GOP Faction Stalls Verity Vote

WASHINGTON — A small group of Republicans today stalled Senate approval of President Reagan’s choice of former steel company executive C. William Verity Jr. as commerce secretary, succeeding Malcolm Baldrige, who was killed in a freak rodeo accident in July.

Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R-N.Y.), criticizing Verity’s views on expanded trade with the Soviet Union, served notice he would lead a handful of Republicans against Senate confirmation of Verity. In the face of a threatened filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd said the Senate will vote next Tuesday on forcing an end of the stalling tactics.