New-York tribune., 1918-01-12

ness, Senator Weeks declared, would
"unintcntionally mislcad tho country"
"The country" said the Senator,
SHOULD not be lulled to sleep by n
general statement Of facts that do not
exist"
During tho rapid cross-qucstioning
the Secretary was apparently serene,
putting cigar and answering all qucs-
tions calmly.
Secretary Baker said he mot sur
priscd' at the machinc-gun shortage
reported at Camp Bowie, in view Of the
general machine-gun situation. Sena-
tor Weeks said that witnesses declare
machine gun units arc "practlcally
throwing their time away" by not hav-
ing guns for practice.
"I think you should give this your
immediate and earnest attention." Sen
ator Weeks said.
Reveals Other Shortages
Secretary Baker added that on Jan
uary there was a deficiency of 80 per
cent in saddles, 40 per cent in saddle
blankets; plenty Of horses arc on hand.
but there is a small shortage of mules;
cantecns are about 40 per cent short
of February l needs; small arms am
munition is short, with production
short in Europe and in camps Stan
.dardization Of motor trucks had de-
laycd supplying cantonmcnts.
'-Why, nine months after war, are
there no rolling kitchens; isn't that
unreasonable ?" demanded Senator
Weeks.
~ can't answer that" Mr.. Baker re-
piled. 81 suppose it is because the
training units are not in the field and
do not need rolling kitchens. l have
not had one single complaint regard
ing food"
"When are these camps going to
have all the supplies they need ?" SEN
ator Weeks demanded, pounding his
fist on the table.
mo comprehensive answer can be
given to that" MIR. Baker replied. ad-
ding that he would give detailed fore
cast.
Returning to the question of pur-
chases by the supplies committee of
the Council of National Defence, Sec
retary Baker said:
"The process is being stopped, and
think 1T is stopped now"
hat becomes of the committee 2"
asked Senator Mcclellan.
"lt will disappear" replied Mr..
Baker, adding that Vice Chairman
Eisenman will be commissioned or
placed on salary with the reorgan-
lied quartcrmaster generals office.
Eisenman Denounced
~ want to protest against employ
ment of Mr. Eisenman because of de-
velopments in this committee regard
ing Mr.. Eisenman and Mr.. Kaplan,"
said the Senator. "Whle Mr.. Eisen-
man may be equipped, the revelations
before this committee, in my opinion,
show that Mr.. Eiscnman should not be
retained in any capacity"
Secretary Baker, in reply, praised
Mr.. Elsenman, his business enterprise
and judgment.
Il indorsc everything I know he has
DONE, SAID Baker, adding that EIscn-
man had saved the government many
millions of dollars. lie promised to
study the committees testimony re-
gardlng .Eiscnman's services
When asked by Senator Wadsworth
II, ~ view OF the war situation, he re-
garded the 1916 army estimates too
small, Secretary Baker replied:
'ln view Of what has happened since
1t would have been wiser for them to
have been much larger Ha-recalled
that Congress reduced some items.
Shouldn't Congress have been asked
to give more money!" demanded SEN
ator adsworth, pounding the table
Secretary Baker reiterated that events
would have justified larger appropria-
tons.
"Did the War Department. make Wig
orous recommendation in 1915 for in
crease OF our whole programme 2"
asked Mr.. Wadsworth
Congress Also Blamed
Secretary Baker replied:
i
better to have asked larger appropria-
tions. But in 1916 conditions were as
obvious to you as to us"
Scarcely so, you had the military in
tormatlon,' Senator Wadsworth re-
piled.
Senator Hitchcock again brought up
the machine gun question and pointed
out that the War Departments latest
estimates showed that July ] deliveries
Of Browning guns will be four times
larger than General CroZier's estimates
given the committee.
"Ihis is astonishing, impossible and
entirely out of joint with contract dc
livery specifications" said Senator
Hltchcock. Il would like the deprcp-
ancy explained"
Mr.. Baker said that more factory
facilities have been secured.
NO, mat Is not posslble, Mr.. Hitch
cock replied. '"All factories equipped
to make machine guns have ben given
contracts"
Secretary Baker said the new figures
he had secured by telephone were of
prospective deliveries" and said he
had no personal knowledge of the CON
1ict between his and General Crozicr's
estimate.
General Crozier said he couldn't
hope for one tenth Of deliveries under
contracts before August 49," Senator
Hitchcock insisted
Mr.. Bakers examination was not con-
cluded to-day and, because he desire d
to attend a cabinet meeting, the COM
mittee adjourned until tomorrow,
Senators to Limit