October 30, 1979

Article on European Commission, nerve-center of European Economic Community whose 13 commissioners are coming under intense criticism for their allegedly flamboyant life styles; critics contend commissioners live in luxury at expense of European taxpayers; escapade involving vice president Henk Vredeling, who reportedly received bill for several thousand dollars to cover repairs to antiques damaged during animated discussion he had with Dutch parliamentarians, described; cartoon (M)

Labor Dept reports producitvity of American business and workers rose at annual rate of one-tenth of 1% in 3d quarter after decline of 2.2% in 2d quarter and 3% in 1st quarter (S)

department to begin life in early '80 with budget of $14.2 billion, staff of 17,239 people and serious limitations on its mission; most of its expenditures will be decided by automatic formulas rather than by policies of its Secretary, and agency is expected to have to beg and barter for its power; 1 unit that will have power is Office of Civil Rights, which will be run by an Assistant Secretary and will have independent authority to hire attorneys and contract for audits and studies (M)

Gov Carey presents his proposals for enabling NYS to deal with this winter's home-heating problems, stressing Federal aid for poor, energy conservation and state monitoring of oil prices and price gouging; puts cost at $22 million, compared with $80 million cost of plan put forward by Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink; Carey illus (M)

Northrop Corp asks Federal Court, Los Angeles, to bar McDonnell Douglas Corp from unilaterally offering foreign countries contracts to manufacture certain parts of F/A-18 fighter planes of which McDonnell is prime contractor and Northrop subcontractor, Northrop contends that McDonnell, in effort to win contract to sell about 130 craft to Canada, has proposed that certain parts of aircraft manufactured by Northrop be produced by Canadian companies; McDonnell disputes Northrop contention (M)