The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 1

VOL. 238, NO. 27 172 PAGES 30 CENTS LOUISVILLE, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 27, 1974 Copyright, 1974, The Courier-Journal Timet Ervin cites trial of Mitchell, Stans in delaying probe 4 So ft. WKswswtw-s 19 From New York Timet, L.A. Timet-Woshinston Post Service end AP Dispatches WASHINGTON The Senate Watergate committee has postponed a new round of hearings scheduled to begin this week to avoid prejudicing the trial of two former Nixon Cabinet members, Chairman Sam Ervin said yesterday.

He did not say when hearings would be rescheduled. Ervin said in a one-sentence statement the postponement was needed to avoid prejudicing the trial of former Atty. Gen. John N. Mitchell and former Commerce Secretary Maurice H.

Stans in New York on federal charges of obstruction of justice and lying to a federal grand jury. In the three days of hearings scheduled to begin Tuesday, the committee was to have taken testimony on a campaign contribution of $100,000, made in two $50,000 payments, from billionaire Howard Hughes to President Nixon's friend, Charles G. (Bebe) Rebozo. Two sources on the committee said the delay was requested Friday in a telephone call to Ervin from Paul Curran, U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York, who is prosecuting the case.

But the committee's chief counsel, Sam Dash, said last night, "Curran did not make any request. He presented a problem and left it up to the committee." Dash said. "We'll go forward as soon as the jury is sequestered." Two committee sources, however, said the delay could mean the hearings might never be held. The sources said that if the jury were not sequestered soon, the committee members all of whom want a speedy end to the committee's work might decide against holding the "If the trial does not go on next month, Sen. Ervin and the committee would reconsider whether we would have our hearings," Dash said.

The Mitchell-Stans trial was to have begun Jan. 9, but defense lawyers have obtained three postponements. Curran could not be reached for comment, but sources at the U.S. District Court in Manhattan doubt that the trial will begin Feb. 19.

The committee is scheduled to go out of existence Feb. 28. It has unanimously voted to request an extension of its term from the full Senate to complete its report and to continue its court battle to subpoena Watergate-related White House tape recordings. The committee has heard conflicting versions of what the purpose of the Hughes contributions was, but one version has linked the second $50,000 to antitrust problems Hughes had with the Justice Department while Mitchell was attorney general. According to a sworn deposition by a former Hughes aide, Robert A.

Maheu, Mitchell reversed the Justice Department antitrust division's objection to Hughes' acquisition of the Dunes hotel in Las Vegas, after the second $50,000 was given to Rebozo in 1970. Maheu was to be a witness this week, along with Rebozo and Richard G. Dan-ner, the Hughes aide who carried the money from Hughes to Rebozo. Curran called Ervin Friday to inform him the trial of Stans and Mitchell would open in about three weeks and that it might be prejudiced by television hear- See ERVIN Back page, col. 1, this section Associated Press Israelis cross troubled waters ISRAELI military vehicles headed east toward the Sinai bank of the Suez Canal Friday as the pullback of forces from the Egyptian west bank continued along the strategic waterway.

An Israeli bridge of earth and stone speeded withdrawal. The new Israeli lines will be 12 miles east of the canal. (Details of renewed fighting on the Syrian front, Page A 4.) Congr essiv oman criticizes laws9 enforcement Barge accidents recall questions on safety Gray-t day in the morning! Furnished by the National Weather Service Safety Act, a law viewed by many as a strong remedy for curtailing hazards on the nation's rivers and in its ports. But 19 months after President Nixon signed the legislation, the U.S. Coast Guard has taken only baby steps toward putting the law into effect on the rivers where millions of tons of hazardous cargoes are moving every year.

In their defense, officials at Coast Guard headquarters here note that some "first things" have been approached and are being approached. They say they are dealing with the severest problems first. And, they note, other laws related to river traffic are being enforced and are producing results in reducing hazards and the potential for disaster on the rivers. Sen. Cook's river safety legislation died an unheralded death, Page A 13.

Ohio from Louisville. Confusion, fear and lack of information sent pulse rates rising when a tow broke up in high water and one of the barges with dangerous chemicals lodged on the dam. Days later on the lower Ohio in Western Kentucky there was more trouble, although apparently less dangerous. A tow of coal barges hit the Irvin S. Cobb Bridge at Paducah.

Another coal tow hit the Uniontown lock guardrail and one of the loaded barges sank. In 1972, spurred in part by the potential chlorine disaster at Louisville, Congress passed the Ports and Waterways Legislators may find themselves caught in hank holding firms hattle INDIANA Variable cloudiness with a chance of rain tonight and tomorrow; highs upper 40s north to upper 50s south, lows in the 30s. High yesterday, 63; low, 40. Year ago yesterday: High 48; low 33. Sun: Rises, sets, 6:00.

Mooni Rises, 9:38 o.m.; sets, 9:21 p.m. Weather map and details, Page 14. mm if By WARD SINCLAIR Courier-Journal Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON Rapidly growing commercial barge traffic on the nation's rivers, punctuated by disasters and near-disasters, has led in the last decade to passage of a series of federal regulatory laws. But each time one of the river behemoths carrying large amounts of sophisticated and volatile chemicals encounters trouble, new questions arise about the effectiveness of regulation. This month has been such a time in the Ohio River valley, just as it was in 1972 when a barge full of chlorine got hung up on the McAlpine Dam and forced evacuation of a portion of Louisville.

Two weeks ago it happened again, at the Markland Dam some 70 miles up the Z'y But there is another view that of Rep. Leonor Sullivan, chairwoman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and an outspoken advocate of more safety regulation on the rivers. "What has to happen hefnre they get busy and carry out the law?" Mrs. Sullivan asked rhetorically last week. "The Coast Guard is excellent, but many times they are timid.

"There are many questions that come up and I think the Coast Guard is perfectly capable and able to come up with these answers. If they are not, I don't know who is capable but we should call attention to the fact that the law was Sne RIVER PAGE 12, col. 1, this section borne out in studies conducted by agencies such as the Federal Reserve system," J. David Grissom, vice-chairman of Citizens Fidelity Bank Trust of Louisville, said. To charges that smaller banks acquired by a holding company would lose a certain "human touch" in dealing with peo- See LEGISLATIVE Back page, col.

1, this section 17 Elsewhere Leaders atk IVixon's help Democratic congressional leaders, promising to help solve the nation's energy problems, called on President Nixon to work as a partner Page A 3. COP losses forecast Conservative analysts have predicted the Republican Party may face disastrous election results this year if President Nixon continues in office Page A 14. BusinessReal Estate Section Classified 13, Section F' Deaths 6-7, 10, 15 Lively Arts Section Opinion Page 2" Outlook-Environment Sports Section Today's Living Section G- Appalachia the areas the satellite will zero in on. rrnsrams arp nlannpH for it Two neither of which will be available to the typical mountaineer. In one, doctors and nurses at 10 Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals will be able to watch televised classes on the latest advancements in their fields and receive advice from top specialists beamed to them via satellite.

The University of Kentucky has been awarded $1.5 million over a 2 12 year period to coordinate the second program, designed to aid reading teachers and guidance counselors in their jobs. About 100 hours of reading and career See NASA Back page, col. 4, this section By DON WALKER Courier-Journal Staff Writer FRANKFORT, Ky. A battle royal has broken out in Frankfort between elements of the banking profession, and each side claims that consumers' best interests ride with ft The figt(lis over a bill drafted but not yet introduced, and it pits small-town bankers' against bankers from metropolitan centers, with some exceptions. The proposal, as drafted, permits a bank holding company to acquire several banks throughout the state.

Present law permits ownership of only one bank that can operate in only one county. Seldom has a proposal generated as much heat before being introduced. An aide to Gov. Wendell Ford told The Courier-Journal that Ford "definitely favors the concept." Press Secretary Tommy Preston added that "the governor thinks it an issue the legislature should take a long, hard look at." Already, communications from opposing sides are flying to bankers in the state trying to enlist support. One key legislator, who asked not to be identified, said it is likely to be one of the hottest issues of the session.

Vengeful UCLA UCLA got revenge last night and how! Beaten for the first time in 88 games a week ago by Notre Dame 71-70 and demoted to second in the Associated Press' college basketball poll, UCLA bounced back with vengeance in a rematch at Los Angeles last night. IOUISVIUE orea Continued cloudy ond mild today with a chance of showers tonight ond tomorrow; high in the 50s, low in the low 40s. Probability of measurable precipitation 20 per cent today, 30 per cent tonight. KENTUCKY Cloudy and mild through tomorrow with a slight chance of rain tonight. Sain more lively tomorrow) high in the 60s, low in the upper 30s to i Misty "The country bankers will be kicking like horses in the barn," he asserted.

Opponents, including most of the officials of the Kentucky Bankers Association (KBA), claim that enactment of the bill would drain many local banks of resources that otherwise would be loaned to small businessmen, farmers and installment-plan buyers. The funds might be invested nationally at higher rates than could be charged locally, they explained. "The tobacco farmer may end up paying a finance company up to 18 per cent for money to produce his crop, while he can get the money now from his banker for 8 per cent," KBA President Fred Oney said. Oney is president of the First National Bank of Carrolton. Those who favor the plan say it would foster competition that would make more money available for local lending.

Meanwhile, some smaller banks would be forced to increase the interest they pay to depositors on savings accounts, and small-town customers would gain access to a wider range of services, proponents of the bill say. "The ultimate beneficiary of the legislation would be the consumer. This is spills Irish The score was UCLA 94, Notre Dame 75. And it was never close after UCLA fired in the game's first nine points. All-America center Bill Walton led the victory with 32 points.

Details on Page 1. broadcast to with four skinny arms carrying a computer center. It will cost upwards of $209 million to research, build, launch and put up the satellite, called the Applications Technology Satellite (ATS-F) to work in orbit. But the technocrats at NASA and Fairchild Industries, who built the satellite, are very high on it. So are the social planners at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW).

They say the ATS-F could pioneer the educational television, health, air traffic control and data relay systems of the future. "This is one swinging spacecraft," boasts a Fairchild spokesman. Actually, Appalachia is only one of Ediicational programs planned Satellite to By BILL PETERSON Courier-Journal ft Timet ttafl Writer WASHINGTON Having tried virtually every approach from land, water and air, the federal bureaucracy now plans to attack the woes of Appalachia from outer space. As if it hadn't seen enough in federal largesse, come late April, the nation's poorest region will have a satellite hovering 22,300 miles in space working for it. The satellite is the latest attempt by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to show that the space program can do wonders for those of us left on the ground.

It is a huge, impressively sophisticated craft that looks similar to an upside down copper bowl Staff Photo by Paul Schuhmann Yesterday misty weather obscured the Louisville waterfront in this view from the Indiana shore, and made the tops of downtown build-ingt apt7ef to be floating in the air..