El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-06
romisingg" insisted senator Hitch.
Doesn't Know About shoes.

senator " EEhc a6hEQ 6EC4
Baker II he knew how many pairs OF
shoes were required per man in the
British and French armies. Mr.. Baker
did not But he said he would OBJ
tain the Information The senator
said he wanted to know in order to
determine If we are buying more
shoes than necessary"
Says Many in Army PrO-German.
Senator Weeks said he had received
a letter charging that many men In
the army are of German sympathy
and that many officers and men in
conversations expressed pro-German
sentiment"
The writer Of the letter. he said.
cited an inctance of an American o.
by Gen. Pershing for that reason. The
senator said ne also had heard OF
chaplain who had been dismissed for
similar reasons.
Secretary Baker said he had re-
ceived no information of such condi-
lions, but would make an inquiry.
Ought to Punish Treason.
u don't doubt that something Of
that sort exists said the Massa-
chusetts senator, "and l think we
ought to make an example of some
one"
Senator Reed said it was unfair to
question the secretary in a large au-
Quorum Ll44cu Win eptCldlOls anu
impugning that the army was reeking
with treason
@Why should the question be asked
at ALP he demanded.
I'm not responsible for calling the
secretary into a large auditorium"
senator Weeks broke in i think this
examination should have been held
as all others-in the committees
own room. I have no desire to ex-
plot anything in public"
Senator Weeks suggested that the
hearing be adjourned until Mr. Baker
could furnish specific information de-
sired
Baker Wanted open Meeting.
The secretary himself said in a
letter to the chairman" senator New
of Indiana, Republican. interrupted.
that the meeting be he'd in large
room where all senators and repre-
sentatives who desired could attend
Many senators objected and held 1t
was unbecoming, and this larger
room was in Difference 10 the secre-
tary."
Senator Reed said he was somewhat
inclined TO the view that IL would be
better to put all our cards on the
table"
ut might be we'll" he said. ito say
we have got so many men and so
many guns and so many ships and we
are going to be at your throat at a |
certain time: but that is not the way
we are proceeding"
Senator Frelinghuysen interrupted
and senator Reed yielded
IntImates Reed Is Censor.
~I want to ask 4 question. which 1
1 hope will pass the censor. said
senator Ere Inghuysens with his eyes
fixed on senator Reed
A tilt followed. in which senator /
Reed declared he had not been try
ing 70 censor the meeting
Senator Freylinghuysen turned 70
secretary Baker with the statement i
that the committee was not interested
in the punishment C medical OFFICERS ]
found negligent, but in the protection 1
Of the men IN the camps he salc
surgeon general Gorgas had stated to |
the committee that he lacked author
ily 10 draw the public health service !
into the camp sanitation owrk
Has that subject been given any !
he asked
Health Question Well in Hand
Secretary Baker said the recon-
Of the American Public
Health association had been adopted
with the approval Of the surgeons
general Of the army and navy
Then you think that you have the
health of the men well in handZ SAID
senator Frelinghuysen-
yes"
To Meet Demand For Director.
As the examination turned TO the
question Of supplies for the army II
became apparent from the nature o.
Bakers replies to ques-
fions that he and president Wilson
had been discussing some form OF tur-
Their reorganization Of the war de-
part ment which they hoped would
satisfy those who are PRESSING the
bill for a director of munitions.
It was indicated earlier in the day
in other official quarters that the
president and the secretary OF war
hoped by a further move to meet the
demand for the bill
Wants More Authority for President.
81 have a feeling" Mr.. Baker said
in reply to senator Wadsworth, that
dents hands and allow him 70 trans
fer functions and coordinate the
needs of the departments as they
arise would be the best answer TO the
All departments are con-
stsntly growing. I am. as you know.
continually creating new agencies
and sometimes when in doubt have TO
study the statutes carefully TO find
how far my authority goes IT the
president were simply authorized 70
reorganize, re-coordinate and transfer
functions as he sees fit. we could 20
ders as were deemed desirable"
FavOrE Checks and FnlanceS.
Senator Wadsworth said he referred
particularly to statutes placing in
numerable cheeks and balances on
of army funds.
ct might. perhaDs. he wise. sec
rotary Boxer continued. during the
period Of the war. to authorize the
president to susnend anv restrictive
ststrte that might be found to imDede
I'm not sure that it is
wire not to have these checks and
counter balances
we are spending very large sums
Of money and IT seems to be wise ["
check exnendfturas very carefully"
DELAYS in Paying TroOos.
Senator Wadsworth cited DELAYS in
nayu1Ants to the fa-,'iies Of soldiers
Mr. Paker said Indefinite addresses
Of dependents, left by the soldier
r eruently produced that result. DIFF
fi~ulties Of accounting for liberty
bond payments. insurance and de-
pendent allowances also served to
hold no raw Of whole regiments as
long as q month at time.
Only the General Had Seen HOWifLer.
Mr.. Baker was asked II he thought
II proper to send wholly unframed
men to France. one senator remark
ing that he had been informed that
OF one entire artillery command in