June 2, 1999

Roberta Smith assesses new Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, Mass; museum is carved out of five buildings in 27-structure, 19th century mill complex; photos (M)

Small-capitalization stocks, which have long been overshadowed by big company stocks, have lately been outperforming them; many market strategists expect small-cap companies--with market values up to $1 billion to $2 billion--to continue to outperform larger-company stocks that have fueled stock market boom; small-cap stocks remain near their cheapest valuations in memory, compared with other stocks; not only could that give them extra boost if stock market goes up, but provide cushion compared with bigger-company stocks if market falters; graphs; photo (Market Place column) (M)

Buddy Hackett to get George Burns Award, comedy's lifetime achievement accolade, at presentation at New York City Hall as part of Toyota Comedy Festival; workers at French museums and other cultural institutions vote to continue strike, at least for another day, until after planned demonstration; want Government to hire more staff to cope with growing number of visitors; photographic survey of pop music icons opens at National Portrait Gallery, London; events planned to mark Harvey Lichtenstein's retirement as Brooklyn Academy of Music president and executive producer include benefit art auction and gala marking start of $10 million fund-raising drive; photos (M)

Energy Dept, after spending 16 years and $489 million on crucial step in its plan for safe storage of millions of gallons of highly radioactive waste, has abandoned procedure because it produces explosive benzene gases; department officials say they will get rid of contractor, Westinghouse Government Services, Westinghouse subidiary that was sold to Morrison Knudsen in March; have asked outside scientists to help find another method for sorting waste so most radioactive material can be handled separately; Energy Under Sec Ernest Moniz says experiments at South Carolina storage site in early 1980's showed process of concentrating waste was producing high levels of explosive gas; Rep John D Dingell says mismanagement by Energy Dept and Westinghouse led to extraordinary waste of taxpayer money (M)

News analysis contends that while New York State Gov George Pataki's decision to name Herman Badillo chairman of City University of New York does not represent an armistice, or even a major thaw in quarrel with New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, it shows that under certain circumstances that both can reach agreement (M)