Attendance at public high schools in New York City plummets on Halloween among students fearful of annual mayhem of food-throwing; photo of Chancellor Joel Klein in mask (M)

A Top Costume in the City: The Invisible Student

Russian Prime Min Mikhail M Kasyanov, defying Pres Vladimir V Putin's warning against ministerial meddling in case of jailed Yukos Oil Co chairman Mikhail B Khodorkovsky, expresses 'deep concern' over freezing by prosecutors of large block of Yukos shares; stand by prominent pro-business official exposes deepening rift between government's free-market faction and officials drawn from Russia's security forces who favor stronger role for state over business; other businessmen who made fortunes out of chaotic 1990's privatizations seem increasingly fearful that government wants to curb big business (M)

RUSSIAN PREMIER STEPS INTO FRAY ON JAILED TYCOON

 Seeking Smallpox Defenses  Scientists have created a highly lethal virus in an effort to develop stronger protections against the threat of virulent forms of smallpox that terrorists might use.   PAGE A8    Newly Minted by Sondheim  Stephen Sondheim's first new musical since 1994, ''Bounce,'' opened in Washington with Richard Kind, left, and Gavin Creel. A review by Ben Brantley.   ARTS & IDEAS, PAGE B7

INSIDE

Boston U. Pays Leader to Quit Before Starting

Public pension funds in New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Iowa withdraw combined $2.6 billion from Putnam Investments in wake of accusations of improper trading in mutual funds; more than $4 billion has been withdrawn from Putnam since accusations surfaced; treasurers of Iowa and Rhode Island charge that company has failed to respond adequately to charges, while other states focus on poor investment performance and excessive staffing changes; Massachusetts and Vermont recently withdrew investments from Putnam after civil fraud charges were filed against company in Massachusetts (M)

Pension Funds Drop Putnam As Manager

Few in Russia believe Yukos Oil chairman Mikhail B Khodorkovsky has any chance of due process, or should it come to it, fair and open trial, on fraud and forgery charges; case underscores just how far Russia is from Pres Vladimir V Putin's goal of cementing rule of law; lawyers, legislators and analysts say justice in practice remains arbitrary, selective and often corrupt; courts rarely challenge or overrule prosecutors, who wield tremendous control over criminal cases; indictments and evidence are usually secret (M)

What Chance Justice Is Done? Russia's System Is Questioned

Rep Dick Gephardt's decision to turn spotlight on his daughter Chrissy's proud and open homosexuality underscores his evolution from opponent to sponsor of gay rights legislation; he is hailed by gay and lesbian rights groups as first presidential hopeful to give gay relative prominent, public platform; nearly all Democratic presidential hopefuls now back gay rights, seismic shift from 80's and early 90's that experts say reflects widening acceptance of gays in American political and cultural life; Gephardt comments on his sometimes awkward and uncomfortable metamorphosis, interview; photos (M)

Daughter Spurs Shift in Gephardt's View on Gays

New York Yankees manager Joe Torre says he used team's organizational meeting with owner George Steinbrenner to ask Steinbrenner to be more supportive and less disruptive; photo (M)

Torre Tells His Boss To Stop Meddling

Counterterrorism officials say young militant Muslim men across Europe and Mideast are increasingly answering calls by Osama bin Laden and other extremists and leaving home to join fight against American-led occupation in Iraq; estimate hundreds of young militants have crossed into Iraq from Syria or Iran; say influx is not necessarily proof of coordination by Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups; it remains unclear whether men are under control of one leader or play role in deadly attacks shaking Iraq; photo (M)

Calls to Jihad Are Said to Lure Hundreds of Militants Into Iraq

Investigation begins into parking garage collapse that killed four workers in Atlantic City; union leaders say members felt pressured to speed up work on Tropicano casino expansion; focus is on support system used to keep concrete stable during hardening process; photos (M)

Union Raises Questions After Collapse

Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative founder Victor Conte Jr, who was once musician, is under investigation for development and marketing of previously undetectable steroid THG to athletes, despite contentions from friends of his that he has always expressed aversion to steroids; photos (M)

Former Musician Rocks World of Track

Wildfires, some caused by arsonists, have destroyed thousands of houses across Southern California in past week; inexplicably spare some houses in midst of carnage; residents return to Palmer Canyon, Claremont, Calif, where only four of 47 houses survived, to assess damage; they comment; photos (M)

A House Saved, but the Neighborhood Is Lost

Analysis: Practice of market timing by mutual fund insiders is drawing increasing scrutiny of Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators and prompting overhaul of fund industry regulations; market timing, which usually involves funds that invest in foreign stocks, has not been clearly illegal, but regulators are increasingly taking view that it is impermissible when a fund's insiders or managers profit from allowing the transactions; SEC has filed legal proceedings against Putnam Investments and are expected to do so against Strong Group (M)

Pile of Pennies Is Adding Up To a Scandal In Mutual Funds

Harriet Tubman's descendant Pauline Copes Johnson and others seek Civil War pension payment for Tubman for her service and spy and scout in Union Army; Senate, at urging of Sen Hillary Clinton, appropriates $11,750 to help maintain Tubman home in upstate New York; photos (S)

In Search Of Back Pay For Heroine Of Civil War

New Jersey Nets defeat Minnesota Timberwolves, 84-61; photos (M)

After Martin Goes Down, the Nets Close Out a Rout

Major German investors says they will continue to do business with Russia in wake of arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, chairman of Russian oil company Yukos, on fraud and tax evasion charges; experts believe midsize companies will delay plans to invest until legal controversy over Yukos subsides; Germany, which is particularly reliant on imported Russian natural gas, buys 20 percent of Russia's overall exports, and accounts for 8 percent of total $19.4 billion in country's cumulative foreign investment; photo (M)

Arrest of Russian Billionaire Captures Attention of Germany

About New York on Marjorie Eliot, pianist honored by City Lore for her community work and weekly musicales in her Harlem apartment; old-fashioned rent party is planned to prevent her eviction (M)

About New York; Sweet Sounds Ease the Pain, Then and Now

 WorldCom Wins Approval To Exit Bankruptcy  WorldCom won court approval for a reorganization plan that will allow it to emerge from bankruptcy early next year.    The company, which will officially change its name to MCI then, will turn its attention to increasing its revenue and rebuilding its profit margins. The competitive climate in the industry is tough, and analysts say a wave of consolidation is likely, with MCI a possible target. [Page C3.]

BUSINESS DIGEST

Michigan State University quarterback Jeff Smoker leads Big Ten conference in passing and has 12 touchdown passes in eight games, after spending much of last season recovering from substance abuse problem; photos (M)

The Slate Is Clean at Michigan State

Cuban pitcher Maels Rodriguez and second baseman Yobal Duenas defect from Cuba and seek asylum in unnamed country; both players could draw interest from Major League teams; photo (M)

Star Pitcher Has Defected From Cuba

New York Sen Charles Schumer draws fire from political right for using almost every maneuver available to Judiciary Committee member to block Pres Bush's more controversial judicial appointees; successful tactics range from digging up negative information to filibusters on floor; photos; Schumer casts himself as bipartisan pragmatist, cultivating moderate reputation that gives him political cover and minimizes opposition among moderate swing voters in New York (M)

An Infuriating Success; Schumer Draws Fire for Tactics Blocking Judicial Nominees

Recent Commerce Department reports confirms business spending on technology is finally gaining momentum across much of US economy; business technology spending has risen more than 15 percent for two consecutive quarters, and may be returning to levels not experienced since early 2000; key question is whether recent trend is sustainable given that some part of increase is attributable to updating or replacing outdated equipment, and most analysts expect overall information technology spending to moderate to between 4 percent and 6 percent in 2004; among most positive signs is higher spending on notebook computers with wireless communications, which is seen as important technology for boosting employee productivity; graph; photo (M)

Investment in Technology Is Roaring Softly Back

Review of 25 years of Coast Guard safety records show Staten Island ferries were involved in dozens of accidents that injured hundreds and were often attributed to crew inattentiveness, poor judgment or negligence; indicate ferry managers ignored for years safety recommendations that could have prevented injuries and that some accidents could have been far worse if not for plain luck; suggest Oct crash that killed 10 passengers was less than surprise; New York City Transportation Department, which run ferries, says it will review Coast Guard probes (M)

History of Human Error Found in Ferry Accidents

Recent arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, chairman of Russian oil company Yukos, on fraud and tax evasion charges has received close attention of Western oil companies doing business in Russia, but executives expect projects to stay on track for present; companies have become accustomed to Russia's shifting business environment, in which government plays active and often unpredictable role; some executives see Yukos's current difficulties as result of political dispute between company and Russian government, following Khodorkovsky's use of his personal fortune to support opposition party in election year; foreign oil companies are watching closely what administration of Vladimir V Putin does next with regard to Yukos and broader issues shaping oil sector (M)

Oil Companies Stay Course Amid Turmoil In Russia

''I miss my neighbors. I feel blessed and fortunate that my house was saved, but this place was more than houses and yards -- it was a community.''    BONNIE CHASE, whose house survived a fire that destroyed 43 of 47 houses in her neighborhood, north of Claremont, Calif. [A1]

November 1, 2003

Headlines from November 1, 2003

A Top Costume in the City: The Invisible Student

RUSSIAN PREMIER STEPS INTO FRAY ON JAILED TYCOON

INSIDE

Boston U. Pays Leader to Quit Before Starting

Pension Funds Drop Putnam As Manager

Billboard 200

Measure Of A Man

ChickenNBeer

Hard

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

The Movie Album

Historical Context for November 1, 2003

Headlines from November 1, 2003

A Top Costume in the City: The Invisible Student

RUSSIAN PREMIER STEPS INTO FRAY ON JAILED TYCOON

INSIDE

Boston U. Pays Leader to Quit Before Starting

Pension Funds Drop Putnam As Manager

Measure Of A Man

Chicken*N*Beer

Hard

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

The Movie Album

Historical Context for November 1, 2003

ChickenNBeer