. c The weather Inside today R((in with heavy downpours at times, high in the 40s, low tonight in the 40s. Area news ,.14-15 Editorial . .......4 Rain likely Friday, high about 50. Business.. .... 17 . .12-13 National weather forecast map on Classified . ..19-20 Gardening .... 18 Page 20. Comics .,. .... 21 Obituaries .......8 TWENTV/rWO PAGEd “The Bright One'* Dear Abby .... 21 Sports — .. .9-10 THREE SECTIONS • f 'V: MANCHESTER, CONN.> THURSDAY. APRIL 1. 1976- VOL. XCV. No. 155 PRICE) FIETEEN CENTS >; Farm prices down Wliolesale price index up slightly in March WASHINGTON (UPI)-Wholesale products, cereal and bakery products for raw farm products fell 1.5 per prices rose 0.2 per cent in March as and meat. The decline in meat cent in the month ending March 15, rising costs of industrial goods and prices, however, was less than in the largely because of lower prices for processed foods overshadowed a previous month: cattle, hogs, milk and eggs. drop in prices for farm products, the The rise in industrial commodities, Fluctuations in prices for raw farm Labor Department reported today. which make upmost of the index, was products usually are reflected first in The 1 per cent decline in farm much greater than a 0.1 per cent in­ the wholesale market and then on product prices was less than in re­ crease during the previous month, retail shelves. cent months, the department said. Lumber and wood prices rose more Larry Summers, a department Industrial commodities rose 0.4 per than in Febuary and prices for hides, food economist, said he expects cent last month and processed food skins and leather goods continued to retail food prices during the first costs were up 0.2 per cent. move up rapidly. Fuel and power quarter of 1976 will show little or no Although the Labor Department costs edged up in March after sharp increase over the last quarter of 1975. previously has reported no increase declines in the two previous months. But Summers and some other ad­ in whoiesale prices since October, all Wholesale prices during March ministration experts also anticipate past figures were revised in the were 5.5 per cent higher than a year consumer prices will begin moving March report under a new system of earlier. Prices for farm products up again in the spring, primarily . seasonal adjustment. were up 9.4 per cent over the year, because cattle prices will recover The revised figures showed only while industrials were up 0.6 per cent from their recent slump and meat slight fluctuations in wholesale and processed foods 0.8 per cent. prices — which play a major role in the consumer food budget — will rise prices over the past five months. The department reported prices Wholesale prices fell 0.2 per cent in in response. January and 0.3 per cent in February following slight increases in the previus two months, according to the Buckland firehouse revised figures. The March increase was the biggest since last November, when prices in the wholesale market bond bids opened Bunnies briefed were up only 0.1 per cent. A bid of 3.97 per cent was sub­ terest rate, the legislature lifted the The Wholesale Price Index stood at mitted today for the purchase of 5 per cent iimit on interest rates for Looks like these bunnies were getting final instructions from their leader before they 179.8 per cent in March, meaning that $285,(X)0 in town bonds to pay for the fire protection improvements hopped off to take their places on display in the store of.24 merchants who are participating goods that cost $100 in 1967, now cost Buckland Firehouse project. in an Easter bunny contest. Some lucky customers will carry the pets home, if they can $179.80. Changes in wholesale prices usual­ manage the bulky load. (Herald photo by Pinto) The bid, much lower than expected All-night ly are reflected later in similar by town officials, was submitted by U -l changes in consumer prices. United 'Bank and Trust Company. The 1 per cent drop in farm parking ban products during March compared to Other bidders were the Hartford Series of crippling strikes decreases of 2.5 per cent in February National Bank, which asked 4.37 per is lifted and 2.3 per cent in January. Prices cent and Connecticut Bank and Trust fell for livestock, fresh and dried Co., which asked 4.11 per cent. Manchester’s seasonai all-night vegetables, eggs and fresh fruits. The bids were opened at 11:30 a.m. parking ban ended last night at mid­ affecting movement of goods March’s 0.2 per cent increase in in the offices of the Manchester State night, but police are still cautioning processed foods and feeds reversed a townspeople about parking By Ciiilrd Press Inifrnulioiiul Teamsters shut down their trucks Bank. newswriters and city employes took substantial four-month plunge. regulations. A crippling series of strikes to the picket lines in various parts of early today in the first nationwide Prices rose for sugar, dairy In anticipation of a a higher in- Patrol Capt, Richard Sartor said stopped the movement of items from the nation, but often-strike-plagued Teamsters strike in history. The policemen will no longer ticket commuters and cars to beer and New York City was spared by a last- economic repercussions could be vehicles for all-night parking, except bread today. minute agreement that averted a awesome. in posted, restricted areas, Truckers, television technicians. transit workers strike. Others on the picket lines included Town ladder truck lowed 'Town ordinance bans all-night NBC television engineers and parking — specifically between 2 newswriters, San Francisco city a.m. and 6 a m, — from Nov. 1 to workers and Anheuser-Busch to shop for new engine March 31 each winter, Vioiators are brewery workers. liable for a $5 fine. It was the nation's worst rash of The Town Fire Department’s 100- and $130,000 today, officials said. Sartor said final figures areil’t News summary labor strife in more than a year. The available, but he estimated “several disputes centered primarily around foot ladder truck, inoperable since The ladder truck will be the town’s early March, has been towed to third diesel-powered fire apparatus. thousand" tickets had been issued for Compiled from United Press International money. all-night parking this season. He said Some 1,700 technicians and North Haven for engine conversion to The others are a 1971 American diesel. Deputy Fire Chief James LaFrance engine at Co. 1 and a the number of violations increased lewswriters went on strike against slightly over last year's total. State ruled Wednesday that the ;he NBC television network at 12:01 McKay said today. diesel-converted 1951 American LaFrance engine at Co. 4. In another motor vehicle matter, machines can be turned off if а. m. today. The department expects to have McKay said the diesel-power ap­ authorities reminded townspeople HARTFORD - Gov. Ella T. .doctors and a hospital ethics Picket lines sprang up at network the truck back in service in about two paratus is much more efficient and that Connecticut's seasonal ban on Grasso is expected to endorse a committee agree there is no offices across the nation. weeks, McKay satd. had had less "down time” than gas­ studded snow tires begins April 15, presidential candidate Friday reasonable possibility of her San Francisco City workers, The company doing the engine oline engine vehicles. Violators are subject to arrest. and the betting at the Capitol. recovery. defying a court order, went on strike work is Bell-Detroit Inc. of North has Sen. Henry-Jackson, D- and thousands of persons lost their Haven, a subsidiary of the iarge Wash., as her man. She said WASHINGTON - The transportation. Buses, ■ trolley and Detroit Diesel Corp. The North Wednesday she would be Supreme Court completed cable cars halted. Emergency crews Haven firm has completed about 100 making an "announcement of hearing arguments on the manned the water works, and pickets diesel conversions of fire apparatus Heavy rains soak political interest” Friday mor­ death penalty Wednesday and appeared at police headquarters, the in the last year, McKay said. ning. must now ponder an opinion city hall and other offices. The truck was towed to North which could literally mean life Disregarding a city vote to put a lid Haven a week ago. The work con­ Eastern states WESTPORT - Former U.S. or death for more than 500 per­ on some municipal pay, leaders of tract calls for completion in one Attorney General Ramsey sons in death rows in prisons the city’s so-called craft unions month, but officials expected to have By United Press Internulionul Rain and snow was scattered over Clark says it is deplorable that throughout the nation. called a walkout Tuesday night. the truck back sooner. Rain soaked the east early today. the Great Lakes and a few showers Congress appropriated $250,000 Negotiators worked tO' the wire While the 100-foot truck is out of Flash flood watches were posted dampened the Carolinas. to in v estig ate how CBS ST. LOUIS — Striking beer early today but failed to hammer out’ service, town fire fighters have for New Jersey and portions of Penn­ Some thundershowers had moved telecaster Daniel Schorr got a bottlers filed-$1 million suit in an agreement to avert the strike by relocated the town's second ladder sylvania and New York state. from Georgia into northern Florida. truck, an older 75-foot model, to Cen­ sei:ret report on the Central federal court against 400,000 Teamsters, who haul 00 per Nearly an inch and a half of rain Rain and snow also was reported Intelligence Agency.