January 25, 1998

Another Building Falls A century-old building partly collapsed on the Lower East Side of Manhattan after rain loosened weakened bricks. Page 29. Federal Stipend Is Raised The daily stipend for Federal employees doing business in New York City has been raised, a boon to Manhattan hotels. Page 27.

Wall Street is bubbling cauldron of jokes, some dumb, some vulgar and some right-on-the-money, which are transmitted around the country instantaneously via E-mail; latest ones concern Pres Clinton's alleged relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky; humor is relief mechanism for workers in stressful jobs; some examples quoted; Doug Henwood, author of book on Wall Street, comments, along with folklorist Alan Dundes and sociologist Gary Fine (M)

TEXAS plans to execute Karla Faye Tucker on Feb. 3, the first woman since the Civil War to join that state's increasingly efficient march to the executioner. Her case has focused attention on a state where executions now verge on routine. Last year, Texas executed 37 men, more than any other state in any year since the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment two decades ago. Texas justice may demonstrate a hardening of the public resolve to execute criminals. But the rest of the country has been unable to come close to Texas's record.

Pres Clinton labors to project business-as-usual demeanor as his lawyers scramble to learn crucial details of sex scandal case, involving former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, that prosecutors are trying to build against him; his defenders await news on whether independent counsel, Kenneth W Starr, will strike deal for immunity with Lewinsky to gain her cooperation in investigating accusations that she had affair with Clinton and that there was effort to have her lie under oath to conceal it; Clinton retains Mickey Kantor, longtime friend and former Commerce Secretary, as legal adviser, giving them lawyer-client privilege of confidentiality as independent prosecutor prepares to subpoena White House employees and documents; other Clinton loyalists, including former deputy chief of staff, Harold M Ickes, are reportedly working informally on President's behalf as close circle of advisers debate how to handle escalating inquiry; are reportedly calling leading Democrats to rally around Clinton; Leon E Panetta, former White House chief of staff, says it would be better if Vice Pres Al Gore became President if allegations turn out to be true; photo (M)

Article on collapse of South Korea's Halla Group in December under $5.3 billion of debt after huge borrowing to fulfill Chung In Yung's dream of building a shipyard--at a time of overcapacity in shipbuilding business; says Chung's empire has been toppled by his overarching ambition and South Korea's changing economics; holds Chung Mong Won, Chung In Yang's son, must pick up the pieces of one of largest family-controlled conglomerates that dominate South Korea's economy; drawing; photos (L)