Rockwell International Corp., the El Segundo-based aerospace,...

Rockwell International Corp., the El Segundo-based aerospace, automotive and electronics firm, reported that second-quarter earnings rose 24% to $218.4 million, but it gave most of the credit to a tax adjustment. The favorable tax adjustment resulted from deferral of income on the B1-B bomber program from previous years for tax purposes. The earnings, deferred under the completed contract method, are taxed at a lower rate under the new tax law. Donald R. Beall, chairman and chief executive, said earnings excluding the tax adjustment were comparable with last year.