FANCY DECANTERS, introduced by liquor companies to boost Christmastime sales, are on the way out. National Distillers, second-ranking U.S. liquor maker (Old Grand-Dad, Old Crow, etc.) will drop its holiday deluge of decanters this winter, figures sales increase is not worth the extra cost of molding, shipping, distributing the fanciful bottles.

BRITAIN'S ROLLS-ROYCE is starting big sales drive into U.S. luxury-car market, plans to export 20% of its production to U.S. Rolls has nearly tripled its U.S. distributorships (to 59) in past 60 days, will soon kick off newspaper ad campaign, and send a caravan on tour of Southwest cities to push its $12,500 Bentley and $12,800 Silver Cloud.

SEAWAY BATTLE over St. Lawrence will flare up again next month when U.S. and Canadian governments begin work on setting toll rates. Eastern businessmen, railroadmen, truckers and shippers (who originally opposed seaway, now favor it) have formed 22-state group to fight for high tolls, which would make Midwestern ports less competitive. But Great Lakes--St. Lawrence Association is lobbying hard for rock-bottom tolls in first years of the seaway to attract new business.

AUTO SEAT BELTS would cut traffic-accident deaths by about 60% if they were in general use, says Cornell University Medical College after survey of 10,000 auto accidents. Concluded survey: "The seat belt is the most important, single, economically feasible device available to reduce one of our greatest public hazards."

BILLION-DOLLAR CLUB has another member, its 42nd. The company: Minneapolis' Cargill Inc., one of the nation's biggest grain dealers, whose sales topped 1 billion in fiscal 1957.

OLD KING COAL is getting weaker instead of healthier, says House Interior Subcommittee after 15-month study. Despite high exports, say Congressmen, industry is "sick with wide spread mine shutdowns and staggering unemployment." To help industry's "uphill struggle for survival," group will ask for tax relief, a special presidential commission to research new uses for coal and ways to cut mounting production costs.

VOLKSWAGEN BOOM is buzzing along so fast that used cars originally slated for European drivers are being brought into U.S. and sold as import models. Franchised Volkswagen dealers are worried because made-for-Europe models lack safety devices that many states demand, e.g., shatterproof glass, directional signals, sealed-beam headlights.

AIRLINE PASSENGERS will get a wider choice of fares and flight services, if CAB approves examiners' recommendation. United Air Lines plans a fourth type of service, "custom coach," pegged between first-class and cut-rate (day and night) coach flights, which would match flight times of best first-class flights but stand lower in passenger "extras" and price.

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