One More for Arkansas

"Members of Congress.'' says Arkansas' Democratic Representative Wilbur D. (for Daigh) Mills, "are fair but stern judges for each other. After you have been here for a while, you're tabbed as either knowing your subject or not knowing it. I've sought to know my subject." Last week Wilbur Mills, 48, stepped into the powerful job of chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which shapes the nation's tax legislation. The move, prompted by the death of Tennessee Democrat Jere Cooper (see MILESTONES), followed normal seniority rules, but still it was a reward that no colleague could deny Wilbur Mills. In 19 years as a Congressman, Lawyer Mills thoroughly studied his economics, got a reputation as a spokesman for low-income groups and small business, yet is a model of prudence with his constituents' tax dollar.

Arkansas' Mills has plenty of home-state company in Congress' higher reaches. Of eight men in Arkansas' Washington delegation, four hold important committee jobs: Mills, Senator William Fulbright (chairman, Banking and Currency Committee, ranking member of Foreign Relations), Senator John McClellan (chairman, Government Operations), Representative Oren Harris (chairman, Interstate and Foreign Commerce)--a sizable share of congressional power for a state that is 32nd in population and 47th (next to Mississippi) in per capita income.

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