March 11, 1983

Democrats in the Assembly today proposed that the sales tax be extended to fees of lawyers, architects, engineers, accountants and other professionals. Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink said the new tax was designed to raise about $350 million, with about $300 million going to restore jobs and programs cut from Governor Cuomo's proposed $31.5 billion budget. The state sales tax is 4 percent, and New York City residents pay an additional 4 percent to the city and one-quarter of 1 percent for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The Bell System discovered yesterday that united it stands and divided it falls - at least in the bond market. After years of issuing gilt-edged securities, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and all but one of its subsidiaries and affiliates had their credit ratings lowered yesterday by Moody's Investors Service. Moody's, one of the two major debt rating services, said the move reflected increased competition and risks that the companies will face following the divestiture of A.T.& T.'s wholly owned operating companies next January. ''Technology and the deliberate fostering of competition by Government regulators have combined to make it difficult to have a totally sheltered business,'' Thomas J. McGuire, executive vice president of Moody's, said in an interview.

Two of the nation's top economic officials said today that the recovery was under way, but they tried to dampen expectations of a strong rebound. Martin S. Feldstein, the chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers, said that statistics for January had overstated the strength of the recovery and that initial data for February were showing that the pace was much slower. Paul A. Volcker, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, also said that there had been ''a certain amount of wishful thinking in recent weeks'' and that the economy still faced serious problems.

An article in Sports Pages yesterday about a Japanese catcher who will receive a tryout with the New York Mets gave his name incorrectly. He is Yoshiharu Wakana.

YOUNGSTERS looking for something to do this weekend might consider hunting dragons, making creatures, meeting a banjo-strumming frog, tooting a trombone or observing people who only seem to be there. Such activities may seem more inviting than, say, a trip to a museum - but that is exactly where these and many other adventures may be pursued. Museums throughout the city offer extensive and imaginative programs for youngsters, especially on weekends, and this weekend's fare is bountiful. For instance, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where youth activities have expanded since the museum's Uris Center for Education opened in January, children and their parents will go on a search through the galleries tomorrow and Sunday for ''Creatures and Mythical Beasts.'' Grown-ups who come across the tour should not be taken aback if growls emanate from some of the smaller participants, who at some point may be seen loping or on all fours . Bosa Washburn, weekend supervisor, explains that during the sojourn for 5- to 8-year-olds, from 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. both days, she may ask them to show how they think this or that creature sounds or walks. She won't suggest that to the 9- to 12-year-olds during a more sophisticated version of the excursion, set for 1 P.M.