Evening star., 1962-04-24
BY ROBERT X. WALSH
Star staff Writer

OIuucLlGS o. the HOUSE SuS-
pect that its dean. Representa-
tive Vinson of Georgia, has lost
some of his control over the
military legislative curriculum.
The 70 year old Georgia
Democrat, who has been in the
House longer than any other
present member, took a Henry
Clay stance last week. He
told reporters he'd rather be
right than win House votes.
Only recently has he failed to
win enough.
The power and prestige Of the
veteran chairman Of the Armed
Services Committee are still
great and respected in Con-
gress and the Pentagon.
Speaker Mccormack remarked
to reporters that the Demo-
cratic leadership knows the
situation is well in hand when
ever Mr.. Vinson handles de-
fense measures.
Mr.. Wilson'S power neverthe-
less is increasingly challenged
In the House. Some observers
trace this back to more than
q year ago when he helped the
late Speaker Rayburn with o.
plan to enlarge the Rules Com
mittee. Opponents Of change
in that committee repeatedly
are not as cooperative with
Mr.. Vinson as in past years.
Loses Showdown
In any event Mr.. vinson
came out second in two impor-
tant House battles in recent
weeks. He lost q showdown
struggle on a Defense Depart
ment appropriation issue he re-
garded as involving a basic
principle. Even more signifi-
cant, he lost the fight to two
much younger but equally ag-
gressive and determined mem
bers Of the Appropriations
Committee.
Democratic Representative
Mahon of Texas and Republi-
can Representative Ford Of
Michigan, chairman and rank
ing minority member respec-
lively of the Appropriations
subcommittee in charge of the
$47.8 billion measure, scored a
one-sided victory. They de-
feated Mr.. Vinson's move to
prevent q limitation on funds
for ship repair and conversion
work in Navy yards.
This curtailment had the ef-
feet Of providing more money
for such naval vessel work in
private shipyards. It had not
been specifically authorized by
Mr.. Wilson'S committee, which
sets ceilings on money to be
appropriated for defense pur-
poses.
The Armed Services Commit
tee chairman insisted that the
fundamental question was
whether the Appropriations
Committee was trying to die
tate to the Secretary Of the
Navy in the ALLEGATION Of money
to naval and private shipyards.
Without detracting from Mr..
Wilson's experience and knowl-
edge of defense programs and
problems, Mr.. Mahon and MFR.
Ford demonstrated that they
too are experts and have access
to military information and
testimony.
RS-7O Compromise"
The other setback for Mr..
Wilson involved a compromise"
engineered largely by Speaker
Mccormack several weeks ago
with White House assistance.
AS originally approved by Mr..
Wilson'S committee, a bill au-
thorizing Defense Department
appropriations directed" the
Secretary Of Defense to speed
and expand the RS-70 CB-70l
bomber program.
In that instance Mr.. Wilson'S
committee charged that De-
fence Secretary McNamara ig-
nored congressional wishes and
tended to make Congress q
rubber stamp for Pentagon de-
cisions.
A showdown was avoided by
removal of the bills strong
language and by a Pentagon
promise to look more sympa-
thetically into the RS-70 de-
velopment. Mr.. Vinson an
nounced he was satisfied. Some
of his colleagues said privately
they thought he had come out
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