Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-11-08
HUGHES GIVES
CLEAN BILL
Aircraft Report Says Only 1884,
044,399 Has Been
Spent.
had S691, 35l, 1866 TOSpEND
Result of Hughes Investigation Made
Public at the White House-De-
scribed by Nonpartisans as
Splendid Showing.

Washington, Nov. q The long
awaited report on the aircraft situa-
ton by former Justice Charles e.
Hughes was made public at the White
House.
Taken in it's entirety it is practically
a clean bill of health. The country is
informed that the S691, 351, S66.47
which it gave in taxes and in bond is
sues for our aircraft program. has not
been squandered.
On the contrary, only $134, 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 favoring the Dayton Wright Air
plane company, holding airplane con-
tracts, and for making a 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,
as he had reported.
"Officers found to have had transac-
lions on behalf of the government with
corporations in the pecuniary profits
of which they had an interest should
be prosecuted unGer 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 stock
holder and formerly was vice presi-
dent.
Lieut.. Col. George w. Mixter, for
merly vice president of Deere & Co.,
Moline, H., violated the statute, strict
~ construed, in serving in a 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
supervisory capacity in inspections
of aircraft propeller lumber sold to the
government by the S. B. Vrooman COM
pany.
"While bombing planes are being
produced in quantity not 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-
cision and conscientious purpose.
s'The Bristol fighter, withdrawn from
production as unsafe and unsuccessful,
has been replaced by the S. S. E.-5,
two of which have been delivered. Up
to October Is the De Haviland type
Of bombing and reconnaissance plane
had been produced to the number OF
1856. One hundred Handley- Page
heavy bombers have been delivered in
parts, IS per cent complete, and five
LIE Pere planes recently have been de-
livered.
'Up to October 18 the number Of
Liberty motors delivered was 10,56S.
Since June 80 there have been deliv-
cred 242 Hispano $50 horsepower mo-
tors and one Bugatti motor Five His
PIANO 300 horsepower motors have
been delivered.
aircraft production has been at
tended by serious waste of materials
and impeded by chaotic labor cOndi-
lions, the government having been
largely competing with itself in the
labor market.
can '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
S5,375, 900. The Packard company is
due to reap S15,OOO,O00 in profits, and
the Lincoln Motor company 81, 100000
on capital of $850.0O0."
In 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. It is assumed
that Mr.. Gregory will institute prose
cutions of the alleged offenders.
Howard e. Coffin, former chairman
of the aircraft board; General Squier,
chief signal officer; Col r. L. Mont
gomery, Col. S. D. Waldon Richard f..
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