The Washington herald., 1918-04-30
WAR AIRCRAFT
REPORT STIRS
SENATOR'S IRE
Brandegee Declares Borg
lum's Findings Are
"Pocketed."

Demand was made yesterday in the
Senate that charges made by Gutzon
Borglum against those in charge Of
aircraft production be investigated.
Borglum Is the sculptor who was
given a letter by President Wilson
authorizing him to delve into the air
craft situation. His report has never
been made public in full. and yester-
day II was said that the President
has a secret letter in his pocket"
Senator Brandegee, of Connecticut,
was the man who demanded that
Borglum's accusations be sifted. Sena-
tor Hitchcock. Of the Military Affairs
Committee, said the. committee had
already looked into the Borglum
charges and had decided they were not
dependable.
"Borglum is a loyal. patriotic,
American" said the Connecticut Sena-
tor. IF there is anything in his
blistering Indictment as published. 1t
should be investigated. do not know
IL its true, but want the Military Az
fairs Committee to look into it."
.Borglum saw me-" replied Senator
Hitchcock. but 1 did not think his
material dependable. The committee
was not out to blacken regulations.
/ assume Borglum has been unable to
give the President any more definite
Information than he offered to u.s.
Senator CritieIses Board.
Criticism OF the Aircraft Production
Board was made by Hitchcock. He
said the board had thought 1t could
accomplish everything in the twink
ling Of an eye" and in adopting the
Liberty motor had put all its eggs
in one basket" when it could have
adopted one of four or five successful
European motors until the Liberty
was ready for use.
whether 1t is true or not" said
Senator Brandegee. Mr.. BorgIum has
asserted in a newspaper that a re-
port has been made to the President
embracing all the charges and allega-
tiOns. The Senate should know the
truth about these things. and no
longer be squelched, camoufiaged and
kept in the dark
rs Mr.. Borglum any judge of fly
ing machines?" queried Senator Phe-
Ian Of California
: Il don't know, but the President
selected him and therefore he prob
ably has no qualifications" responded
Brandegee.
Senator McCumber of North Da-
kota interrupted to say that $64O, 900, 900
had been appropriated for aircraft,
and now. S40,OOo.OOO more was asked.
whats become of it?' he inquired
We got it in the neck" replied
Brandegee. I'm not going to intro
duce resolution because 1 would be
accused of being a traitor or pro-
German. But 1 think unless the
PRESIDENT considers it incompatible
with the interests of the public-or
the Democratic party-We should
Know. OF course if We can't be trust
ed we should prorogue ourselves and
60 home. But 1 think the Military
COMMITTEE might investigate"
Sees Hope In Ryan.
= Senator Hitchcock recalled that
the committee had recommended
mat aircraft production be con-
rolled by one executive oficer ap-
pointed by the President and re-
sponsible to him.
=. Mr.. Ryan has been appointed.
said Senator Hitchcock. He should
De assisted by a corps of the best
aircraft engineers and designers
possible to obtain here and in Eu-
rope. That was another committee
recommendation. So far it has not
been carried out. But we trust that
In the handling of so able a man as
Mr.. Ryan a stan of such will be
selected to surround him.
In answer to questions as to the
number of planes. Senator Hitch
cock said:
o.. I'VE have contracted for a large
number. but it would kbe contrary
to the public interest fSr me to say
hwW
that the number is distressingIy
small France has been unable to
deliver them. nor has Italy. appar-
emily because we did not keep our
contract for the supply of raw ma
terials. Great Britain is turning
out 100 battle planes daily but is
only able to make up her waste.
So she is unable to deliver to u.s."
Would it be out of order to ask if
We have one hundred?" asked Sena-
tor Williams
Hitchcock-'It would not be out of
order. but 1 should regret"
Williams-"Does the Senator con-
slider he has no right to answer"
sHitchcock-'I should regret to give
the answer. but 1 think the Senator
would be disappointed
McCumber (of North Dakota)-I
The Germans undoubtedly know;
what reason is there for keeping the
information from the American peo-
rle2"
Hitchcock don't want to take
the responsibility of stating the num-
Ter. The information was given in
confidence"
During the debate, Senator Hitch
cock said the Liberty motor was ZAP
parently about the equivalent of the
British RolIs-Royce. but had not
yet' attained that level.