Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-02
PROSECUTION IN
AIRCRAFT CASES
TO Be PROMPT
Evidence Found by Hughes
May Be Laid Before Fed
eraI Grand Jury at
Washington.

Washington. Nov. 1.-Prosecu-
ton OF the three army officers held
by Charles f. Hughes in his report
on the aircraft Investigation to be
guilty of dealing with corporations
in which they were financially in
terested is to be started without de-
lay, it was said today at the De-
partment of Justice. The cases may
be laid before a federal grand jury
in Washington.
The officers are 1t. Col. ]. G.
Vincent, former vice president OF
the Packard Motor Car company;
1t. Col. George w. Mixter. a stock
holder in the Curtiss airplane and
motor corporation and 1t. Samuel
B. Vrooman, lr., stakeholder in
the 5. B. Vrooman company OF
Philadelphia.
If substantiated the charges made
against the officers would involve
Imprisonment of not more than two
years and fine of not more than
$1,000.
Reports that other army officers
commissioned since the nation en-
tered the war have been dealing
with firms in which they have
financial interest are being investi-
gated by agents of the Department
OF Justice. 1t was understood that
the number of officers under inves-
tigation was small.
Secretary Baker said today he had
not completed his study of Mr..
Hughes report and was not pre-
pared to announce his action upon
recommendation of Mr.. Hughes
that Col. E. A. Deeds, attached to
the bureau of military aeronautics,
be brought to court-martial for the
alleged supplying of confidential
War department information to for
mer business assistants in Dayton,
Ohio.
Request for any inquiry by the
War department into aircraft affairs
| was made some months ago by Maj.
Gen. George o. Squier, Col. Deeds
and other officials, but Secretary
Baker held it in allegiance until the
| investigation of Mr.. Hughes and the
senate committee has been COM
pleted. Mr.. Baker did not indicate
today when the department inquiry
would be started, but it was regard
ed as almost certain that the Off
GERS request would be granted.
Further investigation into condi-
tons in the spruce producing sec
ton of the northwest, as recon-
mended by Mr.. Hughes, is to be uil-
dertaken by government agents, it
was said today.
Representative Fess of Ohio,
chairman of the republican congress
sional committee. issued state
ment today commenting upon the
Hughes aircraft report. He referred
! to profits Of the Ford plant and to
"the appalling waste of money as
indicated in sundry instances. Re-
calling the senate military commit
tees report of few months ago,
Mr.. Fess said:
"These two reports emphasize the
imperative necessity of some legis-
lative supervision over the vast ex-
penditures congress is appropriating
every month.
"The president has resisted all ef.
forts to that end and has charged
republicans with a desire to control
him because of their contention that
an auditing system must be adopted
whereby the ! department which
spends the money must not be lett
to audit its own accounts, but lett
to the authority of the body that
| authorizes the expenditure.
"The real danger of the present
system is apparent. In our last de-
fciency bill just passed facts were
revealed to prove that departments
estimates we're mere guesses.
"A republican congress will de-
mand an accounting, different sys-
tenn Of estimating, a more business
like review of these estimates and
legislative review and final prepare
ton of all appropriation bills
|