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Show U.S. marshals show riot preparedness in LA. Utah Senate approves public prayer measure Page A3 battles nightmares Page A3 Saturday, February 23, 1S33 Christensen makes most of chances to contribute Immigration program Page B5 50 cents Centrsi Utah's Newspaper for 119 Years Provo, Utah the poor. White House aides said a sales tax was looked at but discarded during preparation of the plan Clinton announced Wednesday. "It is not under consideration at this time," the president said. Proponents say a national sales tax, or valueradded tax, would encourage savings because it is levied only when money is spent. In contrast, the income tax hits money when it is earned and again when savings produce interest. The biggest criticism of such a sales tax is that it is regressive people have to spend virtually everything they make. But most European countries allow various exemptions and rebates in an effort to overcome that argument. The issue came up at a town meeting in By TERENCE HUNT AP White House Correspondent - President ClinHYDE PARK, N.Y. States the United ton said Friday may have to consider a national sales tax, a radical change in the way the government raises money, "not too long into the future." Later, he said he meant in 10 years or so. "I didn't mean to float a trial balloon or anything today," Clinton said as the issue threatened to steal attention from his campaign to drum up support for his new economic program. idea has been raised many The sales-ta- x times in Congress but dropped as too unpopular. Clinton said any such tax would nave to exempt food and possibly clothing and would have to be designed not to hurt low-inco- southern Ohio before Clinton flew to New York for a speech in the home town of Franklin Roosevelt. Thousands of braved frigid weather to welcome Clinton along his motorcade route into Hyde Park. There also were a hundred or more demonstrators at one well-wishe- rs anti-aborti- point. Campaigning for his economic program of tax increases and spending cuts to shrink the deficit, Clinton said, "We are in a rut. What we have been doing is not working to deal with the problems we face." The sale tax issue rose unexpectedly at a forum in Chillicothe, Ohio, a community in the state's most economically depressed area. People pressed Clinton about health care, jobs, the economy and education. He also got into a brief but sharp dispute on an emotional social issue, disagreeing with a young man who said women who have abortions should be tried for murder. "You may smile with all your young man, but there are many Christian ministers who disagree with you," the president snapped. The attention to his comments on a national sales tax was a lesson for the new administration that anything a president says is closely listened to and carries a lot of weight. The subject came up when a questioner, Barbara Smith, asked Clinton why he didn't propose a national lottery or a sales tax instead of the d energy tax that is a cornerstone of his program. He said he's always been opposed to broad-base- lotteries "but let's talk about the national sales tax." He showed he was well versed in the subject as he is on many domestic policy questions. Clinton said America's major trading Canada, Europe and Japan partners have a national sales tax, also known as a d tax because it is added on at each stage'of production. "Now, here's why I didn't propose it right now," he said. "That is a radical change in the tax system of the United States. It is something I think we may well have to look at in the years ahead." However, he said he did not want any distraction from the drive to shrink the deficit. "There's only so much change a country can accommodate at the same time," the president said. value-adde- Critics blast system for Haitian deaths Tie one on By DAVID BEARD Associated Press Writer Haiti -Cblamed a rundown transport system that treats people like "sacks of cornmeal and rice" for this week's capsizing and sinking of the overcrowded ferry Neptune. More than 200 bodies were recovered by Friday, following Tuesday's sinking off Haiti's southern peninsula. Between 900 and .000 passengers were aboard, along with livestock, charcoal and sacks of produce, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Haitian Port Authority and the ship's owner. The ferry went down in a storm after hundreds of panicked passengers rushed to one side to take cover from the rain, reports said. More than 300 people are known to have survived, the Haitian navy said. The vessel w as on a run from the scheduled southwestern port of Jeremie to the capital. Haiti declared Saturday a national day of mourning and canPORT-AU-PRINC- E, ritics t i I'll' M v 1 U 5 43 f t. f . A. ' X ; Zs rt. - .... 120-mi- le e, celed the - ' day's pre-Car- ni al festiv- celebration ities. The three-da- y Exiled President begins Sunday. Aristide also had called Friday for a period of mourning. Critics said the sinking was the latest in a long line of tragedies in a Jean-Bertra- Herald PhotoPatrick J. Krohn Scera Park Elementary School teacher Iva Lou Morgan, from right, helps student class Michael Craven work on a 4th-gra- quilting project as Michael Bjarnson and teacher Marsha Roberts help out with the work. Parents donated the material, while Auditor's memo reports 'irregularities' at U.N. funds. By MORT ROSENBLUM " AP Special Correspondent An auditor's GENEVA 'secret memo reports irregular payments, including one he called "quite deplorable," to some delegates who the Japanese head of the U.N. World Health Organization. The memo and other documents obtained by The Associated Press follow reports by diplomats and disaffected WHO officials that aides to ctor-General Hiroshi Nakaji-m- a influenced votes with public Dire- WHO directs the global fight against AIDS and advises on primary care for billions of people. Its annual budget is $800 million. Documents reporting that Japan backed the campaign with threats and incentives to Latin American, African and Asian nations triggered international criticism at a time when Japan seeks a permanent seat on the Security Council. Nakajima won a second five- (See WHO, Page A2) students measured squares, designed the pattern and created the quilt as part of a pioneer study unit. Leavitt: No new taxes for to come up with the crease estimated $200 million the state will need to finish the Gov. S3. 5 billion dollar SALT LAKE CITY Mike Leavitt and legislative leadproject. ers announced Friday there won't Any funding mechanism, howbe any new taxes to come up with ever, is subject to approval by Intethe first year of funding to comrior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. And plete the Central Utah Project. Congress has indicated it wants Leavitt, flanked by lawmakers money for completion of the entire and Rep. Jim Hansen, project up front before federal said the CUP Water Conservancy matching funds will be available. Leavitt has talked to Babbitt District will foot the first year's $12 million payment. That money only in general about the plan, but believes it will pass muster. The w ill be matched by approximately said federal in million dollars, $28 governor will go to Washington D.C. on Tuesday to discuss CUP CUP general manager Don Chrisw ith Interior officials. tiansen. Meantime, Leavitt said, a task "My conversation with Secreaddia will of force study variety tary Babbitt ... he was very direct inin that he didn't see us as having to tional funding mechanisms in come tax a up with the entire mecha possible property cluding By MIKE CARTER Associated Press Writer - 29-yea- r, water-gatheri- Utah's abortion debate beginning to abate ' B1 Page By PEG McENTEE Associated Press Writer - The SALT LAKE CITY abortion controversy that flared at the Utah Capitol two years ago has begun to abate in 1993, leaving legislators and activists alike w ith a wary willingness to put the matter to rest. True, legal questions and taxpayer dollars remain at stake in the court battle over Utah's 1991 law. And this year, lawmakers imposed constitutionally acceptable conditions on women seeking abortions. But for many people in the State- anti-aborti- defend. child Then, last June, the U.S. Sucare, human services, housing, ed- preme Court ruled in a Pennsylvania case that while states could remain a constant eleucation ment." impose some requirements on In 1991, the predominantly Rewomen, they could not outlaw In' December, a Utah was abortion. Legislature propelled publican tor of Utah Republicans for by the conviction, nurtured by federal judge came to the same conclusion tin the state statute. Choice. "It's unfortunate. We groups and a sympathat Utah That decision "took away all the could be thetic have other things to do." governor, drama" and left only the attorneys To Pat Shea, a Democrat whose the state to overturn the U.S. Suand 1992 bid for the governorship was preme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wade thrashing out the last details in and the in fees decision legalizing abortion. Legislature derailed by his posionce Bud was said law and the The Scruggs, enacted, court, tion, the new legislation is the last Gov. Norm gasp of the idealism that drove the American Civil Liberties Union chief of staff to former made good on its threat to back a Bangcrter. 1991 endeavor. "One of the things that's been constitutional challenge that so far (See ABORTION, Page A2) demonstrated to me is that the half- - has cost the state some $800,000 to house and out, the issue has become a painful old bruise that refuses to heal. "My hope this year was that most of the issues would be resolved, and we'd put to rest the 1991 bill," said Beth Naley, direc- life of symbolism is quite he said. "The real issues n anti-aborti- short," 1 st-ye- ar country where bad roads force people to rely on unsafe sea travel. Haitian transport companies, on land and at sea, "do not consider that they are transporting human beings," civil defense worker Boisrond Pascal said. And bus lines and boat companies have been systematically permitted to ignore government regulations for years, he charged. "People are not sacks of corn-meand rice, but are treated as if they were," he said. Survivors said the steel-huferry Neptune was not equipped with lifejackets or lifeboats. Sen. Bernard Sansaricq from Jeremie also attacked the government for negligence, blaming what he said is official indifference to the rundown conditions of Haiti's fleet and highways. Prime Minister Marc Bazin, on a sympathy call to people waiting for word of loved ones outside a pledged morgue in to repair the road linking Jeremie He called its and poor condition an "injustice." Late Thursday, the government sent the justice minister and defense minister to investigate the sinking. Pierre Phillipe Lassegue, the captain of the port at meanwhile, said port offi- al 163-foo- e, e. Port-au-Princ- (See FERRY, way." Utah lawmakers also support Leavitt's plan. A resolution outlining it passed both chambers Friday and will be signed by Leavitt and sent to Congress, which last October made available S922 million to finish CUP. Still, lawmakers were hedging their bets on the chance that Congress or the Department of Interior don't cooperate. A bill that would raise millions in property taxes in the 12 counties participating in CUP passed out of committee Friday. Its sponsor, Sen. Alarik said he w ill continue to push it "just in case" the Interior Department doesn't care My-ri- PajieAi) n, for Leavitt's plan. "We would not be putting it forward if we did not have very, very strong confidence that they will accept it." Leavitt said. "It defies logic in my mind that they wouldn't." Meantime, Leavitt brushed aside questions about tax hikes. "It's possible that it will be, it's possible that it won't be," he said. "I can think of a scenario in my own mind that, if we wanted to convert certain stale assets, we could do it w ithout a tax increase. "What we're doing is saying our money is on the table the first ear and we are committed to go forward." the governor said. In a related matter, Leavitt also (See CI P. Page A2) " inoiffo Weather Find it Mini-Pag- e Movies Obituaries Opinioas Sports World e, CUP funding nism this year," Leavitt said. "That was a key element in my decision to move forward in this Classified Ads Comics Crossword Entertainment Family Lcgals t, ll CI B4 C5 EI B5 C3 B7 E2 A4 A6 Bl A3 Today cloudy and cooler. Rain likely. South winds 5 mph. Highs in the 40s. Cooler Sundav. Lows near 30. See Page A8. 15-2- Air Quality Friday's air quality was moderate in most Wasatch Front area., w ith a slight increase in pollution levels |