February 9, 1974

NYS Commerce Comr Neal L Moylan repts personal income in NYS at record level in '73, hitting $102.8-billion in 2d qr, 8.4% above '72 period (S)

Judge Gerhard A Gesell dismisses suit by Sen Watergate com to obtain 5 White House tapes on ground that 'blazing atmosphere' of com's hearings might prejudice rights of potential defendants, including Pres Nixon; rejects Nixon's contention that 'public interest is best served by blanket, unreviewable claim of confidentiality over all Pres communications'; holds Cong demands for similar evidence during impeachment proceedings 'would present wholly different considerations'; tapes, involving conversations between Pres and ex-White House counsel John W Dean 3d, were originally subpoenaed July 23 '73; rev of events affecting tapes; Gesell por (L)

most striking ind truckers remain off nation's hwys despite optimistic statements by Nixon Adm officials that over-the-rd freight traffic will be back to normal soon; repts indicate that some ind truckers have gone back to work and that level of violence has tapered off; Amer Meat Inst pres Richard Lyng says strike has had much sharper impact on meat supplies for Northeast than for rest of nation; Atty Gen William B Saxbe repts that FBI is conducting investigations in connection with strike; Penna Gov Milton J Shapp issues statement denouncing Saxbe for his threats of civil action against truckers; Nixon signs proclamation for 6% surcharge on truck freight rates, which would allow truckers to pass on higher fuel costs to consumer; Fed Energy Office Admr William E Simon says Govt will not roll back fuel prices as truckers had been demanding; Richard Butler and Ralph Meeks, spokesmen for ind truckers, comment; illus of ind truckers in Detroit rejecting settlement (L)

success of alternate-day rationing plan in Ore detailed in view of its application or pending application in Hawaii, Mass, Md, NJ NYS and Washington; Western Cong of Petroleum Retailers dir Ted Birrer, Ore energy office head David Piper and retailers comment on success; say panic buying and long lines have disappeared because motorists feel more confident about obtaining supplies; Gov Tom McCall is meeting with Fed energy official on possibility plan will be extended nationally (M)