September 12, 1991

The sudden collapse of Mayor David N. Dinkins's trip to South Africa has painfully exposed two of his most acute vulnerabilities: his overreliance on one overworked aide, Deputy Mayor Bill Lynch, and his propensity to reach for the grandest gesture, even when times seem to demand the simplest. Mr. Dinkins said he postponed the trip because Mr. Lynch had been too busy putting out fires in New York to raise the half-million dollars needed. A charter flight was to have taken the Mayor and several dozen city officials and business executives on a journey that had assumed the proportions of a royal tour.

Responding to growing criticism over its handling of the scandal at Salomon Brothers Inc., the Treasury Department today announced new rules aimed at combating corruption in the market in which the Government borrows hundreds of billions of dollars annually. The announcement came as the scandal continued to grow, with new disclosures by Richard C. Breeden, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, that other firms and banks may have misled Government-backed lending agencies -- including the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae -- that raise money separately from the Treasury.

Judge Clarence Thomas faced stiff questioning today in his second appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, with some Democratic Senators questioning whether he was tailoring his comments and repudiating his earlier writings and speeches to win a seat on the Supreme Court. Senator Howell Heflin, an Alabama Democrat whose support to Judge Thomas's nomination is crucial, told the nominee he was concerned that "there appears to be a conflict between what you've said in the past and what you've told us here."

The Economy Responding to criticism of its handling of the Salomon scandal, the Treasury announced significant new rules aimed at combating corruption in the Government securities market. [ Page D1. ] Clark M. Clifford defended himself in public under oath for the first time against accusations that he had betrayed his standing in political and legal circles in dealings with B.C.C.I. [ D1. ]

MOTHERS in suburbia know the true meaning of September, and it has nothing to do with the changing colors of leaves or the migration of birds. This is the time of year when a voice, bellowing across the country, issues a familiar command: "Ladies, start your engines." There they sit, on the asphalt mommy track, with one hand grasping the wheel, the other poised to turn the key. The gas tank is full, and it's time to hit the road. The car pool season is here.