Evening star., 1918-08-23


affairs committee on the aircraft
program. made public yesterday. is
known to represent in general way
the nature of criticisms to be made
by the Department of Justice in its
report on the Investigations now be-
ing conducted by Attorney General
Gregory and Charles E. Hughes.
The Department of Justice. how
ever, will seek to fix the blame for
inefficiency. extravaganza and doubt
full contract practices on individuals
or concerns. They will be named in
the report which it will make to the
President, and prosecutions may be
undertaken as soon as the report Is
made.
Praise With Criticism.
Evidences of irreg,Aarity in air.
plane manufacturing uncovered so
FAR by the Department of Justice re-
late to- the earlier phases OF the
construction program. 1t iS SAID tnat
such marked Improvement has been
shown in recent months that the ofh-
ctals in charge of the Depa&ment OF
IL
ciined to mingle share of praise
with their criticism.
The Attorney General, Mr.. Hughes
and Assistant Attorney General Frier-
son have been holding hearings at the
Department of Justice for the past ten
days, examining a few government
ofiicials and a number of men connect
ed with airpIane plants throughout
the country. Some of these wrote the
Attorney General or Mr.. Hughes. ask
ing to be allowed to tell what they
knew of irregular practices or inem-
cheney.
The officials will close the hearings
and start drafting the report to Presi-
dent Wilson within ten days or two
weeks. although they are making no
definite predictions of the time yet
required. The President Is expectd
to study the report for a week sor
more before making it public.
Secretary Bakers Comments.
Secretary Baker made the following
comment on the report Of the Senate
committee:
II have read only the press copy OF
the subcommittee's report This re-
port points out many errors OF 1udg-
ment and organization which have
now been corrected, and comes to the
reassuring conclusion that substan-
tial progress is now being made,
which certainly will be gratifying in
formation for the country at large"
The Senate committee air craft re-
port made nine specific recommends
tions for bettering the SITUATION
/. Create a department of aviation.
under control of a secretary ranking
with those of the Army and Navy.
2. Create a commission of engineers
and pilots for observation at the
front, formed in relays and reporting
in person to the department at fire.
quent intervals.
8. The constructing activities of all
responsible concerns should be en-
listed at once for the production OF
committee holds that the prime need
is machines in continuing quantity
production.
4. The aircraft policy should be
expanded and the inventive and con-
structive genius Of the country should
be utilized for this purpose.
S. Steps should be taken to en-
courage Inventive genius and care
should be taken not to overlook any
invention which may prove Of value
6. ample protection should be ex-
tended by the patent Office to appli-
cants for patents for inventions re-
lating to the public welfare and de-
Tense.
Profits Entirely Too High.
Z. The margain of profits on air
craft contracts should be closely
watched. The committee holds that
the profits. particularly on motoI
production, have been entirely toe
high. The profits have run as high
as 2S5 per cent on the capital in.
vested in some of the contracts.
8. Planes and engines rejected be-
cause of detective construction OIL
materials not furnished by the gov
ernment direct should be at the cost
Of the producer.
.. The establishment of better fire
protection in factories now construct
ing aircraft and engines.
Chairman Thomas of the subcom-
mittee which drafted the report nuf