The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-14
House Committee Decides To
Make Sweeping Inquiry.
Congressman Connolly of Kan
sas on Investigation Board.
HOW BILLION and HALF SPENT
Crozier Testifies Big Royalty
Paid for Army Pistols.
Continue Senate's Probe; Seek
in Vain fer Responsibility"

washington, Dec. 1.-THE senate
inouisition into conduct of the war
spread to the house of representatives
today when the house naval commit
tee voted for a sweeping investigation
of the navy.
Hearings of the committee investi-
eating will commence Immediately un-
der the Craftsmanship of Representa-
tive Oliver.
The investigation, it was stated, will
go into every phase of the naval situa-
ton Secretary Daniels and all active
admirals right down the list will be
called to testify.
A special investigating sub-commit-
tee of seven members was appointed
as follows:
/ Oliver, Alabama: Connolly, Kansas;
venable, Mississippi; Hensley. Mis-
souri,; Britten, Illinois; Hicks. New
York, and Peters of Maine.
| This committee was gwen plenary
/ powers for drastic probe.
Investigate Training Stations.
Just what has been accomplished
with the s1,5OO,OOO, 900 the navy was
given to spend last year and what is
to be accomplished by the $1,000,0 00,-
! 600 asked this year will be thoroly
gone into.
The investigation will embrace in
quiries into naval training stations,
ravy yards and all naval establish
ments, equipment, ordnance and per-
sonnet.
The house probers plan to follow
closely the footsteps of the senate
military committee in its sweeping
army probe.
Forecasts that the senate commits
will tA n ~
eral naval investigation were made.
! Congressman said the naval probe
was prompted not so much by suspi-
cion of the conduct of affairs as
through the rapidly growing deter
mination turnout the country for a
more open management of both army
and navy.
Call up shipping Board.
The investigation will include also
the shipping board. and Chair
man Hurley will be summoned. The
present shipping board navy wrangle
over the control of merchant ships
passing through the war zone will be
thoroly probed and recommended
tions made to congress.
The entire transport system will I'M
dergo close scrutiny. Officers of Amer
lean transports will be summoned to
clear up reports of inefficiency and
INSTRUMENTATION among seamen.
At today's executive session of the
J
tioning of General Crozier resolved
itself into a concerted effort by com
mittee members to fix individual re-
isponsibility for delay in getting an ade-
| quate supply of rifles and machine
guns.
The committee learned that some
appropriations made by congress for
specific purposes had been used for
other things. Five million dollars APP
propriated in August 1915 for rifles
MT nj fCl on xrTlai rf To-
atty was paid to private company.
. Labor Situation.
Another phase Of the secret inquiry
covered the labor situation at govern
ment arsenGls and in private munition
plants.
Crozier gave the comrnittee definite
. figures on the exact number of rifles
! and machine guns on hand and the
number expected by January l.
From what l can make out from
the testimony" said a member of the
committee, nobody seems to have
been personally responsible for the de-
lays, shortages and inefficiencies thai
General CroZier has testified to
! Things just seemed to have happened
1 believe before we are thru we will
fix the responsibility. however"
Proposes Supreme War Board.
: Representative Britten. one of the
q sponsors of the inquiry, said there was
: a surplus of big guns in the navy
whose construction might be stopped
to Us the machinery to produce ia,
the army.
Otter suggestions of that sort viii
be looked into, he said Representa.
!. tive Britten also said ne purposed te
!" urge creation of supreme council
of defense comprising not exceedins
= three men and preferably one man Il
e handle the war in America and hax,
= arbitrary power to determine ever,
Y question so as to avoid issues
g