Evening journal., 1916-12-20
Lewis Gun ROW
TO Get An AIRING
Militia Affairs Committee
Not Satisfied With Re-
lection of Weapon
SAYS BAKER
MUST EXPLAIN

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-Members
OF the Militia Affairs Committees OF
the Senate and the House. among
whom there is much dissatisfaction
with the War Department decision
rejecting the Lewis machine gun as
part OF tho equipment Of the mobile
army, will probably have an airing
OF the entire controversy in connec-
tion with the Army Appropriation
bill
The first step will probably be
taken by the House Committee on
NJ Mlitary Affairs tomorrow. Gen.
Crozier, Chief Of the Ordnance. has
been asked TO appear TO explain the
departmental estimates for ordnance.
Ihe comm ttee today said that he
would be questioned concerning the
unfavorable attitude of the, department
toward the Lewis gun. which has been
adopted by foreign armies in prefer
ence to other types.
Secretary Baker, who will appear
before the committee, will probably
also be quizzed concerning the rejec-
ton OF the gun.
Members OF the Senate Committee
suggested today that there appears to
be an air Of mystery about the con-
troversy and intimate that the de-
partment will be called on for an ex.
PLANTATION. There is a feeling that
there Is something back Of the whole
matter and that army jealousy has
entered into IL. which Secretary
Baker is trying to cover UP. The
whole question Of the departments
attitude toward inventors IS likely 70
receive attention.
Shrouded IN Mystery.
THE matter is shrouded in some
mystery" said Senator Catron. a Re
publican member of the committee,
but it seems to me that a gun that
has shown so many excellent qualities
and has been so generally adopted and
so effectively used abroad should have
met with a more cordial reception
from our ordnance officers. The trou-
bic is that our government does not
deal fairly with inventors In the ser
vice. Generally. they are looked
upon with suspicion and ridicule, and
/ If they prevail over these obstacles
! their inventions are appropriated by
the government without proper COM
pensation. I have always felt that
Lewis did not get fair treatment.
! believe that our government should
take more interest in the inventions OF
the men in its service. We have sew
eral examples-one or two that were
lnoteWorthy-of inventions that were
taken up by foreign governments after
our government had rejected them.
fear that the Lewis case presents an
example OF persistent refusal to give
an American inventor in the service 6
fair chance"
Members Of the house committee
although protesting to have no techni
cal knowledge OF the merits of thI
Lewis gun, expressed a desire TO un
derstRnd the reasons for the decision
of the War Department. Representa-
tives Kahn, California. and Olney, Mas
sachusetts, both intimated today tina
the House committee would attemp
to shed some light upon the contro
versy in connection with hearing
upon the military bills.
Opinion in the Military Affairs Com
nittee is somewhat divided. Senator
Chamberlain, chairman of the Senate
committee, is disposed to approve th'
decision Of the War Department.
Lewis Gun Not Condemned.
I'VE heard some testimony on thu
matter during the closing days Of The
hearings on the army reorganization
bill" he said today. Gas understand
he situation the ordnance officers d'
not condemn the Lewis gun; they ad
init that is has merit, but they sal
there are other inventions compared
with VIII 'ch the Lewis gun is not 81
rleritorious. Ny. understanding o
their attitude is that they are willinl
TO buy the Lewis gun and have bough
some OF them, but they reserve th'
right not to exclude other types Tha
seems to be the trouble. The admir-
ers Of the Lewis gun would make
the standard and exclude everything
else. General Croz er testified befor'
our committee, as recall It. that tn
War Department was making tests o
another gun which promised bette
results than the Lewis invention"
On the House side of the Capitol i
was suggested today that the arm.