Mr. Dole said that last-minute proposals were appearing "like a four-slice toaster - they are popping up all over the place."

And none of the last-minute proposals were put into writing.

The progress came after Treasury Secretary Baker made a last-minute proposal on a mechanism for resolving future disputes.

Mr. Fox and his allies were considering a last-minute proposal that would outline a new methodology for mounting an opposition primary election.

The players had planned to strike yesterday, but agreed on Thursday afternoon to postpone the walkout in order to consider a last-minute proposal from the management.

In a statement, Walcott said he rejected the union's "last-minute" proposal for arbitration because he is not willing to accept the union's demands.

The talks collapsed after the two sides traded last-minute proposals and counterproposals.

The talks collapsed after the two sides traded last-minute proposals and counterproposals that both eventually found unacceptable.

At another point, he made a modest last-minute proposal for further trade liberalization.

But Democratic leaders who attended the meeting quickly seized on the Republican request concerning the surplus, saying they were puzzled by the last-minute proposal.