January 20, 1975

Treas Sec William E Simon, appearing on NBC‐TV program Meet the Press, says apparent turnaround in Adm policies since Oct, when emphasis was on inflation and tax increase, was result of decade of irresponsible fiscal and monetary policies; Interior Sec Rogers C B Morton says on ABC‐TV program Issues and Answers that charges that higher oil costs would take more from avg family than it would get back in proposed tax rebate are ‘ill‐founded’; says if families save energy, rebate will put them ahead of the game (M)

second and final article in series on NYC Mayor Beame's use of patronage powers to build up local Dem orgns; Beame aide Thomas F Roche says City Hall officials use gentle persuasion to convince agencies to hire party workers, but some comrs say privately that arm‐twisting is not uncommon; Beame adm contends it has not been as patronage‐minded as John V Lindsay adm; Beame's use of patronage powers detailed; activities of Bronx Councilman Rev Louis R Gigante, Beame supporter, noted; Gigante says he has become more powerful in Puerto Rican area than Repr Herman Badillo; Deputy Mayor James Cavanagh must personally approve all patronage apptmts; various governmental favors given to party faithful noted; Gigante illus (L)

The family of a Philadelphia man who is the primary suspect in the murder of a Leonia, N.J., nurse was depicted by neighbors yesterday as a troubled group standing almost constantly at the edge of tragedy.

NY Times series on sports betting and issues it is raising finds that fewer policemen are being bribed now by illegal bookmakers because impractical Fed gambling laws are not being enforced; apparent reduction in police corruption has been brought about by following developments: bookmakers, relying on telephones, have become virtually untraceable by using electronic concealment devices that can ‘jump’ a call from bettor from 1 location to a secret number in another location; new strategy on gambling arrests ignores runners and small bookies in favor of long‐range investigations aimed at organized crime figures high in underworld structure; bookies are thriving in atmosphere of public and legis gambling permissiveness, reflected by lotteries in 13 states and off‐track betting in NY; how bookmakers operate noted; Bob Martin and Jimmy (The Greek) Snyder comment on how they create ‘spreads’ for athletic events; illus of OTB Chmn Screvane; chart showing NYC bookmaking network and how bookmakers avoid detection with electronics (L)

Amer artist Thomas Hart Benton dies; was 85; career revd; illus of works and por of Benton (M)