Daily News from New York, New York • 5

MM Kdl By RON CLAIBORNE 1- JOHN PEDIN DAH.V NEWS Workmen tear up section of pedestrian path on Brooklyn Bridge. Frayed end of broken cable can be seen on walkway. Mishap is warning on spans' state of disrepair By NED STEELE from Manhattan every day, have been classified "structurally deficient" by the federal government Half of the 1,997 smaller spans dotting the city are in similarly sorry condition. Portions of the Manhattan Bridge must be inspected daily to guard against cracking of iron floor beams and cross braces cracking described as rampant" by a state highway official. Rust is steadily gnawing into one anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge's See BRIDGE Paga 55 by a consulting firm did not detect the cable corrosion.

They declined to blame the firm for failing to predict the damage. Despite assurances from city officials that the accident did not jeopardize the bridge's structural strength, the incident underscored the precarious state of disrepair that the city's four major East River bridges the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro have sunk to after years of neglect First the bad news: All four crossings, which together carry 392,460 vehicles to and When two silver steel cables snapped on the Brooklyn Bridge, thudding to a walkway and critically injuring a pedestrian, it was a warning signal that age can rudely strike even man's most awesome creations. The fabled span's center wooden walkway will remain shut until a full inspection pinpoints the cause of Sunday's accident and determines any wider damage. Officials disclosed that a recently completed, two-year, up-close inspection of the 98 year-old span Albany (News Bureaux State Senate leaders yesterday slipped through a two-year extension of the controversial "heart bill," which allows police and firemen with heart ailments to retire on a tax-free pension of 75 of salary. The bill passed 48 5.

For. the first time, the legislation was tacked onto a pension bill instead of standing alone, and it passed unanimously before Sen. Franz Leichter (D-Manhattan), an opponent of the meaasure, realized what had happened. Leichter had the bill "reconsidered" and spoke briefly against it Then it was passed again. The Assembly Is expected to approve the bill later this week.

IN ANOTHER ACTION, the Senate easily passed a bill to permit New York City Transit Police to form a "fourth platoon" of cops to be assigned outside the three fixed shifts. Proponents of a fourth platoon argue that it would Improve subway safety. Currently, a transit cop can be assigned to such a shift only if he volunteers. Under the Senate bill, sponsored by Roy Goodman (R Manhattan), special shifts would be manned first with volunteers, then If necessary the transit police chief could assign cops. The heart bill, which was first passed in 1970, makes the presumption that a cardiac illness suffered by a police officer or firefighter is service-related unless proved otherwise.

In 1979, the city went to the state Court of Appeals to have the law overturned. A spokesman for the mayor yesterday said, "The city has fought against the bill in the past and will continue to fight against it" Under the law, the retired officer or fireman can collect a tax-exempt pension equivalent to 75 of his final year't income. dousing law renewal seen By RON CLAIBORNE tajjjijsMBWi i UDUflfi rjny "TJlf T- tt'frP? 4s Summit fails to get a 750 fare rolling 1 PL lip Is? 'J i Mayor Koch takes notes as he talks in Albany with Sen. Roy Goodman of Manhattan. Senate Minority Leader Manfred Ohrenstein of Manhattan (arms folded) is engaged in conversation.

01 By PETER SLOCUM Dathr Ww tmM CMaf Albany With the prospect of a 95-cent bus and subway fare growing more real by the hour, the state's top political leaders were no closer to a transit bailout package last night after their third "subway summit" of the 'year. Deadline for the bailout is Thursday. Mayor Koch said after the State Capitol summit yesterday that he was "convinced that it (the fare) probably won't" go to 95 cents. But Richard Ravitch, chairman of the Metro politan Transportation Authority, did not agree, saying, "Until there is an agreement, we have He said all the leaders have so far are "promises" on all sides to push for a tax package that will hold the subway-bus fare to 75 cents, with 25 hikes on the commuter lines. Because of the transit problems.

Gov. Carey decided to put off today's scheduled meeting of the Financial Control board, which is supposed to approve the city's financial plan before the new fiscal year begins tomorrow. The Transit Authority, a branch of the MTA, must have its budget approved by the control board as part of the city's over-all financial plan. And without new taxes or huge fare Albany (News Bureau) Still unable to agree on significant changes, state lawmakers are expected to extend without major change the key housing laws that expire at 11:59 p.m. tonight If there is no legislative action today, then the Emergency Tenant Protection Act statutes covering cooperative and condominium conversions, will remain intact for two more years.

A moratorium on loft evictions will remain as written for an unknown period. Continuation of the tenant protection act which affects 900.000 units in the city and 100,000 in Nassau, Rockland and Westchester counties, will allow tenants to continue to sign one-, two- or three year leases at the LANDLORDS, ITH the consent of the city Rent Guidelines Board, can KOCH AND RAVITCH returned to the city last night but Carey will press on with legislative leaders for a solution today. In yesterday's session. Assembly Speaker Stanley. Fink (D-Brooklyn) urged enactment of an income tax surcharge for the MTA region instead of Carey's proposed Wo boost in the region's sales tax.

'Fink argued that income taxes don't hurt the poor as much, and also force the federal government to help out through automatic tax deductions. Koch was sympathetic to the idea, but a spokesman for Senate Majority i 8 GOP-dominated Senate. And aides to Carey, who favors income tax cuts, weren't very enthusiastic, either. Ravitch said he would take the money any way the politicians want to raise it He had no pat answers for questions about the crucial fare decisions the MTA board will make later this week. "There are lots of options," Ravitch said.

Among the prospects: A boost to a 75-cent fare this weekend with a threat to go to 95 cents later in the year unless lawmakers pass new subsidies. A boost to the full 95 cents at once, either this weekend or In a Leader Warren Anderson (R-Bingham- hikes, the board cannot unconditional- ton) said it would be "very tough" to roiuUvpfMreeJvj i 4.