El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-05-22

ONE notable result Of the aircraft controversy has been
the appointment by president Wilson Of Charles Evans
Hughes former justice Of the supreme court and M Viii
sons Republican opponent for the presidency in the 1916
election to investigate the whole aircraft situation. The
president could not taken action fully calculated
to silence those who beginning say be trying
10 cover ID the aircraft scandal than to ask Mr. Hughes
make report It. For Mr.. Hughes, while patriotic
and as whoeheartedly committed the president
Wilson could be accused Of any partisan bias IN favor
Of the president Moreover his record investigator
~oaby the insurance inquiry some years such
to guarantee IN advance the horougnnes OF ms eTorts
applied aircraft and the careful eLactness Of any
statements he may make IN his report MI hughes IS so
constituted that be IS not given to Ceesque Yagaes OF
BakeTesque optimism
The country IS much interested in discovering what has
become Of its s640O00000 appropriation for aircraft It
know why the thousands Of aTpanes which
sum have brought forth have not materazed
If has been ntimated, large part Of the money has
been dssnated IN the form Of graft the people want to
know got and under what that ap
ropriate measures may be taken against the culprs
Guzon Borgum could not report these serious matters
couvncingly but Mr. Hughes The sculptor Borgum
said he blocked at every turn by the military and
there VIII be no blocking Mr.. Hughes even, If Mr..
Borglum said presidential investigator lacks authority
law compel the revelation Of facts. The former JUS
ce Of the supreme court may IND legal authority sueh as
he needs If not that aircraft official viii be very daring
who undertakes TO cloak the spotlight that the coun-
try has been fully aroused 70 the tsct that something Is
wrong aircraft and since the president has appointed
OF the foremost uIsts Of the nation to find out what that
something Is.
Mr. Hughess investigation gives better promise Of
cess than that which senator Chamberlain has suggested the
senate make Senator Chamberlains resolution, indeed
covered only the aircraft situation but all other nat
tiers pertaining the department and It aroused presl
dent wilson's opposition because the president believed It
really contemplated inquiry into the conduct Of the
which he said he could interpret only expression Of
lack Of confidence in the administration. The president
said he did not oppose any Investigation into the aircraft
middle but wanted broad inquiry into everything con-
nected with the
The presidents position is sound It Is permissible to
investigate where there is evidence Of failure wrong
doing whether It affects aplanes ships munitions
But when there is indication Of wrong doing IN these
other departments Of effort to make such sweeping
Investigation Of the conduct Of the would BE- the
president says equivalent vote Of want Of confidence
IN the administration. Besides, there would be too much
danger IN an investigation Of that kind, danger of reveal
ing to Germauys spies things in connection with war
plans which Germany would give great deal to find out
Il may be that Difference TO Mr.. wilson's view the ser
ate may modify the Chamberlain resolution that It pro
vds for an Investigation Of aircraft only but the people
would have more confidence in the disclosures Of Mr.
Hughes going deeply into that subject with nothing else
his mind, to speak, than IN the necessarily less
thorough examination which committee OF senators could
make because Of the multiplicity Of demands upon their
time and effort the great press Of work before congress
Mr. Chamberlains resolution introduced before the
president asked Mr. Hughes TO investigate but since Mr.
Hughes has consented It would that the senate might