Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-16
PRESIDENT MAKES
EMPHATIC PROTEST
Passage Of Chamberlain Resolu-
tion Would Be Vote of Want
of Confidence
WRITES SENATOR MARTIN
Would Constitute Attempt by
Congress to Take Over Con-
duct of War.
WRITES SENATOR MARTIN

report on tho Chamberlain resolution
but with amendments mQdifying II so
az TO limit specifically the Military Com
n!ttcc's activities to army operations.
\ rrovtso Was added expressly pro-
hibting the committee from "A general
inquiry into the conduc, OF tho war.
In letter o-day TO Senator Martin.
of Virginia. Democratic leader Of the
senate, President Wilson declared hc
would regard the passage 0. the Cham
bcrlain resolution calling for an invcs-
tigat!on Of aircraft and other war activ-
Res as direct vote Of want OF con-
fdence in the Administration" and an
attempt By Congress TO take over con-
duct OF the war.
Senator Chamberlain indicated tina. II
the senate were 10 refuse 10 pass an
amended resolution giving the military
committee authority he would not at
tempt 10 press the army inquiries fur
thcr.
The President Informed Senator Mar
TIN that he had no objection to tho
mos, searching inquiry into the air
craft situation. but that he deemed in
advisable At this time any !nvcstigu-
ton Of the conduct OF the war. .\t the
last session OF Congress his opposition
TO such an investigation pu; an end to
proposals that II be made
DUE TO WORDING or
CHAMBERLAIN RESOLUTIOS
I. was believed that the Presidents
attitude was due TO the form in which
senator Chamberlain. Of Oregon chair
man OF tho senate Military Committee.
introduced tho resolution The rcsolu-
tion authorized and directed the com
!nittce ito inquire into and report TO
the senate the progress Of aircraft pro-
duction In thc United States. or into
any other matters relating 10 the con
duct Of the war. by or through tho War
Department"
Objection 10 the wording ot tho reso-
'ution was made yesterday by several
administration scnators anl also by
senator Thompson. OF Kansas. chairman
OF the senate Expenditures Committee.
10 which i; was Tcicrred. and who con
:cricd with IN. Prcstdcnt late ycstcr.
ds". senator Thompson has insisted
and members OF the senate Military
Committee have agreed 10 rcdraft the
resolution to authorize tho committee
&" inpIiro merely into army activities
and not into general conduc, OF the
var or military strategy.
DIStLAIM PROBIN.
~ 'pNDtNT OF THE WAR"
Tho Expenditures committee mot TO-
day TO Tcdraft the resolution. Senator
Chamberlain and others OF the military
committee have declared there was no
objection 10 limiting the scope Of tho
resolution to army operations and irav.
iisclamcd any intention or planning
any genera! inquiry !nto INC conduct
%! the war"
on ir,.
the committee. which met today TO an
point suhcomnittccs 10 take charge arc
into aviation. aircraft patent licensing.
ordnance production and tho quarter
ln4s;erEcncrals bureau. These inquir-
ies arc regarded by tho committee as
combinations. divided into separate
branches, Of its recent inquiry
II has been reported that some Sen.
arors. favor restricting tho committees
inquiry TO aviation alone.
The whole question OF the scopc Of
tho committees inquiry was awaiting
consideration when the Senate convened
to-day upon a report by tho Expendi-
turcs Committee OF the revised Cham
herlain resolution.
The subcommittee. which will inves-
tgatc ordnance production. left to-day.
accompanied by Assistant Secretary Of
War Stcttinius and Ma ajor- General Will
:inms, acting chief of ordnance, to in
:.rcct tho bethlehem ana Midvalc ord
nance Plants. The subcommittee COM
<rised Senator Hitchcock. OF Nebraska.
chairman. and Senator's Fletcher. Of
Florida; Bcckhan'. of Kentucky; Weeks.
Of Massachusetts. and Wadsworth of
New York.
Upon receipt OF the Presidents lot
ter, Senator Martin called q dozen
prominent Democratic Senators into
conference TO discuss what disposition
should be made of the Chamberlain res
olution.
Some Senators said the resolution was
>-1hjcct 20 the view that it might be
--~I as authorizing a general conduct
Of tho war" investigation. Others con-
tended its terms limited the military
committee solely to army affairs.
WOULD ne DIRECT VOTE
OF WANT OF CONFIDENCE
II deem it my duty to say" the Pres
idcnts letter said, that I should regard
the passage of this resolution as "a
erect vote Of want of confidence In the
ADMINISTRATION. The purpose which it
undoubtedly expresses has been OK
pressed again and again in various
forms during the present session and
las always seemed to originate in a
rooted diStruSt of those who arc at
present in charge of the executive func-
tions of the government. Those cXecu-
tive functions are very clearly under.
stood. They have been defined both by
the constitution and by long experience
and no ono can doubt where the respon-
sbilty for them lies or what the meth
DDS arc by which those who arc rcspon-
sible can be held TO their duty.
such activities on the part of a par
ticular committee OF the Senate this
resolution would look forward to would
Continued on Second Page.)