September 11, 1973

Cost of Living Council on Sept 10 authorizes 10 steel cos to make 2-stage, $400-million-a-yr increases in sheet and strip steel, allowing increases averaging $4.50 a ton on Oct 1 and again on Jan 1; defers at least until Jan 1 increases on products other than sheet and strip; major steel producers disappointed over deferral of increases; council dir J T Dunlop says delay on half of price increases is part of continuing strategy of spreading out 'the bulge' of increases that are following Adm's June 13 price freeze; says sheet steel was given priority because it has not had increase since Jan '72, whereas some non-flat rolled products have had price increases of 4% to 5% in 1st half of '73; says all increases are fully cost-justified under Phase 4 stabilization program rules; former Sen F R Harris, who testified before council against increases, scores 2-stage feature of decision; officials, measuring 'ripple effect' that increases will have on diversity of consumer and indus products, say $9 increase will raise wholesale price index by 0.05% and that overall effect on wholesale price index over period of mos will be less than 0.2%; list of cos affected

special session of NJ Legis on Sept 10 passes bill providing up to 13 additional wks of unemployment benefits and sends measure to Gov Cahill, who signs it

Com on Jewish Law and Standards on Sept 5 votes, 9-4, to allow women to be counted in the minyan--quorum of 10 or more adult Jews required for communal worship; Rabbinical Assembly of Amer pres Rabbi J Nadich hails decision as among the 'welcome revolutions of our day'; dissenting minority felt that tradition of excluding women from minyan, which deprives them from rabbinical interpretation of the Talmud, should be maintained; contended that most synagogues are not ready for such an innovation; com, composed of leaders of Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Amer, the congregational arm of Conservative Judaism, is the official body of the movement in matters of Jewish law and practice; Orthodox and Reform branches of Judaism are unaffected by actions of Conservative body; Rabbi S Siegel, who led fight for resolution, says ruling followed several yrs of discussions involving rabbis and women representing feminist movement with Conservative Judaism; Rabbi W Kelman says he will conduct study to determine how many Conservative congregations will follow ruling

F Gerry Jr, barred as harness racing driver in US 7 yrs ago, is charged on Sept 10 as being the 'mastermind of a gambling ring that made $3-million by fixing superfecta harness races; Gerry is arraigned in Fed Ct in Bklyn and is released on $50,000 bail after putting up $5,000 that was found on him when arrested by FBI agents; Gerry, 1st figure in probe to be called a fixer of races, is said to have earned between $500,000 and $1-million by conspiring to bribe harness drivers to fix superfecta races at Yonkers and Roosevelt Raceways from Jan 15 to Apr 13; indictments were handed down last wk against persons who cashed winning tickets, mostly at OTB offices; Gerry's harness career revd

Pres Nixon on Sept 10, in 'state of union' message to Cong, asserts that he opposes Cong moves to reduce his proposals for research and development on B-1 bomber