News In Brief

Contempt proceedings begun against Smith in ship-cost case

A Senate subcommittee initiated contempt-of-Congress proceedings against Attorney General William French Smith for failing to turn over records of an investigation into shipbuilding cost overruns. Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R) of Iowa said at a hearing that Mr. Smith refused to comply with a subpoena served Oct. 1 by the judiciary subcommittee on administrative practices and procedure.