News stories from Saturday March 25, 1972

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

The Commission on Population Growth and the American Future urged that the continuing migration from rural areas be channeled from larger cities into economically healthier smaller cities. The final report of the commission urged that the proper distribution of the population was just as important as reducing population growth. [New York Times] Political party fundraisers were found to be exploiting a loophole in the federal regulations on campaign financing. The Federal Election Campaign Act, governing reporting of contributions, does not go into effect until April 7. Maurice Stans, President Nixon's chief campaign fundraiser, has been urging contributors who value anonymity to make their gifts now, before the stricter reporting system becomes effective. [New York Times] An examination of the circumstances surrounding the largest merger in American history, between International Telephone & Telegraph and the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, indicated that I.T.T. engaged in complicated maneuvering to gain favorable tax rulings necessary to accomplish the controversial merger. Some tax lawyers said that some of the maneuverings were questionable. [New York Times] The Federal Bureau of Investigation's conclusion that the controversial memorandum by Mrs. Dita Beard had been written around June 25, the date on its face, was disputed by I.T.T., Mrs. Beard's employer. The company said its experts concluded that the memorandum was written much more recently, probably in January, 1972. But other experts in the field said they doubted that the I.T.T. experts' methods could have accurately dated the document. [New York Times] Two Congressmen who headed Democratic party reform commissions proposed a radical reorganization of the party that would include a national membership, annual party conferences and a stronger ideological identity. The plan is to be considered by the full memberships of the two commissions, then presented to the Democratic National Convention this summer. [New York Times] William Whitelaw, the British official who will run Northern Ireland, flew to Belfast today for conferences with military police and civil service officials. Brian Faulkner, who tendered his resignation as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland on Friday, declined to meet with the heavily guarded British official during the visit. Reaction to British direct rule of the province was mixed, with the main opposition political parties welcoming it and the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association opposing it. [New York Times]