2 University Daily Kansan Nation/World Friday, Nov. 1, 1985 News Briefs New Craxi coalition expects support vote ROME — President Francesco Cossiga rejected Prime Minister Bettino Craxi's two-week-old resignation yesterday and directed Craxi's five-party coalition to go before Parliament for a speedy confidence vote to end a crisis sparked by the Achille Lauro blacking. Craxi scheduled addresses in both houses of Parliament for Monday after Cossiga told him to move quickly to resurrect his coalition government. The confidence vote, which political observers said was certain to support the government, will follow his parliamentary appearance. Radon likely indoors ATLANTA — High levels of indoor radon gas may be present in as many as 2 million homes built over uranium, granite or phosphate deposits in the United States, increasing the risk of lung cancer, federal health officials said yesterday. Dr. Matthew Zack of the national Centers for Disease Control said the estimate of the danger posed by the radioactive gas was a preliminary one. Once inside a home, the radon builds up in the air — particularly in poorly ventilated houses — and particles of the gas "can deliver a substantial dose of radiation to the bronchial epithelium," health officials said. Man faces 75 years REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A former mill worker was convicted yesterday of abducting a young hitchhiker at knifepoint and holding her for seven years as his sex slave. Cameron Hooker was convicted on 10 of 11 felony charges; one count of kidnapping, six counts of rape and three counts of sex-related acts. He was acquitted on one rape count. The 31-year-old Hooker, who faces up to 75 years in prison, appeared stoic as the verdict was announced. Judge Clarence Knight set bail at $5 million. Sentencing is set for Nov. 22. From Kansan wires. U.S. trade deficit is highest United Press International WASHINGTON — U.S. trade losses swelled to $15.5 billion during September, the highest monthly shortfall on record, the government reported yesterday. Following two consecutive months in which trade losses eased somewhat, the red ink on the September trade ledgers brought the accumulated trade deficit for 1985 to $106.6 billion — $11 billion more than the total for the first nine months of 1984. The previous monthly record deficit was $13.7 billion, set in July 1984 Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldridge attributed the September increase to underreporting of figures in previous months. "Paperflow caught up with us and exacerbated the figures for September," Baldrige said in a speech to the National Press Club. The Commerce Department also said yesterday that the index of leading indicators, the government's barometer of economic trends, went up a tiny 0.1 percent in September, the fifth consecutive monthly signal of improvement. Baldrige said in a statement that the "modest rise" in the index pointed to "continued economic growth in 1986." The index has been inching along with only slight increases for most of the year. January's 1.3 percent increase was the only rise exceeding t percent in a year and a half. "Key leading indicators directly related to forthcoming production are pointing upward," he said. The department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said five of the 11 individual indicators for September would contribute to a stronger economy later this year, led by an expansion of the money supply. Also positive were the length of the average work week, contracts and orders for factory equipment, building permits and a rise in raw materials prices, the bureau said. Another five indicators contributed negatively to the index, led by a decline in the average of 500 common stock prices, the formation of new businesses, new orders for consumer goods and a decline in outstanding credit. Claims for unemployment benefits also were negative. One indicator, the pace of change in the business demand for goods, was unimpaired. Trade losses in manufactured goods, including items facing some of the heaviest competition from foreign makers—cars and textiles — accounted for most of the $12.2 billion September deficit. So far this year, the trade deficit for manufactured goods has ballooned to $80.9 billion, 17 percent ahead of the same period last year. The trade deficit, this year threats to soar far above last year's record $123.3 billion, has sparked a drive in Congress for protectionist legislation and moved the Reagan administration to wage a war on unfair trade practices by some of the United States' closest allies. On Wednesday, Assistant Treasury Secretary David Mulford said the administration had targeted France and Italy in its efforts to move against countries with strong export subsidies. Reagan arms plan due out todav WASHINGTON - President Reagan announced yesterday that he was making a new nuclear weapons limitation proposal to the Soviet Union and would ask that the current round of negotiations in Geneva be extended to consider it. The Associated Press Reagan said the U.S. offer called for "deep cuts" in offensive weapons, research on defensive systems and "no cheating." In a nationally televised statement, Reagan said the latest Soviet offer "unfortunately fell considerably short" in certain areas. But, he said, there were also positive "seeds" for an agreement. He said he had built on them with the new U.S. offer. But the president said he would divulge no further details. He said the American proposal would be offered in Geneva today. He called both sides' proposals "milestones" in the quest for reductions of nuclear weapons. "I believe progress is indeed possible if the Soviet leadership is willing to match our own commitment to a better relationship." Reagan said. Just before his announcement, Reagan told four Soviet journalists in an interview that he would accept some of the figures proposed by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who called last month for a reduction of about 50 percent in missiles and bombers carrying nuclear warheads. "It is my hope that our new proposal would enable both our nations to start moving away from ever larger arsenals," the president said. The Soviet proposal, in a letter to Reagan from Gorbachev last month, and the U.S. response are designed to make headway in the slow-moving negotiations before the two leaders meet at the summit in the Swiss city Nov. 19-20. said. "First you've got to eliminate the suspicions and paranoia between us." The new U.S. proposal also was sent directly to Gorbachev and is "part of a process of interaction that we hope will lead somewhere," Secretary of State George Shrutz said later at a news conference. He called the U.S. proposal serious and detailed. "Arms control is a result." Reagan But he also stressed U.S. concerns over human rights and regional conflicts and declined to place halting the nuclear arms race at the top of the agenda. Weinberger calls 'Star Wars' sacred United Press International — except the "Star Wars" anti-missile research program, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger said yesterday. WASHINGTON — No weapon is so vital to America's defense that it cannot be bargained away at arms talks Department wanted agreements that produced verifiable reductions in arms and said past agreements had been lacking. Weinberger, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also denied that the Pentagon was against arms control agreements. He argued instead that the Defense On the "Star Wars" issue, Weinberger said, "There is no arms system so cherished that we would not be delighted to give it up" in an agreement, provided the deal would achieve "major reductions down to parity on both sides and be thoroughly verifiable. "But we would not trade away and we would not negotiate away strategic defense. It is too high a Pressed later, Weinberger said, "No I would not want to give away the strategic defense under any circumstances." priority for the president. It is too much a chance for history, to change the only ability we have . . . to safeguard the peace, which is in effect a mutual suicide pact. And the president will not do that." U. S. and Soviet arms negotiators seeking to curb superpower nuclear arsenals. President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, called "Star Wars" for its reliance on as yet undeveloped high-tech weaponry, is a major source of conflict between Reagan has refused to consider limits on "Star Wars" research as part of a new arms pact, although he has said he would like to discuss an agreement on worldwide sharing of such technology when he meets Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev next month. But, he said, "We have found that arms control agreements of the past have not" produced reductions8 been verifiable or stopped violations. Juan hits with force on coasts The Associated Press PENSACOLA, Fla. — Erratic Tropical Storm Juan returned to the Gulf of Mexico and spun briefly up to near hurricane strength yesterday, then headed inland over rain-soaked Alabama and Florida after causing more than $1 billion damage in Louisiana. But the storm weakened again after it rolled ashore near Gulf Shores, Ala., southeast of Mobile, near the Florida border, and moved toward the northeast at 15 to 20 mph on a path that would take it across southeastern Alabama and into Georgia, the National Weather Service said. No damage or flooding was reported in Gulf Shores or in nearby Foley when the storm's center passed over. "We've had thunderstorms with more wind," said Police police dispatcher Walter Hemmert, Gale warnings were posted from Port Arthur, Texas, to Fort Myers, Fla., and tornado warnings were issued for parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Thunderstorms spread across the region and tides reached 4 to 6 feet above normal along the coast of northwestern Florida. Late in the morning, Juan carried squalls up to 70 mph, with gusts to near hurricane force, mostly over the open water. But during the afternoon, its highest sustained winds were estimated at 50 to 160 mph, mainly over the water. At 5 p.m. EST, Juan's broad center was near latitude 31.2 north, longitude 86.9 west, near Brewery, Ala., or 55 miles north-northeast of Pensacola. Florida Gov. Bob Graham cut short a trip to Washington and urged coastal residents to be ready to evacuate, as they did ahead of Hurricane Elena during the Labor Day weekend. However, no evacuations were ordered because officials did not want motorists jamming roads while tornadoes were forecast. Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace declared a state of emergency and the Emergency Management Agency opened shelters in coastal cities.