The Daily Times from Salisbury, Maryland • 3

World The Daily Times Thursday, February 20, 1992 Page 3 Nation NEWS IN BRIEF Greenspan: 'Stirrings' of recovery Low inflation, rise in housing starts boost economic hopes housing construction shot up 5.5 percent last month, spurred by a burst of activity in the Midwest Construction starts for houses and apartments advanced to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.12 million units, the highest since May 1990. The Labor Department's said its Consumer Price Index rose just 0.1 percent last month, reflecting the fact that energy prices had fallen for the first time since July. The 1.5 percent energy price drop included a 1.9 percent decrease in gasoline pump prices and a 5.5 percent decline in home heating oil costs. Thursday that consumer prices rose a minuscule 0.1 percent in January, reflecting falling energy prices and a drop in food costs. Economists, who are counting on a gain in housing to lead the country out of recession, were heartened by the report showing the January increase, the fourth in a row.

President Bush, campaigning in Tennessee, noted what he called he rather dramatic kick-up" in housing starts. In other reports: The Commerce Department said industrial production would not be repeated this month. "We are beginning to see stirrings" that suggest "some modest quickening" in the economy as the year unfolds, he told a House Banking subcommittee. All of this is being accomplished in an environment where the underlying rate of inflation is declining, he said, offering the prospect "that within the foreseeable future we will have attained the lowest rates of inflation in a generation." Supporting Greenspan's assessment of the economy, the government reported By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economic Writer WASHINGTON Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress Wednesday that the nation's economy, though still "troubled," is on the road to at least a modest recovery that should be accompanied by the best performance on inflation in a generation. Greenspan noted encouraging signs of strength in housing and retail sales and said the Fed was tracking weekly data that indicated January's huge plunge in A- The hands-off approach is over for Bush r- A Robert Teeter or press secretary Marlin Fitzwater.

La the end, they settled on a written statement by the president, acknowledging that the race was "far closer than many had predicted." A new message was firmed up by the time Bush stepped off Air Force One in Knoxville on Wednesday. "Some of these congressmen with me today "Hey, since when is an 18-point victory been considered anything other than a landslide?" Bush asked. Yet, Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, warned that, "When people give you a wakeup call, it's best to take it." aM i yy. i AP LaMrphoto CAMPAIGN STOP.

Democratic presidential hopeful Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts waves to well-wishers during a campaign stop Wednesday in Baltimore. Tsongas won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday with 35 percent of the vote. Strong runnerup Clinton heads south By TERENCE HUNT AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON After a panicky scramble on New Hampshire primary day, White House political strategists settled Wednesday on the theme that an 18-point victory wasn't that bad after all. To avert another close call, President Bush abandoned his hands-off approach with challenger Patrick Buchanan. Tm not taking anything for granted," Bush said on a political trip to Tennessee.

Tm going to stay out here across this country and I've been in tough fights before roll up my sleeves and go after them Spurred by Buchanan's strong showing, Bush operatives charted an aggressive tour that will keep the president on the campaign trail most days through the Super Tuesday array of primaries and caucuses on March 10. White House officials were rattled Tuesday by fast-changing exit polls in New Hampshire that showed a much closer outcome than the eventual margin of 58 percent to 40 percent. "I admit I was a little tense with a couple of reports I heard there," said the president. Stunned by the numbers, the White House groped for a response but was paralyzed for hours by indecision. Strategists debated whether to bring Bush before the press, or leave the job to campaign chairman By STEVEN KOMAROW Associated Pren Writer Nation Coin redesign plan rejected by House WASHINGTON (AP) The Lincoln Memorial is safe on the "tails" side of pennies, and Thomas Jefferson home will stay on the nickel The House on Wednesday rejected a proposal to redesign the nation's coins.

On a 241-172 vote, the House defeated a Senate-passed measure to strip the eagle, the Statue of Liberty's torch, Monticello and the Lincoln Memorial from the quarter, dime, nickel and penny beginning next January. "What's wrong the current designs? They represent the stability and continuity of our nation" said Rep. Al McCandless, who led the opposition. "The American people do not want their coins redesigned." Blacks in college at an all-time high NEW YORK (AP) More black students are enrolled in college than ever before, the United Negro College Fund said Wednesday. The fund released a study showing 1.2 million black students 476,000 men and 747,000 women are pursuing a college education.

Between 1988 and 1990, college enrollment by students of all races increased 5.1 percent, but the enrollment of black students went up 8.2 percent The number of black students who complete high school is also on the rise, with 77 percent graduating in 1991. In 1970, less than 60 percent of black students completed high school. Former IRA member deported NEW YORK (AP) Former Irish Republican Army member Joseph Doherty lost his 10-year battle for political asylum Wednesday when he was deported to face a life sentence for murdering a British soldier in Belfast in 1980. Doherty, 37, was clandestinely taken from federal prison in Lewisburg, and placed on a plane headed for the United Kingdom, according to a federal law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The move provoked sharp criticism from Doherty's supporters, who said justice was sacrificed for the sake of relations with the British government Administration's Haiti policy is blasted WASHINGTON (AP) -House Democrats on Wednesday described the administration's Haiti policy as a failure and scoffed at State Department claims that there is no evidence repatriated refugees are mistreated.

"The policy is in shambles." said Rep. Robert Torricelli, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs. Rep. Charles Rangel, who returned from a visit to Haiti shortly before the hearing, cast doubt on administration statements that there is no evidence that any of the thousands of Haitians who have been repatriated by the U.S. Coast Guard have been mistreated in their homeland.

Nation Rabin leads Peres in pre-election ballot TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -Yitzhak Rabin pulled ahead of Shimon Peres in early results Wednesday from the Labor Party leadership battle that could shape Israels next government and its Mideast peace moves. With a third of the vote counted, Rabin had just over the 40 percent needed for an outright victory, to 36 percent for Peres. Israel Kessar, head of the Hista-drut labor federation, had 18.4 percent and would be the kingmaker in a runoff next week if Rabin fails to capture 40 percent. The contest could have critical implications for national elections on June 23. Polls indicate Rabin would do better than Peres against Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's Likud party.

Smog alert prompts Mexico City fan plan MEXICO CITY (AP) The government Wednesday ordered many cars off the streets and cut factory production after pollution soared to near-record levels for the third time this month over one the world's most contaminated cities. Meanwhile, engineers began studying a politician's plan to have gargantuan fans blast poisons from the thin air over this city of 16 million people. Five thousand factories were told to cut production by 30 percent asphalt plants were ordered closed and half of official cars were ordered off the streets by the Metropolitan Commission for tie Prevention and Control of Air Pollution. to get Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, or Rep.

Richard Gephardt, to enter the campaign. Last week, with Clinton reeling from accusations of marital infidelity and avoiding the Vietnam era draft, Democrats speculated that a party "heavyweight" might come in to fill the void. But with Clinton securing 26 percent in New Hampshire, a solid second, that talk appeared to die out on Wednesday. Sen. Wendell Ford, who had publicly held out the possibility of a Bentsen draft movement, pulled back.

Tie is on hold," said spokesman Mark Day. "There was talk in terms of Gephardt There's not now," said a Senate Democrat who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Foley said that despite Tsongas victory, he regarded Clinton as the front-runner among the five candidates. Foley, who would have supported Gephardt, declined to endorse any candidate. But he noted that he strongly disagrees with Tsongas' position against a middle-class tax break.

In an apparent slip, Foley referred to Tsongas as "Dukakis," the failed 1988 Democratic nominee, when a reporter noted that the former senator had said he would veto such a tax cut if he were president "The public will decide whether Sen. Dukakis will be able to veto anything," Foley said. A group of Southern House Democrats lined up outside the Capitol to endorse Clinton and predict better results for him in primaries to come particularly those coming next month in the South. The Clinton campaign released a list of 43 members of Congress who have endorsed him. WASHINGTON Arkansas Gov.

Bill Clinton's respectable showing in New Hampshire appeared Wednesday to chill efforts by congressional Democrats to launch another candidate into the Democratic presidential race. But Democrats still worry privately about the ability of either Clinton or former Sen. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, their top vote getter in New Hampshire, to win a presidential campaign next fall. "I've always said the nominee will come from the present candidates in the field," said House Speaker Thomas S. Foley, D-Wash.

"That has been reinforced by results in New Hampshire." "Anybody who was seriously thinking about it has backed off," said a Senate Democratic aide familiar with maneuvering Thomas-written appeals court ruling goes against women ruling said. By RICHARD CARELLI Thomas served on the U.S. Circuit Court of Ap- Eeals for the istrict of Columbia until he joined the Supreme Court in November. Jus to invalidate the FCC's gender-based affirmative action policy and that Judge Abner Mikva had dissented. In a concurring opinion accompanying Thomas' on Wednesday, Buckley said the newspapers report was based merely on drafts of the majority and dissenting opinions ana marked "a most serious breach of trust" There was no explanation for the five-month lag between the newspaper's September report and release of the decision.

Buckley called for the full appeals court to conduct "a formal investigation in an effort to identify the source or sources of this disclosure." Five of the appeals court's 11 judges signed a brief statement to support that suggestion. The Supreme Court in 1990 upheld, by a 54 vote, the FCC's policy giving special preferences to minorities who apply for broadcast licenses. But mat decision left unanswered whether a policy giving preference to women also was constitutional. jr'h Thomas Thomas heard the case before his confirmation to the Supreme Court and while he was a member of the appeals panel. A legal newspaper reported last fall that the panel had reached its conclusion but delayed announcing it to avoid controversy during Thomas' confirmation hearings.

Judge James Buckley, who joined in the panel's 2-1 decision, said the paper's account was based on "preliminary I drafts." He called for an investi-jgation to find the source of a possible leak. Associated Preu Writer WASHINGTON The government may not give special preference to women in awarding broadcast licenses, a federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday in an opinion written by Clarence Thomas. Such preference, part of a Federal Communications Commission policy aimed at giving women a bigger role in broadcasting, unconstitutionally discriminates against men, the tices may finish work on decisions after such promotions. The Legal Times of Washington in September reported that Thomas and Buckley had voted PEOPLE Life in country suits Andie MacDowell MISSOULA, Mont (AP) Life in the country suits actress Andie MacDowell. i 4 i.

She drew a standing-room only crowd at a Kiwanis Club luncheon, where she raved about her newfound rural home west of town. "When I go out there, I can't believe that this is MacDowell Roseanne and Tom Arnold make film DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -Roseanne and Tom Arnold plan to produce and star in an Iowa-filmed, made-for-television movie about a welfare recipient who worships Elvis Presley. Tom Arnold, an Iowa native, told The Dea Moines Register in a telephone interview this week from New York that he will direct and begin shooting the film in June based on the novel "Graceland" by Laura Kalpakian. 91-year-old Jester Hairston earns 'star' LOS ANGELES (AP) With onlookers bobbing to the sound of gospel music, 91-year-old "Amen" TV actor Jester Hairston unveiled his Hollywood Walk of Fame star. About 200 fans and members of the "Amen" cast, including actors Clifton Davis and Sherman Hemsley, gathered Tuesday to cheer as Hairston unveiled the star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard.

Also on hand were the McNeil Jubilee Singers, who enlisted the audience in a chorus of the gospel song "Amen" during the ceremony. He was the choral arranger for Dimitri Tiomkin for 20 years before appearing in the "Amos 'n' Andy" TV and radio shows, in Johnny Weissmuller's "Tarzan" film3 and the movies "In the Heat of the Night," "Lady Sings the Blues." "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings," "The Alamo" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Gregory arrested in support of Haitians EAST ST. LOUIS, 111. (AP) Former comedian and nutritionist Dick Gregory was arrested Wednesday after spending the night handcuffed to the doors of a federal courthouse to oppose the government's treatment of Haitian refugees. Gregory and five others handcuffed themselves Tuesday to the U.S.

District Courthouse in East St. Louis in support of a fast by former dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham, 82. Dunham has been fasting since Feb. 1 to protest the forced repatriation of Haitian refugees. She was listed in serious but stable condition at St Mary's Hospital U.S.

Marshal Donald Brookshier said Gregory was charged with interfering with the process of a District Court where I live," she said Tuesday. "It is so beautiful. This is kind of like the last place to live in America that has wilderness." MacDowell, best-known for lead roles in the movies "sex, lies and videotape" and "Green Card," has a ranch in the Ninemile alley west of Missoula in western Montana. The actress said she "really hopes to slip into this community and just be Justin's mother and your friend, not a celebrity." MacDowell has two young children, including 5-year-old Justin. AP Literphoto Packing it in Kate Moran of Boston packs up campaign literature at the Bush-Quayle headquarters Wednesday in Manchester, NJEL President Bush won Tuesday's New Hampshire primary with 58 percent of the vote against challenger Pat Buchanan's surprising 40 percent.