The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-06
SECRETARY OF
WAR BAKER
CONTINUED from page L.,


Then national army artillery units
are being equipped with sufficient
guns for training purposes, he added,
Switching to the question of army
supplies, Mcclellan wanted to know
why certain contracts had been kept
secret.
my military associates thought it
best not to divulge this information,
said Baker, because 1t might invite
a campaign of sabotage. Our CON
tracts were not secret. The only
| thing we prevented was publication
in the newspapers of the informa-
| ton"
well, the list was published In
| the official government bulletin,
commented Senator Weeks. when
| the fuel order was issued. mink
that highly improper"
| Baker reiterated under questioning
that there is not a single soldier in
single camp who is not adequately
supplied with sufficient clothing to
keep him warm"
There is some lack of wooden uni
form coats yet, Baker admitted.
Senator New read a letter saying
at Fort BENJAMIN Harrison there was
large oversupply of shoes, but
wooden uniforms were fifty percent
short and with shipments in transit
there would be only enough for one
suit per man.
Wadsworth asked Baker whethe
there was any explanation he thought
necessary he thought to remove ham
pering regulations and departmental
restrictions.
1T seems to me there are too
many check balances for efficient
! work" he said.
Baker replied after a pause, that
the president of course had been
given rein to act as exigencies arose.
Il ann not SO sure that there are
too many restrictions" he said. I'VE
are dealing with tremendous sums OF
money and it needs much wisdom"
He said, however. that he would
ask the war council of the depart
ment If it could recommend any such
legislation.
Frelinghuysen asked why bodies Of
soldiers who die at camps in this
country are sent home without their
uniforms and in sheets as reported,
he said, in letters from soldiers
families
Baker said orders were that bodies
should be sent home for burial in
uniform unless the man died of a
contagious disease. in which event
| he is wrapped in disinfecting sheet.
Members headed by Wadsworth
here turned to Bakers appointment
of E. R. Stettinius as surveyor of
supplies. They tried to get the sec
rotary to admit Stettintus' position is
purely advisory" Baker retorted
lit was not fair" to say it was only
advisory because Stettinius with
Bakers consent-has full power to
coordinate production and distribution
of any supplies and determines pri-
ority of supply within the army.
Querried by Weeks, as to his atti-
tudes on the proposed munitions min
istry. Baker thought It would be Eek
ceedingly unwise' to destroy the
elaborate organizations built up by
the several separate war branches
in favor of a central munitions post
The war industries board, he con-
tinued. supplies a need for co-ordin-
ating body.
Senator Mcclellan objected that the
war industries board is purely ad-
vIsory and is without legal power to
enforce what its best judgment die
tates.
Died for Lack Of Ginger.
WASHINGTON, Feb. g. The
"grilling" of Secretary Of War Baker
before the senate military commit
tee today developed into a farce.
With the exception of Bakers notice
that he was considering reorganiza-
ton of the medical departments Of
t-e army, few new facts were devel-
oped. Attempts to press him for
figures on tonnage, etc, met with the
reply that he would compile those
later.
Finally the hearing died for lack
Of ginger and will not be resumed
until tomorrow morning when Cen
eral Wheeler will be called to the
stand
Solemn questions directed at Baker
as to whether he did not believe
now was a good time to consider the
hot weather next summer and It's
effects on the soldiers in southern
training camps were as solemnly an
swered by Baker that Il think this
is the time Efforts TO throw the
hearing into executive session failed,
although Baker said he had some
facts to substantiate his testimony
previously given, which he would dis
close behind closed doors.
Baker probably will be called later
Baker reiterated that 100000 men
would be sent to France by spring
He did reveal for the first time that
this government was not relying en-
tirely upon its own ships to transport
them, but upon certain international
arrangements"
It is believed that Great Britain
has agreed to furnish a huge amount
Of tonnage for shipping supplies and
men.
Beyond this, Baker would not go
in open session and efforts by Sena-
tor Hitchcock to press for the In
formation were refused.
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