( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBD added ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS market-makers ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBG knocking ) ( NP ( NN share ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PRT ( RP down ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN midafternoon ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN bid ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB attract ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN interest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN action ) ) ( ADVP ( RB largely ) ) ( VP ( VBD helped ) ( VP ( VB open ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN way ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP London ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ late ) ( NNS declines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They added that market-makers were knocking share prices down in midafternoon in a bid to attract some interest but the action largely helped open the way for London 's late declines


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Insurance ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ( VP ( VBD provided ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJ early ) ( NN support ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ) ( PP ( ADVP ( RB partly ) ) ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ favorable ) ( NN brokerage ) ( NNS recommendatons ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN talk ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( JJ continental ) ( JJ European ) ) ( NN interest ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ British ) ( NN life ) ( CC and ) ( JJ composite ) ( NNS insurers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Insurance stocks provided some early support to the market partly on favorable brokerage recommendatons and talk of continental European interest in British life and composite insurers


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NP ( JJ British ) ( NN life ) ( NN insurer ) ( NNP London ) ( CC & ) ( NNP General ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD firmed ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 2 ) ( NNS pence ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 356 ) ( NN pence ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( CD 5.70 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ composite ) ( NN insurer ) ( NNP Royal ) ( NNP Insurance ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-3 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD finished ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( NP ( CD 13 ) ) ( JJR lower ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 475 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN featured ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN talk ) ) ) ) ) )

British life insurer London & General which firmed 2 pence to 356 pence 5.70 and composite insurer Royal Insurance which finished 13 lower at 475 were featured in the talk


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN On ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN life ) ( NN insurance ) ( NN side ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Pearl ) ( NNP Group ) ) ( VP ( VBD finished ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( NP ( CD 5 ) ) ( JJR lower ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 640 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sun ) ( NNP Life ) ) ( VP ( VBD dropped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 15 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 11.53 ) ) ) ) ) )

On the life insurance side Pearl Group finished 5 lower at 640 and Sun Life dropped 15 to 11.53


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Jaguar ) ) ( VP ( VBD finished ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( NP ( CD 4 ) ) ( JJR lower ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 694 ) ) ) ) )

Jaguar finished 4 lower at 694


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Dealers ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB react ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB substantially ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Ford ) ( NNP Motor ) ( NNP Co. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN disclosure ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNP Securities ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Exchange ) ( NNP Commission ) ) ) ( SBAR-2 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB seek ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 100 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Jaguar ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ outstanding ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP U.K. ) ( NN government ) ( NN share ) ( NNS regulations ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN lifted ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Dealers said the market did n't react substantially to Ford Motor Co. 's disclosure to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it will seek 100 % of Jaguar 's shares outstanding when U.K. government share regulations are lifted at the end of next year


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Tokyo ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJR easier ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG posting ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ first ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD six ) ( NN trading ) ( NNS days ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( ADVP ( RB partly ) ) ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ programmed ) ( JJ index-linked ) ( NN selling ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NN trust ) ( NN investment ) ( NNS funds ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN afternoon ) ( NN session ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Tokyo stocks closed easier posting their first loss in six trading days partly because of programmed index-linked selling by trust investment funds in the afternoon session


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Nikkei ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 58.97 ) ( NNS points ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 35526.55 ) ) ) ) )

The Nikkei index fell 58.97 points to 35526.55


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD gained ) ( NP ( CD 99.14 ) ( NNS points ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Monday ) ) ) )

The index gained 99.14 points Monday


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( RB early ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Tokyo ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Wednesday ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Nikkei ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 17.92 ) ( NNS points ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 35544.47 ) ) ) ) )

In early trading in Tokyo Wednesday the Nikkei index rose 17.92 points to 35544.47


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN On ) ( NP ( NNP Tuesday ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Tokyo ) ( NN stock ) ( NN price ) ( NN index ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( JJ first ) ( NN section ) ( NNS issues ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB down ) ( NP ( CD 6.31 ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 2681.22 ) ) ) ) )

On Tuesday the Tokyo stock price index of all first section issues was down 6.31 at 2681.22


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ First ) ( NN section ) ( NN volume ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN estimated ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 900 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 605 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Monday ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

First section volume was estimated at 900 million shares up from 605 million Monday


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Observers ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB again ) ) ( VP ( VBD failed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB find ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN trading ) ( NN focus ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG discouraging ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ much ) ( NN participation ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NNS investors ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Observers said the market again failed to find a trading focus discouraging much participation by investors


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN market ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB remain ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ stable ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS expectations ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ future ) ( NNS gains ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ high ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS traders ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

The market however is expected to remain stable and expectations for future gains are high traders said


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ Such ) ( NN sentiment ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBN supported ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NN word ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ large ) ( NN amount ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NN investment ) ( NN trust ) ( NNS funds ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN scheduled ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB enter ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ( UCP-TMP ( NP ( RB later ) ( DT this ) ( NN week ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ early ) ( NNP November ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Such sentiment is being supported by word that a large amount of cash from investment trust funds is scheduled to enter the market later this week and in early November


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( JJ expected ) ( NN amount ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 700 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NN yen ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.93 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.05 ) ( CD trillion ) ) ( NN yen ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( JJ second ) ( JJS largest ) ) ( NN amount ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ given ) ( NN period ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( VBG following ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ record ) ( NN high ) ) ( VP ( VBN set ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP July ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN market ) ( NNS observers ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The expected amount is said to be 700 billion yen 4.93 billion to 1.05 trillion yen the second largest amount this year in a given period following the record high set at the end of July according to market observers


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ large ) ( NN amount ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN investment ) ( NN trust ) ( NN fund ) ( NN cash ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS analysts ) ) ( ADVP ( RB generally ) ) ( VP ( VBP see ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ( NN environment ) ) ( VP ( VBG improving ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( NN couple ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS weeks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition to a large amount of investment trust fund cash analysts generally see the market environment improving compared with the past couple of weeks


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Toshiyuki ) ( NNP Nishimura ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Yamaichi ) ( NNP Securities ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN market ) ( NN sentiment ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ bullish ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( ADVP ( RB simply ) ) ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( JJ few ) ( JJ bad ) ( NNS factors ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Toshiyuki Nishimura an analyst at Yamaichi Securities said The market sentiment is bullish simply because there are few bad factors


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Buying ) ( NN activity ) ) ( NP ( NNP Tuesday ) ) ( VP ( VBD centered ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ wide ) ( NN range ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN midcapitalization ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ domestic ) ( JJ demand-related ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP$ whose ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP range ) ( PP-CLR ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 1,000 ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 2,000 ) ( NN yen ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Buying activity Tuesday centered on a wide range of midcapitalization domestic demand-related shares whose prices range from 1,000 to 2,000 yen


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Investors ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT these ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNS targets ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN investment ) ( NN trust ) ( NNS funds ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB often ) ) ( VP ( VBP buy ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ small ) ( NNS amounts ) ) ( VP ( VBN spread ) ( PP-CLR ( IN across ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ wide ) ( NN range ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS issues ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Investors expect these shares will be targets of investment trust funds which often buy small amounts spread across a wide range of issues


( S ( S-TPC-4 ( PP-LOC ( IN On ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ other ) ( NN hand ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( JJ high-priced ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Pioneer ) ( NNP Electronic ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD failed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB spark ) ( NP ( NN investor ) ( NN interest ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT these ) ( NNS issues ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unlikely ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN bought ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NN investment ) ( NN trust ) ( NNS funds ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS observers ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

On the other hand high-priced shares such as Pioneer Electronic and Sony failed to spark investor interest because these issues are unlikely to be bought by investment trust funds observers said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Tuesday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ notable ) ( NNS losers ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ highpriced ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Pioneer ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD shed ) ( NP ( CD 210 ) ( NN yen ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 5,900 ) ( NN yen ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Tuesday 's notable losers were highpriced shares such as Pioneer which shed 210 yen to 5,900 yen


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sony ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB down ) ( NP ( CD 130 ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 8,590 ) ) ) ) ) )

Sony was down 130 to 8,590


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP TDK ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 120 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 5,960 ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Fuji ) ( NNP Photo ) ( NNP Film ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 160 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 4,830 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Fanuc ) ) ( VP ( VBD dropped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 160 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 7,440 ) ) ) ) ) )

TDK fell 120 to 5,960 Fuji Photo Film declined 160 to 4,830 and Fanuc dropped 160 to 7,440


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NN Share ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Frankfurt ) ( NN stock ) ( NN exchange ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( RB sharply ) ( JJR lower ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ thin ) ( NNS dealings ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ worried ) ( NNS investors ) ) ( VP ( VBD remained ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ idle ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN result ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD two ) ( ADJP ( RB potentially ) ( JJ destabilizing ) ) ( JJ domestic ) ( NNS developments ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Share prices on the Frankfurt stock exchange closed sharply lower in thin dealings as worried investors remained idle as the result of two potentially destabilizing domestic developments


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NNP DAX ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 15.85 ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB end ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 1507.37 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The DAX index fell 15.85 to end at 1507.37


( SINV ( VP-TPC-2 ( VBG Cutting ) ( PP-CLR ( IN against ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ downward ) ( NN trend ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Continental ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD jumped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 4 ) ( NNS marks ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 346 ) ( NNS marks ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( CD 187 ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ heavy ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS rumors ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT the ) ( NN tire ) ( NN maker ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP ( RB about ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( PRT ( RP over ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Cutting against the downward trend was Continental which jumped 4 marks to 346 marks 187 in heavy trading on rumors that the tire maker is about to be taken over


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD jumped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 7.5 ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Monday ) ) ) )

It jumped 7.5 Monday


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Traders ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB exceptionally ) ( JJ thin ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ small ) ( NNS investors ) ) ( VP ( VBP remain ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS sidelines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Traders said the market was exceptionally thin as small investors remain on the sidelines


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Market ) ( NNS participants ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS investors ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB not ) ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( VBG licking ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS wounds ) ) ( PP-TMP ( VBG following ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN turbulence ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ nervous ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS events ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP West ) ( NNP Germany ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Market participants say investors are not only licking their wounds following the turbulence last week but they have also been made nervous by two events in West Germany


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN On ) ( NP ( NNP Sunday ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( VBG governing ) ( NNP Christian ) ( NNP Democratic ) ( NNP Union ) ) ( VP ( VBD suffered ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN series ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS setbacks ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( DT the ) ( NN extent ) ( WHPP ( IN of ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD became ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB fully ) ( VBN known ) ) ( NP-TMP ( RB only ) ( JJ late ) ( NNP Monday ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ municipal ) ( NNS elections ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Baden-Wuerttemberg ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

On Sunday the governing Christian Democratic Union suffered a series of setbacks the extent of which became fully known only late Monday in municipal elections in Baden-Wuerttemberg


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Traders ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS investors ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ worried ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNP CDU ) ) ( VP ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB hold ) ( NP ( NN office ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ federal ) ( NNS elections ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1990 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Traders say investors are worried that the CDU wo n't be able to hold office in federal elections at the end of 1990


( S ( CC And ) ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS statements ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP IG ) ( NNP Metall ) ( NN labor ) ( NN union ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP Franz ) ( NNP Steinkuehler ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD cast ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN cloud ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN over ) ( NP ( NN trading ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS dealers ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

And statements by the chairman of the IG Metall labor union Franz Steinkuehler also cast a cloud over trading dealers said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Steinkuehler ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN convention ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP West ) ( NNP Berlin ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN union ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB prepare ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ big ) ( NN fight ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB achieve ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ main ) ( NN goal ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ 35-hour ) ( NN workweek ) ) ( ADVP ( IN down ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ current ) ( CD 37-hour ) ( NN workweek ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Steinkuehler said at a convention in West Berlin that the union has to prepare for a big fight to achieve its main goal of a 35-hour workweek down from current 37-hour workweek


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD cut ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB broadly ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ blue-chip ) ( NNS issues ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Siemens ) ) ( VP ( VBD tumbled ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 7.5 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 544 ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Deutsche ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ( VP ( VBD plunged ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 7 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 657 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN auto ) ( NNS makers ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB sharply ) ) ( ADVP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The decline in prices cut broadly through the blue-chip issues as Siemens tumbled 7.5 to 544 Deutsche Bank plunged 7 to 657 and the auto makers fell sharply as well


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Daimler-Benz ) ) ( VP ( VBD dropped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 12.5 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 710.5 ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bayerische ) ( NNP Motoren ) ( NNP Werke ) ) ( VP ( VBD dropped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 10.5 ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 543.5 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Volkswagen ) ) ( VP ( VBD lost ) ( NP ( CD 7.1 ) ) ) ) )

Daimler-Benz dropped 12.5 to 710.5 Bayerische Motoren Werke dropped 10.5 to 543.5 and Volkswagen lost 7.1


( S ( ADVP-LOC ( RB Elsewhere ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN share ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJR lower ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Zurich ) ( NNP Amsterdam ) ( NNP Milan ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Stockholm ) ) ) ) )

Elsewhere share prices closed lower in Zurich Amsterdam Milan and Stockholm


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NN Uneasiness ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NNP Wall ) ( NNP Street ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN cited ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ several ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ) ) )

Uneasiness about Wall Street was cited in several markets


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS Prices ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJR lower ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Sydney ) ( NNP Singapore ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Wellington ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD-2 ( JJ mixed ) ) ( PP-LOC-3 ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADJP-PRD=2 ( JJR higher ) ) ( PP-LOC=3 ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Taipei ) ( NNP Manila ) ( NNP Paris ) ( NNP Brussels ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Seoul ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Prices closed lower in Sydney Singapore and Wellington were mixed in Hong Kong and higher in Taipei Manila Paris Brussels and Seoul


( SINV ( ADVP-LOC-PRD-TPC-1 ( RB Here ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN price ) ( NNS trends ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN world ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ major ) ( NN stock ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( VP ( VBN calculated ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP Morgan ) ( NNP Stanley ) ( NNP Capital ) ( NNP International ) ( NNP Perspective ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Geneva ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Here are price trends on the world 's major stock markets as calculated by Morgan Stanley Capital International Perspective Geneva


( S ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO To ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP them ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB directly ) ( JJ comparable ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT each ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN based ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( S-NOM ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN close ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1969 ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG equaling ) ( NP ( CD 100 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

To make them directly comparable each index is based on the close of 1969 equaling 100


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN percentage ) ( NN change ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-TMP-PRD ( IN since ) ( NP ( NN year-end ) ) ) ) )

The percentage change is since year-end


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Northeast ) ( NNP Utilities ) ) ( VP ( VBD raised ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN bid ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Public ) ( NNP Service ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Hampshire ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG operating ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NNP Bankruptcy ) ( NNP Code ) ( NN protection ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.25 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.85 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) )

Northeast Utilities raised its bid for Public Service Co. of New Hampshire which is operating under Bankruptcy Code protection to 2.25 billion from 1.85 billion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Northeast ) ( POS 's ) ) ( VBN raised ) ( NN bid ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN supported ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP PS ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Hampshire ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ official ) ( NN shareholder ) ( NN committee ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN prelude ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-3 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN round ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NNS bids ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ other ) ( NNS groups ) ) ( VP ( VBG trying ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB acquire ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS largest ) ( NN utility ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Hampshire ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Northeast 's raised bid which was supported by PS of New Hampshire 's official shareholder committee is a prelude to what is expected to be a round of higher bids by the other groups trying to acquire the company the largest utility in New Hampshire


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 2.25 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN value ) ) ( VP ( VBN claimed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP Northeast ) ) ( PP ( VBN based ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Hartford ) ) ( NP ( NNP Conn. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS highest ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB yet ) ) ( VBN given ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN bid ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The 2.25 billion value claimed by Northeast based in Hartford Conn. is the highest yet given to a bid


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT Some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD three ) ( JJ other ) ( VBG bidding ) ( NNS groups ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB increase ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS offers ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( NN tomorrow ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN date ) ) ( VP ( VBN set ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ revised ) ( NNS offers ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT a ) ( NN bankruptcy ) ( NN court ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some of the three other bidding groups are expected to increase their offers tomorrow a date set for revised offers by a bankruptcy court judge


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT A ) ( NN hearing ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN set ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Nov. ) ( CD 15 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS participants ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB expect ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN resolution ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN until ) ( NP ( NNP July ) ( CD 1990 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A hearing is set for Nov. 15 but participants do n't expect a resolution until July 1990


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Under ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ new ) ( NNP Northeast ) ( NNP Utilities ) ( NN plan ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VP ( VB pay ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.65 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS creditors ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB assume ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 100 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN pollution ) ( NN control ) ( NNS bonds ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Under the new Northeast Utilities plan it would pay 1.65 billion in cash to creditors and assume 100 million in pollution control bonds


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Secured ) ( NNS creditors ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB recover ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NN principal ) ( CC and ) ( NN interest ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ unsecured ) ( NNS creditors ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB receive ) ( NP ( NP ( RB only ) ( NN principal ) ( CC and ) ( NN interest ) ) ( VP ( VBN accrued ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP PS ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Hampshire ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD filed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Bankruptcy ) ( NNP Code ) ( NN protection ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP January ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Secured creditors would recover both principal and interest while unsecured creditors would receive only principal and interest accrued before PS of New Hampshire filed for Bankruptcy Code protection in January


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJS biggest ) ( NN change ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Northeast ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN offer ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS improvements ) ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN equity ) ( NNS holders ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN given ) ( NP ( JJ short ) ( NN shrift ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB previously ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The biggest change in Northeast 's offer was in improvements made for equity holders who had been given short shrift previously


( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Assuming ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ full ) ( NN operation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Seabrook ) ( JJ nuclear ) ( NN power ) ( NN plant ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN completed ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB yet ) ) ( VP ( VBG operating ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NN equity ) ( NNS holders ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB receive ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN up ) ( TO to ) ( CD 500 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN cash ) ) ( NP ( JJ preferred ) ( NN stock ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( JJ 10-year ) ( NNP Seabrook ) ( NNS bonds ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Assuming full operation of the Seabrook nuclear power plant which is completed but is n't yet operating equity holders would receive up to 500 million in cash preferred stock and new 10-year Seabrook bonds


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Northeast ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ previous ) ( NN offer ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN proposed ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN equity ) ( NNS holders ) ) ( VP ( VB receive ) ( NP ( QP ( RB just ) ( CD 165 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Northeast 's previous offer had proposed that equity holders receive just 165 million


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Northeast ) ) ( VP ( VBD promised ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP State ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Hampshire ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN rate ) ( NNS increases ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN limited ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 5.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB annually ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( CD seven ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition Northeast promised the State of New Hampshire that rate increases would be limited to 5.5 % annually for seven years


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ Its ) ( JJ previous ) ( NN proposal ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN conditioned ) ( NP ( NP ( NN rate ) ( NNS limits ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Seabrook ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS contingencies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Its previous proposal had conditioned rate limits on Seabrook operations and other contingencies


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Wilbur ) ( NNP Ross ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ financial ) ( NN adviser ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN equity ) ( NNS holders ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S ( PP ( VBN Given ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ strong ) ( NN bargaining ) ( NN position ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP believe ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP NU ) ( NN plan ) ) ( VP ( VBZ provides ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS best ) ( NN recovery ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ available ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NAC ( NNP PS ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Hampshire ) ) ) ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN equity ) ( NNS holders ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Wilbur Ross financial adviser to the equity holders said Given the state 's strong bargaining position we believe the NU plan provides the best recovery available to PS of New Hampshire 's equity holders


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Officials ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP PS ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Hampshire ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN reached ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN comment ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Officials of PS of New Hampshire could n't be reached for comment


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ internal ) ( NN reorganization ) ( NN plan ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD valued ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB require ) ( NP ( ADJP ( CD 5.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN rate ) ( NNS increases ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company has filed an internal reorganization plan it valued at 2.2 billion that would require 5.5 % rate increases


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ( NN plan ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VP ( VB leave ) ( NP ( JJ existing ) ( JJ preferred ) ( NNS shareholders ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( DT a ) ( CD 41 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN stake ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( JJ common ) ( NNS shareholders ) ) ( NP ( QP ( RB as ) ( JJ little ) ( IN as ) ( CD 13 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) )

That plan would leave existing preferred shareholders with at least a 41 % stake and give common shareholders as little as 13 %


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP England ) ( NNP Electric ) ( NNP System ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NP ( NNP Westborough ) ) ( NP ( NNP Mass. ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN proposed ) ( S ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( CD 2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN plan ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB require ) ( NP ( NP ( NN rate ) ( NNS increases ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD 4.8 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB annually ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( CD seven ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

New England Electric System Westborough Mass. has proposed buying the company for 2 billion as part of a plan that would require rate increases of only 4.8 % annually for seven years


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN state ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Hampshire ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN favored ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN plan ) ) ) ) )

The state of New Hampshire has favored that plan


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ other ) ( NN bidder ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNP United ) ( NNP Illuminating ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP Haven ) ) ( NP ( NNP Conn. ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN bid ) ) ( VP ( VBN valued ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN proposal ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( CD seven ) ( NNS years ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( ADJP ( CD 5.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN rate ) ( NNS increases ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The other bidder is United Illuminating Co. New Haven Conn. with a bid valued at 2.2 billion and and a proposal for seven years of 5.5 % rate increases


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NN Trading ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Cineplex ) ( NNP Odeon ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN halted ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Toronto ) ( NN stock ) ( NNS exchanges ) ) ) ( NP-LOC ( RB late ) ( NN yesterday ) ( NN afternoon ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN request ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Toronto ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Trading in Cineplex Odeon Corp. shares was halted on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges late yesterday afternoon at the company 's request Toronto Stock Exchange officials said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Brian ) ( NNP Hemming ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN committee ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ independent ) ( NNS directors ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN established ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP May ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB solicit ) ( CC and ) ( VB evaluate ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS offers ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN announcement ) ) ( NP-TMP ( RB early ) ( DT this ) ( NN morning ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Brian Hemming a spokesman for the company 's committee of independent directors established in May to solicit and evaluate offers for the company said it was expected to make an announcement early this morning


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Hemming ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ aware ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN nature ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS talks ) ) ( PP ( IN under ) ( NP ( NN way ) ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NN committee ) ( NNS members ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS advisers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Mr. Hemming said he was n't aware of the nature of the talks under way between committee members and their advisers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Cineplex ) ) ( VP ( VBD traded ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 11.25 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 1.125 ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN trading ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN halted ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Cineplex traded on the New York Stock Exchange at 11.25 a share up 1.125 before trading was halted


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN speculated ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ recent ) ( NNS days ) ) ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS offers ) ) ( VP ( VBN received ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NN committee ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB well ) ( RB short ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN hoped ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NX ( NX ( NN chairman ) ) ( NX ( NN president ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( JJ chief ) ( JJ executive ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP Garth ) ( NNP Drabinsky ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ only ) ( NN bidder ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN whole ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Analysts have speculated in recent days that the value of offers received by the committee fell well short of what they had hoped or even that the company 's chairman president and chief executive officer Garth Drabinsky is the only bidder for the company as a whole


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( JJ current ) ( NN effort ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB auction ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN triggered ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN dispute ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Drabinsky ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Toronto-based ) ( NN movie ) ( NN chain ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ major ) ( NN shareholder ) ) ( NP ( NNP MCA ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The current effort to auction off the company was triggered by a dispute between Mr. Drabinsky and the Toronto-based movie chain 's major shareholder MCA Inc


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ Medieval ) ( NNS philosophers ) ) ( VP ( VBD used ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB hold ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ sensible ) ( NN belief ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ perfect ) ) ) ( S-3 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB exist ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-2 ( IN than ) ( S ( RB not ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB exist ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( S-SBJ ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB exist ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN matter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN necessity ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( RBS most ) ( JJ perfect ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT all ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Medieval philosophers used to hold the sensible belief that it was more perfect to exist than not to exist and that to exist as a matter of necessity was most perfect of all


( S ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( RB only ) ( NNP God ) ) ( VP ( VBZ exists ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN matter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ absolute ) ( NN necessity ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN built ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( PRP$ His ) ( NN nature ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Now only God exists as a matter of absolute necessity it is built into His nature


( S ( CC But ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN time ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Darwin ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ( NNS humans ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ) ( NN claim ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN sort ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ natural ) ( NN necessity ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN existence ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NNS species ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But since the time of Darwin we humans could at least claim a sort of natural necessity for the existence of our species


( SQ ( VBP Are ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( PP ( IN after ) ( NP ( DT all ) ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ inevitable ) ( NN culmination ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT that ) ( JJ stately ) ( NN pageant ) ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NN evolution ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Are n't we after all the inevitable culmination of that stately pageant called evolution


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN mutation ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN natural ) ( NN selection ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB slowly ) ( CC but ) ( RB surely ) ) ( VBP give ) ( NP-CLR ( NN rise ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( ADVP ( RBR more ) ( CC and ) ( RBR more ) ) ( JJ advanced ) ) ( NNS forms ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN life ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB then ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB only ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN matter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS eons ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ splendid ) ( NNS beings ) ) ( VP ( VBN endowed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN reason ) ( NN self-awareness ) ( CC and ) ( NN taste ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD shimmered ) ( PP-DIR ( IN onto ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN scene ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

If mutation and natural selection slowly but surely give rise to more and more advanced forms of life then it was only a matter of eons before splendid beings endowed with reason self-awareness and taste shimmered onto the scene


( SINV ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( ADVP-CLR-TPC-1 ( RB along ) ) ( VP ( VBZ comes ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Stephen ) ( NNP Jay ) ( NNP Gould ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB dash ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( JJ flattering ) ( NN illusion ) ) ) ) ) )

Now along comes Stephen Jay Gould to dash this flattering illusion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ His ) ( NNS credentials ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ excellent ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN task ) ) ) ) )

His credentials are excellent for the task


( S ( S-ADV ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( JJ Star ) ( NN lecturer ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Harvard ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN author ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ numerous ) ( JJ popular ) ( NNS books ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN science ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN scourge ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ creationist ) ( NN lobby ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Gould ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB perhaps ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN world ) ( VBZ 's ) ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ eminent ) ) ( JJ evolutionary ) ( NN theorist ) ) ) )

Star lecturer at Harvard author of numerous popular books on science and scourge of the creationist lobby Mr. Gould is perhaps the world 's most eminent evolutionary theorist


( S ( RB Yet ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ puts ) ( NP ( RB quite ) ( DT a ) ( NN twist ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ old ) ( NN story ) ) ( VP ( VBN handed ) ( PRT ( RP down ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP Darwin ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Yet he puts quite a twist on the old story handed down from Darwin


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ natural ) ( NN history ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( PP ( CC but ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ gradual ) ( JJ predictable ) ( NN march ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ primordial ) ( NN slime ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ human ) ( NN consciousness ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBG careening ) ( JJ chaotic ) ( NN affair ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN in ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN emergence ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ featherless ) ( NN biped ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ one-in-a-million ) ( NN shot ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For him natural history is anything but a gradual predictable march from primordial slime to human consciousness it is a careening chaotic affair in which the emergence of a featherless biped was a one-in-a-million shot


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP-TTL ( NP ( JJ Wonderful ) ( NN Life ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Burgess ) ( NNP Shale ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN Nature ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN History ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NNP Norton ) ) ( NP ( CD 326 ) ( NNS pages ) ) ( NP ( CD 19.95 ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Gould ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN case ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ awesome ) ( NN improbability ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ human ) ( NN evolution ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In Wonderful Life The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History Norton 326 pages 19.95 Mr. Gould makes his case for the awesome improbability of human evolution


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN argument ) ) ( VP ( VBZ turns ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN discovery ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1909 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ amazing ) ( NN fossil ) ( NN quarry ) ) ( PP-LOC ( ADVP ( RB high ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Canadian ) ( NNPS Rockies ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( NNP Burgess ) ( NNP Shale ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The argument turns on the discovery in 1909 of an amazing fossil quarry high in the Canadian Rockies called the Burgess Shale


( SINV ( ADVP-LOC ( RB Here ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN area ) ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( JJR smaller ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN city ) ( NN block ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD lay ) ( S ( VP ( VBN buried ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-5 ( NP ( NNS traces ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ countless ) ( JJ weird ) ( NNS creatures ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-4 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN frolicked ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( QP ( RBR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 500 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS creatures ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP$ whose ) ( JJ anatomical ) ( NN variety ) ) ( S ( VP ( ADVP ( RB far ) ) ( VBD exceeded ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-3 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN found ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PDT all ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN world ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS oceans ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Here in an area smaller than a city block lay buried traces of countless weird creatures that had frolicked more than 500 million years ago creatures whose anatomical variety far exceeded what can be found in all the world 's oceans today


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PDT Such ) ( DT an ) ( NN embarrassment ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS riches ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ inconceivable ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN man ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD discovered ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Burgess ) ( NNP Shale ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NNP Charles ) ( NNP Doolittle ) ( NNP Walcott ) ) ) ) ) )

Such an embarrassment of riches was inconceivable to the man who discovered the Burgess Shale one Charles Doolittle Walcott


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ received ) ( JJ Darwinian ) ( NN wisdom ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN day ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS animals ) ) ( VP ( VBG living ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB so ) ( RB long ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD must ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( JJ simple ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN design ) ) ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ limited ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN scope ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADJP ( JJ ancestral ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ contemporary ) ( NNS species ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The received Darwinian wisdom of the day said that animals living so long ago must be simple in design limited in scope and ancestral to contemporary species


( S ( ADVP ( RB Accordingly ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ hidebound ) ( NN traditionalist ) ) ( VP ( VBD reconstructed ) ( NP ( JJ hypothetical ) ( NNS organisms ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Burgess ) ( NNS fossils ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( PDT such ) ( DT a ) ( NN way ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN shoehorned ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( JJ familiar ) ( NNS categories ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Accordingly the hidebound traditionalist reconstructed hypothetical organisms from the Burgess fossils in such a way that they could be shoehorned into familiar categories


( S-CLF ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB not ) ( PP-PRD ( IN until ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( CD 1970s ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Cambridge ) ( NNP Prof. ) ( NNP Harry ) ( NNP Whittington ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( CD two ) ( JJ sharp ) ( JJ graduate ) ( NNS students ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD began ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB publish ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN reinterpretation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Burgess ) ( NNP Shale ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It was not until the early 1970s that Cambridge Prof. Harry Whittington and two sharp graduate students began to publish a reinterpretation of the Burgess Shale


( S ( PP-MNR ( IN By ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ clever ) ( NNS inferences ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB how ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( JJ squashed ) ( CC and ) ( JJ distorted ) ) ( NN fossil ) ( NNS remains ) ) ( VP ( VBD corresponded ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ three-dimensional ) ( NNS structures ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT this ) ( NN trio ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB piece ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB together ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN series ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ wondrous ) ( NNS beasties ) ) ) ( ADJP ( RB quite ) ( IN unlike ) ( NP ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( PP-LOC ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN planet ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

By making clever inferences about how the squashed and distorted fossil remains corresponded to three-dimensional structures this trio was able to piece together a series of wondrous beasties quite unlike anything currently on the planet


( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD One ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( JJ fantastic ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN appearance ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN dubbed ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Hallucigenia ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

One was so fantastic in appearance it was dubbed Hallucigenia


( S ( VP ( MD Would ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Gould ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ minute ) ( NNS descriptions ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS creatures ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB always ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB so ) ( JJ colorful ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Would that Mr. Gould 's minute descriptions of these creatures was always so colorful


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT A ) ( JJ good ) ( NN deal ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN book ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ boring ) ) ( NP-1 ( ADVP ( RB particularly ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ endless ) ( NNS allusions ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( ADJP ( JJ high ) ( CC and ) ( JJ pop ) ) ( NN culture ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ frequent ) ( NNS jokes ) ) ( VP ( VBG festooning ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN text ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A good deal of the book is boring particularly the endless allusions to high and pop culture and the frequent jokes festooning the text


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT These ) ( NNS turns ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VB provide ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ sufficient ) ( NN relief ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sentences ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJS Most ) ( JJ modern ) ( NNS chelicerates ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( CD six ) ( JJ uniramous ) ( NNS appendages ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN prosoma ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

These turns do not provide sufficient relief from sentences like Most modern chelicerates have six uniramous appendages on the prosoma


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Interest ) ) ( VP ( VBZ picks ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( ADVP ( RB though ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Gould ) ) ( VP ( VBZ gets ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB around ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG discussing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN meaning ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Burgess ) ( NNS oddities ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN theory ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN evolution ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Interest picks up though when Mr. Gould gets around to discussing the meaning of the Burgess oddities for the theory of evolution


( S ( PP-TMP ( NP ( RB Not ) ( RB long ) ) ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN appearance ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN life ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB evidently ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ explosive ) ( NN proliferation ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN animal ) ( NNS designs ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN seen ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN earth ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Not long after the appearance of life evidently there was an explosive proliferation in the number of animal designs seen on the earth


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ vast ) ( NN majority ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN wiped ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN succession ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ environmental ) ( NNS upheavals ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB too ) ( JJ sudden ) ( CC and ) ( JJ catastrophic ) ( SBAR ( IN for ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ normal ) ( NNS rules ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ natural ) ( NN selection ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB operate ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The vast majority of them however were wiped out by a succession of environmental upheavals that were too sudden and catastrophic for the normal rules of natural selection to operate


( S ( ADVP ( RB Consequently ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN winnowing ) ( NN process ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-PRD ( IN like ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lottery ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN in ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT each ) ( NN group ) ) ( VP ( VBD held ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN ticket ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ unrelated ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ anatomical ) ( NNS virtues ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Consequently the winnowing process was like a lottery in which each group held a ticket unrelated to its anatomical virtues


( FRAG ( NP ( RB So ) ( JJ much ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN survival ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS fittest ) ) ) ) ) )

So much for survival of the fittest


( FRAG ( NP ( RB So ) ( JJ much ) ) ( ADVP ( RB too ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN notion ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP we ) ( NNS humans ) ) ( VP ( VBD triumphed ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Darwinian ) ( NN struggle ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG evolving ) ( NP ( JJ big ) ( NNS brains ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So much too for the notion that we humans triumphed in the Darwinian struggle by evolving big brains


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ Our ) ( JJ mammalian ) ( NNS forerunners ) ) ( VP ( VBD lucked ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( PP ( IN through ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ extraterrestrial ) ( NN impact ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD did ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS dinosaurs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ small ) ( RB not ) ( JJ smart ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Our mammalian forerunners lucked out through the extraterrestrial impact that did in the dinosaurs because they were small not smart


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NN anyone ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( NN difficulty ) ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG imagining ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN world ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN in ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN history ) ) ( VP ( VBD went ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB merrily ) ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB on ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Gould ) ) ( VP ( VBZ sketches ) ( NP ( JJ several ) ) ) )

If anyone has difficulty imagining a world in which history went merrily on without us Mr. Gould sketches several


( S ( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( CD one ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS birds ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( JJ dominant ) ( NNS carnivores ) ) ) ) ( S ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT another ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS seas ) ) ( VP ( VBP abound ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ little ) ( NNS penises ) ) ) ) ) )

In one birds are the dominant carnivores in another the seas abound with little penises


( S-1 ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Back ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Burgess ) ( NNS fauna ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBG flourishing ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ seems ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ human ) ( JJ evolutionary ) ( NNS hopes ) ) ( VP ( VBD hung ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN survival ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ little ) ( NN worm ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN backbone ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Pikaia ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Back when the Burgess fauna were flourishing it seems human evolutionary hopes hung on the survival of a little worm with a backbone called Pikaia


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Gould ) ) ( VP ( VBZ finds ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB oddly ) ( JJ exhilarating ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( S-ADV ( PP-PRD ( IN like ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN existentialist ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ old ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ views ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NN contingency ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN source ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NP ( NN freedom ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ consequent ) ( JJ moral ) ( NN responsibility ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Gould finds this oddly exhilarating like an existentialist of old he views our contingency as a source of both freedom and consequent moral responsibility


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP I ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NN contrast ) ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VB help ) ( S ( VP ( NN feeling ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJ other ) ( NN curiosity ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Burgess ) ( NNP Shale ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN survived ) ( ADVP ( RB instead ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS beings ) ) ( ADJP ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( RB once ) ) ( ADJP ( JJR wiser ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( RBR less ) ( JJ boorish ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( NN Homo ) ( JJ sapiens ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB eventually ) ) ( VP ( VBN gained ) ( NP ( JJ earthly ) ( NN dominion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

I by contrast can not help feeling that if some other curiosity from the Burgess Shale had survived instead beings at once wiser and less boorish than Homo sapiens might have eventually gained earthly dominion


( S ( CC But ) ( SBAR-ADV ( RB even ) ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT no ) ( JJ conscious ) ( NN life ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN evolved ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB here ) ) ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( DT all ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN universe ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( UCP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ big ) ( NN place ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( VBN given ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ right ) ( NNS conditions ) ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sympathetic ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG creating ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN form ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN life ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But even if no conscious life had evolved here at all the universe is a big place and given the right conditions sympathetic to creating some form of life


( S ( ADVP ( RB Surely ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJ other ) ( JJ cosmic ) ( NN address ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT a ) ( JJ Gouldoid ) ( NN creature ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN risen ) ( ADVP-DIR ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN ooze ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB explain ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB why ) ) ( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB paleontologically ) ) ( VBG speaking ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB indeed ) ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ wonderful ) ( NN life ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Surely at some other cosmic address a Gouldoid creature would have risen out of the ooze to explain why paleontologically speaking it is indeed a wonderful life


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Holt ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN columnist ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Literary ) ( NNP Review ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP London ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Holt is a columnist for the Literary Review in London


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP California ) ( NNS legislators ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG searching ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS ways ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pay ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( QP ( CD 4 ) ( CD billion ) ( TO to ) ( CD 6 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS damages ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN earthquake ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG laying ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN groundwork ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ temporary ) ( NN increase ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

California legislators searching for ways to pay for the 4 billion to 6 billion in damages from last week 's earthquake are laying the groundwork for a temporary increase in the state 's sales tax


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN talk ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ( NN rise ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ follows ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN rebuff ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP Congress ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN question ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-3 ( WRB how ) ( JJ much ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN government ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ willing ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB spend ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( NN aid ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP California ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN earthquake ) ( NN relief ) ( NNS efforts ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The talk of a sales tax rise follows a rebuff from Congress on the question of how much the federal government is willing to spend to aid in California 's earthquake relief efforts


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN sought ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB as ) ( JJ much ) ( IN as ) ( CD 4.1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN relief ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP House ) ) ( VP ( VBD approved ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ general ) ) ( JJ scaled-back ) ( NN measure ) ) ( VP ( VBG calling ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.85 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN aid ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( DT the ) ( NN bulk ) ( WHPP ( IN of ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP California ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN with ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT an ) ( JJ unspecified ) ( NN amount ) ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS regions ) ) ( VP ( VBN affected ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Hurricane ) ( NNP Hugo ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The state had sought as much as 4.1 billion in relief but yesterday the House approved a more general scaled-back measure calling for 2.85 billion in aid the bulk of which would go to California with an unspecified amount going to regions affected by Hurricane Hugo


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBZ leaves ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( NP ( QP ( RB roughly ) ( CD 2 ) ( CD billion ) ( TO to ) ( CD 4 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( JJ short ) ) ) ) )

That leaves the state roughly 2 billion to 4 billion short


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT A ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ( VP ( VBZ appears ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS fastest ) ( CC and ) ( JJS easiest ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( NNS funds ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN hurry ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A sales tax increase appears to be the fastest and easiest to raise funds in a hurry


( S ( PP ( VBG According ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( NN department ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN finance ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ one-penny ) ( NN increase ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NAC ( JJ six-cent ) ( PP ( IN per ) ( NP ( NN dollar ) ) ) ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) )

According to the state department of finance a one-penny increase in the state 's six-cent per dollar sales tax could raise 3 billion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Willie ) ( NNP Brown ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN speaker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP California ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN Assembly ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Gov. ) ( NNP George ) ( NNP Deukmejian ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB schedule ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ special ) ( NN session ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN legislature ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN within ) ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS weeks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Willie Brown speaker of California 's Assembly said that Gov. George Deukmejian has agreed to schedule a special session of the legislature within two weeks


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP California ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ so-called ) ( NNP Gann ) ( NN limit ) ) ( VP ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB effectively ) ) ( VBZ prevents ) ( NP-1 ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG spending ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN tax ) ( NN money ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( RB so ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB drastically ) ) ( VBZ limits ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS options ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN emergency ) ) ) ) ) ) )

California 's so-called Gann limit effectively prevents the state from spending new tax money and so drastically limits its options in an emergency


( S ( NP-SBJ ( CC Both ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Brown ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( VBZ 's ) ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ influential ) ) ( NN legislator ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Gov. ) ( NNP Deukmejian ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP favor ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ temporary ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( MD should ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NN money ) ) ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN needed ) ( SBAR ( IN than ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ existing ) ( NNS sources ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN government ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Both Mr. Brown the state 's most influential legislator and Gov. Deukmejian favor a temporary sales tax increase should more money be needed than the state can raise from existing sources and the federal government


( S ( PP ( VBG According ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN governor ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBG studying ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN possibility ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG raising ) ( NP ( NN state ) ( NN gasoline ) ( NNS taxes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

According to a spokesman the governor is also studying the possibility of raising state gasoline taxes


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Brown ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB meanwhile ) ) ( VP ( VBZ believes ) ( SBAR ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD one ) ) ( NN tax ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ feasible ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ one-penny ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Chuck ) ( NNP Dalldorf ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN aide ) ) ) )

Mr. Brown meanwhile believes only one tax will be feasible and it will be a one-penny sales tax increase said Chuck Dalldorf an aide


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD One ) ( JJ immediate ) ( NN source ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN money ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN emergency ) ( NN fund ) ) ( VP ( VBD set ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Gov. ) ( NNP Deukmejian ) ) ) ) ) ) )

One immediate source of money is an emergency fund set up by Gov. Deukmejian


( SINV ( S-TPC-4 ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT The ) ( NN fund ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN set ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB handle ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( RB precisely ) ( DT the ) ( NN kind ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN emergency ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( VBZ faces ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Tom ) ( NNP Beermann ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Governor ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ deputy ) ( NN press ) ( NN secretary ) ) ) )

The fund has about 1 billion and is set up to handle precisely the kind of emergency the state faces said Tom Beermann the Governor 's deputy press secretary


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN fund ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN size ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN disputed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Brown ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN office ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ estimates ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN fund ) ) ( VP ( VBZ holds ) ( NP ( QP ( IN from ) ( CD 630 ) ( CD million ) ( TO to ) ( CD 800 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But the fund 's size is disputed by Mr. Brown 's office which estimates the fund holds from 630 million to 800 million


( S ( ADVP ( RB Moreover ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN aide ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Brown ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Gov. ) ( NNP Deukmejian ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN expressed ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN desire ) ( S ( RB not ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB spend ) ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT the ) ( NN reserve ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT this ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Moreover an aide to Mr. Brown said Gov. Deukmejian has expressed a desire not to spend all the reserve on this


( S ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO To ) ( VP ( VB push ) ( PRT ( RP through ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB suspend ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Gann ) ( NN limit ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG citing ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN emergency ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

To push through a sales tax increase however the state will have to suspend the Gann limit citing an emergency


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( CC And ) ( RB then ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN required ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB lower ) ( NP ( NNS taxes ) ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ corresponding ) ( NN amount ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ three-year ) ( NN period ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( S-NOM ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ temporary ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ( VP ( VBZ ends ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Cindy ) ( NNP Katz ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ assistant ) ( NN director ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( NN department ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN finance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And then it will be required to lower taxes by a corresponding amount during a three-year period after the temporary tax increase ends said Cindy Katz assistant director of the state department of finance


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB require ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS two-thirds ) ( NN approval ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT both ) ( NNS houses ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN legislature ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A sales tax increase would require two-thirds approval in both houses of the state 's legislature


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS observers ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( NP ( JJ broad ) ( NN support ) ) ) )

But observers expect broad support


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT an ) ( NN emergency ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ sufficient ) ( NNS funds ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( RB elsewhere ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN attitude ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ supportive ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Kirk ) ( NNP West ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP California ) ( NNP Chamber ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Commerce ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

If there 's an emergency and there are n't sufficient funds from elsewhere I think the attitude will be supportive said Kirk West president of the California Chamber of Commerce


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS others ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN property ) ( NNS owners ) ) ( VP ( MD ought ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pay ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJR higher ) ( NN portion ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN earthquake ) ( NN relief ) ( NN tab ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But others think property owners ought to pay a higher portion of the state 's earthquake relief tab


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Since ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ late ) ( NNS 1970s ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP California ) ( NN property ) ( NNS owners ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN benefited ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN tax ) ( NN rollback ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN result ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN state ) ( NN ballot ) ( NN initiative ) ) ( VP ( VBN known ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNP Proposition ) ( CD 13 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Since the late 1970s California property owners have benefited from a tax rollback as a result of a state ballot initiative known as Proposition 13


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VB increase ) ( NP ( NN gasoline ) ( NNS taxes ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT every ) ( CD one ) ( NN penny ) ( NN increase ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN tax ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB yield ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 11 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN month ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The state could also increase gasoline taxes every one penny increase in the tax would yield 11 million a month


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Gov. ) ( NNP Deukmejian ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNS others ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ reluctant ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( NP ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB harm ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS chances ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB sharply ) ) ( VBG raising ) ( NP ( NN gasoline ) ( NNS taxes ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ permanent ) ( NN basis ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Gov. Deukmejian and others are reluctant to do anything to harm the state 's chances of sharply raising gasoline taxes on a permanent basis


( S ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO To ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NN highway ) ( NNS funds ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN measure ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB double ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NAC ( NP ( JJ nine-cent ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN gallon ) ) ) ( NN tax ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN over ) ( NP ( CD five ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN set ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB appear ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP June ) ( NN election ) ( NN ballot ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

To raise more highway funds a measure to double the state 's nine-cent a gallon tax over five years is set to appear on the state 's June election ballot


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT some ) ) ( VP ( VBP fear ) ( SBAR ( S ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG imposing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ temporary ) ( NN gasoline ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN meantime ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB undercut ) ( NP ( NP ( NN support ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN among ) ( NP ( NNS voters ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN measure ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But some fear imposing a temporary gasoline tax increase in the meantime could undercut support among voters for the measure


( S ( NP-SBJ ( RB Not ) ( NN everyone ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN convinced ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( MD must ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN revenue ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB meet ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN earthquake ) ( NNS needs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Not everyone is convinced the state must raise new revenue to meet its earthquake needs


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ possible ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN though ) ( FRAG ( RB not ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ probable ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( PRT ( RP by ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ existing ) ( NNS resources ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ federal ) ( NN help ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Quentin ) ( NNP Kopp ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( NN senate ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN transportation ) ( NN committee ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's possible though not probable that the state could get by with its existing resources and federal help said Quentin Kopp chairman of the state senate 's transportation committee


( S ( ADVP ( RB Separately ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS men ) ) ( VP ( VBN injured ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ earthquake-triggered ) ( NN freeway ) ( NN collapse ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Oakland ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD began ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ legal ) ( NN battle ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB adequately ) ) ( VBD heeded ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS warnings ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN structure ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN safety ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Separately two men injured in last week 's earthquake-triggered freeway collapse in Oakland began a legal battle against the state over whether officials adequately heeded warnings about the structure 's safety


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS claims ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP State ) ( NNP Board ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Control ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( ADVP ( RB probably ) ) ( VP ( VB end ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN court ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( RB first ) ) ( VP ( VBG arising ) ( ADVP-DIR ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN collapse ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ so-called ) ( NNP Cypress ) ( NN structure ) ( NN viaduct ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The claims which were filed with the State Board of Control but will probably end up in court are the first arising out of the collapse of the so-called Cypress structure viaduct


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT The ) ( NNS men ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB defeat ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS immunities ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS states ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB often ) ) ( VP ( VBP assert ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN court ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG showing ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD knew ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN known ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-3 ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN design ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN structure ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ defective ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD failed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( JJ reasonable ) ( NNS changes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The men can defeat immunities that states often assert in court by showing that officials knew or should have known that design of the structure was defective and that they failed to make reasonable changes


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT A ) ( NAC ( NNP Board ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Control ) ) ) ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN board ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBN seen ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN claim ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB comment ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A Board of Control spokesman said the board had not seen the claim and declined to comment


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Directors ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Bergen ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Den ) ( NNP Norske ) ( NNP Creditbank ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Norway ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ leading ) ( NNS banks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD announced ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN agreed ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ formal ) ( NN merger ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS banks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Directors of Bergen Bank and Den Norske Creditbank two of Norway 's leading banks announced they had agreed to the formal merger of the banks


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN merger ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB create ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Scandinavia ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ seventh ) ( JJS largest ) ) ( NN bank ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ combined ) ( NNS assets ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 210 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( JJ Norwegian ) ( NN kroner ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 30.3 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The merger would create Scandinavia 's seventh largest bank with combined assets of 210 billion Norwegian kroner 30.3 billion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS banks ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN application ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN concession ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB merge ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN entity ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Den ) ( NNP Norske ) ( NNP Bank ) ( IN AS ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN sent ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Monday ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Finance ) ( NNP Ministry ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The banks said an application for a concession to merge into one entity to be called Den Norske Bank AS was sent Monday to the Finance Ministry


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( CD two ) ( NNS boards ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ joint ) ( NN statement ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ proposed ) ( NN merger ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN considered ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ separate ) ( NN board ) ( NNS meetings ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Oslo ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Monday ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The two boards said in a joint statement that the proposed merger agreement was considered in separate board meetings in Oslo Monday


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN submitted ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ respective ) ( JJ supervisory ) ( NNS boards ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( IN next ) ( NNP Wednesday ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They said the agreement will be submitted to their respective supervisory boards next Wednesday


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Extraordinary ) ( JJ general ) ( NNS meetings ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN held ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Nov. ) ( CD 28 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB decide ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN share ) ( NN exchange ) ( NN ratio ) ) ) ) )

Extraordinary general meetings to be held Nov. 28 will decide the share exchange ratio


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN merger ) ) ( VP ( VBZ requires ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN approval ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ Norwegian ) ( NNS authorities ) ) ) ) ) )

The merger requires the approval of Norwegian authorities


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Combustion ) ( NNP Engineering ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ third-quarter ) ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 22.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG reversing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 91.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NN loss ) ) ) ) ) )

Combustion Engineering Inc. said third-quarter net income of 22.8 million reversing a 91.7 million year-earlier loss


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Stamford ) ) ( NP ( NNP Conn. ) ) ) ( JJ power-generation ) ( NNS products ) ( CC and ) ( NNS services ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ per-share ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD 56 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 2.39 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Stamford Conn. power-generation products and services company said per-share earnings were 56 cents compared with the year-ago loss of 2.39


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Sales ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 1.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 884 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 897.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

Sales fell 1.5 % to 884 million from 897.2 million


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ Strong ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN process ) ( NNS industries ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NN chemical ) ( CC and ) ( NN pulp ) ( CC and ) ( NN paper ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN offset ) ( PP ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJR higher ) ( NN interest ) ( NN expense ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJR lower ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBN closed ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( JJ long-term ) ( NNS contracts ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Strong profit in the process industries including chemical and pulp and paper were offset by higher interest expense and by lower earnings as the company closed out certain long-term contracts


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Combustion ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ improved ) ( NNS profits ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN automation ) ( CC and ) ( NN control ) ( NNS products ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD narrowed ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS losses ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NX ( NX ( JJ public ) ( NN sector ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( JJ environmental ) ( NN segment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Combustion reported improved profits in its automation and control products businesses and it narrowed its losses in its public sector and environmental segment


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Power ) ( NN generation ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( CC but ) ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD cited ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS factors ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NN work ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( JJ low ) ( NN profit-margin ) ( NNS contracts ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ previous ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Power generation had higher sales but lower earnings the company cited factors including work on certain low profit-margin contracts from previous years


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Net ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD included ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ pretax ) ( NN gain ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 22.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sale ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Combustion ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN minority ) ( NN interest ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Stein ) ( NNP Industrie ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP GEC ) ( NNP Alsthom ) ( NNP N.V. ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Netherlands ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Net in the latest quarter included a pretax gain of 22.4 million from the sale of Combustion 's minority interest in Stein Industrie to GEC Alsthom N.V. of the Netherlands


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Last ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( VBD reflected ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN gain ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 28.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN disposition ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS assets ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 165 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( JJ pretax ) ( NN provision ) ( RB mainly ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS costs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG completing ) ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( UCP ( JJ waste-to-energy ) ( CC and ) ( JJ other ) ) ( NN power ) ( NNS plants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last year 's results reflected a gain of 28.2 million on disposition of assets and a 165 million pretax provision mainly from costs of completing certain waste-to-energy and other power plants


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Oil ) ( NNS imports ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 12 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP September ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NNS levels ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS statistics ) ) ( VP ( VBN released ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN government ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Ministry ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP International ) ( NNP Trade ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Industry ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Oil imports to Japan rose 12 % in September from year-earlier levels according to statistics released by the government 's Ministry of International Trade and Industry


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS imports ) ) ( VP ( VBG totaling ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 98.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS barrels ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( NP ( CD 11 ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJR lower ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ( NNS levels ) ) ) ) ) )

The imports totaling 98.5 million barrels were 11 % lower than August levels


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ year-on-year ) ( NN rise ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-PRP-PRD ( PP ( ADVP ( RB partly ) ) ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NN demand ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN petroleum ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( ADVP ( RB partly ) ) ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN tax ) ( NNS changes ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD left ) ( NP ( NN oil ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ high ) ( NNS inventories ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ late-summer\/early-FALL ) ( NN PERIOD ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The year-on-year rise was partly because of higher demand for petroleum products and partly because of tax changes in 1988 that left oil companies with high inventories in the late-summer\/early-FALL PERIOD


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Imports ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN crude ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Middle ) ( NNP East ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD grew ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 17 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NNS levels ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( ADJP ( JJ Southeast ) ( JJ Asian ) ) ( NN crude ) ( NNS imports ) ) ( VP ( VBD grew ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 43 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) )

Imports of crude from the Middle East grew 17 % from year-earlier levels and Southeast Asian crude imports grew 43 %


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Mideast ) ( NN crude ) ( NNS imports ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJR higher ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NNS levels ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 18 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ( NNS imports ) ) ) ) ) )

While Mideast crude imports were higher compared with year-earlier levels they fell 18 % compared with August imports


( S ( NP-SBJ ( ADJP ( JJ Southeast ) ( JJ Asian ) ) ( NN crude ) ( NNS imports ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( NP ( CD 3.6 ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJR higher ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ) ) ) )

Southeast Asian crude imports however were 3.6 % higher than August


CHICAGO


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sears ) ( NNP Roebuck ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG struggling ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ enters ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ critical ) ( NNP Christmas ) ( NN season ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Sears Roebuck & Co. is struggling as it enters the critical Christmas season


( S ( NP-TMP ( NN Yesterday ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN retailing ) ( CC and ) ( JJ financial ) ( NNS services ) ( NN giant ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 16 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN drop ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 257.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 75 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ restated ) ( QP ( CD 305 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 80 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Yesterday the retailing and financial services giant reported a 16 % drop in third-quarter earnings to 257.5 million or 75 cents a share from a restated 305 million or 80 cents a share a year earlier


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN news ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB even ) ( JJR worse ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sears ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ core ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN retailing ) ( NN operation ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS largest ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN nation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But the news was even worse for Sears 's core U.S. retailing operation the largest in the nation


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sears ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS stores ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 6.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ first ) ( NN deficit ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN period ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( QP ( RBR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD five ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Sears said its U.S. stores had a loss of 6.9 million their first deficit for the period in more than five years


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBD estimated ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS stores ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB too ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Analysts estimated that sales at U.S. stores declined in the quarter too


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( VBP underscore ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sears ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS difficulties ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG implementing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ everyday ) ( JJ low ) ( NN pricing ) ( NN strategy ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD adopted ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP March ) ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ broad ) ( NN attempt ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB revive ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN retailing ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The results underscore Sears 's difficulties in implementing the everyday low pricing strategy that it adopted in March as part of a broad attempt to revive its retailing business


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Under ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ new ) ( NN approach ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sears ) ) ( VP ( VBD set ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADVP-LOC-PRD ( RB somewhere ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ old ) ( ADJP ( JJ regular ) ( CC and ) ( NN sale ) ) ( NNS prices ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Under the new approach Sears set prices that were somewhere between its old regular and sale prices


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB resort ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB far ) ( RBR less ) ( RB often ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG slashing ) ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB woo ) ( NP ( NNS shoppers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company said it would resort far less often to slashing prices to woo shoppers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sears ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBP insist ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB intend ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB abandon ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ everyday ) ( NN pricing ) ( NN approach ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN face ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ poor ) ( NNS results ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Sears officials insist they do n't intend to abandon the everyday pricing approach in the face of the poor results


( S ( ADVP ( RB Instead ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VBZ blames ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ dismal ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NN showing ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN environment ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-3 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBN distorted ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT a ) ( RB very ) ( JJ harsh ) ( NN climate ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ durable ) ( NNS goods ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP account ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( RB roughly ) ( NNS two-thirds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sears ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ annual ) ( NN merchandise ) ( NN volume ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Instead a spokesman blames the dismal third-quarter showing on an environment that is being distorted by a very harsh climate for sales of durable goods which account for roughly two-thirds of Sears 's annual merchandise volume


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ new ) ( NN pricing ) ( NN strategy ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG working ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VBD asserted ) ) )

The new pricing strategy is working the spokesman asserted