October 8, 1974

3 leading 5th Av, NYC, specialty stores and 2 of their top execs are accused by Fed grand jury of conspiracy to fix prices of women's clothing and violating Sherman Antitrust Act; indictments were filed against Saks & Co, trading as Saks Fifth Av, Bergdorf Goodman and Genesco Inc, owner of Bonwit Teller; also indicted were Barrie Sommerfield, vp and mdse mgr of Saks, and Leonard Hankin, exec vp of Bergdorf Goodman; civil suit was also filed against the 3 cos, asking permanent injunction prohibiting them from engaging in price-fixing or other antitrust violations; other cos and individuals in women's apparel retailing were named as co-conspirators but were not named in indictment; Justice Dept investigation of alleged price-fixing started in Phila in July, '72, after complaints by some local merchants that they were being discriminated against because of price conspiracy (L)

special NYS grand jury, impaneled by Atty Gen Lefkowitz in March '74, says that major US oil cos had access to each other's inventories and production goals through Tex RR Comm and knew in advance that fuel shortages would exist last yr, yet did not produce sufficient products for consumers 'even though oil indus had capability to do so; recommends that comm cease its practice of publishing detailed statistical information on co-by-co basis in order to avoid possible misuse of confidential information; urges increased regulation and auditing of oil cos, Govt participation in price and import discussions between oil cos and oil-producing countries, protection for ind dealers against indiscriminate termination of leases and guarantees that oil supplies are made available to ind marketers and others in indus; Lefkowitz sends grand jury rept to Pres Ford, Fed Energy Admr John C Sawhill and Cong leaders (M)

FTC Chmn Lewis A Engman attacks Fed regulatory agencies, specifically including CAB and ICC, speech at fall conv of Financial Analysts Federation; charges agencies with protecting indus they regulate in an unhealthy relationship that raises costs to consumer and thus contributes to inflation; urges re-examination of 'every regulation or regulatory policy that contributes to inflation' (L)

former Nixon aide Charles W Colson, now serving 1-to-3-yr prison terms for attempting to obstruct justice in Pentagon papers trial, asks Dist Judge Gerhard A Gesell on Oct 7 to reduce his prison sentence because of Nixon pardon; repeats contention that he was prompted by Nixon to release derogatory material on Ellsberg and his atty Leonard Boudin

South Boston crowd attacks Andrea Jean-Louis, black man from French West Indies, whose car was stuck in traffic jam in Dorchester, and stone buses carrying black students to Roslindale HS on Oct 7, as tensions mount over ct-ordered school desegregation; tensions in South Boston are not only racial but are developing into confrontations with Police Tactical Patrol Force in wake of earlier clash between police and residents at local bar; delegation of black community leaders and parents, in emotional meeting with Mayor Kevin H White on Oct 7, demand Fed protection for schools; White says he is trying to get Fed assistance and has asked to meet with Fed Dist Judge W Arthur Garrity, who ordered busing plan; various antibusing demonstrations, including picketing at Garrity's home on Oct 5, revd; 250 people from various neighborhoods gather at residence of Humberto Cardinal Madeiros to protest his ruling that RC parochial schools will not be haven for students fleeing integration; Mass State Bldg and Trade Council votes unanimously a resolution opposing ct-ordered busing, following march on council by white demonstrators; Andrea Jean-Louis illus; police breaking up antibusing demonstrators illus (L)