THOROUGH CHECKS SLOW BUSH APPOINTMENTS

Key Bush administration policy jobs remain unfilled because the White House wants meticulous background checks done on candidates, press secretary Marlin Fitzwater said this week. Mr. Fitzwater acknowleged that some 130 top-level department and agency appointments remain stuck in the background clearance pipeline.

But he said that ``we're not in any particular hurry'' to nominate Bush administration choices for sub-Cabinet level and top agency jobs.

Fitzwater also acknowledged that many top-level policy jobs in the various agencies continue to be held by Reagan administration holdovers, but said that was not a problem.

The press secretary said that these Reagan holdovers ``are philosophically attuned to President Bush's programs.''