Bisbee daily review., 1918-05-23

 20 into the whole history of aircraft production since the war began and that A statement of results should be given to the public regardless Of whether basis was found for criminal proceedings in the courts. This letter for a time seemed to threaten new conflict Members of the military com mittee. however, quickly recognized the force of Mir. Hughes statement, and 1t was tentatively agreed that the subcommittee on aviation should con fine its activities to looking over the existing situation and leave all that had zone before to the department Of justice. Another meeting will be he'll in a day or two to discuss the matter further.
 The demand of Mir. Hughes for a free hand was indorsed in note Of transmittal by Attorney General Greg ory who, it is reported, had discussed the matter with President Wilson. Plans Full Inquiry
 "In accordance with your request, MT. Hughes wrote, 'I shall attempt 10 summarize briefly some of the points discussed in our conference today, par ticularly with respect to the scope of our inquiry.
 1t is quite evident, from the mate rial you have already gathered and from the matters discussed with you and MT. Frierson that it would be nee essary for us carefully to examine all the activities relating to aircraft pro- duction. It is easy of course theorat- ically to distinguish between an ln- ouiry within the province of the de- partment of justice and one which IS aimed merely at alleged waste or neglect. or mismanagement,No Nor inefl- ciency, apart from any appropriate basis for a civil suit to recover mis- appropriated money or criminal pros ecution.
 "As a practical matter. however, it is evident that in the endeavor to de- termine whether there is a basis tol a civil suit by the government or criminal prosecution it will be neces- sary for us to make a thorough !n- ouiry into the history of aircraft pro duction since the Beginning of the war and of all proceedings which have been taken by any persons or corpor- ation concerned herewith.
 Wants No lnterference
 of we discover a basis for clVll suits by the government they will De instituted. If we find grounds Tor criminal prosecution it will be In or der to go before the grand jury to oh- tain indictments.
 "If xe find no sufficient basis for such proceedings our conclusion to 5e convincing to the country, could not well be stated as a mere negative con clusion in general terms, but should he accompanied by fair, candid and adeuuate statement of the facts WHICH our investigation has disclosed.
 of if is understood that we contem- plate this course of action l should suppose that there would be general disposition to permit our investigation 10 proceed unembarrassed by any other parallel course of action Clear ly as we may recognize the authority to conduct another official inquiry at the same time, we cannot doubt that any official inGuiry into the sama course of conduct, although with an other aim. would tend to make dini- cult. if not impossible. the successful prosecution of our own.
 We are instructed to have prompt and thorough investigation and my desire is that we should have the full est opportunity to make such an in- yestigation and in order that We may have this opportunity it is desirable that it should be generally understood that when we are through we snail state the facts we have ascertained to the end that all may be satisfied to avrait the result of our investigation.
 Under authority given by the com mittee. Chairman Chamberlain ap- pointed subcommittee to investigate aviation. ordnance. the quartermaster seenral's department and cross licenS- ing of basic air patents. Senator Thomas. of Colorado. was made chair man of the aviation subcommittee. Senator Sheppard. of Texas. was ap- pointed a member of the sub-comm<- tee on cross-licensing of 6aslc ar