New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-12

each Of the 1.0OO,0 900 men it is expected
10 have in France next summer
Al the present estimated rate OF
output Of 1000 rifles day.it Is ca!cu-
lated that it will take 1853 days 20 sup
ply completely the drafted army WIN
the number Of rifles which european
war experience shows 20 be necessary
Machine Guns in Question
Another matter upon which the Sen,
ate wishes information rs me aIegeI
cancellation OF contract Tor the man
ufacturc of Lewis machine guns. =.
Is charged that contract Tor 4O,OOV
Lewis machine guns was cancelled oy
the War Department after 4,0OO nad
been delivered. II is understood that
the army purposes to use another gun
instead of the Lewis, and one, II IS
charged. which has not yet been sub
mitted TO practical battle tests.
While Senators are not disposed TO
minimize the scope which proposed in
vestigations may take, they nevertne-
less make plain that they are not dis
posed TO "muckrake" or TO make It un-
duly uncomfortable for the executive
departments. As one prominent Sena-
Tor put it to-day, the investigation was
merely an attempt 70 find out how rap
idly the War Department was pro-
crossing with,its preparations.
1--WE have supplied ample funds, and
We want 10 know how inteiligentiy
they are being spent this Senator
stated. "Also, We want 70 know how
much the War Department is consid-
ering the time element in its prepare
tions, a factor which was recognized
as exceedingly important in Secretary
Bakers latest review of the military
situation.
Many Complaints 70 Congress
Members of Congress have received a
variety of complaints from their con-
stituents about the lack of small arms,
about the wooden cannon and about the
lack of clothing at the environments
Moreover, many members have been 20
the cantonments and seen the deticien-
cies themselves.
The decision of the Senate Commit
tee on Military Affairs to inquire into
the War Departments operations was
uanimous and without partisan tinee.
II was arrived at after two hours dis
cussion OF reports from Senator'S who
have visited army camps during the
recess of Congress. Senators Cham
berlain, Wadsworth, Frelinghuysen and
others told of conditions observed and
reported to them, especially regarding
l.ck of clothing in many camps, lack Of
ordnance and unsatisfactory sanitary
conditions.
Transportation of soldiers and re-
~. IL. lad inf
trains and not properly rationed, and
contracts for building csntonments and
furnishing supplies are other matters
on which the Investigators viii touch.
Lodges Investigation
Senator Lodges resolution authorizes
the Senate Committee on Manufactures
of which Senator Reed is chairman, to
prosecute an investigation OF the causes
of the existing sugar and fuel snort
age.
This action gains its chief signiti-
canoe from the fact that it gives Sena-
tor Reed, of Missouri, authority TO
against the food administration. As
ISOLATED with the Missouri nemesis of
Food Administrator Hoover on the
Senate
man and La Toilette, both of whom
have heretofore been critically disposed
toward the food administration.
Senator Reed announced tonight
that he had called a meeting Of the
Senate Committee on Manufactures for
tomorrow morning TO formulate plans
for the investigation. He stated that
all hearings before the committee
.unu1J hn oncp n tho nffblir-
Charges Against Fuel Board
Information before Senator's, which
resulted in the Lodge resolution to-
day, alleges that the food sdministra-
ton has not taken action again 81
sugar boarding and has permitted ex-
orbitant sugar prices. The charge
against the fuel administration is one
of general ineff,ciency and inability to
meet the present fuel needs of the
country. The general dissatisfaction
with the work of the fuel administra-
ton in Senate circles was considerably
reinforced to-day By messages reach
ing the Capitol from various sections
OF the country reporting acute fuel
conditions and much suffering on ac-
count of the cold weather.
One leading Senator is Investigating
Information Forwarded to him chsrg-
.nc irregularities In War Department
clothing contracts. Among other allega-
tions made, one is that all manufact-
urers making uniforms for the army
are required to sell their cloth clip
pings TO a single firm. This firm in
turn resells to another cloth manu-
facturer, who converts the scraps into
cloth and makes uniforms for the
army. It is alleged that these latter
two firms are managed by brothers,
who have a third brother on an i'm
portant committee of the Council Of
National Defence.
NJ D.C