TRANSITION WATCH

MATCHUPS: When the predominantly male Senate convenes in January with a record six women, the debating matchups could be as fierce as any NBA championship game. . . . Still smoldering from the Senate Judiciary Committee’s handling of Anita Faye Hill’s sexual-harassment charges against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, the new female senators are expected to show little traditional “senatorial courtesy” on some issues. . . . Congressional aides say they can already imagine Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) bearding Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) the next time he offers a gay-bashing amendment. Or picture 4-foot, 10-inch Democrat Patty Murray, the tough “mom in tennis shoes” elected from Washington state, giving it back to 6-foot, 7-inch Sen. Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.) if he tries again to dilute the Clean Air Act. . . . Or how about California Democrat Barbara Boxer, an outspoken military reformer in her House days, crossing swords with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) on defense cuts? Or abortion rights advocate Carol Moseley Braun, an Illinois Democrat, tangling with anti-abortion Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) on funding abortions for the poor?

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EQUALITY: Now that the Senate has recognized “the year of the woman”--building a women’s restroom just off the Senate floor to accommodate four newly elected female senators and two incumbents--it’s the House’s turn. For years, female House members have complained about the lack of a convenient facility. The men have a bathroom a few paces from the chamber--predictably loaded with perks: a television set, a scale and a shoeshine stand. . . . The women have to walk a long way to a restroom that, incidentally, contains the couch on which John Quincy Adams died in 1848, when the place was still the Speaker’s office. . . . Now the House’s 47 women--a 68% increase compared to the last Congress--will have more bargaining power. Perhaps Democratic leader can take some money from a fund they used last year to put $20,000 worth of marble floors in House elevators.

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PAYBACKS: Every President-elect pays back top campaign aides with jobs in his Administration--though some job fillers turn out to be less than the best or the brightest. The latest campaign names being floated out of Bill Clinton’s headquarters as prime job prospects seem to have adequate wattage. But horsepower? That could take some time to tell. Heading the latest list of prospects is Democratic National Chairman Ronald H. Brown, who is being considered as either U.S. trade representative or secretary of commerce. He’s clearly owed a big job, an insider says, but probably won’t get either of two bigger posts he’s been mentioned for: secretary of state or attorney general. . . . Bruce Lindsey, Clinton crony and campaign director, may wind up as counselor to the President. . . . And Mark D. Gearan, Vice President-elect Al Gore’s campaign chief of staff, could become White House press secretary.

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GEORGE AGAIN? Some job seekers go back even further with Clinton. George S. McGovern, the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, gave Clinton his first taste of presidential politics by having him run his Texas campaign. Now McGovern, who roams the lecture circuit, is letting it be known he would be happy to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.