The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-12
DEMAND CHIEF
FOR AIR WORK
Committee Thinks He Should
Report Directly to the
President.
BOARD STANDS IN WAY
Liberty Motor Said to Have
Fulfilled Promises Of It's
Backers.
BOARD STANDS IN WAY
Special DeSpasch TO THx su>.

Special DeSbn'ch TO THK SrN.
WARRINGTON. April 1.-THE Snow
den-afarshall committee appointed by
the President to investigate the aircraft
situation. 1t was learned definitely to.
day. will concur with the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee in urging that
the aircraft programme be placed under
q single head removable directly to the
President. But before this plan can be
carried Out 1t will be necessary to obtain
new legislation which il likely to 20 to
discussion in Congress
The Marshall committee. 1t Is tfnder-
stood. has made careful consideration
Of the legislation involved. but 10 Of the
opinion that not even an executive order
o! the President can wipe out the Air
craft Board and eliminate the present
control Of contracts ahd desikns exer-
c!sed by the War Department through
the signal Corps.
Even though the Overman bill should
pass, 1t has been found that the Presi-
dent still would lack the power TO make
the reorganization deemed urgently
necessary. Only by a repeal o: the law
passed last October placing control In
the Signal Corps. with the a.rcra'. pro-
duction board as an advisory body. and
the enactment OF a new Law establishing
. branch Of the Government like the
Food Administration can this he accom-
plished.
Joint Report Expected.
The report Of the Marshall committee
was not ready to-day for Assistant Sec
retary of War Crowell, but may be
placed In his hands tomorrow. A Joint
report Will be presented with comments
BY individual members. The conclusions
arrived at will agree. II was learned to-
day. with those OF the Senate committee
IN many important particulars. 1t II
understood that 1t will lay a good deal
Of blame on the Signal Corps for present
delays.
by the Marshall committee. 1t will be
Insisted that the motor was not de-
signed for the high speed battle plane.
despite the fact that this impression, wa
given in all Of the optimistic statement.
made In the early stages Of the pro-
gramme. II will insist that the motor
has no superior for bombing. observa-
ton and scouting machines. In which the
higher speed IL not required. but which,
i. holds. perform the most important
duty in military zones.
While the figures OF the Senate COM
mittee as to the number Of Liberty
motors finished were not disputed. 1t
will be asserted that the entire 2:.b0o
Liberty motors ordered will be deliv-
cred before January 1 next.
stand by Findinss.
Members Of the Senate Military Com
mittee, who yesterday filed their exiIaus-
tive and critical review OF the failure
Of the Aircraft Production Board, the
Signal Corps and the other executive
elements charged with the perfection Of
the Administration plan to make Amer
lea supreme in the air. assumed Today
new silence on the subject. 1t wxs
their attitude that they had said their
say and upon the printed Word thereof
they would stand pending the production
Of the report OF the special Administra-
tlon committee, headed by f. snowden
Marshall. which has Just completed a
nationwide survey Of the aircraft sit
uation.
Not until the Marshall committee has
reported will tho Military Committee
even consider presentation OF the sue-
gested bill for the concentration OF the
executive power UNDER an individual
and single headship. The committee. It
IL expected. shortly will indorse such
measure. In taking this tack the COM
mittee will have back Of It the various
aviation and aeronautical organizations
throughout the country.
1t was reiterated At the Capitol to-day
that the Marshall report will contain In
the main practically the same criticisms
and suggestions n those In the COM
mittes's own report.
Once tho aircraft situation has had
time TO settle the Senate committee will
launch a new bomb shell In the form Of
q report OF the conditions maintained In
the ordnance and munitions industries
Of the nation. This report, II 10 predicted
confidently. will he not one whit less
critical In tenor or weaker In diction
than the aircraft report Of yesterday.