New-York tribune., 1918-05-23
Dispute With
President Ended
One Investigation Can Best
Cover All Ground, Says
the Ex-Justice
By C. w. Gilbert

Senate Committee has the authority
Il wanted. but it is for about that
the only investigation of aircraft will
be that conducted by Mr. Hughes.
The Senate won, but will stay its
hand. This has all the aspect of bar
gain, but it probably was not bar
gain. The President got himself into
an impossible position in opposing in
yestigations by the Senate, for that
was what his position virtually be-
came, though he professed that it was
something different.
The Senate committee got into an
impossible position in proposing to
parallel the investigation initiated by
Mr.. Wilson and delegated to Mr.
Hughes, especially as that investiga-
ton may lead to criminal prosecutions.
The President withdrew from his i'm
possible position swiftly and grace
fully. His spokesman, Senator Mar
tin, said that it would be "helpful" for
the Military Affairs Committee to have
the money to investigate what it would.
where it would and with agents of its
choosing.
The Senate committee withdrew from
its impossible position not so quickly,
not so gracefully and indeed not sure
~ 1t may still investigate aircraft,
duplicating the efforts Of Mr.. Hughes,
but probably it won't. A committee
cannot make turn as quickly as the
i President can. 1t is many; he is one
3 etM one man always has the advantage
Ever the many. Witch is why Mr..
Wilson cuts the figure he does and why
Congress cuts the figure it does.
Question Implied
Cooperation
After its victory on the floor of the
Senate, bloodless and satisfying tri-
umph, the Military Affairs Committee
was called together by Senator Cham
berlain. The chairman had conferred
on Saturday with Attorney General
Gregory and his special assistant, Mr..
Hughes. What was to be the scope of
the Hughes inquiry? And would an
inquiry by the Senate Military Affairs
committee get in it's way? These were
the questions of the chairman of the
senate Military Committee asked the
residents aircraft investigators.
ihey were proper questions implying
degree of cooperation which is not
70 De taken for granted in Washington
As As 2 result of these questions Mr..
hughes wrote letter to the Attorney
General telling him that the inquiry he
was to make must go into every phase
VI aircraft production from the outset
20 ,ne present, and saying that "if it is
unoerstood that we contemplate this
course of action l should suppose that
.here would be general disposition
70 permit our investigation to proceed
unemoarrassed by any parallel course
OF action"
ihls letter Mr.. Chamberlain had
3 transmitted by the Attorney General,
sha ne laid it before the Military At
lat. aalrs committee. He himself was in
enned to withhold investigating air
s.a,e until Mr.. Hughes was through.
ana then only to act if it seemed
Necessary. There was opposition in
sne committee and no decision was
.useacned But the course favored by
: ''e CHAIRMAN will probably be taken.
Mr. Hughes's letter follows:
IN accordance with your request,I
s"d s"sil attempt to summarize briefly
some of the points discussed in our
conference to-day, particularly with
iespect to the scope of our inquiry.
~ is quite evident, from the ma
seriai you have already gathered and
rom the matters discussed with YOU
ana Mr. Frierson, that it would be
necessary for US carefully to exam
ne an the activities relating to air
s.ait production. 1t is easy, of
course, theoretically to distinguish
;Se.ween an inquiry within the prov
anS .nes OF the Department of Justice
sho one which is aimed merely at al
.sged waste, or neglect, or misman-
sgements or inefficiency, apart from
any appropriate basis for a civil suit
W recover misappropriated moneys
VI criminal prosecution.
thorough Inquiry
is Necessary
AS practical matter, however, it
evident that in the endeavor to
9secrmine whether there is q basis
sor civil suit by the government or
sim'nai prosecution, it will be nec-
essary for US to make thorough in
quary into the entire history Of air
erafe production since the beginning
81 the war and of all proceedings
which have been taken by any per-
sons or corporations concerned there
with. We shall not be able to ascer-
TAN whether there has been dishon-
ssty or malversation of any kind un-
less we 60 thoroughly into all the
Vfansactions which have been had.
II we discover q basis for civil
suits by the government they will be
instituted. IL we find grounds for q
efiminal prosecution it will be in
order to go before tho Grand Jury to
obtain indictments.
Il we find no sufficient basis for
Sueh proceedings our conclusion, to
Oe convincing to the country, could
NOT we'll be stated as = mere negative
eonclusion in general terms. but
snould be accompanied by fair, can
gag and adequate statement Of the
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