The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-13
MACHINE GUN QUESTION


 At the outset of the days examina- ton the committee demanded to know what had been done about 1900 Lewis machine guns held in storage while cantonments and camps needed them for practice.
 Secretary Baker promised that they immediately would be distributed. and Senator Weeks observed that the dis tribution had been delayed a month. That is the essence of this whole thing" said Senator Weeks. There is delay; too much delay" ''Mr. Secretary" Senator Chamberlain broke in, your general statements of conditions are all calcula 1d to leave the impression that all these matters are really in good shape" The senator cited reports of clothing shortages at Camp sherman and added:
 'The effect on the country of your statements IS to Hull it into a feeling of security that everything has been done that should have been done. \ don't think it has"
 "I think the country is entitled to feel secure" MT. Baker replied ear nestly. When the facts are known. the country will feel secure" CITED FIGURES l MT. Baker cited statistics of shortage early in December and how supplies | had been increased during the month. Mistakes in distribution and also in furnishing correct sizes, he contended also contributed to shortages. l Senator Wadsworth insisted that the war department had developed in the I Mexican border service; that shoe sizes
 were not properly standardized. l Chairman Chamberlain declared that
 sanitary conditions, and overthrowing of men, with lack of clothing. at Camp
 Bowie. were reported to the depart h5en called to the Secretary's attention
 as epidemics predicted by the camps commander, had followed in December l CANVASS HOUSING
 Secretary Baker replied that his ad- visors said no trouble in canvas hous- ing of men was probable
 "It turned out that the camps ir which there was the most sickness were the canvas camps" said Mir Baker.
 Senator Weeks said Major Genera lGreble, Camp Bowies commander. hat
 reported conditions to four high off. cers in the department
 That Is the trouble with the depart
 ment,' Senator Hitchcock interrupted
 Nobody knows where to submit any
 thing being shunted from pillar to post
 Senator Frelinghuysen asked if al
 clothing manufacturing facilities of tn Icountry were used.
 The sweatshop system was prohib
 ited from the beginning" Mir. Baker re piled, disclaiming knowledge that larg and well-known Rochester, N. Y, fac tories were not used
 Turning to cantonment death condi tions. Secretary Baker conceded ther
 were complaints under differences o
 opinion regarding architecture of hos
 pitals.
 GORGAS PLANNED HOSPITALS
 Senator Wadsworth said the Spartan
 burg. s. C., camp hospital was bull
 with open roofs like the Panama zon
 hospitals and had to be roofed owe when near zero weather came. Sacretar Baker replied that all hospitals had bee
 built on plans recommended by Surgeo General Gorgas.
 l By coordination under the war in
 dustries board, supplementing the nav supply system and the reorganized arm system, MT. Baker felt further co-ord
 nation unnecessary and that the whol system now virtually is the same and i
 some respects better than the Britis munitions direction.
 Senator Wadsworth and others crit , cized details of the reorganization plai , Manufacturing and military problem , are co-ordinated under the reorganiza . tion, Secretary Baker declared, by ere ating bureaus of production, inspectio } and supply. The reorganization, MI Baker insisted accomplished exactly : what the British munitions directorshi does. He added that Chairman WilIar, iof the advisory committee of the counc l. of national defense, and other memb el 5 Ihave approved the reorganization. "The navy's purchasing plan," M l Baker declared, lis substantially dupl cated in what you now have in tt
 army
 ; q beg to differ with you," said Sens s tor McKellar. You have five purchai : ling departments-five different officer : buying supplies. Frankly, I can't aI ? prove of that plan"
 , Supporting Mir. Bakers re-organiza : ton plan, Senator Kirby said Paymast,
 lGeneral McGowan has eight navy pu
 chasing subordinates.
 Regarding alleged lack of industr |, training at West Point, Secretary Bak
 said he had carefully investigate : whether industry had grown so vast tn 2 army officers were not qualified to a 2 in industrial capacities and to his su T prise has found that everything made g a government arsenal is made mo l economically than by private enterpris | Senator Weeks challenged the stat y ment.
 j. The secretary was asked about Il l. creased production of artillery. He ga It manufacturing facilities had been i l. creased and Is being further added to- r. Asked about mall service to Gener Q Pershing's forces. Secretary Baker ga & he had received some complaints v being made to improve the service. T >. | v.rstoffioo and war departmentS. he sa