March 8, 1991

Robert Maxwell, the British publisher who wants to buy The Daily News, told its union leaders yesterday that he needed to trim more than 800 jobs, or more than a third of the work force, to go through with the deal. On the opening day of last-ditch negotiations for the strikebound tabloid, Mr. Maxwell said The News was "at death's door." But he and George E. McDonald, president of the Allied Printing Trades Council, an umbrella group representing the nine striking unions, sounded an encouraging note after several hours of talks.

The board of the Chrysler Corporation cut the auto maker's regular quarterly dividend in half today, to 15 cents a share from 30 cents. The action, taken at the board's regular monthly meeting in New York, was widely expected by financial analysts. It will save Chrysler roughly $33 million quarterly.

Most of the nation's largest store chains remained on a slow track in February, despite the end of fighting in the Persian Gulf late in the month. With consumers apparently showing little early interest in new spring clothing, many merchants yesterday reported declines or no gains in stores open at least a year. Sears, J. C. Penney, Woolworth, Dayton Hudson, May Department Stores and the Limited were among those reporting year-to-year declines in sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales. In fact, of 20 of the nation's largest retailers reporting their sales for last month, 11 had decreases or minimal gains.

Congress moved considerably closer today to providing $30 billion in new money to rescue the nation's troubled savings and loan industry. The Senate this afternoon passed a measure to provide an infusion of cash intended to get the rescue program through the rest of the fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30. The bill passed by a vote of 69 to 30.

For all the glamour and accolades that came with the allied victory over Iraq, overt references to the operation may never appear in advertising for the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines. Military marketing and advertising officials say they fear depictions of combat or even allusions to the reality of warfare could scare away more potential recruits than they would attract.