July 30, 1999

New Jersey Gov Christine Todd Whitman, looking to end her long and politically turbulent search for new commander of State Police, reportedly is preparing to offer job to Federal agent Carson Dunbar; Whitman called Sen Robert G Torricelli to ask him to lobby Justice Department officials to resolve several issues involving Dunbar's Federal pension; she has also arranged for him to meet with State Senate President Donald T DiFrancesco, who would have to usher his nomination through Senate confirmation hearings; Dunbar's career profiled (M)

Exhibition at Cleveland Museum of Art is devoted to art and design of three generations of the Bugatti family, expressed in variety of media; exhibition showcases six cars designed by Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean; photo (M)

Labor Dept reports that employment cost index rose 1.1 percent from first to second quarter of year, its biggest gain in eight years; stock and bond prices fall sharply in wake of report; investors appear concerned that Federal Reserve Chmn Alan Greenspan might raise interest rates in near future as preventive measure against rising prices; analysts say financial markets may have overreacted to threat of inflation; Commerce Dept reports that gross domestic product expanded at modest 2.3 percent annual pace; graph (M)

Americans seem to be eating all the time, and wherever they please; they eat while they work, watch television and drive; automobile is among favorite places for people to snack; health experts say increased snacking is partly to blame for rising rates of obese and overweight people; say eating has become recreational activity; photos (M)

Big Gain in Labor Costs Raises Fear of Higher Rates The Labor Department reported that the so-called employment cost index rose 1.1 percent from the first to the second quarter of the year, its biggest increase in eight years. The unexpected gain overshadowed a separate Government report that showed the robust American economy took a breather in the spring.