September 18, 1974

Mark Katz, spokesman for Amer mil deserters living in exile in Sweden, says some of approximately 400 draft evaders and deserters will take advantage of Pres Ford's amnesty terms and return to US (S)

Lawyers and investigators of NYC Consumer Affairs Dept say that agency's law enforcement div is demoralized and decimated by personnel Josses and has deteriorated rapidly during 8 mos of Mayor Beame adm; most of young lawyers who turned office into natl showcase of consumer protection during Mayor Lindsay adm have left; some have lost positions through budget cutbacks; others have resigned in frustration; dissatisfaction with new Comr Elinor C Guggenheimer was so strong in Apr that she was presented with petition by mutinous staff; Beame, as mayoral candidate in May ‘73, issued position paper against price increases in which he proposed that dept should be expanded; despite this, 459‐member dept was one of 13 of 93 agencies in city to have budget appropriation decreased in Beame adm‐‐from $6‐million to $5.7‐million; some accusations of resigned lawyers outlined; Guggenheimer por (L)

3 Japanese terrorists who seized French Embassy in The Hague on Sept 13 free all 9 remaining hostages on Sept 17 and take off from Schiphol Airport in a French jetliner; terrorists are accompanied by Yutaka Furuya, member of Japanese Red Army whose release from French prison was 1 of terrorists demands; Reuters quotes Japanese Natl Broadcasting Corp as saying from Japanese Govt sources that plane had landed in Aden, in Southern Yemen; rept climaxed night of uncertainty as to aircraft's destination, which was 1st thought to be Damascus, Syria; Syrian authorities, however, apparently balked at allowing landing for other than refueling and plane then headed south; Dutch Premier Joop M den Uyl says that ransom of $300,000 had been paid to terrorists, although $1‐million had originally been demanded; says terrorists had left all weapons behind except 2 pistols that they might need for suicide; illus (M)

Stone & Webster Engineering Corp estimates that NYS Power Auth will need $930‐million to take over, complete and start up 2 Con Ed power plants whose purchase was authorized by NYS in May; estimate is $130‐million higher than that offered by Con Ed Chmn Charles F Luce during legis debate on purchases, although utility's proceeds from sale would be only $382‐million, instead of $500‐million originally envisioned; cost of Indian Point number 3 plant is set at $510‐million and cost of Astoria oil‐fired plant is set at $420‐million; Stone & Webster notes that estimates are not final and that cost of each unit could rise by $70‐million if regulatory agencies required installation of cooling towers; says state take‐over will reduce cost of power from both stations, adding that Con Ed's financial difficulties would make it very difficult for utility to find necessary funds to complete Indian Point plant; Arthur Young & Co acctg rept, released by Power Auth chmn James A Fitzpatrick along with Stone & Webster rept, says that potential income‐tax gains for Con Ed based on previous deductions could reduce utility's recorded ‘cost’ for plant (M)

HR Judiciary Com panel to begin hearings on proposed const amendment that would give Cong a veto over Pres pardons and resolutions that would reflect dissatisfaction with Pres Ford's pardon of former Pres Nixon (S)