The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, September 22, 1982-Page 7 Economic growth up, but bankruptcies also rise WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's economy is inching ahead for the second quarter in a row, government officials contended yesterday. But skeptical private analysts said the new estimates, even if true, wouldn't add up to recovery from the year-long recession. The Commerce Department's "flash estimate" of economic growth in the still-unfinished July-September quarter projected a gain at an annual rate of just 1.5 percent; following a revised April-June pace of 2.1 percent, officials said. A WHITE HOUSE spokesman called the new estimate "encouraging," but neither he nor other administration of- ficials would go so far as to predict Hundreds robust recovery soon. The economy had reeled to declines at annual rates of 5.3 percent and 5.1 percent in the final quarter of 1981 and the first three months of this year. Two straight quarters of growth after such a downturn would normally be considered a strong sign that recession had ended and expansion had begun. White House spokesman Larry Speakes made just that point in a meeting with reporters. In addition, interest rates fell sharply yesterday, sparking a big rally in the stock and bond markets. IN SEATTLE, a group of private economists said they expected the economy to follow a course of steady killed in improvement over the next year, although the recovery should be slow. But Dun & Bradstreet's ed- conomics division reported that business failures climbed to 657 last week, a 68 percent increase from the similar week last year. That pushed the total for the year through Sept. 16 to 17,502, eclipsing the post-World War II record for a full year. The old record was 17,075, set in 1961. This year's failures total, with more than three months to go, already is the highest since 1933, when nearly 20,000 business were reported to have failed. INDIVIDUAL THEATRES 5hA~'e of lbety 761-9700 WED only $1.75 shows before 6:00P.M. ;r "IRRESISTIBLE" VINCENT CANBY El Salvador floods Daily Photo by DOUG McMAHON It's all the rage Hula-hoops may be long gone, but hacky-sak is on its way in. From left to right, students Chip Davis, Marci Levine, Kate Sullivan, and Greg Johnson play the popular game. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)- The death toll from floods and mud slides set off by torrential rains climbed to 489 yesterday in El Salvador's worst natural disaster in 17 years. Green Cross Director Roberto Cruz said his rescue teams had recovered 250 bodies from the Montebello section of northeast San Salvador, where flood waters from the slopes of the San Salvador volcano crashed through a retaining wail before dawn Sunday, burying hundreds of houses under ten feet of mud. CRUZ SAID he believed 1,000 to 1,500 people died in Montebello, the hardest- hit area. A Defense Ministry spokesman described the estimate as "a little exaggerated." The heavy rains began Thursday, and stopped Monday. More than 1,500 rescue workers were digging through piles of rubble at Mon- tebello. Officials said entire families were lost and that it will take 15 days to dig out the area. The government declared a state of national emergency Sunday after heavy rains loosened tons of mud from hillsides and volcanos. Cotton and sugar crops have been wiped out in many areas. THE GOVERNMENT set aside $320,000 to provide foot, shelter3and medical aide to an estimated 30,000 homeless people. The flooding is the worst natural disaster since a 1965 earthquake that killed 2,000 people. Lebanonc Moslem leaders had boycotted the Aug. 23 election in opposition to Bshir Gemayel, the slain Christian warlord whose private army has had a long and * bloody feud with Lebanon's Moslem -militias and rival Christian factions. PHALANGIST militiamen loyal to Gemayel have been blamed by the Israelis for the massacre last week of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, most believed to be Moslems, in two west Beirut camps. But Saeb Salam, Lebanon's elder statesmen, led his fellow Moslems in the near-unanimous support of Amin Gemayel seven days after his brother's assassination by a bomb. 1 ects new president Gemayel represents but one faction Palestinians at the Sabra and C of the nation's Christians, who were camps in Beirut last week. united in the 1975-76 civil war but later fell into murderous political and family No one has claimed responsibi feuds. Bashir Gemayel's death.. DIVISIONS among the Christians, who have dominated Lebanon IN DETROIT yesterday, politically and economically since it Christian and Jewish demons became independent in 1943, are as staged a 16-hour anti-Israeli sit-in much a problem for Gemayel's gover- offices of Sens. Donald Riegle an nment as the rift between Christians Levin. and Moslems. About 40 people began their v Christian animosities may have the 18th floor of the downtow played a role in the assassination of Namara Building at 4:30 p.m. M Maronite Christian President-elect to protest the massacre of hund Bashir Gemayel - Amin's younger civilians at two Palestine refuge brother - and the massacre of ps in Lebanon. Gregory's Girl (PG) WED.-12:50, 2:40, 4:40, 6:30, 8:20, 10:10 THURS.-6:30,8:20, 10:10 Chatilla lity for Arab, trators n at the nd Carl vigil on wn Mc- Monday reds of e cam- DEBRA WINGER RICHARD GERE AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN ANN ARBOR CIVIC THEATER MAIN ST. PRODUCTIONS AUDITIONS FOR STEAMBATH By BRUCE JAY FRIEDMAN Directed by SUSAN VORRIS NEEDED: 9 Men and 8 Women WED. and THURS. Sept. 22 and 23-7:30 PM 338 S. Main For Additional Info. 662-9405 or 662-7282 Between 12-4 PM Israel rejects investigation (Continued from Page 1) Palestinian population was believed to be about 90 percent Moslem and 10 per- cent Christian. PORAT ALSO told The Associated Press the government was waiting for a full report on the massacres from army investigators and then would decide if it would accept a high-level inquiry. But Cabinet Secretary Dan Meridor said the Cabinet rejected President Yitzhak Navon's call for an Israeli in-' vestigation of the slaughter last Thur- sday and Friday at the Sabra and Chatilla refugee camps. Maridor said only that the government would discuss "the manner to conduct an appropriate examination into the facts." President Yitzhak Navon, a ceremonial head of state, made a rare, foray into government affairs Monday when he said on radio and television that Israel owed it to itself and the "civilized world" to make a complete accounting. He had no response yesterday to the Cabinet decision. "EVERY reasonable government would have done it, conducted an inquiry for its own sake," said Labor Party spokesman Yossi Beilin. Amnon Rubinstein, head of the two-man Shinui faction, said the government had proved it "does not want the truth to be revealed." InWashington, the State Department said Israel must shoulder responsibility Cops ticket . errant bikers (Continued from Page ) "I do not like to see the police enfor- cing on State Street. If (a bicyclist) is at Albert's and he wants to go to State Discount, he's not going to go around the block," Pendleton said. State Street runs one way from Liberty Street to William Street. "I walk my bike, per- sonally, and that works, but most people don't," he added. Pendleton said a State Street bike path may be built within two years. i for the murders. Spokesman John Hughes said Israel had "assumed responsibility for military control of the Beirut, and these events did happen during that period when Israel assumed military control. "If you assume military control of an area, you are responsible for what hap- pens there." AT THE CHATILLA camp, Red Cross spokesmen said 84 more bodies had been recovered from the rubble bulldozed by the marauders over their into slayings victims. This pushed the confirmed toll to 204, but the spokesmen said many more corpses of men, women and children were still buried. Israel has blamed Maronite Christian Phalangist militiamen loyal to the slain Gemayel for the two-day rampage. Lebanese officials said the killers were from the militia of renegade Lebanese army Maj. Saad Haddad, a Greek Catholic whose militias are predominantly Christian but include some Shiite Moslems from Lebanon. ML- - . --- -- . - SCE - -N mass meeting New and Veteran Ushers who would like to usher Major Events Concerts may sign up at Angell Hall Auditorium B Thursday, Sept. 23, 6:00 p.m. Office of Major Events Hill Auditorium Reserved seats are $7.50,8.50,9.50. For more information, call 763-2071. Michigan Union Box Office and all CTC Outlets with The Fabulous Five BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND "CEEE