The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-12
THEY QUESTION
BAKERS FIGURES
Senators of B 0 t h Parties
Handle Secretary of War
Without Gloves
SECRETARY SERENE
THROUGH 1T ALL
Says Thursdays Statements
Meant Only Men Ready
to Fight Equipped

Washington, Jan. l2.-Secretary Bak
er's examination before the Senate mil
itary committee yesterday was featured
by rapid crossiire of questions from
senators of both parties, who did moi
agree with the generally favorable view
of war preparations depicted by MIR. Bak
er's statement Thursday.
The senator's said his declaration that
war supplies were adequate would
mislead the country, as there were not
rifles enough for men in training. Sena.
tor Weeks declared the country SHOULD
not be lulled to sleep by general state
ment of facts that don't exist"
Mr.. Baker explained that he meant to
convey only the impression that all the
men ready for the fighting line were
adequately equipped.
Senators Wadsworth and Weeks, Re-
publicans, and Senators Chamberlain and
| Hitchcock took the lead in sharp and oc
easional emphatic REORGANIZATION of
| the secretary and at times handled him
without gloves. Mr. Baker appeared Sc
rene throughout.
Chairman Chamberlain said there were
fears for powder production.
"The situation is satisfactory, and /
think supplies are and will continue ade
quate," replied Secretary Baker.
Senators Wadsworth and Weeks eriti-
cised the board of labor standards, which,
according to testimony has pacitists and
socialists among its members and its re-
quiring new specifications in army cloth
contracts so rigid as to reduce produc-
ton.
II know their character and expert
qualifications well' said Secretary Bak
er in defense of the board, adding that
any possible delay was slight.
Senator Wadsworth asked whether in
view of the shortage of artillery and ma
chine guns the secretary's statement that
there were sufficient supplies "substan
TALLY for rush needs" was correct.
Yes, perfectly, as | understand it,
said Mr., Baker Our rush needs are sat
sied.' He could not say when all camps
would be fully supplied.
Senator Chamberlain asked Baker how |
he could say that when environments |
were short of rifles and machine guns |
and artillery.
Il mean that we have sufficient for the |
men actually engaged in fighting"
What mean to say and what ! want
the country to understand" Mr.. Baker
replied earnestly, sis that all the troops |
in France will be adequately equipped
with artillery and arms 1t would have
been fortunate if we could have gotten
guns sooner.
SIS there any reason why | 200 should
De held in storage" asked Senator Hitch
cock, referring to testimony by General
}rOZier to that effect
Il didn't know that" said Mr.. Baker.
Reverting to delays in machine gun
deliveries, Senator Hitchcock deplored
ardy contracts for Lewis guns and Mr..
3aker rejoined that large production of
guns would begin in February.
Senators Hitchcock and Weeks both
allied the secretary's attention to testi
nony of General Crozier and manufac- .
urers given contracts for the Browning /
,un that production in quantity would 4
lot begin before April. Such testimony,
secretary Baker conceded, would be most I
eliable. q
Sc rotary Bakers formal statement of !
thursday regarding army preparedness, {
senator Weeks declared, would "uninten I
ionally mislead the country II
Returning to the question of purchases a
v the supplies committee of the council d
t national defense, Mr.. Baker said:
"The process is being stopped, and
hink it is stopped now. The committee
ill disappear" He added that Vice
hartman Eisemann would be commits
oned or placed on salary with the re-
rganized quartermaster generals office.
Il want to protest against employment
Mr.. Eisemann," said Senator Weeks,
While Mr.. Eisemann may be equipped,
he revelations before this committee, in
y opinion show that he should not be
stained in any capacity" Secretary
aker praised and endorsed Mr.. Else
ann.