The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-05-23
HUGHES CALLS FOR
Continued from Page one.)

aviation SuD-cOtll'nllltC, dl''l t'"u'H9
the Hughes letter.
The subcommittee consists Of Srna-
tor Thomas. of Colorado. chairman.
and Senators Reed. Of Missouri, and
Smith. OF Georgia. Democrats, ana
New, of Indiana, and FrclinShuySen, Of
New Jersey. Republicans.
Senate Will Acccde.
In view of Mr.. Hughes attitude.
Senate leaders said it virtually was
certain that the aviation Sub-commil-
tees activities would b. confined
wholly TO visiting plants and looking
ovr the present situation. and that in
Uuirv into the past would b" left rn-
trely To the Depart of Justice.
Mr. hughes. outlining to IN" atunr-
nry general his idea Of 'he form me in
ve<lication should take. said III" en-.
tire history of aircraft production
since the war began should BE- gone
into and should br followed by COM
plpte statement Of facts discovered. re-
gardlcSS OF whether basis was found
for criminal or civil proceeding.
Mr.. Hughes Letter.
In accordance with your Request.
Mr.. Hughes wrote, II shall attempt
to summarize briefly some OF me
points discussed in our conference To-
| day. particularly with respect 10 tue
! scope OF our inquiry.
1T is quite evident from the ma
; tcrial YOU have already gathered ana
; from the matters discussed with YOU
! and Mr.. Frierson. that it would b."
! f, n
TALL the activities relating to aircraft
production. II is easy. Of course. inc
nrelically to distinguish between IN
| inquiry within the province OF III" de-.
partment OF justice and on" which l.
| aimed merely at alleged waste. or
| neglect. or Acknowledgement. or ln'l-
! ficiency. apart from any appropriate
basis for Il civil suit 10 recover mis-
appropriated moneys, or a criminal
! prosecution"
| AS practical matter. however. It
IL evident lnal in The "ndcavor 10 e.
! tcrminr whether i:Irrp Is i basis Tor
4 civil sui by The government or a
criminal prosecution. il will he n"ccS-
Sary for Us TO make Il thorough IN
ulliry into the cntir" history OF AR
craft since the beginning OF The war
and of all proceedings winch nave
! been taken byt.ny persons or corpora
lions concerned Herewith. W" shall
/ not BE- able 10 ascertain whether
there has been dishonesty or mal'"r'
sa,ion Of any kind unless "" "a NOR
! oughly into all the transactions which
have been had.
For a Thorough Probe.
IF We discover Il basis for civil
suits by the government they viii b"
! instituted. If We fipd grounds for Il
criminal proSccuiiof ii will b" in o.
der to go brfor" ~ grand jury to o.
I tain indictments.
, IL we find no sn(iicicnl basis Tor
sucn proceedings our CoFrtnSiOn. ~
! be convincing To The country. r"uIu
not we'll BE- stated as Il nero mega
tive conclusion in @"ncral terms. bul
should be accompanied by Il fair can
did ard adequate $lal"m"n! Of Inc
facts which our investigation has dis
closed. We should 81 course. in ne
wav MAKE any statements which. rom
a military point of view, should not
,rivil or criminal proceedings We
: should properly reserve the evidence
bc made. and it "" had basis LOT
50 far ny it would bc appropriate!
disclosed upon the trial and previous
~ withheld.
Adequate Report.
But am very sll"r ihai M '''il''
trv would not b. content with our III
uuirv, il We discover no grounds lnr
further proceedings. unless "" showed
the basis for our conclusion in IN adr'
uuatc report tnf what "" har" aSc"F'
tained. This, certainly should n" dis
paSSionafr and impartial. and h" c"ii'
fined Ia facts. When "" ar" III Il
position Ia max" such report ni our
innujry. We shall know thu fact. ANA
il will b. rraS>urin@ 10. III" rnlInir!
and support our inquiry ana ilS r"i'''
;a,iun Tor integrity i! We stat" con.
riSrlv. but fairly and completely, Inc
result Of our investigation.
Must Be Unembarrassed.
eff II is understood thai "" con
template This course of action should
suppnSc that there would be- Il gen
rraI disposition 10 permit uur inHrS'
tlTall0n 10 plpctfu uH'''i"a' "E9'" -
any other parallel cnurS" OF action
thorty 10 conduct another utf!clh' III
Clearly aS We may :'rrn5lizr IN" al
uuiry al this same lime! "" cannot
doubt thai any uIfirial inquiry INTO
III, same course Of conduct. although
with another aim. would tend 10 make
difficult, if MOI impossible. the sue
ccssrul prosecution III our own. Either
Ino1hInu Of importance would b" "Ilcl'-
cd which would max" such an IN
uuirv> needless. or points would d.
brought Out which would al once su%'
erst to III" guilty. If lncr" be Sucri.
whore effort should be- mad" 10 block
successful prosecution. Even with
the best intention in the world II
would BIZ almost impossible To know