What happened on March 17, 1991

BOOKS

SLAYGROUND : AMERICAN PSYCHO \o7 By Bret Easton Ellis (Vintage: $11, paper; 399 pp.)\f7 By Henry Bean, \o7 Bean is the author of the novel "False Match" and the screenplay for the movie "Internal Affairs."\f7
Freedom Road: The Pathfinders : FREE AT LAST?: The Civil Rights Movement and the People Who Made It \o7 By Fred Powledge (Little, Brown: $29.95; 711 pp.)\f7 By David J. Garrow, \o7 Garrow is the author of "Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King\f7 ,\o7 Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference," which received the 1987 Pulitzer Prize in biography and the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award\f7
Freedom Road: The Pathfinders : THE PROMISED LAND: The Great Black Migration and How It Changed America \o7 By Nicholas Lemann (Alfred A. Knopf: $24.95; 320 pp.) \f7 By Harry Mcpherson, \o7 McPherson, former special counsel to President Lyndon B. Johnson, practices law in Washington. \f7
The Americanization of Chang : TYPICAL AMERICAN \o7 By Gish Jen (Houghton Mifflin/Seymour Lawrence: $19.95; 296 pp.) \f7
If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Write a Book : YOU'LL NEVER EAT LUNCH IN THIS TOWN AGAIN \o7 By Julia Phillips (Random House: $22; 592 pp.) \f7 By Jean Vallely, \o7 Vallely is a Los Angeles-based writer. \f7
Fiction By Michael Harris
A Ford Is a Ford Is a Ford : FORD MADOX FORD \o7 By Alan Judd (Harvard University Press:$27.50; 488 pp.) \f7 By Frederick Busch, \o7 Busch's most recent novel is "Harry and Catherine" (Alfred A. Knopf). He is Fairchild Professor of Literature at Colgate University. \f7
Fiction By Michael Harris
Fiction By Michael Harris
\o7 From\f7 . . .Sarah By PHILIP APPLEMAN \o7 This fragment of the haggling between Abraham and God (over how many righteous men had to be found to save the city of Sodom from destruction) is an excerpt from the longer poem "Sarah," in "Let There Be Light" (HarperCollins: $21.95). 1991 by Philip Appleman. \f7
Fiction By Michael Harris
Fiction By Michael Harris
Something Is Rotten in Rivertown : DOWN BY THE RIVER \o7 By Monte Schulz (Viking: $19.95; 432 pp.)\f7 By Tom Nolan, \o7 Nolan is a contributing editor at Los Angeles Magazine. and \f7
No Heroes Without Combat : PETTIBONE'S LAW \o7 By John Keene (Simon & Schuster: $19.95; 363 pp.) \f7 By Kevin Mcilvoy, \o7 McIlvoy is the author of "Little Peg." \f7
SEVEN CLUES TO THE ORIGIN OF LIFE \o7 by A. G... By Charles Solomon
Nonfiction

NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

BUSINESS

CALIFORNIA | LOCAL

OPINION

Before We Rush to Condemn the Department's Leadership, Examine the Facts : LAPD: Rapid recruitment has strained system, but there is no institutional anti-black bias. Vast majority of officers are models of duty and valor. By Ed Davis, \o7 Ed Davis, LAPD chief of police from 1969 to 1978, is a state senator (R-Santa Clarita)\f7
The Way It Was When Stopped by LAPD 26 Years Ago By Roger Wilkins, \o7 Roger Wilkins is professor of history and American culture at George Mason University. The above commentary was first delivered on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," March 15, 1991\f7
Gorbachev Hopes to Parley Referendum on Renewed Federation Into More Power : Soviet Union: The President wants a mandate so he can break his deadlock with Yeltsin, the standard-bearer of economic reform. By Susan Eisenhower, \o7 Susan Eisenhower is president of the Eisenhower Group, Inc., consultants to Western business on the political and economic situation in the Soviet Union\f7
When Department Integrity Suffers and Public Support Falls, the Chief Must Quit : Beating: Gates' repeated claim that the King pummeling was an "aberration" is an attempt to escape responsibility, a tactic he's prone to exploit. By Joseph D. Mcnamara, \o7 Joseph D. McNamara has been San Jose Police Chief for 15 years\f7
Colombia Fights Drugs Its Own Way : War: The Government, tired of paying in blood and money, turns America's Saddam fixation into an opportunity to cut a deal with traffickers. By Cecilia Rodriguez, \o7 Cecilia Rodriguez is a Colombian journalist based in Mexico\f7
China's Dissidents All Alone : Freedom: Since 1971, Washington has retained a studied obliviousness to Beijing's human-rights record in deference to geopolitics. By Edward A. Gargan, \o7 Edward A. Gargan, former Beijing bureau chief for the New York Times, is the author of "China's Fate" (Doubleday)\f7
Daryl Gates : With LAPD Under Sttack the Chief Defends Himself By Jesse Katz
JAPAN WATCH : Rice Wars
Is This Any Way to Treat a Saver? : Yes, if the new Bentsen IRA bill is passed
Oops, Oops and Oops : Hey, we didn't mean to sign it, not know it, say it
Any Other Stanfords Out There?
PLATFORM : Soaking the Rich By Bill Mccann, \o7 With mandatory rationing in effect, many California water districts have said that households found to exceed their allotments will repeatedly be hit with flow restricters, which reduce water to a mere trickle. BILL McCANN is general manager of the Purissima Hills Water District in the posh Los Altos Hills community in Santa Clara County, an area forced to cut back water usage 75% from pre\f7 -\o7 drought levels. He told The Times:\f7
COLUMN LEFT : Why Bush Wants Hussein Kept in Power : Washington stiff-arms the Iraqi opposition, fearing a fundamentalist Islamic regime. By George Black, \o7 George Black is foreign editor of the Nation\f7
Make Saddam Hussein the Last Dictator We Pamper By Claiborne Pell, \o7 Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee\f7
BOOK MARK : 'They Wished We'd Go Back to Africa, but Chicago was Close Enough' By Nicholas Lemann, \o7 Nicholas Lemann, who lives in New York City, is a national correspondent for The Atlantic. From the Mississippi Delta, thousands of African-Americans headed for Chicago as mechanical cotton pickers replaced them in the fields. There were other reasons, too, as this excerpt explains\f7
Of Death and Dying: Not a Simple Case of Acute Leukemia : Ethics: A patient's decision to forgo treatment and hasten the end by suicide, aided by her doctor, is a choice society unfairly condemns. By Timothy Quill, \o7 Timothy Quill is a physician. This article is excerpted from information appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine, "Death and Dignity: A Case of Individualized Decision Making," Vol. 324, 1991\f7

REAL ESTATE

SPORTS

MAGAZINE

TRAVEL

What happened on March 17, 1991

BOOKS

SLAYGROUND : AMERICAN PSYCHO \o7 By Bret Easton Ellis (Vintage: $11, paper; 399 pp.)\f7 By Henry Bean, \o7 Bean is the author of the novel "False Match" and the screenplay for the movie "Internal Affairs."\f7

Freedom Road: The Pathfinders : THE PROMISED LAND: The Great Black Migration and How It Changed America \o7 By Nicholas Lemann (Alfred A. Knopf: $24.95; 320 pp.) \f7 By Harry Mcpherson, \o7 McPherson, former special counsel to President Lyndon B. Johnson, practices law in Washington. \f7

If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Write a Book : YOU'LL NEVER EAT LUNCH IN THIS TOWN AGAIN \o7 By Julia Phillips (Random House: $22; 592 pp.) \f7 By Jean Vallely, \o7 Vallely is a Los Angeles-based writer. \f7

Fiction By Michael Harris

A Ford Is a Ford Is a Ford : FORD MADOX FORD \o7 By Alan Judd (Harvard University Press:$27.50; 488 pp.) \f7 By Frederick Busch, \o7 Busch's most recent novel is "Harry and Catherine" (Alfred A. Knopf). He is Fairchild Professor of Literature at Colgate University. \f7

Fiction By Michael Harris

Fiction By Michael Harris

Fiction By Michael Harris

Fiction By Michael Harris

Something Is Rotten in Rivertown : DOWN BY THE RIVER \o7 By Monte Schulz (Viking: $19.95; 432 pp.)\f7 By Tom Nolan, \o7 Nolan is a contributing editor at Los Angeles Magazine. and \f7

No Heroes Without Combat : PETTIBONE'S LAW \o7 By John Keene (Simon & Schuster: $19.95; 363 pp.) \f7 By Kevin Mcilvoy, \o7 McIlvoy is the author of "Little Peg." \f7

SEVEN CLUES TO THE ORIGIN OF LIFE \o7 by A. G... By Charles Solomon

NEWS

KITTY HAWK AND BEYOND: The Wright Brothers and the Early Stages of Aviation \o7 by Ronald R. Geibert and Patrick B. Nolan (Wayne State University Press: $29.95; 160 pp.).\f7 By Kenneth Turan

THE BOOK OF SEQUELS\o7 by Henry Beard, Christopher Cerf, Sarah Durkee, and Sean Kelly (Random House: $16.95; 144 pp.).\f7 By Sonja Bolle

Exploring the Jim Morrison Era By Jim Morrison

Native Oaks Fall Before Onslaught of 'Progress' : Conservation: Groups are fighting to preserve the trees, which are rapidly being destroyed by developers and private property owners. By Edmund Newton, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Schools' Fiscal Health Not as Bad as It Seems : Education: Bonita Unified and El Monte City are on list of financially distressed districts. But officials say they would be unable to pay their bills only under worst-case circumstances. By Denise Hamilton, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Being homeless is no laughing matter, but for a mere $6... By Franki V. Ransom

Huntington to Reopen as Rich Blend of Old, New By Vicki Torres, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Native Oaks Fall in Name of 'Progress' : Conservation: Groups are fighting to preserve the trees, which are rapidly being destroyed by developers and private property owners. By Edmund Newton, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Crimes Break Peace of Quiet Neighborhood : Safety: Belmont Heights residents gather to demand more protection from theft, violence. Some blame the presence of 'outsiders.' By Susan Paterno, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

CSULB Debates Adopting Speech Code : Bias: Campus incidents spur proposed ban on statements that insult people based on race, religion or sexual orientation. By David Haldane, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Some Gain Seen From the Loss of Buffums By Faye Fiore and Bettina Boxall, TIMES STAFF WRITERS

Parents Rally for Ousted Whittier Principal : Education: Backers of Phelan Elementary's Kirk Reeve want him reinstated, citing his work at the school and in the community. By Howard Blume, TIMES STAFF WRITER

What better harbinger of spring than the return of the... By Susan Paterno

Carson to Stop Funding Branch of Traffic Court By Anthony Millican, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Poetry Helped Her Put Ordeal in Perspective By Herbert J. Vida, TIMES STAFF WRITER

FBI Enters Compton Shooting Case : Investigation: The bureau will evaluate the gunshot deaths of two Samoan brothers, based on allegations of a civil rights violation. By Michele Fuetsch, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Singapore Hotel Adds Chickens to Guest List \o7 Reuters \f7

8 Country Band Members Die in S.D. Air Crash By Michael Granberry and H.G. Reza, TIMES STAFF WRITERS

S.D. Mayor's Water Use Soars With 2nd Meter : Drought: Corrected figures show that the O'Connor household is in the city's top 100 of residential users. By Leonard Bernstein, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Lawrence Freeman, 84; Developed Chicago-Style Jazz From Reuter

Cheerleader Case: the Ultimate Stage Mother? By Susan Fahlgren, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wife in Arranged Marriage Convicted of Killing Husband \o7 Reuters\f7

KGB Ring Camera Brings $22,400 at Christie's Auction \o7 Associated Press\f7

Japanese Find Weird Burgers Easy to Swallow By Eric Talmadge, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Italian Fights City Hall to Protect Vineyard From Odoriferous Trash Dump By John Follain, REUTERS

Lawlessness and Frontier Justice on the Rise in Brazil's Vast Interior : South America: Economic troubles, coupled with the lure of gold in the Amazon, have sparked a crime wave. The police seem powerless. By Michael Stott, REUTERS

Singapore Goes 'Ozone-Friendly' by Implementing Ban on Chlorofluorocarbons By Ruth Youngblood, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

Economy, Rains Beset Australia Farmers By Michael Perry, REUTERS

Ellis Island Project Will List Immigrants By Daniel R. Levine, COLUMBIA NEWS SERVICE

Australian Firm to Get Grant to Design Contact Lenses Specifically for Asians \o7 Reuters\f7

Little Kernels a Big Issue in Rhode Island By Karen Schwartz, ASSOCIATED PRESS

W. Texas Communities Hope Hospitality Will Draw Doctors to Hospitals By Chip Brown, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Algerian Telethon Raises Funds for Iraq \o7 Reuters\f7

Nigerian Airlines Fires 3 in Drug Use \o7 Reuters\f7

Freed Killer Convicted in Girl's Slaying \o7 Reuters\f7

New Breed of Japanese Women Savor Life in Fast Lane By Vibeke Laroi, REUTERS

5 Die in Chicago Apartment Blaze \o7 United Press International\f7

Superpowers Join Up for Siberian Tigers By Mercer Cross, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Students Gain Skills as They Build Dormitory for Homeless Classmates : Education: A Bronx school turns an empty building into a haven. Vocational training is a large side benefit. By Beth J. Harpaz, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Spousal Homicide Law: 'Open Season' on Men--or Domestic Violence? : Courts: Battered women who kill their tormentors raise legal questions. When is it self-defense to shoot a sleeping man? By Kay Bartlett, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Income Study Says, Like Father, Like Son By Frances Ann Burns, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

China Seeks Modern Man as Model Mate By Sarah Lubman, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

Population Explosion Threatens Future of Beleaguered Pakistan : Birth control: Severe overcrowding, social unrest and food shortages may be ahead, experts say. Conservative attitudes hamper family planning. By Martin Howell, REUTERS

The Piranha May Be Getting a Bad Rap : Fish: The name is synonymous with flesh-eating ferocity, but the Amazon dweller may not be as bloodthirsty as people think. By Donald Smith, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Far East Silk Trade May Not Have Had Smooth Sailing Thanks to Pirates By Donald J. Frederick, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

San Diego Mayor Among Top Water Users in City : Drought: Discovery of second meter shows Maureen O'Connor averaged 3,248 gallons a day in 1990. By Leonard Bernstein, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Baker Plans New Talks on Arab-Israeli Peace : Diplomacy: He sees 'a window of opportunity' after his 10-day trip if the United States moves quickly. By Doyle Mcmanus, TIMES STAFF WRITER

'Stray Voltage'--a Shocking Barnyard Woe By Bob Secter, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Kuwait to Lack Water, Power for 3 More Weeks By Kim Murphy, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Gates Battles to Restore His and the LAPD's Image : Law enforcement: Chief goes on offensive to defuse beating furor and its impact on the entire department. By Jesse Katz, TIMES STAFF WRITER

COLUMN ONE : The Rule of Work in Japan : The nation's youth are supposed to be a new breed. But despite government efforts, they are being molded into 'organization men'--just like the old breed. By Leslie Helm, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Soviet Unity Vote Divides Ukrainians By John-thor Dahlburg, TIMES STAFF WRITER

U.S., Britain Issue Tough Terms for Iraq Peace Accord : Persian Gulf: Topping the list are the 'supervised destruction' of Baghdad's chemical arsenal and setting aside of oil revenues to pay for devastation in Kuwait. By David Lauter, TIMES STAFF WRITER

2 Yugoslav Republics Go on War Footing Amid Crisis By Carol J. Williams, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Plane Crash Kills 8 in Singer's Band : Air tragedy: Two crew members also died when jet struck mountain. Reba McEntire and husband were on a 2nd plane. By Michael Granberry and H.G. Reza, TIMES STAFF WRITERS

Santa Fe Engine Restoration Picks Up Steam in Fontana By Mark A. Stein, TIMES STAFF WRITER

State to Settle Suit by Farmers Over Loss of Water : Drought: Rich land is the first to feel effects of heavy exports, letting the sea flow in from San Francisco Bay. By Virginia Ellis, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Stanford Could Show Imelda a Thing or Two By Robert A. Jones

California IN BRIEF : DUCOR : 2 Children Killed, 1 Hurt in Cave-In From Times Staff and Wire Reports

California IN BRIEF : FRESNO : Man Faces Death in Killings of Two From Times Staff and Wire Reports

California IN BRIEF : SAN RAFAEL : Porn King Pleads Innocent in Killing From Times Staff and Wire Reports

California IN BRIEF : SAN DIEGO : New Cause in Death of Elephant Keeper From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Ex-Defense Chief Denies Lying Over Bank Sale : Finance: Clark Clifford tells '60 Minutes' he had no idea a foreign firm had an illegal stake in the institution. He helped get the deal approved. By Paul Houston, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Costner Wins Directors Guild Award for 'Dances With Wolves' From Associated Press

Gore Ponders 1992 Bid for White House Reuters