Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-05-08
INQUIRY is NOT WANTED
Members Agree There Is
Nothing in Situation to
Warrant Procedure. 4
PRO. GERMANS ARE BLAMED
Have Caused Delay, Chief
Potter Says; Liberty Mo-
tor Being Improved.

WASHINGTON, May Hear
,irgs on the biilion-dollar aviation
estimates In the sl5.oo0,o00, 900
army appropriation bill virtually
were concluded today by the house
military committee with commit
teemen expressing satisfactory over
the war departments present organ
ization for aircraft production.
While no vote was taken on the
question of whether the committee
should institute any inquiry into the
sweeping charges against the past
management of the program, II was
said otter the meeting that the
members were agreed there was no
thing In the situation to warrant
such action.
In addition to outlining the pro-
q program for the coming year. war
department officials gave the com
mittee an accounting for the s740,-
100000 already appropriated for
aviation, showing that s307 900, 900
actually has been spent and of the
unSypended balance. s270.000. 900
covers contracts for construction al
ready placed.
No Criminal Neglect Says Potter.
Before the committee In executive
session were Secretary Baker
Major General March, acting chief
OF staff; Major General Squier chief
signal officer; Brig. Gen. w. L.
kenly. chief of the division of mill
tary aeronautics; William C. Potter
chief OF the equipment division OF
the signal corps and n number OF
other officers. Mr. Potter whose
examination occupied most OF the
afternoon session testified that he
knew Of no criminal neglect on the
part of either the manufacturers or
the government officers and be-
iieved the manufacturers were en-
gagged In patriotic and honest ef-
fort to produce results for the gov-
: crumsHt.E ssss
secretn;v Baker shid that much OF
: the criticism of the aircraft pro-
Eram has resulted from pro- o-German
propaganda. Members of ths com
rn,t.tee wanted 10 know whether
eI,han plotting had interfered with
paVuuction. Mr.. Maker said he could
nut say IL mad. Mr.. Potter declared
material had been DESTROYED street
Sdrs used IN Carrying men 10 the
hahutactuting plants had hean
wrecked and sabotage had been
pracuced. all of which had baen a..
uiouted to German influence tbouy.
80 evidence had been produced "a
prove Il. "
Improving Liberty Motor.
re added that the Liberty IL stlu
IN process of refinement ana ner'
lection, that IL Ia an especially rood
engine for certain classes Of air
work and that the government ,s
continuing with the Liberty motor
manufacturing" program for the
heavier work. The French govern
ment wants ten thousand OF them.
II thers Is any criticism TO he
made OF the aircraft situation. Mr.
Potter told the committee. II Is that
100 much time may have been
wasted In Experimenting with thu
ueVelopment of new. single type or
engine taking up time that could
nave been used in getting better
results from existing engine tv.es
nc said aircraft progress has been
INSTRUCTED by lack of sufficient
spruce ana that OF the spruce that
was opthined for air machines IN
lhls country fifths was shipped
Vner TO the allies, leaving only one
iitth Tor the American air,Ian.
manufacturers. Since Generai Eo,h
had become generalissimo. ha g.
piained, 1t is presumed that tSa
french have supplied adenuat. ai,
fhnes all nlong the front
representative Kahn. CaI,,o-,,,
ranking Republican men,har .atS
atterward Mr.. Potters' exnlana,dan @
was satisfactory. 'A'io"