DETROIT — Auto executives were dutifully reporting their dismal September sales results yesterday, but they were even more anxious about the goings-on in Washington leading up to an expected vote on Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives concerning the financial-markets rescue package that the Senate passed on Wednesday night.Consumer anxiety about the continuing crisis on Wall Street, as well as restrictions on consumer credit that have led up to it, ravaged the auto industry's September sales, which came in 26 percent lower than a year ago. But more important, auto execs were worried about far worse results in the months and weeks ahead if federal-government action doesn't stabilize the stock and credit markets and restore some confidence to Main Street — where auto-purchasing decisions are made.'If it doesn't happen,' said Michael DiGiovanni, General Motors' executive director of global market analysis, 'it will set off some continuing spiral downward in the economy — not just for our business, but for all businesses.'It's reached a point now,' he continued, 'where it's not just the physical realities of the credit tightening, but it's psychological in the consumers' mind and businesses' mind.... The psychological impact is of particular importance here, and we need to break that.... The only way to do that is to pass legislation even if there are consequences down the road.'He acknowledged that the legislation has been held up in large part by Republicans' concerns that the package will lead to a federal-government overreach into the markets. 'They're working that over and hope that it will be mitigated,' DiGiovanni said. 'The fact that it's taking two to four days to settle this is actually a good thing to bring balance to it and to protect against adverse effects down the road, including protecting the taxpayer more.'George Pipas, Ford's head of U.S. sales analysis, added that 'policy measures to restore liquidity will be critical. And while policymakers are working aggressively to address the situation, we can't yet see the path to resolution.'Auto executives also acknowledged that they have known all along what was reported in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday morning: that the original bailout deal, rejected by the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, included a substantial bailout for Big Three auto lenders in the form of relief for the stable of bad loans that are owned by their captive finance arms. These unspecified amounts have been 'part of the package,' DiGiovanni said, 'for the last week or so.' They were in addition to the $25 billion in low-cost loans that the Big Three hope to get from Congress soon.'If it will free up more capital for GMAC and other finance companies, it will stimulate business,' said Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of North American sales. 'I'd vote for that one.'What this means to you: Dealers will almost literally kiss your feet if you dare to come in and buy a vehicle these days. Or at least give you a great deal! — Dale Buss, Correspondent