Evening star., 1918-01-25
Requests an Opportunity.
Administration to Reply
to Senator ChamberIain's
Charges on Senate Floor

Within twenty-four hours administfa-
tion officia1s will begin veritable bar
rage fire of counter statements in reply
to the allegations of incompetency made
yesterday in the Senate by Senator
Chamberlain.
Through several different channels
Will come denials of some of the
charges, and particularly records hither-
to either not disclosed or put out in
marked accomplishments of the United
States in the early months of war.
The attitude of the last few days,
that the criticisms in the Senate merely
constituted "a routine matter" as one
official expressed 1T, was cast on
today. Instead there was an electric
activity in preparation. not SO much
for come back" as for full state
ment of the facts SO far as they can
be made known.
President Wilson will issue no stats.
ment in regard to the Chamberlain
speech. This was stated officially at
will do so. Likewise the charges will
be answered on the floor of the Senate
and of the House.
Three of the principal administers
tion spokeSmen will be Senator James
and Representatives Glass and Dent.
Defenders Among Republicans.
The administration may find defend
ers among republicans as well as demo-
Gratis. Representative Julius Kahn of
California. who is ranking minority
member of the House committee on
military affairs. today conferred with
Secretary Baker. Though a republican.
Mr. Kahn has been vigorous sup
porter of all the administrations war
measures. and he and other republicans
who have broken party lines to CO.
operate in the war may join with sad.
ministration democrats In defending
the Secretary of War and the Presi-
dent
Carter Glass of Virginia last evening
had long conference with Secretary
Baker. He was chosen to lead OF the
House debate on the measures propos-
ing reorganization of the War Depart-
ment along the lines of the Chamber
lain bills in the Senate, Senator James
is expected to present extended state
ments of fact before the Senate when
it convenes Monday.
This decision to combat the charges
made by Senator Chamberlain, it was Z
stated by an administration Official was
not from fear that his speech yester-
day will bring the measures for a mu-
nitions director and a war cabinet any
nearer passage. But it is recognized
that the charges made may have a bad
effect on the morale of the civil popula-
ton unless they are explained or dis
proved.
Secretary Baker spent most of the
morning in careful perusal OF the
speech. and comparing 1t
with official records about the points
in question. Secretary Baker had planned
TO 60 before the House committee on mill
tary affairs tomorrow, but later this an
pearance was postponed.
Plan of Reorganization.
Ry tomorrow Secretary Baker also Is
expected to announce the general plan
Of REORGANIZATION in the ordnance and
ouartermaster departments. -.ss
About these departments most OF the
criticism has centered. Maj. Gen.
wheeler has supplanted Gen. Crozier at
he head of the former, and Maj Gen.
,oethals has succeeded Maj Gen.
;harpe as head of the latter. Both al
.eady have taken effective steps to
secretary Baker will indicate fully the
ines of their effort in his forthcoming
tatement.
In the quartermaster's department.,
or example, Gen. Goethals. man in
vhom the country has high confidence.
'as been given a free rein. Abolition
r. the board of control of labor stan
8 one indication Of the effort to speed
IN there. Another move toward cen-
"a lfzation was made today in the nam-
No Of Edward J. Stettinius OF New
fork to be surveyor general OF all
Army purchases.
ossible effects of Senator Chamber
aims speech the Secretary Of War. II
ras learned today. is not going to limit
s.