Page 2-Wednesday, March 25, 1981-The Michigan Daily AP Photo Lazy day Two polar bears bask in the sun yesterday at the Detroit Zoo during the first warm weather of spring. More or the same is predicted for the next few days. ITO DECLARES SUPPOR T FOR 'FREE TRA DE' " Japa imortquesionunsttld WASHINGTON (UPI)-The ad- ministration and Japan climaxed days of speculation about possible U.S. restraints on auto imports Tuesday by simply declaring their support for "free trade" without announcing a new ac- cord to help depressed American car makers. Japanese Foreign Minister Masayoshi Ito topped off wide-ranging conversations with several ad- ministration officials by meeting with President Reagan for one hour in the Oval Office. By all accounts, the con- versation was very general. PRIOR TO Ito's arrival, Reagan had met a number of congressmen concer- ned about the damage auto imports are doing to American car makers. But when the Japanese official departed, there was virtually nothing new an- nounced tocheer up Detroit. While Reagan was unavailable for questioning, Ito and Secretary of State Alexander Haig agreed no specific steps were discussed on how Japan might ease the burden on American companies. Treasury Secretary Donald Regan, who met separately with Ito, did say, however, the Japanese expressed a desire to have the import question solved before the May 7-8 visit to Washington of Japanese Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki. THAT WOULD please Congress, where, according to Senate Republican leader Howard Baker, "There's a building pressure to do something by statute" to restrain the imports. Sen. John Danforth, (R-Mo.), who also met with Reagan Tuesday, has in- troduced a bill to cut Japanese imports to 1.6 million cars a year through 1983. And Danforth told reporters he thinks his quota-considering the current im- port level of 2 million cars a year-is too generous. Ito, speaking through an interpreter, said after his meeting with the president he was given "a clear ex- planation of the situation of the American auto industry, the plight in which that industry finds itself, as well as the mood on Capitol Hill. "THE AGREEMENT that came out from the meeting," said the bespec- tacled foreign minister, "is firstly that a major objective is to preserve the principle of free trade." "As to the specifics of what methods might be followed in pursuance of this objective, there will continue to be discussions between the two sides," Ito said. "At this time we did not go into the specifics ,of what kinds of steps might be desirable on the part of Japan." Haig called it a "free exchange of views," but pressed for the specifics of the conversations, said, "I'm not going beyond the statement of our visitor. "WE CAN GO through a prying exer- cise, but there would be no response." American car companies will be more pleased with a major deregulation program the ad- ministration promised for Wednesday that sources said will reduce costs to the domestic industry and include the elimination of mandated airbags. IN BRIEF Compiled from Associated Press and United Press International reports Banks lower interest rates NEW YORK-Three money center banks cut their prime rate yesterday to 17 percent from 17% percent, and although many large regional banks adop- ted the lower rate, most major institutions held back in announcing a lower prime interest rate. Citibank, the nation's second largest bank, led the move yesterday to 17 percent, and was followed by First National Bank of Chicago and Morgan Guaranty Trust. Chemical Bank has posted a 17 percent rate since last week. The lower prime rate reflects an easing of money market rates and a vir- tual drying up of business loan demand at banks. "There's no doubt that short-term business credit demands have faded over the last month," said Marc Goloven, vice president at Manufacturers Manover Bank. "And we believe this is indicative of slower economic ac- tivity." But banks have been slow to pass on lower costs to their business customers, even allowing for the historic lag in the prime. Gloven said while it's partly the historic lag, the caution is due in great part to the volatility seen in money market rates in recent months. Bodies found near home of jailed sex offenders WEEKI WACHEE, Fla.-Police said yesterday they have recovered one skeleton and a portion of a second and suspect as many as four more bodies may be buried near the rural home of a father and his two sons, all now behind bars on sex-related charges. A skeleton discovered March 16 is believed to be that of Elaine Ziegler, i5° of Warren, Ohio, who disappeared from a nearby campgrounds Dec. 31, 1975. Laboratory tests were being conducted to confirm the identification. Deputies digging within 10 feet of the old mobile home, which has un-. finished brick additions attached, discovered more human bones Monday. Hernando County Sheriff's Maj. C.E. Crosby said Tuesday the bones ap- peared to be those of a female between the ages of 9 and 14 and said they were not those of a 21-year-old woman Tampa police earlier believed may be buried at the site. Tampa police said last week they had reason to believe the body of Sandra Jean Graham, who disappeared from a Tampa lounge last April 27, might be buried on the tract of land. Reagan administration wants to dismantle Conrail WASHINGTON-The Reagan administration, already pushing to eliminate most passenger rail service across the country, said yesterday it wants to dismantle immediately the Northeast's major rail freight carrier. The Transportation Department told Congress it wants to sell the most lucrative elements for the 16-state Conrail system to private railroads. And it urged lawmakers to cut off federal subsidies for the line, which also serves parts of the Midwest, after this fiscal year. In addition to its freight lines, Conrail runs commuter trains, carrying 500,000 people a day, primarily into New York City and Philadelphia. There is widespread agreement that the commuter service, which itself loses money, should be turned over to local transit agencies, whether or not the parent line survives. UMW council approves new 3-year contract WASHINGTON-The United Mine Workers bargaining council yesterday approved 21-14 a new three-year contract with the soft-coal industry. But it made no effort, as the union's president suggested, to sidestep its proud "no- contract, no-work" tradition to avert a nationwide strike Friday. The contract will be printed and sent to the coalfields for a ratification vote by the union's 160,000 rank-and-file miners. Approval by the bargaining council cleared the first obstacle in the process, which likely will run will in- to next week. The group did not consider seeking an extension of the current pact, which expires at 12:01 a.m. EST Friday, making at least a short walkout likely. 'Great Train Robber' seeks to avoid extradition BRIDGETOWN, Barbados-Ronald Biggs, kidnapped mastermind of Britain's "Great Train Robbery," pleaded yesterday to be allowed to return to his Brazilian home in exile rather than face extradition to England where a 28-year jail term awaits him. Biggs, 51, was being held in a Bridgetown police station along with four Britons and one American who allegedly abducted him fast week in Rio de Janeiro, stuffing him into a sack and spiriting him out of the country. The five and Biggs were towed into Bridgetown harbor Monday night aboard a disabled yacht by the Barbados Coast Guard after the vessel strayed into Barbadian waters. Vol. XCI, No. 141 Wednesday, March 25, 1981 The Michigan Daily is edited and managed by students at The University of Michigan. Published daily Tuesday through Sunday mornings during the University year at 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109. Subscription rates: $12 September through April (2 semesters); $13 by mail outside Ann Arbor. Summer session published Tuesday through Saturday mornings. Subscription rates: $6.50 in Ann Arbor: $7 by mail outside Ann Arbor. Second class postage paid at Ann Arbor, Michigan. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE MICHIGAN DAILY, 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. The Michigan Doily is a member of the Associated Press and subscribes to United Press International, Pocific News Service. Los1 Angees Times Syndicate and Field Newspapers Syndicate. News room: (313) 764-0552, 76-DAILY: Sports desk, 764-0562: Circulation. 764-0558 Classified advertising 764-0557: ispl'y advertising, 764-0554: Biling764-0550: Composing room.764-0556. Proposals threaten 'U' research (Continued from Page 1) GRADUATE ASSISTANTS WANTED IN EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT GET GOOD TEACHING EXPERIENCE WHILE WORKING TOWARD AN M.A. $1575 PER SEMESTER, PLUS 8 HOURS FREE TUITION PER SEMESTER. For information call Donald Low- niczak or Milton Poster 487-1363 or 4x74220. FOR APPLICATION FORMS, WRITE Director of Graduate Studies English Deportment Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, M EP48197U -AffIRMAT)VE ACTION EQUAL OPPORTUNItY ALTHOUGH THE University will feel some of the effects of the elimination of science and engineering education funds, officials are more concerned by cutbacks in basic resear- ch grants. The University received 184 grants from NSF in fiscal 1980, a total of $11.8 million. Though specific effects of im- pending cuts cannot yet be determined, proposals outlined for NSF research grants call for a 75 percent reduction in social and economic science allocations and a cut of more than 60 percent in the behavioral sciences. These are the cuts that will have the most direct effect on the University. One unit that is the focus of particular concern is the Institute for Social Research, which is internationally famous for its studies of consumer behavior and election analyses. ISR DIRECTOR Tom Juster is un- ARMY I I ii SU RPLUJS We stoCk a full line of clothing, boots, camping equipment,' * hunting clothing & winter coats,. U ' 201 E. Washington at Fourth I * Open M-Sat 9-6 994-3572 1 I - - I I I I. I 1i erChaFndise with this coupon . (exCept sale item's)1 VISA ; Expires March 28, 1981 I u m m - - - - - r mm - - - - - - sure what the extent of the cutbacks will be. "I could make some guesses, but they would just be guesses," he said. He emphasized that the cutbacks are still in the proposal stage. "There's a very high degree of uncertainty," he said. The Institute presently operates on a $15 million budget, of which only $300,000 comes from the University general fund. Almost three-quarters of the remainder is federal money, in- cluding NSF grants. While the social sciences are absor- bing reductions, Reagan proposals are increasing funding to research in engineering, mathematics, and physical science in fiscal 1982. THE CARTER administration had allocated $84.6 million to engineering research nationally; under the Reagan plan, this discipline will receive $102.6 million in NSF grants. A similar in- crease is scheduled for math and the life sciences with funds increased from the Carter request of $255 million to a Reagan projection of $295.4 million. Vice President for Research Charles Overberger said he believed the social sciences are targeted for more cut- backs than the engineering and life sciences because the public does not see tangible products and inventions stemming from social research. This lack of concrete results has caused people to regard the social sciences as unimportant, he said. "Social science has sometimes been referred to as a 'soft science'," he said. "It's a mistake to view it that way." KEN LATTA, an administrative associate to Juster, agreed with Over- berger. "To know more about how a society operates is of tremendous im- portance," he said. Latta cited the con- sumer price index as just one example of a major product of social research. In addition to reductions in research money, .NSF funds for science and engineering education will be cut more than 90 percent. The $9.9 million remaining under the directorate will cover the second and third year of current graduate fellowships. According to Renirie, the decision to eliminate science and engineering education funding was jointly made by NSF and the Office of Management and Budget. "THE MONEY we spend in education doesn't develop as much leverage as the money we put into basic research," explained Renirie. Such education fun- ding represents only one percent of total federal dollars spent for education. "You aren't going to miss it as much as you would miss 20 percent pulled out of research funds," he said. Despite the promise of more budget cuts, Renirie was optimistic about the future of research funds within the foundation. "We would not pull out of support of basic research," he said. "There's no way NSF would do that. That's our primary function." NASA reductions are putting a fur- ther bite into University research ac- tivities. According to Carignan, their operation receives 20 percent of its fun- ding from NSF. The foundation's priorities, however, include space research, so reductions in those grants are not of great concern he said. MAJOR CUTBACK woes stem from the space research program's main funding source, NASA, where the budgetary situation is "changing rapidly," Carignan reports. Half of the $6 billion left after NASA was trimmed by $500 million is ear- marked for the space shuttle program. Another one billion dollars is put toward the operation of the 10 NASA centers. Since only two billion dollars remains for general NASA projects, the $500 million cut can be considered a full 30 percent funding reduction. "And counting that against inflation, it's more in the neighborhood of 40 per- cent," said Carignan. "We eat money at a given rate. When our source is cut, we have to reduce our eating rate and that means letting people go," he ex- plained. So far, only non-faculty research staff have been laid off. "IT DEMORALIZES everyone," he said. In addition to the budget cuts, Carignan said the program will have to contend with the problem of getting people to stay at the University. He said one good engineer has already left. "People here for 20 years have had to leave with one month's notice," he said. Some areas are already beginning to suffer. "The planetary, exploration 6 Special Guest Artist Workshop: Photography of Art Objects: Making Slides for Your Portfolio 1 o..m -Mrch 28 , 3-5PM L 'i Editor-in-chief..................SARA ANSPACH "Monoging Editor..............JULIE ENGEBRECHT University Editor................ ORENEO GENET Student Affairs Editor .............. JOYCE FRIEDEN City Editor ELAINE RIDEOUT Opinion Page Editors DAVID MEYER KEVIN TOTTIS Arts Editor ANNE GADON Sports Editor........... ......MARK MII4ANOViC Executive Sports Editors...........GREG DEGULIS MARK FISCHER BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager. .. RANDI CIGELNIK Sales Mnger ......... BARS FORSLLIND Operations Manoger. ... 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