News from Washington

With most major economic indicators pointed sharply downward, Federal research administrators are suddenly nursing hopes that the cuts they have been expecting for the fiscal year that begins next July 1 will be less severe than was originally indicated. The reason is that President Ford appears to be swinging around to the belief that the dangers of recession now outweigh the dangers of inflation, and extreme caution must be used in restraining Government spending. The result is a fair amount of confidence that R&D will not be subjected to meat-ax treatment.