Evening star., 1953-01-24
CONTINUED from FIRST Page.)

picked them at President EiSen-
hower'S request because Of their
experience and ability.
After explaining that he would
relieve them of the necessity for
dealing with companies in which
they have an interest, Mr.. Wilson
said: II would rather have
good man on 80 per cent Of the
business and take care Of the
per cent myself than I would
to have a second or third class
man on a 100 per cent basis"
Near the close, OF yesterdays
hearing Mr.. Wilson became
nettled by questions put to him
by Senator Russell, Democrat, of
Georgia. and complained, a.. I
really feel you are giving me
quite pushing around. If I
had come here to cheat, by God.
I wouldn't be here"
Senator Russell. who was in
quiring whether the witness had
exhausted every effort to dispose
of the GIN stock he is to receive
during the next four years, re-
piled:
II am sorry you feel that way,
Mr.. Wilson. I am not trying
to push you around, but I have
my responsibilities. too."
Making Sacrifice.
"I understand that" Mr.. Will
son rejoined. But I am just
human, and, my God, I am
making a great sacrifice to come
down here"
THAT is the very point I was
making" said Senator Russell.
"If you made this sacrifice with
relation to the $4,000 shares,
why don't you clean the whole
matter up and get your feet
on dry ground by making some
arrangements to dispose of this
stock?"
After the lunch recess Mr..
Wilson announced that he had
telephoned the attorney for the
General Motors bonus commit
tee, who had promised to recon-
mend that Mr.. Wilson be given
cash at the present market value
for the stock he otherwise would
receive gradually over the next
four years.
Earlier Mr.. Wilson had said
he would take the present mar
ket value of this bonus stock
"as of the day you men con-
firm me, if you do. And am
beginning to think you would
be doing me a great favor if you
do not do it,"
Before Mr.. Wilson agreed to
dispose of his GIN stock there
was serious dount whether the
Senate would vote to confirm
him. Mr.. Wilson appeared to
have cleared up this doubt at
yesterdays hearing.
Would Clear With President.
Mr.. Wilson told the commit
tee yesterday that, in addition to
disposing of his stock, he would
discuss with President Eisen-.
hover any matter which he felt
might be the subject of misun-
derStanding on account of his
previous connection with Gen.
eral Motors.
Senator Cooper, Republican,
OF Kentucky, asked Mr.. Wilson |
why he does not think Mr.. Tai |
bot and Mr. Stevens should fol- |
low the same course he has taken
in getting rid of stocks that |
might conflict with defense con-
tracts.
Because they can step aside |
and ] can issue directives under |
my authority telling them to do |
it, completely clearing them"
said Mr.. Wilson. "I have nobody |
to do that with, and the question
has been raised whether I could |
even delegate that responsibility |
to the President. I think could.
and he thinks so. too. but that |
is a matter I said we will clear
up. I will put myself in a COM
pletely sound technical position
so that I don't know how any,
body could criticize me for it,"
Mr.. Wilson told the committee
he did not believe they would
expect him to dump" nearly
10000 shares of his stock in one
day land take an added penalty
on the price" He promised,
however, to be rid of all of it by
April /.
He said he plans to give not
more than 20 per cent of it to his
children and dispose Of the rest.
He explained, however, that he
will retain no beneficial interest
in any Of it, He said he would |
not put any of it in trust, where
1t might come back to him.
Promise to Senators.
Mr.. Wilson promised Senators
that if the Senate confirms him
as Secretary of Defense he will
be like Caesars wife-above
suspicion"
The committees release of
closed-door testimony from Mr..
Wilson disclosed moments of |
humor from Mr.. Wilson.
Once he said he realized ''I
HOH 49,