Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-23
HUGHES PREPARES
TO GO DEEP into
A|RCRAFT 7 DEALS
Indicates in Letter He Will
Go Back to Days Be-
fore the War.
THREATENS CIVIL SUITS
IF EVIDENCE WARRANTS
Will Brook No Interference by
Any Committee That Con-
gress May Name.
CONSIDERS I.t3BLIC'S RIGHTS S
Favors Disclosing Findings in Such
Manner as Will BE Read
lily Understood.
THREATENS CIVIL SUITS
IF EVIDENCE WARRANTS
CONSIDERS pBBLIC's RIGHTS
Favors Disclosing Findings in Such
Manner aS VIII BE Read
lily Understood.

WASHrSGToN. May 22--In a Wig
orous letter sent TO the State Military
-tnairs Committee to-day. Charles l..
Hughes made 1t plain that the aircraft
investigation by tho Department of
Justice must not be hampered BY d
parallel inquiry by this committee.
In taking this stand against con-
tinuance of the committees investiga-
ton 1t is understood that MIR. Hughes
reflects tho wishes OF the President.
who has been opposed TO the commit
tees action.
1t is probable that the committee it
self viii wave its right to continue
with tho inquiry and will consent to
let Mr.. Hughes conduct tho investiga-
ton along the lines he has laid down.
Following is tho letter OF Judge
Hughes TO the Attorney General;
May IS. 1918.
My Dear Mr.. Attorney General:
In accordance with your request. /
shall attempt to summarize briefly
some Of the points discussed in our
conference today. particularly with
respect TO the scope of our inquiry
1T is quite evident. from the ma
terial YOU have already gathered. and
from the matters discussed with you
and Mr. Fr!erson. tha, 1t would be
necessary for US carefully TO examine
all the activities relating TO aircraft
production. II Is easy. Of course. theo-
ret!cally TO distinguish between an
inquiry within the province OF the Dc
partment Of Justice and one which is
aimed merely at alleged waste. or ne
glect. or mlsElanaEement, or ineffici-
eRcy. apart from any appropriate basis
for a civil suit to recover misappro-
priated moneys, or criminal prosecu-
ton. AS a practical mattcr. however.
II is evident that In the endeavor to
determine whether there is basis for
a c!.!l suit BY the government or a
criminal prosecution, II Will he ncccs-
sary for us 10 make thorough in
Quiry into the entire history OF air
craft production since the beginning
Of the war and of all proceedings
which have been taken by any per-
sons or corporations concerned there
with. We shall not be able to ascer-
tain whether there has been dishon-
cs,y or malversation OF any kind un-
less we go thoroughly into all the
transactions which have been had.
WILL INSTITUTE SUITS
If EVIDENCE DEVELOPS
III we discover Il basis for civil
suits by the government, they Will be
instituted. II we find grounds for a
criminal prosecution. il VIII he in or
der TO go before the grand jury TO OBJ
tain indictments. II VIC lind no SUI
'icient basis for such proceedings, our
conclusion, TO be convincing to ;he
country could not we'll be stated as
a more negative conclusion in general
terms. but should be accompanied by
n fair. candid and adequate statement
Of the facts which our investigation
has disclosed. We should OF course, in
no. case make any statement which,
from military point of view. should
not be made. and IL we had basis
for civil or criminal proceedings We
should properly reserve the evidence So
far as 1t would be appropriately els
closed upon the trial ana pre- vious ~
withheld.
But ! am very sure that the coun-
try would not be content with our in
quiry. and particularly if we discover
no ground for further proceedings, un-
less We showed the basis for our CON-
clusion In an adequate report Of the
facts We have ascertaincd. This GER.
tainly should be dispassionate and i'm
8.
When we arc In position to make
such a report OF our inquiry we shall
know facts, and 1t will lS rcassurinc
to the country and support our in
ouiry and its reputation for integrity
If we state conciSely. but fairly and
completely. the results of our investj-
cation.
DOES NOT WANT OTHER
PROBES TO INTERFr;Ur:
IF 1t is understood that we con-
template this course of action. 7 should
suppose there will he a general dis
position to permit our investigation to
proceed unembarrassed by any other
parallel course of action. Clearly. as
we may recognize the authority to con.
duct another official inquiry at the
same time. we cannot doubt that ary
official inquiry into the same course
of conduct. although with another aim
would tend to make difficult, if not
impossible, the successful prosecution
OF our own. Either nothing Of import
ance would be ELECTED. which would
make such an inquiry needless. or
points would be brought out which
would at once suggest to the guilty
if there be such. where efforts should
be made to block successful prosecu-
ton. Even with the hest intentions
in the world 1t would be almost .mpos-
sible to know In advance what should
be gone into and what should be left
untouched. We might be following a
promising clue, only TO find our efforts
unintentionally thwarted.
"Wc are instructed to have a prompt
and thorough investigation and my
desire is that we shall have the full.
lest opportunity to make Investigation
CONTINUED on Fourth Pagc)