October 8, 2000

US business is awaiting results of presidential election to find out who will be nation's chief regulator; Democratic and Republican campaign advisers say that on wide range of issues a Bush administration would be far friendlier to business than a Gore administration; some advisers say differences between Gore and Bush in regulating businesses are as much product of their careers as anything else; Greg Simon, telecommunications adviser to Gore, and Lawrence B Lindsey, economic advisor to Bush, comment; chart (M)

New York Mets beat San Francisco Giants, 3-2, in 13 innings and lead National League division series, 2-1; photo (M)

Secret Partners, special report detailing how disgruntled employee of Christie's turned nearly defunct antitrust investigation into supercharged inquiry that will change world of auctions; Christopher M Davidge, who was angry about being forced out as chief executive at Christie's, gave company's criminal lawyers files describing years of price fixing and collusion between him and his counterpart at Sotheby's, Diana D Brooks; files recount their fixing commissions paid by thousands of customers, dividing up superrich clients and other steps to stifle competition and pump up profits; Justice Dept official says 500 pages of incriminating detail describe classic cartel behavior; Davidge also turned over his handwritten notes to Christie's one-time chairman, Sir Anthony Tennant, detailing such activity; material shows that two dominant auction houses, which offer substantially same services to sellers and buyers of fine art and antiques, conspired for at least six years to eliminate only bargaining tool available to their clients--ability to negotiate on basis of fees; chronology of events; photos (L)

Article assesses Vice Pres Al Gore and Gov George W Bush's attire during first presidential debate; photos (M)

Jill Eisenstadt article describes walks over several New York City bridges: Cross Bay Veterans Memorial, Triborough and Henry Hudson; photos; map (L)