Daily News from New York, New York • 38

IFr mmm Mwr- tobud mt By THOMAS GALV1N fund-raising furor broke last fall. The President has tried to distance himself from the mistakes, pinning the blame on faulty DNC practices. And while perhaps legal under the letter of the law, the White House and DNC have struggled with revelations that show the coffees clearly were fund-raising events. The White House documents show that the coffees regularly raised exactly $400,000, despite DNC claims that there was no set price to attend. Not all the coffees were for fund-raising just the ones arranged by the DNC.

Many events, including White House-arranged coffees for civic leaders, appeared to have no fund-raising purpose. that are now the subject of federal and congressional investigations into whether Clinton aides sold access to the White House. It's unclear when the documents will be released. "The DNC and the White House are generating large volumes of documents that we're going to be providing to the Hill. We want to give them the material before we make the material available publicly," White House spokesman Mike McCurry said of the more than 1,000 pages of Ickes documents.

Clinton's role in fund-raising, in particular the coffees, has been a ticklish problem for the White House since the Criticism. On one memo, Clinton wrote, discuss," while sources said on others he made a check mark or wrote notes to former White House deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes, who oversaw campaign efforts. The White House and the Democratic National Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment The documents are likely to put more pressure on the White House to explain Clinton's role in money-raising decisions. The monthly memos show Clinton saw the detailed cash targets for events, including the big-bucks coffees 0a. ry Herm tftrasrHngion Bureau WASHINGTON President Clinton personally reviewed and made notes on monthly campaign reports that detailed White House fat-cat coffees, suggesting he was closely involved in controversial fund-raising decisions, sources said.

Sources familiar with the documents told the Daily News that the memos, which have yet to be made public, show that Clinton and Vice President Gore were given regular updates on fund-raising events. The events included some that they've since had to distance themselves from or defend against heavy Video eyed as clue to Biggie's fuller THE ASSOCIATED MESS HOUSTON Los Angeles pol ice have seized a video tape in Houston that could help identify the killer of rap star Biggie Smalls, the Houston Chronicle reported yesterday. "We expect the tape to give us some key information," Los Angeles Police LL Ross Moen told the newspaper. "We're hoping the tape is going to assist in having people come forward to identify the shooter for us." Los Angeles Po- Alba said a compos- ite sketch of the in, li 1 -I XI 1 -i A. gunman was released yesterday.

The sketch was drawn from witness observations. Detectives also were to look at the video. Moen said his department learned of the tape after a tip to the "America's Most Wanted" television show. He declined to reveal the tape's contents, but an unidentified Houston woman told the SKETCH of suspect in slaying of Biggie Smalls. Chronicle it was filmed by a group of Houston residents who were in Los Angeles for the Soul Train Music Awards.

The 24-year-old rap performer, who also went by the name Notorious B.I.G. and whose real name was Christopher was killed in a drive-by shooting March 9 after attending the awards. No arrests have been made. The tape was seized at a Harris County apartment complex March 18 by Los Angeles detectives and the Texas Department of Public Safety, authorities said. Express service is being restored between 61 StreetWoodside and Queensboro Piaza.

fPjj, jixlu ft I. i-i jr 1 Ifl Starting Monday, March 3 1 morning 7 Express serv ice to Manhattan and evening express serv ice to Queens will begin running between 61 StreetWtxxlside and Queensboro Plaza. The good news is that service is being restored ahead of schedule. Work to rebuild the roadbeds and replace the tracks on the Queens Boulevard viaduct is done.These improvements are part of New York City Transit's commitment to provide you with a safer, more pleasant ride. For more information, call (718) 330-1234 from 6AM to 9PM daily.

NOTICE TO POLICYHOLDERS OF NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The Annual Election of Directors of the New York Life Insurance Company will be held at the Home Office of the Company. SI Madison New York. on Wednesday. April 9. 1997.

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