Evening star., 1943-06-06


House Ways and Means Committee that
such tax may be necessary was regard
ed by some observers that the Roosevelt
administration is coming around to that
position.
The President has said that the Gov
ernment needs $4,000 100000 in new
taxes and savings this year, and Vim
son, because of his influence in Con-
gress, especially with members of the
House Ways and Means Committee. is
expected to get better results than Sec
retary OF the Treasury Henry Morgen-
thau, Jr, and his general counsel, RAN
dolph Paul, who have been most unfor-
tunate in their relations with Congress.
AS House member. Vinson was effec-
tive in committee, on the floor and in
the cloakrooms
When VlnSon resigned from the
House in 1888 to accept appointment W
the District Circuit Court of Appeals,
which ranks in the minds of many law
yers second only to the Supreme Court,
his colleagues, Republican as we'll as
Democrats, tried to outdo each other in
euloglzlng him. At that time he was
chairman of the Ways and Means SUBJ
committee on Taxation
Representative Treadway of Massa-
chusetts, ranking minority member Of
the Ways and Means Committee. gave
him his highest praise by calling him
"constructive legislator" Represent
ative Knutson of Minnesota, next rank
ing Republican on the committee. said
that Vinson was the greatest authority
on taxation who has served in this
House during the 81 years I have been a.
member and added that nobody was
gamer by Wilson's departure except the
Republicans.
Others Add Praise
The late Speaker Bankhead of Ala
bama descended from the Speakers
chair to say that Vinson had "one of the
best organized and one of the most
analytical minds 1 have ever come in
contact with in all my experience in the
House" Federal Judge Marvin Jones,
then chairman of the House Agriculture
Committee and now assistant to Byrnes,
after praising Wilson's integrity, ability
and industry, characterized him as IAN
ideal legislator"
WILSON'S popularity at the Capitol and
his wide cquaintanceship there will be
valuable aids in his new work He will
be able to do the same kind of work
Byrnes and Jones did the other day
when they called in Republican men,
Der OF an important House committee
to ask his cooperation.
The Republican, either through false
modesty or curiosity, asked why he had
been called in rather than the chairman
or the ranking Republican member, and
pointed out that he had been on the
committee for only two or three Con-
crosses.
I'VE know all that" Byrnes replied,
"but We also know that YOU have the
votes of four committee members in your
vest pocket
After Vlnson went on the circuit bench
he continued to confer with his House
friends and Treasury Department off,
clals about taxation, and continued his
reading on economic and monetary sub
Jects. He does not 60 in for light itera-
ture.
Among his important judicial opinions
were his upholding of the conviction OF
George Sylvester Viereck, later reversed
by the Supreme Court; his finding that
the National Mediation Board had the
authority to consider a railroad with
many subsidiaries single carrier in it's
dealing with organized labor groups and
IN holding that District of Columbia
domicile did not abrogate a taxpayer's
State citizenship.
Little Bits" and "Popo."
He was also the author of an unusual
opinion awarding damages to the owner
of Little Bits" a pomeranian pooch
Killed by "Popo' although Little Bits"
at the time of it's demise had not been
provided with tax as prescribed by the
District of Columbia Code.
His opinion began with these words:
A jury in the Municipal Court, after
hnolng appellants dog, Popo, to have
been the perpetrator of a fatal assault
upon Little Bits, the Pomeranian owned
by Mrs. Emily K. Erck, and that the ap-
pellant had been apprised of Popo's
maleVolent propensities, returned a ver-
dict for Mrs. Erck in the sum OF 5000"
From there on the opinion was ser-
Gus discussion of District statutes and
the common law relating to dogs as per-
sonal property. Justice Harold Stephens
thought the case important enough for a
serious dissent, but Justice Wiley B.
Rutledge, now a member of the Supreme
Court, concurred with Justice Vinson.
citing the following verse written by
Justice Justin Miller, also a member of
the court:
This saga of Popo, malevolent pooch,
And Erck's Pomeranian pet;
Your etymological-legal approach
To canons CT dog etiquette,
Persuades me that CANNES are property
still
Whether licensed unlicensed or tagged;
Not ferae naturae, or fair game to kill
So long as there's tail to be wagged."
1t is rare, however, for Vinson to de-
scend or rise to humor. His motto might
well be, Work and more work" One of
his law clerks has described him as a
"non-eater," meaning that when he
starts on job he keeps at it, missing
luncheon and dinner, until it is finished.
Outstanding at College.
This ability to concentrate was evident
in his college years when he made a
scholastic record at Centre College, Dam
vile, KY. which has not been equaled.
At the same time he made this record
he was working first as college librarian