October 9, 1998

House of Reprs, after civil if sometimes harshly phrased debate that lasts more than three hours, votes largely along party lines to begin full-scale, open-ended inquiry into possible impeachment of Pres Clinton; inquiry, which could lead to another House vote to decide whether Clinton should stand trial in Senate, is authorized by vote of 258 to 176, with 31 Democrats breaking ranks with Clinton; wholesale defections of Democrats do not materialize; it is only third time in Republic's 222-year history that House had voted such a step, and founding fathers, Constitution and long shadow of precedent are cited by both sides as debate unfolds; Democratic reprs complain bitterly that proceeding is unfair because they are given too little time to speak; Clinton himself is less confrontational, saying of his fate 'It is not in may hands. It is in the hands of Congress and the people of this country--ultimately in the hands of God. There is nothing that I can do'; Repr Henry J Hyde, chmn of Judiciary Com, asserts 'We don't make any charges. We simply begin the search for truth'; photos of Hyde, Democratic leader Richard A Gephardt, and Speaker Newt Gingrich (L)

Gov. George E. Pataki, who won office four years ago as the candidate of conservatives upstate and on Long Island, now enjoys robust support across regional and party boundaries and commands a 2-to-1 lead for re-election over his Democratic opponent, Peter F. Vallone, a statewide New York Times/CBS News Poll has found.

Dollar again comes under attack, plunging to low of 111.73 yen, before closing late in day in New York at 119.05 yen; traders say dollar's slide slowed and then reversed after the trading desk at Federal Reserve Bank of New York called currency dealers to ask about market conditions; some traders interpreted inquiries as possible sign that Fed might be preparing to buy dollars to send message that the United States wants the dollar to stabilize; charts (M)

San Diego Padres defeat Atloanta Braves, 3-0, in second game of National League Championship Series; lead series, 2-0; photo (M)

Statewide New York Times/CBS News Poll finds that after four years as Governor, George E Pataki has forged strikingly broad appeal, propelling him to 2-to-1 lead for re-election over his Democratic opponent, Peter F Vallone, who has barely registered in voters' minds; 50 percent of New Yorkers polled favor Pataki, compared to 22 percent for Vallone and 6 percent each for third party candidates Betsy McCaughey Ross and B Thomas Golisano; graph (M)