June 18, 1999

New York City social workers are receiving hundreds of complaints from elderly, disabled and those who speak little English about new welfare debit cards that are replacing food stamps; Manhattan Borough Pres C Virginia Fields says welfare officials should suspend their plans to expand program until problems are worked out; Human Resources Administration acknowledges that some people are 'experiencing difficulties' with cards, in part because of computer problem that affected production; photos (M)

Payday loan company is seen a new, fast-growing American institution, and one that has consumer advocates and regulators worried; payday lending companies are sprouting up all over country, having increased to nearly 8,000 today from 300 seven years ago; although this is most prosperous peacetime decade of century, many workers have become trapped by debts run up in free spending or have been driven deeper into debt by misfortune; bearing names like Check Into Cash, Check'n Go and Fast Cash, payday lenders grant loans to workers against their next paychecks; in return, companies charge a 'fee', typically $15 to $35; at annual rates, fees normally exceed 300 percent and 400 percent and in some cases they reach four digits; at least a dozen national chains have sprung up; biggest, Ace Cash Express in Irving, Texas, has around 900 stores and revenue last year--what it collected in loan fees--of $100 million; photo (L)

Wildlife experts say development has disturbed instincts of animals and their natural fear of people; say steady push of people into once-rural areas has eroded woodland habitats and reduced open space for yearlings and weaned animals as they follow their instincts and leave their birthplaces to search for their own turf; say all sorts of species are popping up in odd spots: moose on developing outer fringes of suburbia, coyotes, fox, deer and Canada geese in older suburban towns and bears and turkeys in cities; photos (M)

Holbrooke Faces Senate Richard C. Holbrooke apologized to Senators reviewing his nomination as U.N. envoy for allowing ''misconceptions'' over his ethics. PAGE A12 HarperCollins in Deal News Corporation's HarperCollins unit has acquired Avon Books and William Morrow & Company for an estimated $180 million. PAGE C1

The chairman of the Federal Reserve gave his clearest indication yet that the central bank will raise interest rates at the end of the month. Business Day, page C1.