February 7, 1980

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--The House and Senate ethics committees pressed ahead today with their own investigations of bribery allegations involving members of Congress over the objections of the Justice Department, which warned that the Congressional inquiries could jeopardize criminal cases that the Government might bring.

WASHNGTON, Feb. 6--The Federal Trade Commission said today that it was narrowing the scope of its antitrust investigation of the automobile industry. As a result, it said, the agency's staff will now concentrate essentially on whether to break up the General Motors Corporation.

ALBANY, Feb. 6--Mayor Koch charged today that Governor Carey's proposed state budget for 1980-81 would aggravate rather than relieve New York City's budget problems, and said that unless the budget was altered it could jeopardize the city's plan to balance its budget a year ahead of schedule.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--The United States has decided to delay imposing economic sanctions on Iran to avoid complicating possible behind-the-scenes efforts by the new Government of President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr to negotiate release of the American hostages.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--The Senate narrowly rejected a proposal today that would have permitted Congress to veto decisions of the Federal Trade Commission. Instead, it voted by a 9-to1 margin in favor of a compromise amendment that allows legislative review of the commission's actions.

Feverish activity in virtually every market from gold to options and commodities to stocks has added up to hefty profits--or losses--for many investors. In tax terms, those swings translate into capital gains or losses.

"I use a lot of ceramic tile because it makes a space seem crisp and fresh, with an implication of summer," said John Saladino, a designer who recently finished every floor of a large Fifth Avenue apartment with pearl gray tile.

Newhouse Publications, one of the biggest and most prosperous newspaper chains in the country, reached an agreement in principle yesterday to buy the Random House book publishing subsidiary of the RCA Corporation for between $65 million and $70 million in cash.

IT was a rather ordinary one-bedroom apartment-- that nevertheless featured a large windowed and very bright living room, and a small dining room. Design Coalition, the firm that took on the renovation, felt that the space needed a striking design feature.

HARTFORD, Feb. 6--Gov. Ella T. Grasso called today for a tax on major oil companies operating in Connecticut, plus an increase in the state sales tax and two other levies to finance a $2.67-billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 6--An informal recommendation by Mexico's state oil monopoly to increase oil production sharply over the next three years has been strongly criticized in both Government and opposition circles, according to official sources.

RAY BROOK, N.Y., Feb. 6--Eight members of Taiwan's Olympic delegation arrived at the official athletes' housing compound here today and were denied entry when they presented identity cards bearing the name Republic of China.