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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1993)
Associated Press ^VTTh\X/^! T^T^tTh Q I Netlraskan Edited by Jeff Singer X iXj T T L/ X J IV 1 1 # _A_ Thursday, Dscsmbsr 9,1993 Clinton finalizes NAFTA with signing of pact WASHINGTON — President Clinton signed legislation Wednes day creating the world’s largest free trade zone and used the ceremony to prod other nations to “seize the mo ment and close the deal” on liberal ized global trading rules. With consider able fanfare and eight pens, Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, wmcn unKs tnc United States,Can into a single market. “This whole issue turned out to be a defining moment for our nation,” Clinton told an audience of support ers, including many of the lawmakers who helped him win uphill passage of the measure. And, in a fence-mending gesture toward organized labor, which fought the trade agreement fiercely, Clinton vowed to send to Congress early next year legislation “to create the world’s best worker training and retraining system.” “We owe it to the business com munity as well as to the working men and women of this country,” he said. Labor and other critics, including Texas billionaire Ross Perot, argued that the pact would lure many U.S. companies into relocating in Mexico, where workers are paid lower wages. Clinton conceded Wednesday that such concerns reflected “legitimate fear” by U.S. workers. Even so, he predicted that the trade agreement would result in a net gain of U.S. jobs, up to 200,000 new ones by 1995. The trade agreement already has been ratified by Canada and Mexico. It takes effect Jan. 1 and over the next 15 years eliminates tariffs and other trade barriers. It creates the world’s largest and richest trading bloc, covering 360 million people and stretching from the tropics to the Arc The United States has had a sepa rate free-trade agreement with Cana da since 1989. Clinton used the ceremony—held in a government auditorium because too many people were invited to fit into a room in the White House - to call for completing 116-nation trade talks in Geneva. Trade negotiators are working against a Dec. 15 deadline to wrap up seven years of talks on a new set of trading rules under the General Agree ment on Tariffs and Trade. Although the most contentious dis pute — a long squabble between the United States and France over farm subsidies — appeared resolved in the talks, South Korea threw up a poten tial obstacle on Wednesday by balk ing at opening its market to rice im ports. Just like the free-trade pact with Mexico and Canada, the new GATT rules must be approved by both hous A Deadly /HPHSBSSKIpSHBEBSBiBSSSfl Trip >T/ V ^&*.V Racism blamed for shooting MINEOLA, N Y. — The gunman who turned a commuter rail car into a terror train brimmed with racial ha tred and targeted the suburbs because he didn’t want to embarrass New York’s black mayor, authorities said Wednesday. All those shot were white or Asian — two of the groups disparaged in four pages of rambling handwritten notes taken from the gunman after Tuesday’s killings aboard the 5:33 p.m. Long Island Rail Road tram out of Penn Station. Colin Ferguson, a 35-ycar-old nat uralized citizen from Jamaica, was held without bail Wednesday after his arraignment on four counts of murder and a weapons possession count. The heavyset black man did not speak or enter a plea at the hearing. The notes listed the “reasons for this: Adelphi University racism, EEOC racism, Workmen’s Compen sation Board. Racism of Gov. Cuomo’s staff... Additional reasons for this: Caucasian racism and Uncle Tom Negroes.” He also cited “Chi nese racism.” Without saying a word, he opened fire on other riders just before the train arrived at a suburban Garden City station. Calmly walking up the aisle, he blasted away for three horrific minutes, pausing only to reload. “He would turn one way and shoot, then turn the other and shoot, and I thought to myself, ‘This can’t be hap pening,’” said Carl Petersen, a banker who was seated near the front of the car. When the shooting ended, four people were dead, 19 wounded by gunshots and two others hurt in the crush. A fifth person died Wednes day, and one of the wounded was being kept alive on a life support system. - ftl It did not appear it was a random thing. ... He had severe hostilities toward a lot of people. —Kane, Nassau County Police Commissioner - If “ The gunman unloaded 30 to 50 rounds as he walked through the third car of the train, said Assistant District Attorney Barry Grcnnan. He had ap parently stopped to reload his 9mm Rugcr semiautomatic when three com muters jumped and subdued him, au thorities said. One of his captors quoted him as saying, “I’ve done a bad thing,” ac cording to the Daily News. Grennan said it appeared Ferguson began preparing for the crime more than 15 days ago. The carnage could have been worse; the gunman brought aboard a small canvas bag filled with 100 more rounds of ammunition for his 16-shot weapon, enough to shoot dozens more of the 90 passengers aboard, authori ties said. Ferguson purchased the $324.74 handgun in California after comply ing with a 15-day waiting period, said spokesman John O’Brien of the Bu reau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire arms. “I consider this an outrageous crime motivated by bias,” said Nassau Coun ty District Attorney Denis Dillon. The railroad was investigating re ports that the train’s engineer told conductors not to open the doors when the train stopped at the station, trap ping commuters inside, said LIRR spokeswoman Susan McGowan. PassengcrGene Mason, who works for a Wall Street firm, said the engi neer announced,‘“Conductors,do not open the doors.”’ “I couldn’t believe it,” said Ma son, add ing he pulled at the wires near the doors until they sprang open. “I got it (an emergency panel) pried open and pulled the door release latch, so at least people were able to get out.” Ferguson, who lives in Brooklyn, boarded the train in New' York City’s borough of Queens, quietly speaking with the conductor at one point about his ticket, said Nassau Chief of Detec tives Richard Ficro. “It did not appear it was a random thing. ... He had severe hostilities toward a lot of people, and he boarded the train because he targeted Nassau County,” said county Police Com missioner Donald Kane. The notes found on Ferguson indi cated “New York City was spared because of my respect for Mayor David Dinkins,” Kane said. Dinkins said he didn’t recall ever hearing from Ferguson, and called the gunman “a deranged person.” Ferguson had nopreviouscriminal record and was not licensed to carry a weapon in New York, authorities said. The single, jobless man was suspend ed from Adelphi University for disci plinary reasons in June 1991. He lived in a single room of a private home. His notes said the peo ple he lived with “arc not my friends. I hate them with a passion.” Killed were James Gorycki, 51, of Mineola; Marita Theresa Magtoto, 30, of Westbury; Dennis McCarthy, 52,of M ineola; and Richard Nettleton, 34,ofRoslyn Heights. Mikyung Kim, 27, died Wednesday. -44 This whole issue turned out to be a defining moment for our nation. — President Clinton - II __ es of Congress — and the battle next year could be just as contentious. Clinton used eight pens in signing the free-trade agreement, giving the first one to his chief congressional lobbyist, Howard Paster, who is leav ing the White House to accept a job with a major public relations compa ny. Clinton acknowledged the depth of concern over lowering trade barri ers that in the past have sheltered U.S. industries. But, he said, “We cannot stop global change. We cannot repeal the international economic competi tion that is everywhere. We can only w w harness the energy to our benefit.” He called for strong enforcement of side agreements to protect worker rights and the environment. Clinton insisted on those amend ments in exchange for his support for the pact, which was initially negotiat ed by the Bush administration. Former President Bush, talking to business leaders in Mexico, said Clinton got started “a little late, but I feel once he rolled up his sleeves and got engaged he did a first-class job of getting a recalcitrant Congress to do the right thing.” STATE WIRE Gas prices continue to drop across state omaha — Nebraska motorists are getting a pleasant surprise at the gas pump — prices in many areas of the state are at their lowest level in years. Self-serve unleaded is under $1 a gallon in some places in Omaha, the lowest price since 1989, Rose White of the Nebraska Triplc-A Motor Club said Wednesday. The dccl inc reflects a national trend following the fall in crude oil prices, Nebraska Petroleum Marketers Asso ciation executive director Fred Stone said. “It could go down a little more, but it looks like it has bottomed out,” Stone said. Both Stone and White said future trends are difficult to predict. Crude oil has been trading at five year lows since an Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meet ing last month failed to bring a new agreement to cut production. Gasoline prices in Nebraska peaked in tne range or to 3*1.30 this year. The decline has not necessarily been noticed by customers, said Den nis Noble, manager of a Buchanan’s Amoco station in Omaha, who said motorists aren’t saying much. “Not as much as when the price goes up,” he said. Noble said part of the decline is seasonal. “Generally, gas prices will fall in the winter.” he said. White agrees, but she said this year’s decline is more dramatic than in years past. She said the drop would be greater if it weren’t for the recent 4.5-cent increase in the federal gas tax. Nebraska’s gasoline tax will go from 23.8 cents a gallon to 26 cents effective Jan. 1, she said. That will be the third-highest state gasoline tax in the nation, White said, trailing only Connecticut’s 29 cents and Rhode Island’s 28 cents. -SPORTS WIRE Alberts, Ward head list of All-Americans NEW YORK — Hcisman Trophy favorite Charlie Ward, Lombardi Award winner AaronTaylorand three time selection Marshall Faulk were named to The Associated Press All America college football team on Wednesday. San DicgoState runmngback Faulk made the team for the third straight year, the first player to do that since Georgia’s Herschel Walker from 1980 82. Warddirectcd Florida State Y'fast break” offense, which led the NCAA in scoring with a 43.2-point average. Notre Dame tackle Taylor, the Lombardi winner as the nation’s top 1 ineman, and Arizona nose guard Rob Waldrop made the team for the sec ond consecutive year. Joining Ward and Faulk in the backficld is Northern Illinois’ LeShon Johnson, the nation’s leading rusher with a 179.6-yard average. Another record-setter, Wyoming’s Ryan Yarborough, leads a trio of wide re ceivers on the squad. The other re ceivers are J.J. Stokes of UCLA and Johnnie Morton of Southern Cal. r _ The all-purpose player is Ala bama’s David Palmer, who was used as a runner, receiver, quarterback and kick returner. Rounding out the offense are cen ter Jim Pync of Virginia Tech; tackle WayncGandy of Auburn; guards Mark Dixon of Virginia and Stacy Sccgars of Clcmson; and placckicker Bjorn Merten of UCLA. Along with Waldrop, the defen sive line includes Dan Wilkinson of Ohio State, Sam Adams of Texas A&M and Kevin Patrick of Miami. The linebackers are Trcv Alberts of Nebraska, Derrick Brooks of Flor ida State and Dana Howard of Illinois. The secondary features Antonio Langham of Alabama, Aaron Glenn of Texas A&M, Jeff Burris of Notre Dame and Jaime Mendez of Kansas State. The punter is Auburn’s Terry Daniel, who finished second nation ally with a 46.9-yard average. Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, UCLA, Texas A&M and Notre Dame each had two players on the team. Nebraskan Ed',t>f £S?79^,uP*trich Nighl News Editors JelfZeleny a~msx 'onxL, sSSEs Fdnonal Paoe Fdimr !^r£->t£rf?aon Art Director Dev Id B«dd«n» tanonai Page Editor Kathy Stelnauer General Manager Dan Shattll hralka iSnc,SF|S by1 the UNL Publications Board. Ne i^Wy dumg^umS ^on^ ' **• M°"day ,hr0o«h Fnday durin« *c*dem,C **«' nhn^?nn 475^ o° 806,1111 w^y ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by between,9 8-m_and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has ^ub^nmtnUrS<^ l.°5lr?{>ard F°f into,IT»»wn. contact Doug Fiedler. 436 *407 buoscnption price is $50 for one year. ^ Si 1 JSUJTiJc Ss£i*ild.r!*5!ch*T5 10 lh* D“'» «*■*», Nebraska Union 34.1400 R isaaggaasasSna &&&«,_