Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-15
HOG ISLAND WASTE
DUE FOR A PROBING
President in Letter to Attorney
General, Leaves No Loophole
for Evasion, by Contractors.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Is.


In his letter to AttOrney-General
Gregory, ordering him To investigate the
Hog Island mess. President Wilson directs
criminal process in case the facts Justify
II"
And in n letter to Rcar-Admiral Francis
L. Bowles assistant general manager OF
the Emergency Fleet Corporation, Edward
y. Hurley says, in part: I'VE may hnd
IL necessary to cancel the present contract
entirely
Mr.. Hurley is chairman of the Shipping
Board. which asked President Wilson TO
order the inquiry. Admiral Bowles is now
in Philadelphia, in charge OF the WORK at
Hog Island
The Attorney-(icneral took his first step
IN the INQUIRY last evening when he sent
Mr.. Todd. an assistant. TO New York, IN
an effort To retain a prominent lawyer
Of that city as special investigator at hog
Island
Ii is said that the Washington end of
the investigation will be IN the hands
oi Frank Lord O'Brian, an Assistant
Attorncy-tiencral.
Trust operativcs of the Department OF
Justice. II Is understood, already have
hecn assigned to cooperate with Alr
O'Brian Two Of these operatives already
have gone "a Philadelphia, II Is said
The text Of President Wilson ; letter to
Attornev-Gcneral Gregory follows:
THE PRESIDENTS 5 LETTER.
.'My Dear Attorney-Gcncrd:
MIR Hurley of the Shipping Board
has called my attention to some very
sorio,,s facts which have recently been
developed with regard 10 contracts made
m connection with the shlpbuldlng pro
gram with the company operating AT
Hog Island They are SO serious. indeed,
that | do not think We can let them be
taken care Of merely by public disclosure
and discussion.
II would he yer, much obliged If YOU
would have some trustworthy person IN
your department get INTO consultation
With Mr. Hurley about the whole matter
with n view Of instliutlng criminal process
in case the facts Justify II.
MIR. Hurlcv's letter to Admiral Bowles
reads thus
NV Dear Admiral.
Prom the newspaper reports rs well
as from the indications which have
come from YOU. II is quite clear that there
i condition OF dlsOrganlzatlOn aS well
Is 81 negligence At Hog Island
"Bv taking hold Of conditions with a
strong hand | am convinced that YOU
Will be able 70 bring about more careful
and economical management. II there
have been irregularities OF any kind
punishment must be meted out to the
offenders and am requesting the Attor-
newt General 10 assign one OF his assistants
10 aid IN this investigation.
WAIT SENATORIAL ACTION.
The whole question OF the manage
ment Of affairs Of Hog Island Is now
before the senate. and felt that your
would want TO know that, in my opinion
= -. r,f q
committee before committing ourselves
10 any program OF action.
"Of course We may find II necessary
tn cancel the present contract entirely.
If in this connection YOU have any sugges-
tions to make | would he very glad TO
have them.
The manner in which Attorney-( (ieneral
Gregory will pursue the investigation has
not been Indicated One official said he
assumed hearings would be arranged for
the examination OF witnesses. because
most of the men who will be asked 10
testify are IN Philadelphia he said he be
levcd the majority of the hearings would
he held there.
The Emergency Fleet Corporation. rs
the ship constructing wing of the Ship
ping Board i called. contracted with the
American International Corporation 10
build the Shipvard The corporation has
directorate composed OF Wall street
financiers The president Is Frank A Van
derllp. former president Of the National
City Bank. New York, and now dol
lar-a-vear assistant to Secretary McAdoo,
IN charge Of the sale Of war saving Ger
tihcates
GETS A s6,6000OO FEE.
I'll. corporation organized a subsidiary
the American international ShipbulldIng
Corporation, to build the shipyard anc
the ships The government pays all labor
and material bills Tor the yard and ships
and gives the A. ]. ;. {. fee Of So,
6D0. 900
Mr. Todd conferred with Mr.. Hurley
Yesterday afternoon, and it was agreed
that there should be the most thorough
inquiry into every phase OF the work a
Hog Island to place the blame where i
belongs
The senate commerce committee, which
IS conducting hearings IN the Hog lslanC
case will decide today whether to IN
sr,ee.f the ShipVard