January 31, 1973

Econ Rept

White House press sec Ziegler insists on Jan 30 that there has never been any rift or disagreement between Pres Nixon and Pres adviser Kissinger on Vietnam policy

NYS Repub Legis leaders on Jan 30 introduce modified no-fault auto ins bill that would eliminate 70 to 75% of auto-accident cases from cts and reduce motorists' annual premium payments by about $100-million, or $14 a vehicle; bill detailed; NY Consumers Assembly contends measure is not 'true' consensus bill because consumer's interest was never represented in private Repub negotiations among legis leaders and Gov Rockefeller's office; assembly spokesman E Hoats scores bill's provision that would encourage motorists to take $200 deductible feature in their auto ins; Sen B G Gordon, 1 of bill's chief sponsors, says vast majority of motorists already have some other kind of ins that would cover $200 deductible cost; best indication of bill's favorable chance of passage is that 2 principle sponsors are Assembly Speaker Duryea and Sen Majority Leader Anderson; other sponsors, all Repubs, are Ins Com chairmen Assemblyman J G McCarthy and Sen J R Dunne, and Assemblyman H C Bell; NYS Trial Lawyers Assn pres M Block says assn will continue to oppose bill

China was reported yester day to be buying cotton from the United States for the first time in more than 20 years. The purchases, through a London dealer, were placed at 500,000 bales, worth $80‐ million. Page 5.

US Defense Dept repts on Jan 30 that Marine Pfc R L Ridgeway, believed killed in '68 in Vietnam and buried in group grave in St Louis mil cemetery, is listed as POW by Communists; mother comments; their pors; his gravestone illus