Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-02
WOULD CONTINUE
INVESTIGATION
!. !. !. into AVIATION
4s,st. ss e. ~ -
Criminal Prosecution Urged
for those Responsible for i
Extravagance. s... 4.
\. s1s;;x

washington, May S.-lnSesu8atlOH
of the army aviation situation with
urged today in the senate. Gross ex-
travagance and misuse Of appropria-
tions for the aviation program were
suggested and, in spirited speeches.
several senators declared further in
vestigatfon should be made as to any
criminal or civil liability of those re-,
sponsible.
Senator Brandegee of Connecticut
Republican, who recently referred to
made to President Wilson by GutzoIi
Borglum. the sculptor, suggested that
the senate military, committee should
continue it's inquiry, with a view to
determining If criminal prosecutions
should be brought. Senator King Of
Utah, Democrat, also urged Grim
inal investigation. Senator Hitchcock
Of Nebraska. acting chairman of the
senate military committee, said the
tended that the department Of JUS
tice should make any criminal in
quiry.
Presenting telegram from Mr..
Borglum denying statements in re-
cent senate debates that he was mot
entirely distinterested witness" !"
Senator Brandegee said the military
CONlullIIee SIlOuiu IledF duOTe eSSSS p1O-
posed by Mr.. Borglum regarding pos
sible criminal aspects of the delay in
aviation production.
Senator King said he considered it
the committees sacred duty to
make further investigation. He had
heard it said, he added that some
body ought to be shot" in connection
with the delayed production.
Senator Poindexter of Washington
<1 x1,~ 1,.Sy, tvN1 1,,xny not
accessories to crimes and to state
ments regarding aircraft production
made by Secretary Baker asked:
us not the secretary of war the
man himself that ought to be reached
by the committee IL it is seeking to
hold someone responsible? 2"
| II believe the secretary was as
completely deceived by officials In
charEes as was the committee" Sem
secretary ad re-organized the avia-
ton personnel and thus indicated his
lack Of confidence in those displaced.
senator Knox of Pennsylvania, Re-
publican, suggested that civil respon-
sibility in expenditure of the aircraft
appropriations also should be fixed.
There are charges of conspiracy,
he said. that indicate misuse OF hun
dreds Of millions of dollars Of people
e. =
Senator Hitchcock said the recent
aviation report Of a majority Of the
military committee had given the
country the facts after the committee
and the country -'lad for weeks been
| misinformed and misled by memberA
OF the aircraft production board and
the signal corps. 5.
| When the bills providing appropri'
ations for aircraft construction were
pending before congress, said Senator
Owen Of Oklahoma, propaganda
was conducted through the press, ap-
parently for the purpose Of preparing
the country to pay high taxes for air
planes. 5Ea MA ts b, s Il
The aircraft board was charged By
senator Hitchcock with playing; q .'gi-
gantic confidence game on the whole
country by giving the impression
that the liberty motor resulted from
= conference OF engineers in aeWaah.
ington hotel. Asa matter Of fact the
liberty motor. the Nebraska senator
declared. IL the Packard motor which
has taken the Packard company thres
years to develop bu NOW We are 80:
ing to pay that company between
lS5o0. 900 and 3l.oo0.o 900 for three
years experimentation and that mat.
Tier - now being adjusted. y
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