Evening journal., 1918-05-17

II Senator Chamberlalns resolution B
for an investigation by the Senate Mil /
itary committee OF our aircraft and
other army affairs Is what It seems 20
be, IS what the committee describes Il
to be. the grounds on which President
Wilson protests against 10 are not so
sound as he generally is. lie holds that
for the Senate 10 adopt this resolution
would be TO pass n direct vote OF want
OF confidence in the Administration.
He holds that the adoption Of
the resolution would constitute "uoth-
ing less than an attempt 10 take over
the conduct OF The war" lie holds that
such an Investigation as II provides for
would be an invasion OF the cOnstitu-
tlonal rights Of the Executive
But II this resolution provides for
an Investigation In the usual way and in
the ordinary routine Of Congress- func-
tlons II does not so seriously invade
the constitutional rights and preroga-
tives OF the Executive as the Executive
inyades the constitutional rights and
prerogatives OF the Senate II it com
mands that body not 10 investigate any
thing the executive department has done
or may do.
II the resolution means what those
behind 10 say II means IL cannot be in
tended TO take over, or to attempt to
take over, the conduct of The war.
II all this Is true. then the adoption
OF the resolution does not mean any
thing at all but an investigation OF facts
and conditions Just as legislative
! q
dreds and thousands OF times--tO in
form the American people what is be-
ing done I'm this department or that
department and with what good re-
suits or bad results.
There is no more reason TO saE that
the adoption Of the resolution for a
legislative investigation TO determine
facts is any more a vote Of lack Of con-
fldence IN an Administration than a vote
| OF confidence The very adoption Of
! the resolution may tend, in fact, to
make for a vote Of confidence in the
! Administration. The very investigation,
! by the facts uncovered. may in truth
! become an actual yindcation Of the Ad-
! ministration. But whether or no, that
! Is not the point in question. The point
IN question Is the duty and rights Of
each branch.
Now, for what does the resolution In
| question provide? It authorizes and
| directs" the Committee on Military Af-
fairs to ito inquire into and report TO
the Senate the progress Of aircraft pro-
duction IN the United states, OF into
any other matters relating to the con-
duct OF the war, by or through the War
| Department
II this does not look like ordinary
legislation procedure for an inquiry oil
Investigation, under the unquostloneC
privileges and rights Of the Senate
what does it look like2 II it proposes
TO take over the war, where does ]
propose it2 II it attempts TO take owe
the conduct Of the war, how does ]
attempt it2
Those who are in favor Of the adop
ton of the resolution say that none o
these things is intended, as none o
them IS declared. Net il the mere phra
sociology OF the resolution dlsturbs tn
Executive, then the phrascOlogy nigh
be amended so as not TO disturb IN
Executive But neither the Senate nc
the House should ever concedc that
cannot perform the functions which
is sworn to perform without votin
want OF confidence in the Executive an
without attempting to take over III
functions Of the Executive.
II the sun believed that the Sena'
contemplated an invasion OF the COZ
sttutional rights and duties Of th
I Executive I'm the conduct Of the wa
or of anything else, it would be Til
last paper TO assent TO so preposterot
a proposal. But the sun believes nol
ing Of the sort The sun does not So
I how anybody can believe anything {
the sort The sun expects and demand
that the Executive shall conduct til
war. But the sun does believe that th