Newsday from New York, New York • 27

Subway Delays Slow Rush Hour at Rooeevelt Avenue. And once the train was moving again, the brake The Associated Press Equipment malfunctions and surly passengers combined to cause numerous subway delays yesterday morning, inconveniencing thousands of rush-hour commuters in Queens and Brooklyn, officials said. Transit Authority, spokesman Ter-innina Garden said the first problem occurred at 5:37 a.m. when an explosion and fire in a manhole at 45th Street and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn cut off power to the Fourth Avenue line. As result, there was no service on the and lines between 36th and Pacific Streets until 7:20 a.m.

Then, at 9:30 a.m., service on the Brighton lines was disrupted when a Manhattan-bound train malfunctioned and passengers reftised to get off at Church Avenue. The train was stuck for 16 minutes with passengers on boardbefore it could resume, Garden said. But when the train did get under way, a passenger pulled the emergency brake cord north of DeKalb Avenue, further delaying the train fay 10 minutes, he said. In Queens, an ill passenger was taken off the GG line at Rooeevelt Avenue shortly after 8 a.m., forcing all local trains onto the express track. Then aa train suffered a brake malfunction on the express track near Elmhurst Avenue.

There followed a switching problem problem recurred at 50th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, forcing -trains to use the line. MTA Studies Subway Cuts Continued Smm Page 3 said Robert Slovak, a Transit Authority spokesman. Yet the proposals are hardly a panacea for the MTA, which is facing massive cuts in federal transit aid. The Transit Authority would probably have to expand bus service in the areas that lost subway service, and studies show that bus service costs an average 70 cents a mile, compared to 20 cents for running a train. Public hearings are required before any reductions in bus or subway service.

And, confronted with an angry public, the City Council could easily pass laws barring the service cuts. Greitzer, who revealed the proposed changes at a newt conference yesterday, said she would lead the opposition. "I object to the fact that the MTA is not publicizing this, and is hiring prestigious consultants to bolster its position, she said. "If we dont do something, the people who will be the most affected by the cuts will be the 'ast to know. Nmdiyft.A.lMekvJlr.

Serving Up a Little Tennis Ron Ostermann takas advantage of yesterday's warm weather by playing terv nis in Juniper Valley Park In Queens. Judge Postpones Trial of Gotti, 6 Others Nickerson declined to expand on his ruling or explain what selection procedures he found "unsatisfactory. Questionnaires were not used in the first go-around. The general feeling of lawyers is that the use of a questionnaire would accelerate the weeding out pro- Continued from Page 7 fair, and added: "Hopefully, when we start again, we will have a semblance of jurors not poisoned by pervasive publicity. Asked if he would advise Gotti to keep a low profile to avoid publicity during the interim.

Cutler said: There is nothing he can do to prevent publicity. Barry Slotnick, attorney for Gotti codefendant John Cameglia, called Nickersons decision "proper and appropriate, adding: "It. just indicates, unfortunately, that we were unable at this time to get a fair and impartial jury due to prejudicial publicity. Prosecutors told the judge they would make application today to either remand the five defendants, including Gotti, now free on bail or have their Mil restrictions tightened. Two defendants are in custody.

timidation of a government witness. Defense attorneys said they would oppose an anonymous jury, in which jurors names and addresses are kept secret. There is no need for it, Cutler said. The prosecutors, assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Giacalone and John Glee son, did not originally request an anonymous jury, although they said in a memorandum that such a request "would be reasonable under the circumstances.

Giacalone refused to say if she would ask for an anonymous jury now. Gotti, who is free on 31-million bail, and the other defendants are charged with engaging in an 18-year criminal enterprise that included loan-sharking, gambling, hijackings and a series of homicides. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. which a jury of 12 and six alternates could be chosen. According to law-enforcement authorities, Gotti became the head of the Carlo Gambino crime family following the fetal shooting of alleged boss Paul Castellano outside a Manhattan res-.

taurant on Dec. 16. Although not mentioned specifically by Nickerson, the judge found himself competing with an avalanche of media publicity relating to Gotti and his courtroom troubles. Among the stories circulating around Gotti were: The April 13 car-bomb slaying of Frank De Cicco, the reputed No. 2 person in the Gambino crime family; the failure of a codefendant, Armond Dellacroce, to appear for sentencing on March 31 as a confessed racketeering associate of Gotti; a courthouse bomb hoax perpetrated by a mental patient identifying himself as Gotti; and the alleged in In his decision, Nickerson asked attorneys in the case to submit to him by May 6 any questions they wish to be included in the jurors questionnaire and their feelings on whether an anonymous jury should be empaneled.

-The painstaki ng process of selecting a jury began April 7. Nickerson, in questioning prospective jurors in separate interviews, found that most had heard of the organized-crime families and had read articles linking Gotti to the mob. Nickerson had planned to select a panel of 45 prospective jurors, from Deaver Asks Probe of His Lobbying Activity I federal court would then decide whether to appoint an independent counsel. The Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings today on lobbying by former government officials, but Deaver is not expected to be a witness. Committee chairman Strom Thurmond (RS.CJ said he is seeking to write a new law because the current one covering conflict of interest is out- dated.

His efforts began before the Deaver controversy broke. The nuances of lobbying have overtaken these rules. We need something with some teeth in it, said Thurmond. Committee vice chairman Biden said the Democrats would oppose any request that Deaver be called to testify. "It would be unnecessary and premature at this stage, he said.

Biden in a statement. Biden said such a probe was necessary not only for Denvers sake, but -to "also check the erosion of public confidence in government officals. Justice Department spokesman Ter-ry Eastland said that officials will review the allegations against Deaver to determine whether a preliminary investigation, which usually involves the FBI, should be started. "Just because someone asks for an independent counsel doesnt mean that hell get one, said Eastland. The Justice Department has 80 days to respond to the five senators request for an independent counsel, unless it is determined that a preliminary investigation should be conducted.

In that case, the department has 90 days to conduct the inquiry and decide whether to present the case to a court. The ticipation in government meetings involving purchases of the B-l bomber from Rockwell International while he represented the firm, and contacts he had with the White House as a representative of South Korean government Miller refused to specify the allegations against Deaver that the Justice Department was looking into. "They know the facts, they have the documents, and anything else they need, hesaid. Deaveris action yesterday was praised by the Democratic head of the Senate Judiciary committee, Joseph Biden of Delaware, one of a five senators who last week asked Meese to determine whether a special prosecutor should be appointed. "Deaver should be complimented.

This is more than we asked for, said Continued from Page 5 represent the Canadians on the add rain issue. Senior federal appointees are barred from lobbying their former agencies for up to a year after leaving office. The conflict of interest law also prohibits federal employees from lobbying on matters in which they were substantially involved for up to two years after they leave government. Meanwhile, Drew Lewis, the administrations former special envoy on the add raid issue, said Denver's role in lobbying was "next to nothing." Lewis prepared a report in late 1985 suggesting the United States finally accede to Canadian demands for a multimillion dollar add rain clean-up effort "I had little or no contact with Deaver, said Lewis. Also under scrutiny is Denvers par.