Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-15
Informs Congress Chamber
lain Resolution is
Objectionable.
WOULD REFLECT ON
ADMINISTRATION
President Announces Adoption TO Be
Equivalent TO Expression Of Lack Of
Confidence-Has No Objection to
Full investigation of Aircraft Do
Chamberlain Denies Hs
Plans to Open General Inquiry.

washington, May lO.-ln d iettei W
day to Senator Martin, Of Virginia, ce
mocratic leader in the senate, Presi-
dent Wilson declared he would regard
passage of the Chamberlain resolution
calling for an investigation of aircraft
and other war activities as a direct
vote Of want Of confidence in the ad
ministration" and an attempt by con-
gress to take over conduct OF the war.
The president informed Senator Mar
tin that he had no objection to the most
searching inquiry into the aircraft
situation, but that he deemed inadvls-
able at this time any investigation Of
the conduct of the war; At the last ses-
sion Of the congress his opposition to
such a proposition put an end to any
proposals that had been made.
Resolution Too Broad.
1t is believed that the presidents at
titude Is due to the form in which Sen
ator Chamberlain, OF Oregon. chair
man of the senate military committee,
introduced the resolution. The resolu-
ton authorized and directed the COM
mittee to inquire into and report to the
senate the progress of aircraft produG-
ton in the United States or into any
other matters relating to the conduct OF
the war, sby or thru the war depart
nent.
The expenditures. committee met to-
day to redraft the resolution. Senator
Chamberlain and others Of the military
committee have declared there was no
objection to limiting the scope Of the
inquiry, and have disclaimed any in
tention of planning any general inquiry
into "the conduct Of the, war"
The only investigations planned by
the committee. which met today to ap-
point subcommittee to take charge.
are Of aviation. aircraft patent, llcens
ing ordnance production, and the quar-
termaster generals bureau These in
quiries are regarded by the committee
as combinations divided into separate
branches Of it's recent inquiry.
Tho Presidents Command.
II deem it my duty to say" the presi-
dents letter said that should regard
the passage Of this resolution as
direct vote of want Of confidence of the
administration. The purpose. which Is
undoubted, has been expressed again
and again in various forms during the
present session and has always seemed
to originate in a rooted distrust Of those
who are at present in charge Of the
executive functions Of the government
Those executive functions are very
clearly understood. They have been
defined both by legislation and by long
experience. and no one can doubt where
the responsibility for them lies or what
the methods are by which those who
are responsible can be held to their
duty.
Such activities on the part Of
particular committee of the senate as
this resolution would look forward to
would constitute nothing less than an
attempt to take over the conduct of the
war, or at the least so superintend and
direct and participate in the executive
conduct Of 1t as to interfere in the most
serious way with the action OF the con-
stituted executive. I protest most
earnestly against. the adoption Of any
such action and shall hope that every
senator who intends to support the
present administration in the conduct
Of the war will vote against it. These
are serious times, and it is absolutely
necessary that the lines may be clearly
drawn between friends and opponents"
Committee Changes Resolution.
BY vote Of to the senate ex-
penditures committee ordered favor
able report on the Chamberlain reso>
luton, but added amendments modify
ing 1t so as to limit specifically the
military committees activities to army
operations. A provision was added ex-
pressly prohibiting the committee from
a general inquiry into the conduct Of
the war.
Senator Thompson. of Kansas. and
Chairman Jones. Of New Mexico, op
posed reporting the resolution. and
planned to Ale a minority report with
the senate to bring the matter up for
vote, probably tomorrow.