April 15, 1997

National Science Foundation seeks ways to cut cost of Antarctic research to fund urgently needed restoration of its South Pole Station; plans to transfer most Navy operations to civilian contractors to save $30 million and reallocate $20 million in research funds, mainly by cutting overall number of scientists working in region; map; photo; drawing (L)

Third article in three-part series After the Cuts contends that for decade, New York City officials have boasted that nearly three-quarters of city's streets were acceptably clean but survey conducted by New York Times found that out of 800 city streets, 36 percent were considered clean, 30 percent somewhat littered and 34 percent dirty; photo; graph (M)

Many experts say Florida Bay, 600 square miles of shallow flats between Everglades and Florida Keys, is in grip of ecological crisis, posing eventual threat to coral reefs just outside Keys; agree reduced flow of water from Everglades is root of change, but disagree on whether current Federal-state program to restore natural flow of water from Lake Okeechobee, through Everglades to bay and reefs will improve or worsen bay's plight; proponents say program will ease hypersalinity that they see at heart of bay's decline; opponents say it will speed decline by increasing agricultural runoff; diagram; map; photos (L)

Profile of Xerox Corp focuses on its corporate strategy; last month, company revamped its corporate structure; Xerox on April 15 will introduce four machines that will, for first time, let customers set their own pace for moving from an analog to a digital world; next month, it will flesh the line out, with some products aimed at highest end of copier market and others aimed at small businesses and telecommuters; chief executive Paul A Alaire comments; graphs; photos (L)

Atty Gen Janet Reno rejects Republican demands for independent prosecutor to investigate financing of Pres Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign, telling Congress prosecutors at Justice Department are capable of carrying out inquiry; letter to Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Orrin Hatch relies on provision of independent counsel law requiring appointment only if internal review found evidence of specific crime committed by Administration officials, including President and Vice President; decision inflames Republican lawmakers; plunges her more deeply into furor surrounding how Clinton and campaign aides raised money for 1996 re-election; she is accused by Republicans of trying to shield potential subjects from rigorous investigation by keeping inquiry under purview of Justice Department; photo (M)