Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-03
Whole Nation Victimized
BY Monster Confidencs
Game, Nebraskan De-
clares; Criminal Prosecu-
tion Demanded by Sena-
tor King of Utah.
CONSPIRACY, MISUSE
OFMILLIONS, CHARGED

eA0NIoA VI Iuo army oVl3OO0 01eu4e100
with view to criminal prosecutions
was urged today II the senate. Gross
extravaganza and misuse Of approprl-
ations for the aviation program were
suggested and in spirited speeches,
several. senators declared further, In
vesttgation should be made as to any
criminal or civil liability Of those ~
sponsfble.
Senator Brandegee Of Connecticut.
republican, who recently referred to
suppression of the aviation report
made to, President Wilson by Gutzon
Borglum. the sculptor, brought up the
subject and suggested that the senate
military committee should continue
Its inquiry with a view to determtn.
Ing II criminal prosecutions should BE-
brought
INQUIRY Is DEMANDED
Senator King Of Utah. democrat
also urged criminal investigation ~
the committee Senator Hitchcock OF
Nebraska, aGting chairman OF The
! &C., nIl.tsss cesasait sraia the
committee was ready. to act if the
senate should order an inquiry but
contended that the department OF Jus
tice should make any criminal inquiry
which may be necessary.
Senator King said he considered It
the committees Scored duty" to
make further investigation, "and
fasten responsibility for the failure"
of aviation production. He had heard
1t said, he added, that some body
ought to be shot in connection with
the delayed production.
HOLDS BAKER RESPONSIBLE
Senator Poindexter of Washington.
referring to the criminal law against
accessories to crimes and to state
ments regarding aircraft production
made by Secretary Baker, asked:
"Is not the secretary Of war himself
the man who ought to be reached BY
the committee II 1t is seeking to hold
some one responsible?"
II believe the secretary was as com.
pletely deceived by officials in charge
as was the committee" said SeDa1oI
Hitchcock, adding that the secretary
had reorganized the aviation pers6n:
mel and thus indicated his lack Of CON
ndence in those displaced.
MlsAPPRoPRiATioN ALLEGED
Senator Knox OF Pennsylvania, 10
publican, suggested that civil as well
as criminal responsibility in expendi.
lures OF the aircraft appropriations =
should be fixed.
There are charges Of conspiracy,"
he said, that indicated misuse or the
obtaining Of hundreds of millions OF
dollars Of the peoples money.
Senator Hitchcock said the recent
report of majority of the
military committee gave, the country
the facts after the committee and the
country had for weeks been misin-
formed and mislead members of
the aircraft production board and the
signal corps"
"coNFlDENcE GAME" CHARGED
The aircraft board was charged BY
Senator Hitchcock not only with mis-.
leading the committee but with play
ing gigantic confidence game on
the whole country" giving the Inn
preston that the Liberty motor re.
suited from a conference Of engineers :
in a Washington hotel. AS matter
OF fact, the Liberty motor. the Ne
braska senator declared. Is the Pack.
ard motor, which has taken the Pack
ard company three. years to develop,
but now we are going to pay that
company between $500, 900 and $1.00O.-
600 for three years experimentation
and that matter is now being ad-
justed."
Replying to- Senator Pomerene's
question whether the board had pslr.
posely deceived the committee and
the public or II the board itself had
been deceived, Senator Hitchcock re
Piled he was not disparaging the Lib
erty motor but reiterated that the
board had "practiced a gigantic coz
fidence game on the public" adding
That only shows the character Of the
men who are on the aircraft board.