News stories from Tuesday July 4, 1978

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

The files of millions of Americans in the custody of the Social Security Administration "aren't properly safeguarded from potential loss, destruction, abuse or misuse," according to the General Accounting Office. The G.A.O. also cited "security weaknesses" in the computer operation of other federal programs. [New York Times] To improve Cleveland's reputation, a group of important businessmen have joined in a $4.3 million campaign, apparently not a moment too soon. The city's budget is $20 million in the red, racial communities are polarized over school busing, and the Mayor faces a recall vote while calling Cleveland's business and political establishment "corrupt." [New York Times] The spenders are taking charge again in Congress, although legislators are likely to be boasting to constituents over the Independence Day break about budget slashing since passage of Proposition 13 in California. The drive to save money has begun to fizzle partly because Democratic leaders have come to view it as panicky and reckless. [New York Times] Richard Nixon's legacy to the Supreme Court -- four generally conservative Justices who consistently voted together -- is losing its cohesiveness after five years of dominance over the tribunal's rulings. In the Court term that just ended, the four Justices voted as a bloc on only 36 percent of the cases decided. [New York Times] Paraquat residues were found in 36 percent of tested marijuana in a preliminary federal survey. The survey, by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, also shows that the weed, which is sprayed with the deadly herbicide in Mexican marijuana fields, is wending its way across the United States from the Southwest. [New York Times] Two hostages held in the Chilean consulate in San Juan, P.R., for 17 hours were released by their captors, a man and a woman, who had demanded freedom for Puerto Rican nationalists in prison in the United States. The kidnappers surrendered to the F.B.I. and the hostages were unharmed. [New York Times] Egypt will formally submit to Israel its proposal for a five-year transitional period in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the Jordan and the Gaza Strip and the eventual return of the lands to Jordanian and Egyptian administration. The plan is said to include specific security arrangements for Israel during the five-year period and the creation of Palestinian councils in the areas. [New York Times] Israel got clearance from the Carter administration to sell Taiwan 50 to 60 advanced fighter planes that it calls Kfirs. The decision to approve the controversial $500 million sale was made early last week. [New York Times] A disgruntled prison official assassinated the interior minister of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan and two aides last Thursday and then shot himself to death, a ministry spokesman said. The spokesman confirmed foreign travelers' reports of the shootings but a Soviet newspaper said the official died fulfilling his duties. [New York Times] Speaking on Soviet television, the United States Ambassador, Malcolm Toon, avoided pointed references to human rights, an issue that angered Moscow last year. Mr. Toon was refused permission to appear on television last July 4 because of human rights references. [New York Times] Heavy artillery fire in Lebanon broke the third cease-fire in as many days between Syrian troops and Lebanese Christian militias. An attempt will be made to end the fighting by Fuad Butros, the Lebanese Foreign and Defense Minister, who will go to Damascus tomorrow for talks with Syria's President, Hafez al-Assad. [New York Times] Nathaniel Rosen, a cellist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, won a first prize in the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Mr. Rosen, 30 years old, was the first American instrumentalist to receive a gold medal since Van Cliburn, the pianist, was given one 20 years ago. [New York Times]