February 20, 1975

US Sup Ct, 7 to 2, upholds right of IRS, in investigating suspected income tax violations, to compel banks to make available certain kinds of bank records by means of ‘John Doe’ summons without identifying names of suspects, US v Bisceglia case

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19—President Ford expressed regret tonight at the Senate vote delaying for 90 days his increased fees on imported crude oil but said he did not regard the Senate action as final.

Sen, 66‐28, approves bill suspending for 90 days Pres Ford's power to increase fees on imported oil; Ford says he will veto measure; Sen Bob Packwood says Ford is willing to have increased fuel cost from tariff affect gasoline more than heating oil and other petroleum products, and Ron Nessen talks of ‘tilt’ by Ford toward higher gasoline prices; tilt would be useful is winning votes needed to sustain a veto, since 6 Repubs who voted to postpone tariffs also voted for Sen Jacob K Javits's defeated amendment to bill that would limit import fee to gasoline and oil to be used as gasoline; Sen John O Pastore was floor leader for bill; Sens Russell B Long and Howard W Cannon were only Dems to support Ford (M)

Representative George V. Hansen, Republican of Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday to two misdemeanor charges of violating the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act. Page 10.

NYS Ins Dept approves 16.6% avg increase in rates for about 3 million Blue Cross and Blue Shield hosp ins subscribers in NYC and 12 downstate counties; new rates take effect Mar 1 for new subscribers and on Apr 1 for existing subscribers; increase is 4th in last 5 yrs; 3 earlier increases cited; Ins Supt Benjamin R Schenek says requested increase of 27.8% was reduced because plan's projections of cost increases had been too high; details on added services sought by plan, those rejected, those approved; supplementary coverage for those on Medicare goes up 30.1%; Community Health Program of Queens‐Nassau get avg rate increase of 27.7%; (M)