51.   For cigarette companies, a principal goal of the talks is to ensure that the number of claims filed against them will be financially predictable.

52.   For seven months, cigarette companies have been negotiating to settle suits from smokers and states seeking to recoup the costs of treating smokers.

53.   For all of their hot smoke, the cigarette companies are probably in for a cold shower.

54.   Former Food and Drug Administration chief David A. Kessler predicts that the unveiling of more company documents will show cigarette companies manipulating nicotine levels to hook smokers.

55.   Friday, Gov. William F. Weld is scheduled to sign a bill that will force cigarette companies to disclose the ingredients of a cigarette on the box.

56.   He described cigarette companies as philanthropic giants who have donated generously to hospitals, universities and the arts.

57.   He also urged the cigarette companies to be more responsible.

58.   He offers evidence that recent gestures by cigarette companies at discouraging teen-age smoking are mostly smoke screens.

59.   He complained to former FDA commissioner David Kessler that negotiators deserve more credit for winning concessions from cigarette companies.

60.   He said cigarette companies may be overstating the effect of wholesale orders to avoid accusations that cigarette smoking is rising in the U.S.