New Britain herald., 1918-05-23

a general disposition to permit our
investigation to proceed unem bar
raised by any other parallel course
Of action. Clearly as we may recOg-
nlze the authority to conduct an
ether official inquiry at the same
time we cannot doubt that any off,
cial inquiry into the same course of
conduct, although with another aim,
would tend to make difficult if not
impossible, the successful prosecu-
ton of our own. Either nothing of
Importance would be ELECTED, which
W ould make such an inquiry need
| less, or points would be brought out
| which would at once suggest to the
guilty. if there be such, where effort
| should be made to block successful
prosecution
Even with the best intention in
| the world it would be almost impos-
| sible to know in advance what should
| be gone into and what should be
| left untouched. We might be follow
| ing a, promising clew, only to find
our efforts unintentionally thwarted.
We are instructed to have a prompt
and thorough investigation, and my
! desire is that we should have the
fullest opportunity to make such an
! investigation, and in order that we
! may have this opportunity it is de-
| sirable that it should be generally
understood that when we are through
| we shall state the facts we have as
! certained in the manner I have sug-
| gested above, to the end that all may
| be satisfied to await the result Of
| our investigation. When we have
| reached that result I should suppose
| our report would have such a thor
| oughness that it would be accepted
| as the final statement in the matter,
unless, of course, some new evidence
not discovered by us should there
] after come to light.
(Signed)
| CHARLES E. HUGHES.'
| Gregory Endorses Hughes Attitude
The Attorney Generals letter &C
companying Mr.. Hughes letter fol-
| lows:
Hon. George E. Cham berlain, u S.
Senate.
| my Dear Senator
"At an interview between you
| Judge Hughes and myself last Satur-
| day, you asked what would be the
scope of our pending inquiry into the
aircraft problem, and also indicated
| that you would like to know what we
| tnOuSnC De inc erect upon our
work of an investigation by COM
1nittee of the Senate into the aircraft
program. Subsequently, I suggested
that Judge Hughes write me a let
ter embodying his ideas on the two
points involved. L herewith enclose
| copy of his letter. and will state that
I agree with the views therein ex-
pressed.
Respectfully yours,
| (Signed) 'T. M. GREGORY,
| ATTORNEY General"
Mr.. Hughes letter and its reception
| by Senator Chamberlain and other
Senate leaders seemed to smooth out
all difficulties and to give assurance
that his inquiry will not be merely
| into any possible criminal phases of
the scandal, but that he will be per-
mitted to establish what the fault has
| been if it was not criminal.
Differences concerning the Cham
| berlain resolution were Strengthened
| out by the adoption of a substitute
| resolution permitting the Appointment
| OF investigating sub committees, but
| it was tacitly understood that the
one on aircraft production was to
keep its hands off what has happened
in the past, so that Mr.. Hughes will
| have a clear field.
Senator Chamberlain announced
the appointment of these sub-com-
nittees, in addition to the sub-com-
mittee authorized to conduct the air
craft Investigations:
To investigate NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Hitchcock, Fletcher, Beckham, Weeks
and Wadsworth. To investigate the
! Cuarternasters Corps--Senators Nc
Kellar, Beckham, Kirby, Sutherland
and Johnson. To investigate the
cross-1icensing agreements of air.
craft manufacturers Senators Fletch-
err. Myers, Sheppard, Warren and
| Knox.