South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-23
INVESTIGATION
SHOULD Be
UNHAMP ERED
Charles E. Hughes Urges Sen
ate to Drop Its Aircraft
Probe While Department
of Justice investigates.

WASHINGTON. May 23.-Atty.
/ Gen. Gregory sent 20 the senate mil
itary committee Wednesday aaletter
from Charles f. Hughes, who at
/ Pres't Wilson's request is directing
the department Of justice investiga-
ton Of the aircraft production. say
ing the departments task should
! proceed barrassed by a paral-
lei inquiry.
This development came after the
senate had passed a compromise
. resolution accepted by administra-
ton leaders authorizing war in
I quiries by military sub-committees.
The committee proceeded with the
appointment of its aviation sub-com-
mittee after reading the Hughes
letter.
Should State Facts.
Mr.. Hughes, outlining TO the at
torney general his idea of the form
/ the investigation should take, said
the entire history Of aircraft pro-
duction since the war began should
be gone into. and should be followed
/ by a complete statement Of facts
discovered regardless Of whether
basis was found for criminal or
civil proceedings.
In view of Mr.. Hughes attitude
senate leaders said it virtually was
certain that the aviation sub-com-
mittee activities would be confined
wholly to visiting plants and look
ing over the present situation, and
that inquiry into the past would be
left entirely to the department of
/ justice.
The subcommittee is composed
of Sen. Thomas Of Colorado, chair
man. and Sens, Reed of Missouri.
and Smith Of Georgia, democrats,
and New Of Indiana and Freling
huysen of New Jersey. republicans.
MFR. Hughes Letter.
I'm accordance with your re-
quest" Mr.. Hughes writes. II shall
attempt TO summarize briefly some
of the points discussed in our con-
/ ference today, particularly with re-
spect to the scope of our inquiry.
1T is quite evident, from the ma
terial you have already gathered
and from the matters discussed with
you and Mr.. Frierson. that it would
/ be necessary for US carefully to ex-
anime all the activities relating to
aircraft production. II is easy.
I of course, theoretically. TO distin-
guish between an inquiry within the
province of the department of justice
and one which is aimed merely at
-H e
management, or inefficiency, apart
from any appropriate basis for
civil suit to recover misappropri-
ated money or a criminal prosecu-
ton.
LAS a practical matter, however.
it is evident that in the endeavor to
determine whether there is a basis
for a civil suit by the government or
a criminal prosecution, ii will be
necessary for us TO make a thorough
inquiry into the entire history OF air
craft production since the beginning
OF the war, and Of all proceedings
which have been taken by any per-
sons or corporations concerned
Herewith We shall not be able TO
ascertain whether there has been
dishonesty or malversation of any
kind unless we go thoroughly into
all the transactions which have been
had.
May Have Civil Suits.
of we discover a basis for civil
suits by the government they will be
instituted. If we find grounds for
a criminal prosecution it will be in
T order to go before the grand jury
10 obtain indictments.
IF we find no sufficient basis for
such proceedings, our conclusion, TO
be convincing to the country, could
not we'll be stated negative con-
clusion in general terms, but should