The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-11-07
HUGHES GIVES
CLEAN BILL
Aircraft Report Says Only 1884,
044,399 Has Been
Spent.
had S691, 351,066 TOSPEND
Result of Hughes investigation Made
Public at the White House-De-
scribed by iionpartisans as
Splendid Showing.

Washington, Nov. 2. - The long
awaited report on the aircraft situa-
ton by former Justice Charles Il.
Hughes was made public at the White
House.
Taken in its entirety it is practically
clean bill of health. The country is
informed that the $69l 1851 ,S6647
which 1t gave in taxes and in bond is
sues for our aircraft program has not
been squandered.
On the contrary, only $l34,044 1927
thus far has been expended, with re-
suits which nonpartisans describe as
splendid.
The findings of Mr.. Hughes in brief
follow:
"Col. Edward A. Deeds. formerly in
charge of aircraft production, should
be tried by court-martial for improp-
erly favoNng the Dayton Wright Air
plane company, holding alrplane con-
tracts and for making false and
misleading statement in regard to the
progress of aircraft production, it hav-
ing been untrue at the time that any
airplanes had been shipped to France,
rs he had reported.
"Oflicers found to have had transac-
tons on behalf of the government with
corporations in the pecuniary profits
of which they had an interest should
be prosecuted under section Al of the
criminal code.
Lieut.. Col. Jesse G. Vincent vio-
lated the statute by participating in
transactions with the Packard Motor
car company, of which he is a stock
holder and formerly was vice presi-
dent.
Lieut.. Col. George W. MiXter, for
merly vice president of Deere 4 Co.,
Moline ILL.,. violated the statute, strict
ly construed, in serving in super
visory capacity over inspections at the
Curtiss Airplane and Motor company,
in which he holds % shares of pre-
ferred stock.
Second Lieut.. Samuel b. Vrooman,
Jr. violated the statute by serving in
Il supervisory capacity in Inspections
of aircraft propeller lumber sold to the
government by the S. b. Yrooman COM
pany.
"While bombing planes are being
produced in quantity not Il single COM
bat plane has been sent to France, al
though such pursuit planes could have
been produced in large quantities many
months ago had there been prompt de-
cislon and conscientious purpose
THE Bristol fighter, withdrawn from
production as unsafe and unsuccessful,
has been replaced by the S. S. Ed.
to October Is the De Haviland type
of bombing and reconnaissance plane
had been produced to the number of
1856. One hundred Handley-Puge
heavy bomberS have been delivered in
parts, So per cent complete and five
lie Pere planes recently have been de-
livered.
up to October Is the number of
Liberty motors delivered was 1056S.
Since June 80 there have been deliv-
cred PAP Hispano $50 horsepower mo-
tors and one Bugatti motor. Five His
PIANO 800 horsepower motors have
been delivered.
aircraft production has been at
tended by serious waste of materials
and impeded by chaotic labor condl-
tons the government having been
largely competing with itself in the
labor market
IAN 'extravagant scale of profits
has been allowed to manufacturers Of
Liberty motors. Henry Ford, though
behind in deliveries. expects to COM
plete his contract for 5000 engines by
January with an aggregate profit Of
S5,375000 The Packard company is
due TO reap S15,000,000 in profits, and
the Lincoln Motor company $11 100000
on a capital of $S50O00."
In a separate report Attorney Gen
eral Gregory says he finds himself ''in
substantial accord" with the findings
of Mr.. Hughes, including those con-
corning violation of law. 1t is assumed
that Mr. Gregory will institute prose-
cutions of the alleged offenders.
Howard f. Coffin, former chairman
of the aircraft board; General Squler
chief signal officer; Col. II. l.. Mont
gomery, Col. S. d. Walden, Richard r..
Howe, Harry b. Thayer, Admiral Tay-
Tor and other naval officers who are
members of the aircraft board are ex-
onerated of charges of violation of
law.