The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-05-16
WILSON RESENTS
WAR PROBE
Asks Senate to Kill Investi-
eating Resolution.
THE MEASURE IS CHANGED
The President Would Regard Passage
in Present Form as "Direct Vote of
Want of Confidence.

Washington, May 16-In a letter
to Senator Martin, Virginia, Demo-
cratic leader in the senate. Presi-
dent Wilson declared he would
regard passage of the Chamberlain
resolution calling for an investiga-
ton of aircraft and other war activi-
ties as direct vote of want of con-
fidence in the administration" and an
attempt by congress to take over con-
duct of the war.
AS a result of the letter the senate
expenditures committee by a vote of
three to two, ordered a favorable re-
port on the resolution, but added
amendments modifying it so as to limit
specifically the investigating commit
tees activities to army operations. A
proviso was added expressly prohibit
ing the committee from a general in
quiry into the conduct of the war.
Senator Chamberlain, Democrat,
Oregon, chairman of the military COM
mittee, in a prepared statement indi-
Gated if he did not receive authority
by the senate the military investiga-
ton planned would be dropped.
The amended resolution eliminated
a reference in the original measure to
the conduct of the war" After chang
ing the wording the committee added
a proviso that nothing in this reSolu-
ton shall be held to authorize the
military affairs committee to take
~
intend the executive branch of the
government in the conduct of the war.
II deem it my duty to say" the pres
ident's letter said, that I should re-
gard the passage of this resolution
as a direct vote Of want of confidence
in the administration.
1.-THE purpose which it undoubtedly
expresses has been expressed again
and in various forms during the pres
emf session and has always seemed to
originate in a noted distrust of those
who are at present in charge of the
executive functions of the govern
ment
"Those executive functions are very
clearly understood. They have been
defined both by the constitution and
by long experience and one can doubt
where the responsibility for them lies
or what the methods are by which
those who are responsible can be held
to thei rduty.
"Such activities on the part of a
particular committee of the senate as
this resolution would look forward to
would constitute nothing less than an
attempt to take over the conduct of
the war, or at least so to superintend
and direct and participate in the exc
cutive conduct of it as to interfere
in the most serious way with the &C
ton of the constituted executive.
ST protest most earnestly against
the adoption of any such action, and
shall hope that every senator who in
tends to support the present admins
tratiOn in the conduct of the war will
vote against it. These are serious
times and it is absolutely necessary
that the lines should be clearly drawn
between friends and opponents
The president informed Senator
Martin he had no objection to the
mosts searching inquiry into the air.
craft situation, but that he deemed in
advisable at this time any investiga-
ton of the conduct of the war. At
the last session of congress his op-
position to such an investigation put
an end to proposals 1t be made.