The sun., 1918-05-15
SENATE FIGHT
ON AIR PROBE
is PROMISED
Chamberlain Resolution
Vote to Be Test of Scope
of Inquiry.
LEADERS ATWHITE HOUSE
President Favors Restriction
House Members. Discuss
Scandal.
LEADERS ATWHITE HOUSE
Special DssposcA to Tss sus.

WASHINGTON. May l4.-There will be
test Of the Administrator power to
restrict and confine the scope Of the in
vestlgation Of War Department affairs
and conditions As provided In the Cham
berlain resolution for the inquiry into
the aircraft situation and for other pur-
poses at the convening OF the Senate to.
morrow.
While the aviation programme was be-
ing denounced as 4 scandal in the House
to-day by Representative Fordney Ad-
ninistration leaders in the Senate were
holding many conferences on the sub
Ject and there were many informal dis
cussions between the Committee on Mil
itary Affairs and Its following In the
Senate. Late In the day Senators
Thomas tCol.). Hitchcock (Neb.) and
Thompson (Kan.) In order visited the
President.
Senators Thomas and Thompson went
to the President to discuss the questions
involved. The visit Of Senator Hitch
cock was for the purpose OF presenting
himself formally a. the newly designated
chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations. but before he had left the
Executive presence the subject Of air
craft production and OF War Depart
ment matters in general came into the
merits Of the Chamberlain resolution
we're in nowise considered.
The movement now on in the Senate
by the members Of the Administrat ton
group 10 for the restriction Of the oper-
ations Of the Military Committee invss-
t!gation TO the smallest possible com.
pass. 1t has tPanspired within the last
two days that the Administration sup
porters in ana out Of Congress have
come to . realisation Of the fact that .
searching investigation Of the aircraft
situation cannot be averted.
Also the disclosures by the sub-com-
mittee on field artillery in the Military
Committee have made Il altogether too
apparent that for the Administration to
attempt to block the investigators would
evoke n strong protest from the press
and public Of the entire nation.
Wilson Wants Inquiry Restricted.
II became known At the Capitol after
the visits OF tho three Western Senators
to the White House that the Admtnistra-
ton would not interpose serious opposi-
ton to the adoption OF the Chamberlain
resolution provided its scope was re-
stricted to inquiries into production Of
aircraft and ordnance.
This II Is thought might mollify some
| OF the Senators with Individual views on
| the general proposition Of investigation
| Of Administration shortcomings who are
/ indisposed to take violent issue with the
| Administration. That II will satisfy the
| Committee on Military Affairs and the
Republicans is another question.
Some Republicans favor passage Of
the Chamberlain amendment without
| ,boo ~ln . v,Ar Tn h = hov
have tho backing Of = little group OF
| Democrats. but on the general PROPOSE
ton Of the immediate investigation Of
, both the aircraft muddie and the artil-
| lery mess the majority In the Senate
among members Of both parties Is over
| whelming.
| Senator Thompson late to-day prom
ised his colleagues In the Senate that
the Committee on Audit and Control OF
the contingent expenses Of the Senate
would meet tomorrow and revise and
! report the Chamberlain resolution. 1t
was for tho purpose Of finding Just
what tho President wanted that Mr..
Thompson to-day journeyed to the White
House. He came away enlightened. but
It was inward illumination which he
carried with him under the elms to the
street car line.
Baker FavOrs InvesttGatiOn.
Senator Thompson received from Sec.
retary Of War Baker to-day a letter
addressed to him In his capacity Of chair.
man Of the Committee on Audit and
Control in which Mr. Baker told him
that he. the Secretary. had no objection
to an investigation OF the affairs OF the
War Department at this time. The
text Of this letter Senator Thompson
was also particular to keep secret.
When the Chamberlain resolution Ia
brought before the Senate tomorrow
whether through a report from Senator
Thompson's committee or otherwise. a
hot night In In prospect. Senator Jones IN
Mex.) Is prepared to introduce amend
ments tending to cut down the scope
Of the investigation to the lowest POS
sible limit. He will ask for the elimina-
tion OF the provision that the COMMITTEES
may enjoy the privileges OF unlimited
travelling expenses for It's membership
or witnesses to be summoned from afar
that It be permitted to engage specia
agents as Investigators or that 1t may
employ special counsel. The COMMITTEES
on Military Affairs 10 expected to COM
bat these movements with all the vigoi
II possesses.