The Washington herald., 1918-05-03
CONGRESS MAY
PROBE DELAYS
IN AIR PLANS
Bitter Criticism Of Expendi-
lures Threatens Rigid In
vestigation of Situation.

Charges against officials respon-
sibls for the aircraft program of the
United States were repeated in the
Senate and before the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee yesterday.
A sweeping Investigation of the
entire aircraft production, with
possible exposure OF criminal con-
spiracy in the expenditure of nearly
81. 900, 100000 appropriated by Con-
gress for the building Of airplanes
now appears to be inevitable.
The Military Affairs Committee
stands ready to institute such an
investigation. It is waiting, how
ever. upon the Department of Jus
tice. being Of the opinion that the
Investigation should be undertaken
by that arm OF the government,
which Is empowered to prosecute
crfminaily any persons who may be
found to have been guilty of NAL
feasance.
II the Department Of Justice by
direction of the President or the At
torney General. does not take I'D
the matter. then the Military Affairs
Committee will call witnesses who
may be able to tell the reasons for
the alleged breakdown Of Americas
aircraft program.
Developments IN the matter were
these:
1-Gutzon Borglum, sculptor, who
made an investigation of the situa-
ton under a commission from the
President, appeared in secret before
the Senate committee and repeated
charges which he made in the report
| filed with the President. This re-
port has never been given to the pub-
lie, although Borglum has furnished
to certain newspapers portions OF his
findings.
2Borglum told the committe4
enough to convince its members that
IL he can prove his charges, there
has been graft, conspiracy and NAL
feasance. IL not treason, in thu ad-
ministration OF the aircraft program
No names were given to the COM
mittee by Borglum.
3.-Borglum was instructed nv
the committee to go back to the
persons from whom he obtained his
Information and secure their per-
mission to have their names given
to the committee and their consent
to appear as witnesses. BoreIunn
agreed to do this.
4.-Senator Hitchcock, in tbe
course Of q stirring debate in tbs
senate, charged the Aircraft Pro-
auction Board with having willfuIIy
deceived and mislead the Presiden,
ana the country in regard to the
aeroplane situation. and particular
ly regarding the Liberty motor.
senator Hitchcock. acting chair
man or the committee, told the
Senate that the Aircraft Board had
perpetrated "a gigantic confidence
game upon the American people. 4"
He denounced the extraya GA NJ
claims for the Liberty motor nv
asserting that the motor 4. not /.
| new creation, but was adapted from
well-known automobile motor
! manufactured in Detroit. The boar6
agreed to pay the motor manufac-
turers approximately $500. 900 for its
use, he said.
Senator King, OF Utah, added
spice to the debate by exclaiminr
that he had been told somebody
Ought TO be shot" for the way the
government had been BETRAYED nv
those in authority over the aircraft
program.
Senator Hitchcock said he was
perfectly willing TO begin an in
vestigation. but expressed the be-
lief that the Department Of Justice
should be the first to act.
Senator wadsworth suggested
that the six members who refused
to sign the majority report did not
question the accuracy OF the state
ments in the report.
None whatever" replied Senator
Hitchcock. But there were six
members OF the committee who OBJ
jected to having the report made
public at that time. Nevertheless.
the nine members Of the committee
took the responsibility of telling the