Evening journal., 1918-11-01
COURT MARTIAL FOR
COL. DEEDS ASKED.
Hughes Aircraft Report
Recommends Prosecution
of Three Army Officers
HENRY FORD KEPT
GERMANS IN PLANT

WASHINGTON, Nov. i-Recommenda-
tlons for tho trial by military couit-
martial OF Colonel E. A. Deeds, member
OF the aircraft board, and the prosecu.
tion under Federal penal statutes OF
three other army officers associated
with aircraft production, were con
tained In the report OF Charles L.
Hughes, formerly Supreme Court JUS
tlco. made public yesterday, following
its submission to the President.
The officers held by Judges Hughes 10
have violated Section al Of the criminal
code are Lieutenant Colonel Jesse u
Vincent, formerly vice-president OF ule
Packard Motor Car Company and one
OF the designers OF the Liberty motor ;
Lieutenant Colonel George w. MiXter,
formerly vlve-president OF the Deere
a Company, agricultural manufacturers
of Moline Ill, and Second Lieutenant
Samuel B. Vrooman, Jr., OF Philadel-
phia, formerly associated with ms
father in the s. B. Nrooman Company.
Mr.. Hughes cleared John d. Ryan,
now Second Assistant Secretary OF War,
and William c. Potter, OF the present
aircraft board; Howard E. Coffin, Rich
ard f. Howe, Henry B. Thayer and
Colonel Sidney G. Walden, a stock
holder In the Packard Company, and
Colonel Robert L. Montgomery, for
merly a director OF the J. G. Brill Com
pany. OF Philadelphia, all former mem
bers OF the aircraft board, Of criminal
acts.
Attorney General Gregory In a sep
slons OF Judge Hughes with respect TO
the recommendations that the Secretary
OF War order a court-martial trial Tor
Colonel Deeds and he agreed that the
three officers named had violated the
penal statutes.
Responsibility for the inefficient or
ganlzation Of the aircraft production
division Of the War Department was
placed on Major General George o..
Squier. the chief signal officer, who.
Judge Hughes said, had the duty Of
providing an adequate organization.
1T IS quite clear" says the report
"that this undertaking was beyond the
COMPETENCY Of the chief signal officer,
who had neither training nor expert
ence for such a large industrial enter
prise. and those who were brought TO
the task in his department failed TO
produce an organization that was
adapted TO meet the eXigency."
In a brief summary Of the facts dis
closed by his Investigation, and Of the
conclusions he derived from them,
Judge Hughes placed the major respon-
sibility on the failure OF Secretary
Baker and the Wilson Administration
TO create an adequate and efficient or
ganization TO handle the big problem
Of aircraft production.
Judge Hughes's report was not OF the
sensational kind which had been ex-
pected in many quarters. Il was a cool
and clear appreciation OF the whole
subject Of aircraft production, and the
long report submitted to the President
carries all the qualities Of a carefully
weighed judicial decision.
In a brief summary Of his conclu-
sions and the facts on which he based
them Judge Hughes said:
"The defective organization OF the
work Of aircraft production and the
serious lack OF competent direction Of
that work by the responsible officers Of
the signal corps. TO which the delays
and waste were chiefly due, were mat
ters for administrative correction
through unincation Of effort under
competent control. The provisions Of
the criminal statutes do not reach in
efficiency.
1T IS not within the province OF this
report 10 make recommendations with
respect TO administrative policy, but il
should be said that under the direction
Of Mr. Ryan and Mr. Potter there has
been improvement in organization and
progress has been made in gratifying
measure.
"The evidence discloses conduct.
which. although Of a reprehensible
character. cannot be regarded as afford
ing a sufficient basis for charges under
existing statutes. but there are certain
acts shown, not only highly improper
I'm themselves, but OF especial signih-
canoe. which should lead to disciplinary
measures. The evidence with respect
TO Colonel Edward A. Deeds should be
presented to the Secretary Of War to
the end that Colonel Deeds may be
tried by court-martial under Articles
% and 96, Of the articles OF war for his
conduct:
First. In acting as confidential ad-
wiser OF his farmer business associate,
II. r. Talbot, Of the Dayton-Wright
Airplane Company, and in conveying in
formation TO Mr.. Talbot in an improper
manner, with respect TO the transaction
OF business between that company ana
the division OF the signal corps OF
which Colonel Deeds was the head; and,
Second, in giving to the repre-
sentatives Of the committee on public
information a false and misleading
statement with respect TO the prog
ress OF aircraft, production for the
purpose OF publication with the au-
thority Of the Secretary OF War.
an the absence OF proper appre-
citation OF the obvious impropriety OF
transactions by Government officers
and agents with firms or corporations
IN which they are interested, compels
the conclusion that public policy de-
mands that the statutory provisions
bearing upon this conduct should De
strictly enforced. 10 Is, therefore,
recommended that the officers found
10 have had transactions on behalf OF
the Government with corporations. in
the pecuniary profits OF which tley
had an interest should be prosecutor
under Section az Of the criminal code.
'The Federal Trade Commission
should be requested TO report upon
the proper cost OF mahogany FOR air
nlane propellers TO the end that upon
tbe coming in Of It's report the ques-
lion on the propriety Of further action
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