The Washington herald., 1918-05-16
HUGHES JOINED
WITH GREGORY
TN AIR PROBE
Election Opponent Of 1916.
Gets Appointment from
the President. 4
WILSON WRITES MARTIN
Asks Senate Majority Lead
er to Urge Defeat Of .
General Probe.
WILSON WRITES MARTIN

President Wilson yesterday announc-
ed the appointment Of Charles Evans
Hughes, Of New York. to be an asso-
ciate of Attorney General Gregory in
investigating charges Of dishonesty In
aircraft production.
The selection gave substance to the
impression that the President Is will
ing and anxious to have any charges
against the administration which Is
founded on facts. Other important
developments reval that he is equally
determined to prevent politics from
playing any part in the Inquiries.
Fight stiI On
In letter to Senator Martin. ma
jority leader. the President called
upon the supporters Of the admins
tration in Congress to defeat the
Chamberlain resolution for a general
Investigation Of the conduct Of the
war. The fight Ii still on, as a sub
stitute resolution introduced by SEN
ator Chamberlain calls for an investi-
CATION of ordnance as well as air
craft production
jurist and an investigator Is ma
tional. On the strength Of the great
reputation gained in the gas and in
surance Investigations in New York
City nearly twenty years ago he was
elected governor Of New York and
then appointed to the Supreme Court
OF the United States As the candi-
date Of the Republican party for the
-. AZ
the race against President Wilson
and was defeated by such q small
margin that the result was in doubt
for many days after election. -
+sDsnies Interferenee.
The Presidents letter to Senator
Martin drew a statement from Sem
ator Chamberlain. This was a denial
that the purpose Of the Senate Mil
itary Affairs Committee was to in
terfere with the Chief Executives 8
management of the war. In conclu-
sion Senator Chamberlain asserted
that the investigation would be con-
tinued.
Secretary Of War Newton d. Baker
contributed to the general contro-
Versy with letter to Senator
said he had no objection to q most
complete inquiry.
Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor whose
charges against aircraft production
have been characterized by the Pres
ident as most sweeping and most
vague" telegraphed to Senator Bran
degee from Stamford. Conn, that
he was sending an answer to the
counter-charges against him. Senator
Brandegee announced on the floor
OF the Senate he would not have any
thing more to do with BorgIum.
Probe Limited.
The immediate effect of President
Wilson's vigorous objection to any
inquiry by the Senate Military AZ
fairs Committe into the general con-
duct OF the war was the adoption
by the Committee on Contingent Ex-
penses of a modified resolution, lin
iting the Military Affairs Committee
to probe into aircraft and ordnance
matters. 1t will be reported to the
Senate today by Senator McKellar as
a substitute for the original Chamber.
lain resolution and acted upon, prob
ably, tomorrow.
The new resolution also fixes a
limit Of $4,000 on the amount of
money which the committee may
spend in Its investigation.
In this modified resolution. the Ian
guage to which the President object
ed in the Chamberlain resolution Is
stricken out, namely, "or the conduct
Of the war by or through the War
Department"
Chamberlain Comes Forward.
The resolution was adopted by a
majority Of the members of the Con-
tlngent Expenses Committee, in which
senators Thompson, Of Kansas, and
Jones. OF New Mexico. strong admin
istrauon supporters. were outvoted.
Prior to the adoption Of the resolu-
ton by Senator Thompson's commit
tee the session was enlivened by an
attempt to place Senator Chamber
lain on the grin as q witness and in
quire into his motives In fatherine
the original resolution. Chamberlain
was asked to appear before the COM
mittee and readily assented. But
when a stenographer was called in Al
the suggestion of Senator Jones.
Chamberlain strongly resented Il. He
declined to make any statement In
the presence of the stenographer and
LETT the committee room after ex-
pressing In vigorous language his
opinion Of such q proposal.
Brandegee Repadiates Interest.
Gutzon Borgfum notified Senator
Brandegee yesterday that he had
forwarded to him his formal denial
OF the charges made against him in
connection with q supposed interest
In aeroplane manufacture at the time
ne was conducting an Investigation
under authority of the President.
Senator .Brandagee repudiated any
interest in Borglum's case.