The Washington herald., 1918-01-11
BAKER GRILLED
BY SENATOR'S;
DEFENDS ARMY
Secretary Updergoes Five
Hour Quizzing and De-
fends Course.


that there were any glaring faults in
his department. He said there might
have been some errors of Judgment.
but these would be incident TO an en-
terprise Of such magnitude as estab-
fishing a great army.
OF the Ordnance Department, which
has been riddled by criticism, he said:
"At the moment 1 cannot put my
mind on anything in this department
which can be helped by the commit
tees aid-because when I find any
thing wrong try to correct it"
Remains Calm.
Under the most persistent cross-ex-
the Secretary maintained
the utmost seff-possession. He was en-
Lirely unruffled and presented a me-
ticuiously polite attitude, bowling and
smiling with many of his answers. He
was exceedingly careful with his
words, pausing to puff at his long
cigar before he replied.
The examination was not concluded
and will be continued today.
Late in the afternoon questions
bore upon the matter Of members OF
the supply committee of the Council
of National Defense, when 1t was al
legged that these members had sold
to the government" the Secretary
said he could not possibly believe this.
1t was then revealed to the surprise
of everyone that not only Mr.. Baker
has abandoned the system Of purchas-
ing army supplies through the COM
mittee. but that the committee has
been abolished.
IT am informed the supply commit
tee has been dissolved" said the Sec
rotary very calmly.
The secret policy of purchasing had
the Secretary's complete approval,
said he. But he adde he knew little
about the changes made in the quail
Ity of the army uniform. So far as
the change from other machine guns
20 the Browning was concerned, Mr..
Baker said:
tff we could get better one to-
morrow we would adopt 1t. We are
always looking for better war mate
rial"
Mef<eIIar Queries.
Senator Mcclellan of Tennessee.
lid most of the questioning about
The Council of National Defense.
do you think it's a good policy
10 have sixteen out of nineteen
members of the supply committee
selling to the government? he
asked.
ITS obviously bad" answered
he secretary.
IT'S been testified that they got
g12s, ZOO, 900 in contracts. Do yeu
,nnroye of this?"
'I don't think any such thing
n
He said that Julius Rosenwaid
Ind Charlie Eisenman, of the Coun-
Ill. two men of unimpeachable In
.egrity" had gathered about them
groups of men to advise on prices,
md whose recommendations they
could check upon.
rs IL the intention of the War
to continue this sys-
.em?" asked Senator Mcclellan.
mo, the practice has stopped now.
Il was never intended to continue
t."
Cancels Contract.
The secretary said he had cancelled
the contract with the. Base Asserting
Company because Quartermaster Gen.
eraI Sharpe recommended this action
on the ground that the profits were
abnormal.
"win there be any more Kaplan
asked Mr.. Mcclellan.
81 don't think 'Kaplan' is a suffici-
emily generic term said the secre-
tary smilingly.
Don't you think troubles like the
ha
whenever there's secrecy" asked
Senator Weeks, of Massachusetts,
"Oh," said the secretary they can
happen even if there's no secrecy"
The navy's open purchasing has
worked like a charm" said Senator
THE navy's relatively SMALL" an
swered Mr.. Baker.
Men Equipped.
When ii came to a question OF
either sending men to be trained
without equipment or clothing. or
waiting until they could be COM
pletely fitted, Secretary Baker said,
he compromised, and sent them by
degrees with the equipment they
could get.
"And 1 see no reason" he said.
putting at his cigar, ito criticise my
decision. There was not, in my judg-
ment. any serious difficulty encoun-
tered by lack of equipment"
He said, along the line of short
age of uniforms. that while unfore-
seen conditions had interfered for q
time, the supply was NOW complete
and reserves were coming"
There are plenty of rifles in the
too, he declared-"all
men who need rifles have them"
Controversy occurred over whether
it was, efficient to make the change
The secretary said:
That war wasn't on us. because
II was not at our door. 1t was 3,00t
miles away. The great body of men
who went over had rifles.
Pershing Has Guns.
This government was relying Ur
positive assurances that the subma-
rine warfare would not be renewed
Mr.. Baker.
Every man sent to Europe has beer
armed, and those to be sent will also
be adequately armed, said the Secre-
tary, who added, that by February 1;
here would be more than enough. He
presented figures.
Gen. Pershing has taken some Lewis
guns from the marines and substituted
chauchat guns. he declared. 1t also
developed that up to this morning
he War Department has received but
1ine Of the new Brownings.
Too much blame should not be rest
ID upon Gen. Crozier's shoulders. said
he Secretary OF War. for much OF the
needs of the ordnace department had
been found out but lately-"afteI
knowledge" the Secretary called it.