May 15, 1993

Clinton Tries to Focus Attention on Economy At a Rose Garden news conference in which he concentrated on economic issues, the President said the Federal Reserve Board should avoid raising interest rates to stem inflation. Article and news analysis, page 9. Economic Pact for Russia Backed by President Boris N. Yeltsin of Russia, 9 of the 15 former Soviet republics signed a declaration of intent for an economic union. Page 3. Islanders Upset Penguins The Islanders eliminated the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime in the National Hockey League playoffs. Page 27.

The Queens Democratic Party leader, Representative Thomas J. Manton, endorsed Mayor David N. Dinkins for re-election yesterday and said he had asked his old friend, City Council President Andrew J. Stein, to withdraw from the mayoral race. The actions by Mr. Manton, a significant and long-time political supporter of Mr. Stein, dealt a major blow to the mayoral hopes of the Council President, who has been trailing Mr. Dinkins badly in virtually all polls for at least six months.

Every morning at Malcolm X Shabazz High School, before Shakespeare or algebra, all 1,215 students form four jagged lines to be patted down for weapons in this South Side neighborhood of vacant lots and ramshackle buildings. At the end of the day, scholars and troublemakers alike file out to a street guarded by four police officers and blocked off on either end to deter fights and to stop students in stolen cars from zipping by. In the hours between, both teachers and students concede that they mostly make do.

In the America of shopping malls, cul-de-sacs and home-delivered pizza, Dr. Bernardo G. Bilang would hardly be the first choice of a family looking for a doctor. As a result of questionable medical procedures, he has been forced to surrender his right to practice in one state and has agreed never again to deliver babies in another. And in February he was arrested on Federal bank fraud charges.

With a Congressional moratorium on nuclear testing due to expire on July 1, President Clinton is expected to approve a plan that would allow underground blasts to resume by the end of the year, Administration officials said today. But the officials said Mr. Clinton was likely to emphasize that he intended to call a final halt to the testing in 1996.