The sun., 1918-05-11
SENAT0RSACT
TOTAKEPOWER
Chamberlain Resolution Ex.
tends Unprecedented
Authority.
WILL IGNORE PRESIDENT
Military Committee Plans
Widened Scope of In
vestigations.
WILL IGNORE PRESIDENT
Special Despasch to TIE SuN,


WASHINGTON. May 1o.-By the adop-
ton OF the resolution introduced In the
Senate yesterday by Chairman Cham
bcrlain OF the Committee on Military
Affairs there will be created, regardless
OF executive denunclation OF similar
moves. a committee on expenditures
Virtually a committee on the conduct Of
the war will have been developed out Of
tho existing committee.
This wac admitted to-day in Sena-
tcrial circles. 1t 10 20 recognized by Ad-
ministration supporters who rallied to
the President and defeated a similar
move last summer when the Weeks.
Owen amendment to the food admins
tration law was stricken from that meas
uro.
Under the terms Of the Chamberlain
amendment the Military Committee Is
empowered to investigate "the progress
Of aircraft production In the United
states or any other matters relating to
the conduct OF the war by or through the
War Department The scope which
such authority conveys for the broaden
ing of the labors of the committee tram
scends in Importance anything heretofore
considered in Congress or out OF It.
Also the resolution provides that in ad-
dition to sitting during sessions of Con-
gress the Military Committee or It's subs
committees may sit In the receSes OF
Congress. thus affording permanent
agency Of investigation and review of all
tho activities OF the War Department and
through II Of the army OF the United
States.
The resolution undoubtedly will be
| passed. At present some OF the Admin.
| istration following In the Senate are
anxious to have 1t amended to the ex-
| tent that Il shall not be empowered 10
| investigate any matters which by some
! Of the committee activities might inter.
fere with the parallel investigation into
/ the aircraft muddle which the Depart
/ ment Of Justice has been directed tc
make But this does not worry the Mill
tary Committee.
| Already they have arranged for rep
| resentatives Of the Department OF JUS
tice to attend all sessions Of the com
mittee. and this agent Will be IN pos.
! ton to inform the committee whether
the trend Of its examination is con-
ficting with the secret investigations OF
the Department OF Justice looking to ths
| apprehension Of persons engaged In ths
malversion Of Government funds. mis-
feasance In ONCE. or sedition. treason
or other crimes indictable or otherwise
coming within the purview OF the lesa
branch Of the Government.
It Is not regarded as iibeiI 'ha' Wv
President will take a hand In thi!
emergency. It is pointed out that Il
endeavor to halt the processes OF reg
ularly constituted committee Of the Con
gress Is a very different thing from
striving TO halt legislation when IN Al
inchoate form. Such suggestion from th'
executive branch Of the Government
would be bitterly resented by the Sen
ate. Absolutely II could not be ac
cepted. members OF the Military Com
nitt.e say.
The Military Committee contemplate
dividing into four subcommittee to In
vestigate such matters as arise In tn
course of the war which seem to war
rant such Investigations. In addition
to the subcommittee on artillery nov
holding sessions. there will be sub
committees on aviation headed by Sen
ator Reed (Mo.). on airplane license
headed by Senator Thomas (Col) an
on Ouartermaster's Department with IN
subchairman yet to be selected. al
though Senator Chamberlain possioi
viii himself take this once.
Each subcommittee. It Is assured. WI
be dominated by a combination :
chamberlain Democrats and feput
l,cars so as to insure and forefen