. . . Except for the mess, which is here for keeps

The savings and loan mess may still be with us when yourgrandchildren are old because it's more complex and intractable thanpoliticians let on.

To be sure, there may be no real problems for most depositors,whose savings are insured up to $100,000. But depositors also paytaxes, and taxpayers ultimately will foot the bill. So willborrowers because the cost of paying off insured deposits and losseson bad thrift assets will make loans scarcer and dearer.

Estimates of the S&L clean-up cost keep growing, from thegovernment's initial estimate of $157 billion over 10 years to anestimate widely accepted today of $300 billion.

And Friday, when officials of the …