September 13, 1973

Rept prepared by US Sen Select Com on Nutrition and Human Needs estimates on Sept 12 that 800,000 children are being dropped from or are dropping out of Govt-subsidized school lunch program because of rising food prices; finds that some schools in at least 12 states, including NY, are halting serving of subsidized meals because local communities do not have funds to cover their portion of costs; says most recent food price increases may increase number of children affected; each of 35 state educ depts surveyed says prices students pay for lunches will rise, with avg increase of about 10c for 16-million students in Natl School Lunch Program; educ officials in various states comment; meanwhile, US HR is considering Repr C D Perkins bill that would increase Fed subsidy for lunches from 8c to 10c, as well as increasing breakfast subsidies and other reimbursement rates; Sen is considering similar measure advanced by Sen Humphrey

Brit Govt, in white paper issued on Sept 13, says it will go ahead with construction of rr tunnel under English Channel from Cheriton, GB, to Frethun, France; holds that tunnel will help end GB's econ and social isolation from Continent and would be physical recognition of links with Eur; 32-mi tunnel, expected to cost about $2-billion by time it is finished in '80, will consist of 2 parallel tubes, each carrying single line of rr track, and 3d service tube; trains will carry both passengers and freight; if plans are successful, passengers will be able to travel from London to Paris in 3 hrs and 40 mins; present trip, by ferry, takes about 6 hrs in good weather; shuttle trains leaving as often as every 4 mins from tunnel terminals will carry cars and trucks under channel in 35 mins; money for tunnel will be raised by 2 consortiums, 1 Brit and 1 French; tunnel will be operated by authority apptd by 2 Govts; new link is reptd necessary because Bnt Rys' southern div has little capacity to spare on its heavily-used commuter tracks; Brit Govt also hopes that tunnel, providing increased rail capacity to London and north, will relieve congestion of southern roads; plan has been opposed on ground that tunnel would be vulnerable to sabotage, would be unjustified economically and would destroy at least 1 village in Kent; map of projected tunnel

H Sperling, convicted of heading major ring that distributed heroin and cocaine in Manhattan and Bronx, is sentenced on Sept 12 to life imprisonment and fined $300,000 and cost of prosecution after bitterly denouncing Fed Judge M Pollack and charging Fed prosecutors 'manipulated, contrived and fabricated' evidence; holds he is known bookmaker and gambler and is being victimized by false narcotics charges; refuses to beg for mercy; Fed prosecutor F B Velie holds Govt proved case and holds Sperling is dangerous; Pollack earlier sentenced 7 codefendants, charged with lesser roles in ring, to jail terms ranging from 3 to 12 yrs

Burns, A F: Nominated to be alternate US gov of IMF

Mrs. Marjorie Merriweather Post, one of the World's rich est women, died yesterday in Washington at 86. Mrs. Post, who inherited the Postum Cereal Company and built it into the General Foods Corpo ration, was noted for her phi lanthropies, entertainment and regal way of life. Page 50.