Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-23

AS special matter It was evident that
in trying to determine whether there
was a basis for a civil suit by the govern
ment or criminal prosecution II will
be necessary for us to make a thorough
Inquiry into the entire history of air
craft production since the beginning of
the war and Of all proceedings which
nave been taken by any persons or cor
porations. We shall not be able to ascer-
tain whether there has been dishonesty
or malversation of any kind unless we
go thoroughly into all the TRANSACTIONS
which have been had.
III we discover basis for c,v,,
suits by the government they will be
instituted. If we find grounds for a
criminal prosecution 1t will be in order
10 go before the grand jury to obtain
indictments.
III we find no sufficient basis for
such proceedings our conclusion to he
convincing to the country, could NOT
well be stated as a mere negative
conclusion in general terms, but
should be accompanied by a fair can
df dand adequate statement of the facts
which one investigation has disclosed.
we should. of course in no way make
any statements which. from a military
point or view. should not be made.
ana II we had basis for civil or
criminal proceedings we should prop.
erly reserve the evidence so far q.
II would be appropriately disclosed
upon the trial and previously with
held.
But I am very sure that tha
country would not be content without
inquiry and particularly IL we discover
no grounds for further PROCEEDINGS.
unless we showed the basis for our
conclusion In an adequate report of
the facts we have ascertained. This
certainly should be dispassionate and
Impartial and be confined to facts
When we are in a position to make
such a report Of our inquiry we shall
know the facts and 1t will be assur.
ing to the country and support our
inquiry. and its reputation for in.
tegrity, II we state concisely but
fairly and completely, the results OF
our investigation.
1T is understood that this course OF ac.
tion should suppose that there would be
general disposition to permit our inyesti-
| CATION to proceed unembarrassed by any
other parallel course Of action, Clearly
as we may realize the authority to con.
| duct another official inquiry at the same
time. we cannot doubt that any official
| inquiry into the same course of conduct
although with another aim. would tend to
make difficult II not impossible the sue.
cessful prosecution of our own, either
nothing of importance would be ELECTED
which would make such an inquiry need
less. or points would be brought out
which would at once suggest to the gull.
ty. If there be such, where effort shoult
be made to block successful prosecution
Even with the best intention in the worlt
1t would be almost impossible to know il
advance what had been done into ant
what should be left untouched. We NIGH
be following a promising clue. only to fint
our efforts unintentionally thwarted.
! We are instructed to have a promp
and thorough investigation and my desir
Is that we should have the fullest oppor
tunity to make such an investigation an,
In order that we may have this opportun
ity 1t is desirable that it should be gener
ally understood that when we are through
we shall state the facts we have ascer
tanned In the manner l have suggeste,
above, to the end that all may be salts
fed to await the result Of our investiga
ton. When We have reached that resul
should suppose that our report woul
have such thoroughness that 1t would b
accepted as the final statement in tn
. matter. unless. of course some new evi
dence not discovered by US should there
after come to light"