New Britain herald., 1918-11-01

and progress has been made in graft
flying measure.
William c. Potter to whom Mr..
Hughes referred, is assistant director
Of aircraft production.
The general conclusions and rec
concentrations by Mr.. Hughes follow:
THE evidence discloses conduct
which although of a reprehensible
character, cannot be regarded as af-
fording a sufficient basis for charges
under existing statutes but there are
certain acts shown. not only highly
improper in themselves, but of espe-
cial significance which should lead to
disciplinary measures.
THE evidence with respect to Col
onel Edward A. Deeds should be pre-
scented to the secretary of war, to the
end that Colonel Deeds may be tried
by court martial7 under Articles 95
and 96, of the ARTICLES of War, for his
conduct Gy in acting as confidential
adviser of his former business asso-
ciate, N. e. Talbot, of the Dayton
Wright Airplafe company, and in
conveying information to Mr.. Talbot
in an improper manner, with respect
to the transaction Of business be-
tween that company and the division
of the Signal Corps of which Colonel
Deeds was the head, and CD in Civ
ing to the representatives of the COM
mittee on public information a. false
and misleading statement with re-
spect to the congress of aircraft pro-
duction for the purpose Of publica4-
ton with the authority Of the secre-
tarN Of war. =
"The absence of proper apprecia-
ton of the obvious improperly Of
transactions by governm ent officers
and agents with firms or corporations
in which they are interested compels
the conclusion that public policy de-
mands that the statutory provisions
bearing upon this conduct should be-
strictly enforced. It is therefore
recommended that the officers found
to have had transactions on behalf of
the governm with corporations In
the pecuniary profits of which they
had an interest should be prosecuted
under Section Al Of the Criminal
Code.
"The Federal Trade Commission
should be requested to report upon
the proper cost of Mahogany for air.
plane propellers to the end that, upon
the coming in of its report the Dues
ton of the propriety of further &C
ton with respect to the transactions
of the Mahogany Manufacturers and
Imports Asso citation may be deter
mined.
ut is recommended that the rep
resentatives of the Department OF
Justice should keep in touch with the
progress of the re-a.udit of accounts
so that it may be advised of the COM
plete enforcement of the rights Of the
S%9 Gy3o at tnY nj
counts, and that the government has
, been fully protected against unnec-
essary loss through waste and the alb
sence of suitable factory supervision.
Permit me also to suggest that
special division, or subdivision of
the present Bureau of InveSti cation
in the Department of Justice should
be assigned to the consideration OF
suggested delinquencies in connection
; with aircraft production SO that the
work already done may be appropr1-
ate1y followed up In. particular It Is
recommended that the activities in
relation to Spruce production, which
being largely conferred on the Pacific
coast it was impracticable to en-
brace in the present inquiry. should
be carefully scrutinized.'
No Grating, Says Gregory.
An exhaustive oXdDllndLlOu. says
Attorney General Gregory's letter Of
transmitted, into the entire conduct
of aircraft matters fails to show that
any member of either Board has had
any desire to retard or delay produc-
ton, or has done anything to accom-
plish that result, or has Intentionally
caused the waste of funds, Or been
actuated by Il disloyal motive, or
beer guilty of dishonesty or malver-
sation, unless there be truth in the
specific charges which will now be re-
ferred to. (The charges against Col
onel Deeds and the officers charged
with dealing with concerns in which
they were interested)
II agree with the conclusion reach
ed by Judge Hughes that there is no
evidence upon which it fairly can be
charged that any member of the air.
craft boards, including Mr.. Howard
Coffin General Squier, Colonel E. A.
Deeds, Colonel r. l.. Montgomery,
Colonel S. D. Waldron, Mr.. Richard
F. Howe, Mr.. Harry B. Thayer, Adj
miral Taylor and other naval officers