January 23, 1974

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22—The seven largest oil companies operating in the United States increases their profits 46 per cent in the first nine months of 1973, at a time when their prices were rising sharply, although they sold only 6 per cent more of their products than the year before, a Senate hearing was told today.

Sec Kissinger says on Jan 22 that he expects early end to Arab oil embargo against US to result from his role in bringing about agreement between Egypt and Israel on separating their forces near Suez Canal, news conf; suggests Arab leaders gave him some prior assurances that once disengagement accord was reached, lifting of embargo would follow; dismisses query about comment made by Defense Sec James R Schlesinger that public opinion might demand show of force against Arabs if embargo goes too far; reptdly asks Egyptian Pres Sadat for assistance in persuading major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to drop embargo; Kissinger illus (L)

White House press sec Ronald L Ziegler says he will resume frequent press briefings

NYC taxi indus on Jan 22 applies for 15c to 20c interim fare increase to compensate for rising gasoline prices; NYS Agr Dept issues retroactive regulations permitting stations whose gasoline pumps only register up to 49.9c per gal to post prices for half‐gal with signs informing motorists they will be charged double pump price; Orange & Rockland Utilities Inc exec vp Thomas A Griffin Jr says per bbl oil prices paid by co in spot buying have reached between $19 and $25 per bbl; Con Ed repts residual oil cost have climbed to $12 per bbl in Jan; Orange & Rockland has begun using coal and has application pending to use high sulphur oil (S)

Researchers describe new methods of diagnosing and treating infants born with life‐threatening heart defects that could help save 10,000 babies yrly, repts before Amer Heart Assn science writers’ forum; Dr William F Friedman describes safe diagnostic procedure to replace cardiac catheterization; procedure, called echocardiography, uses ultrasonic rays that are transmitted through infant's chest and reflected back from heart; equipment was developed by Nicholaas Bom; Friedman says echocardiography can be used to diagnose problems of heart disease and lack of oxygen in blood among new infants; Dr Brian Hoffman describes new tool that enables drs to locate precisely heart's elec pathway and allows them to avoid injuring elec conduction system; Dr James R Malm describes device; Dr Ehud Krongrad, who has mapped hearts of more than 100 infants, says none of those infants operated on using mapping technique has died or suffered heart block; Dr Alexander S Nadas repts on program that involves identifying qualified insts, training drs and nurses to recognize babies that need immediate help and setting up special communications and emergency transport systems for 10,000 babies with heart defects; illus of Krongrad monitoring infant's heart (L)