong growth with a 20 % rise in operating profit during the period


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN TRADING ) ( NN VOLUME ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Standard ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Poor ) ( POS 's ) ) ( CD 500 ) ( NN stock-index ) ( NNS futures ) ( NNS contracts ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Chicago ) ( NNP Mercantile ) ( NNP Exchange ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Monday ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD totaled ) ( NP ( CD 73,803 ) ( NNS contracts ) ) ) )

TRADING VOLUME in Standard & Poor 's 500 stock-index futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Monday totaled 73,803 contracts


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Yesterday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN edition ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB incorrectly ) ) ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Monday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN trading ) ( NN volume ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN record ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP S&P ) ( CD 500 ) ( NN contract ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Yesterday 's edition incorrectly reported Monday 's trading volume as a record for the S&P 500 contract


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mesa ) ( NNP Airlines ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN takeover ) ( NN offer ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP-TMP ( RBR earlier ) ( DT this ) ( NN week ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP StatesWest ) ( NNP Airlines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRP-PRD ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN combination ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ( CC and ) ( NNS securities ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN valued ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP StatesWest ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NNP Mesa ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mesa Airlines said the takeover offer it received earlier this week from StatesWest Airlines is for a combination of cash and securities valued by StatesWest at 10 a Mesa share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Both ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ regional ) ( NNS carriers ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Southwest ) ) ) ) ) )

Both companies are regional carriers in the Southwest


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN offer ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP StatesWest ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB disclose ) ( NP ( NNS details ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD asked ) ( NP-3 ( NNP Mesa ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

When it made the offer StatesWest declined to disclose details and asked Mesa to do the same


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( ADJP ( NNP Farmington ) ( JJ N.M.-based ) ) ( NNP Mesa ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN offer ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-PRP-PRD ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 7 ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ unspecified ) ( NNP StatesWest ) ( NNS securities ) ) ( VP ( VBN valued ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Farmington N.M.-based Mesa said the offer was for 7 in cash and unspecified StatesWest securities valued at 3 a share


( S ( PP ( VBN Based ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mesa ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ outstanding ) ) ( VP ( RB not ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB already ) ) ( VBN owned ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP StatesWest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ proposed ) ( NN takeover ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 15.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Based on the number of Mesa shares outstanding not already owned by StatesWest the proposed takeover would have a value of about 15.3 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP StatesWest ) ) ( VP ( VBZ owns ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 7.25 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Mesa ) ) ) ) ) )

StatesWest owns 7.25 % of Mesa


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN week ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mesa ) ) ( VP ( VBD rejected ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ general ) ( NN proposal ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJS StatesWest ) ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ( NNS carriers ) ) ( VP ( VB combine ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last week Mesa rejected a general proposal from StatesWest that the two carriers combine


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( NN response ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ specific ) ( NN offer ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Gary ) ( NNP Risley ) ) ( NP ( NNP Mesa ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN management ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB ask ) ( NP-1 ( NNS directors ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB employ ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ financial ) ( NN consultant ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB advise ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In response to the specific offer Gary Risley Mesa vice president said management will ask directors to employ a financial consultant to advise them


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Federal ) ( NNP National ) ( NNP Mortgage ) ( NNP Association ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD set ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ three-member ) ( NN office ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN chairman ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD elected ) ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NN A. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NN vice ) ( NN chairman ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ effective ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Jan. ) ( CD 1 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Federal National Mortgage Association set up a three-member office of the chairman and elected James A. Johnson as vice chairman effective Jan. 1


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN managing ) ( NN director ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Shearson ) ( NNP Lehman ) ( NNP Hutton ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1985 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( PP-TMP ( IN before ) ( NP ( DT that ) ) ) ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Public ) ( NNP Strategies ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Washington ) ( NN consulting ) ( NN firm ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Johnson has been a managing director at Shearson Lehman Hutton since 1985 and before that was president of Public Strategies a Washington consulting firm


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ well-known ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ Democratic ) ( NNS circles ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG having ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( JJ executive ) ( NN assistant ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Vice ) ( NNP President ) ( NNP Walter ) ( NNP Mondale ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mondale ) ( POS 's ) ) ( CD 1984 ) ( JJ presidential ) ( NN campaign ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He is well-known in Democratic circles having been executive assistant to Vice President Walter Mondale and chairman of Mr. Mondale 's 1984 presidential campaign


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN At ) ( NP ( NNP Fannie ) ( NNP Mae ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( NN responsibility ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN corporation ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ financial ) ( CC and ) ( JJ legal ) ) ( NNS areas ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB work ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP David ) ( NNP Maxwell ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( JJ executive ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Roger ) ( NNP Birk ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN chief ) ( NN operating ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( JJ strategic ) ( NN planning ) ) ) ) ) ) )

At Fannie Mae he will take responsibility for the corporation 's financial and legal areas and will work with David Maxwell chairman and chief executive officer and Roger Birk president and chief operating officer on strategic planning


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( ADJP ( NP ( CD 45 ) ( NNS years ) ) ( JJ old ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN consultant ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN strategy ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Fannie ) ( NNP Mae ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( CD 1\/2 ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Johnson 45 years old has been a consultant on strategy to Fannie Mae for the past 3 1\/2 years


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN interview ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Fannie ) ( NNP Mae ) ) ( VP ( VBZ faces ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS challenges ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN restructuring ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN thrift ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN push ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB broaden ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS activities ) ( RB overseas ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In an interview he said Fannie Mae faces a number of challenges with the restructuring of the thrift industry and the push to broaden its activities overseas


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN shortage ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ major ) ( NNS things ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

There 's no shortage of major things to do he said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Fannie ) ( NNP Mae ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP A. ) ( NNP Aliber ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP First ) ( NNP Federal ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Michigan ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN director ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1985 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD moved ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN date ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN retirement ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN board ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB accommodate ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN election ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN director ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Fannie Mae also said James A. Aliber chairman of First Federal of Michigan and a director since 1985 moved up the date of his retirement from the board to accommodate Mr. Johnson 's election as a director


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN board ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 13 ) ( NNS members ) ) ( VP ( VBN elected ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNS holders ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( CD five ) ( JJ presidential ) ( NNS appointees ) ) ) ) )

The board has 13 members elected by holders and five presidential appointees


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Fannie ) ( NNP Mae ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB federally ) ( JJ chartered ) ) ( JJ shareholder-owned ) ( NN corporation ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ operates ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ secondary ) ( NN market ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN mortgage ) ( NNS loans ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( NP ( NNS loans ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNS lenders ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG packaging ) ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NNS securities ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN sale ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS investors ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG keeping ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rest ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN portfolio ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Fannie Mae a federally chartered shareholder-owned corporation operates a secondary market for mortgage loans buying loans from lenders packaging some into securities for sale to investors and keeping the rest in its portfolio


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ( NNP Chemical ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ third-quarter ) ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( VP ( VBD slipped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 6.8 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ record ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Dow Chemical Co. said third-quarter net income slipped 6.8 % from a record year-ago quarter


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN decline ) ) ( VP ( VBD broke ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN streak ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10 ) ( NNS quarters ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN in ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( VBD posted ) ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ( NNS increases ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The decline broke a streak of 10 quarters in which Dow posted earnings increases


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Dow ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NN net ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 589 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.29 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 632 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.36 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) )

Dow 's third-quarter net fell to 589 million or 3.29 a share from 632 million or 3.36 a share a year ago


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Sales ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 2 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.25 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.15 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ) )

Sales in the latest quarter rose 2 % to 4.25 billion from 4.15 billion a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 94.625 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 75 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ( JJ composite ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ) )

Dow closed at 94.625 a share up 75 cents in New York Stock Exchange composite trading


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( NN spokeswoman ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ comfortable ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Wall ) ( NNP Street ) ( NNS expectations ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ full-year ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB total ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 14.60 ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ record ) ( NN net ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.4 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 12.76 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A spokeswoman said Dow is comfortable with Wall Street expectations that full-year earnings will total about 14.60 a share compared with last year 's record net of 2.4 billion or 12.76 a share


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN signal ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( JJ full-year ) ( NN profit ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ casts ) ( NP ( NN doubt ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN on ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB improve ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( JJ fourth-quarter ) ( NN net ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.44 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 635 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But that signal on full-year profit casts doubt on whether Dow will improve on its year-ago fourth-quarter net of 3.44 a share or 635 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB earn ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 14.85 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD equaled ) ( NP ( IN that ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( JJ fourth-quarter ) ( NN performance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Dow would earn 14.85 a share for the year if it equaled that year-ago fourth-quarter performance


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBG signaling ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB earn ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( JJR less ) ( IN than ) ( CD 15 ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( RB even ) ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD announced ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP July ) ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN plan ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB acquire ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 67 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Marion ) ( NNP Laboratories ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Dow officials were signaling that the company would earn less than 15 a share this year even before they announced in July a plan to acquire 67 % of Marion Laboratories Inc


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ( NN acquisition ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB further ) ) ( VB dilute ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN per ) ( NP ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( NN spokeswoman ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

That acquisition could further dilute earnings per share this year the company spokeswoman said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WHADJP ( RB exactly ) ( WP what ) ) ( NN impact ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Marion ) ( NN acquisition ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( CD 1989 ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Dow has n't said exactly what impact the Marion acquisition will have on 1989 earnings


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( VBD blamed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS earnings ) ( NN drop ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ several ) ( NNS factors ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJR softer ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN polyethylene ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( JJ basic ) ( NNS chemicals ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJR slower ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN economy ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJR stronger ) ( NN dollar ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD made ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Dow ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS exports ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBR more ) ( JJ expensive ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ overseas ) ( NNS customers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Dow blamed the third-quarter earnings drop on several factors including softer prices for polyethylene and other basic chemicals a slower U.S. economy and a stronger dollar which made Dow 's exports from the U.S. more expensive to overseas customers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Another ) ( NN problem ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 7 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN increase ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN operating ) ( NNS costs ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN time ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG rising ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( RB only ) ( CD 2 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Another problem was a 7 % increase in operating costs at a time when revenue was rising by only 2 %


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.06 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 11.41 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 17 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.76 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 9.32 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) )

For the first nine months of the year Dow earned 2.06 billion or 11.41 a share up 17 % from 1.76 billion or 9.32 a share a year ago


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Sales ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 7.7 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 13.34 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 12.38 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( NN period ) ) ) ) ) )

Sales for the latest nine months rose 7.7 % to 13.34 billion from 12.38 billion in the year-ago period


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Loral ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 325 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN order ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Turkey ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NAC ( NNP Ministry ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Defense ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS largest ) ( NN contract ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ever ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN received ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Loral Corp. said it received a 325 million order from Turkey 's Ministry of Defense the largest contract the company ever has received


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Loral ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB provide ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Turkey ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ electronic ) ( NNS countermeasures ) ( NN system ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN fleet ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP F-16 ) ( NN aircraft ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Loral will provide to Turkey an electronic countermeasures system for its fleet of F-16 aircraft


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN system ) ) ( VP ( VBZ provides ) ( NP ( JJ radar-threat ) ( NN warning ) ( CC and ) ( JJ electronic ) ( NN jamming ) ( NNS capabilities ) ) ) )

The system provides radar-threat warning and electronic jamming capabilities


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN defense ) ( NNS electronics ) ( NN maker ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN delivery ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VP ( VB begin ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP October ) ( CD 1991 ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB run ) ( PP-TMP ( IN through ) ( NP ( NN mid-1995 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The defense electronics maker said delivery will begin in October 1991 and run through mid-1995


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Loral ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN contract ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Turkey ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB provide ) ( NP ( NNS opportunities ) ( SBAR ( IN for ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Loral ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB supply ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN country ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NN defense ) ( NNS systems ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Loral said the contract with Turkey will provide opportunities for Loral to supply that country with other defense systems


( SQ ( MD Could ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN collapse ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP I-880 ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN prevented ) ) ) ) )

Could the collapse of I-880 have been prevented


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN question ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ structural ) ( NNS engineers ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP California ) ( NN transportation ) ( NNS officials ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBG asking ) ( NP ( PRP themselves ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NN rescue ) ( NNS workers ) ) ( VP ( VBD began ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ gruesome ) ( NN task ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG trying ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB extract ) ( NP ( QP ( RB as ) ( JJ many ) ( IN as ) ( CD 250 ) ) ( NNS victims ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( PP-LOC ( IN beneath ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ concrete ) ( NNS slabs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ double-deck ) ( NNP Nimitz ) ( NNP Freeway ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Oakland ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD caved ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Tuesday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN temblor ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That was the question structural engineers and California transportation officials were asking themselves yesterday as rescue workers began the gruesome task of trying to extract as many as 250 victims from beneath the concrete slabs of the double-deck Nimitz Freeway in Oakland that caved in during Tuesday 's temblor


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( PP-TMP ( IN After ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG touring ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN area ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP California ) ( NNP Gov. ) ( NNP George ) ( NNP Deukmejian ) ) ( NP-TMP ( RB late ) ( NN yesterday ) ) ( VP ( VBD called ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN inquiry ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN freeway ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN collapse ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG blaming ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN disaster ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( JJ substandard ) ( NN construction ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Associated ) ( NNP Press ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ) )

After touring the area California Gov. George Deukmejian late yesterday called for an inquiry into the freeway 's collapse blaming the disaster on substandard construction the Associated Press reported


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN impact ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN destruction ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT this ) ( JJ 2.5-mile ) ( NN stretch ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN highway ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB tragically ) ) ( VBN measured ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( VBN lost ) ( NNS lives ) ) ) ) ) )

The impact of the destruction of this 2.5-mile stretch of highway was tragically measured in lost lives


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ other ) ( JJ long-term ) ( NNS effects ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP raise ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ serious ) ( NNS questions ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN ability ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP California ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN infrastructure ) ) ) ( S-2 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB withstand ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN temblor ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But there are other long-term effects that raise serious questions about the ability of California 's infrastructure to withstand a major temblor


( SINV ( S-TPC-4 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( ADVP ( RB easily ) ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( CD two ) ( NNS years ) ) ( SBAR-3 ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ well-traveled ) ( NN artery ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ helps ) ( VP ( VB connect ) ( NP ( NNP Oakland ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN reopened ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN cost ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB build ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NN stretch ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN highway ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB soar ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 250 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Charles ) ( NNP J. ) ( NNP O'Connell ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN deputy ) ( NN district ) ( NN director ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP California ) ( NNP Department ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Transportation ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN nicknamed ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Caltrans ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It could easily be two years before the well-traveled artery that helps connect Oakland with San Francisco is reopened and the cost to build a new stretch of highway could soar to more than 250 million said Charles J. O'Connell deputy district director in Los Angeles of the California Department of Transportation nicknamed Caltrans


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Caltrans ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Sacramento ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ total ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ collapsed ) ( NN highway ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN estimated ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( QP ( IN around ) ( CD 500 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Caltrans in Sacramento said total damage from the collapsed highway is estimated at around 500 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS aftershocks ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN highway ) ( NN tragedy ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG reverberating ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ) ) ( ADVP ( IN as ) ( RB well ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ local ) ( NNS politicians ) ) ( VP ( VBD spoke ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( NNS plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB bring ) ( NP ( NN double-decking ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ( NNS freeways ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( CD 1994 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The aftershocks of the highway tragedy are reverberating in Los Angeles as well as local politicians spoke yesterday against plans to bring double-decking to Los Angeles freeways by 1994


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Caltrans ) ) ( VP ( NNS plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB add ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ second ) ( NN deck ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS buses ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN car ) ( NNS pools ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN above ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN median ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ 2.5-mile ) ( NN stretch ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Harbor ) ( NNP Freeway ) ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB just ) ( RB south ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN near ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Memorial ) ( NNP Coliseum ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Caltrans plans to add a second deck for buses and car pools above the median of a 2.5-mile stretch of the Harbor Freeway just south of Los Angeles near the Memorial Coliseum


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ( NNP County ) ( NNP Supervisor ) ( NNP Kenneth ) ( NNP Hahn ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( VP ( VBD vowed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fight ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN introduction ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN double-decking ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN area ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn yesterday vowed to fight the introduction of double-decking in the area


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Caltrans ) ) ( VP ( VBD abandoned ) ( NP ( NN double-decking ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NNS 1970s ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( VBG following ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 1971 ) ( NNP Sylmar ) ( NN earthquake ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD destroyed ) ( NP ( NP ( NN freeway ) ( NNS sections ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB just ) ( RB north ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP O'Connell ) ) ( VP ( VBD explained ) ) )

Caltrans abandoned double-decking in the early 1970s following the 1971 Sylmar earthquake that destroyed freeway sections just north of Los Angeles Mr. O'Connell explained


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ( NN temblor ) ) ( VP ( VBD measured ) ( NP ( CD 6.1 ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Richter ) ( NN scale ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Tuesday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( X ( VBD was ) ) ) )

That temblor measured 6.1 on the Richter scale Tuesday 's was


( SBARQ ( RB So ) ( WHADVP ( WRB why ) ) ( SQ ( VP ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( VB consider ) ( S ( VP ( VBG stacking ) ( NP ( NNS freeways ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ) ) )

So why even consider stacking freeways now


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN run ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS places ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB build ) ( NP ( NNS freeways ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP L.A. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ only ) ( NN place ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB go ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB up ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP O'Connell ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN although ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ acknowledges ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ many ) ( NNS obstacles ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NN cost ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We 've run out of places to build freeways in L.A. and the only place to go is up Mr. O'Connell said although he acknowledges there are many obstacles including cost


( S ( CC But ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN safety ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ double-deck ) ( NNS freeways ) ) ( VP ( VBN built ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RB heavily ) ( VBN reinforced ) ) ( JJ concrete ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJR thicker ) ( NNS columns ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN required ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Sylmar ) ( NN quake ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB withstand ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ calamitous ) ( NN temblor ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 7.5 ) ( TO to ) ( CD 8 ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Richter ) ( NN scale ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But as for safety he says double-deck freeways built today with the heavily reinforced concrete and thicker columns required after the Sylmar quake should withstand a calamitous temblor of 7.5 to 8 on the Richter scale


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Reasons ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN collapse ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Nimitz ) ( NNP Freeway ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sketchy ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ) )

Reasons for the collapse of the Nimitz Freeway were sketchy yesterday


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( RBS most ) ( JJ structural ) ( NNS engineers ) ) ( VP ( VBD attributed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN destruction ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ improper ) ( NN reinforcement ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS columns ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD supported ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS decks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN fact ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN ground ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN beneath ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN highway ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB largely ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NN landfill ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VP ( VB become ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unstable ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( VB liquefy ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN quake ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But most structural engineers attributed the destruction to improper reinforcement of the columns that supported the decks and the fact that the ground beneath the highway is largely landfill and can become unstable or liquefy in a major quake


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ two-story ) ( NN roadway ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN designed ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS mid-1940s ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBN completed ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1957 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN supported ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNS columns ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB apparently ) ) ( VP ( VBD lacked ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN kind ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN steel ) ( NN reinforcement ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS highways ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The two-story roadway designed in the mid-1940s and completed in 1957 was supported by columns that apparently lacked the kind of steel reinforcement used in highways today


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS pillars ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ long ) ( NN metal ) ( NNS bars ) ) ( VP ( VBG running ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB vertically ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN through ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN reinforcement ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( ADVP ( RB apparently ) ) ( VP ( VBD lacked ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ adequate ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN metal ) ( NNS ties ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP run ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB horizontally ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN column ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Leo ) ( NNP Parker ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ structural ) ( NN engineer ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ) ) ) ) )

While the pillars did have long metal bars running vertically through them for reinforcement they apparently lacked an adequate number of metal ties that run horizontally through the column said Leo Parker a structural engineer in Los Angeles


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Caltrans ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ( VP ( VBZ uses ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN variation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN design ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Parker ) ) ( VP ( VBZ describes ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ spiraling ) ( NN steel ) ( NNS rods ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB inside ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Caltrans today uses a variation of the design Mr. Parker describes with spiraling steel rods inside


( S ( CC But ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN case ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Nimitz ) ( NNP Freeway ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN lack ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NN support ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD caused ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN core ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS columns ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB crumble ) ( CC and ) ( VB buckle ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN weight ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ second ) ( NN deck ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG crushing ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS motorists ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN lined ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ bumper-to-bumper ) ( JJ rush-hour ) ( NN traffic ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJR lower ) ( NN deck ) ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( NP ( QP ( RB nearly ) ( CD 15 ) ) ( NNS feet ) ) ( RB below ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But in the case of the Nimitz Freeway the lack of such support caused the core of the columns to crumble and buckle under the weight of the second deck crushing motorists who were lined up in bumper-to-bumper rush-hour traffic on the lower deck nearly 15 feet below


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Officials ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( NN agency ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( DT any ) ( JJ immediate ) ( NN explanation ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB why ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN reinforcement ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB hold ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Officials of the state agency did n't have any immediate explanation why the reinforcement did n't hold up


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Caltrans ) ) ( VP ( VBD reinforced ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN highway ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1977 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 55 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( JJ statewide ) ( NN project ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG using ) ( NP ( NN steel ) ( NNS cables ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB tie ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS decks ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN freeway ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS columns ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB prevent ) ( NP-3 ( DT the ) ( NN structure ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG swaying ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN quake ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Caltrans reinforced the highway in 1977 as part of a 55 million statewide project using steel cables to tie the decks of the freeway to the columns and prevent the structure from swaying in a quake


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Caltrans ) ( NN spokesman ) ( NNP Jim ) ( NNP Drago ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Sacramento ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB identify ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN engineering ) ( NN firm ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD did ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN reinforcement ) ( NN work ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Caltrans spokesman Jim Drago in Sacramento declined to identify the engineering firm that did the reinforcement work


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Liability ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bridge ) ( CC and ) ( NN road ) ( NNS collapses ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB revolve ) ( PP-CLR ( IN around ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN government ) ) ( VP ( VBD took ) ( NP ( JJ reasonable ) ( NN care ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB build ) ( CC and ) ( VB maintain ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS structures ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP John ) ( NNP Messina ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Tacoma ) ( NNP Wash. ) ) ( JJ personal-injury ) ( NN attorney ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ specializes ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN highway ) ( NN design ) ( CC and ) ( NN maintenance ) ( NNS cases ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Liability in the bridge and road collapses will revolve around whether government took reasonable care to build and maintain the structures says John Messina a Tacoma Wash. personal-injury attorney who specializes in highway design and maintenance cases