Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-12
Senatorial Investigators
Ask Pointed Questions
Regarding War Work.
NEEDED MACHINE
GUNS IN STORAGE
Asked About 200 Lewis Guns Said 70
Be Held in Reserve, Secretary Baker
Promises Immediate Distribution to
Army Cantonme nts for Training Pur. (
poses-Baker Would Have Country
Feel Secure in Crisis.

Washington, Jan. Secretary
Baker came in for sharp cross exam
ination today at the hands Of the senate
military committee conducting the war
inquiry.
At the outset the committee do.
manded to know what had been done
about 200 Lewis machine guns held
in storage while cantonments and
Camps needed them for practice.
Secretary Baker promised they Inn
mediately would be distributed, and
Senator Weeks observed that the dis.
tributon had been delayed a month.
That is the essence OF the whole
thing" said Senator Weeks. There in
delay too much delay. Things that
should be done at once are delayed
when everything counts"
Mr.. Secretary" Chairman Cham
berlain broke in. your general state
ments OF conditions are calculated to
leave the impression that all these mat
ters are really in good shape"
Baker Insists on Security.
The senator recited reports OF cloth. J.
ing shortages at Camp Sherman, ana,
added: BsN es
THE effect on the country OF your
statement is to lull into a feeling OF
security that everything has been done
that should have been done. don't
think 1t has"
IL think the country Is entitled to
feel secure" Mr.. Baker replier ear-
nesty. when the facts are known
the country will feel secure
Testimony Of Others Contradietsd.
Senator Hitchcock, another demo-
cratic member of the committee. ssiid:
But. Mr. Secretary, we have specific
testimony Of exact clothing shortages.
while your testimony seems to CONTRA
dict them completely"
Mr.. Baker said the shortages cited
might be OF final and not of initial
equipment.
"I want to give the picture as II ts"
said Mr.. Baker. but think the figures
show that we are at the climax OF the
shortage. Conditions are not perfect,
Of course" 4
Fear Effect on. Legislation.
"The fault I find" the chairman re-
piled, "is that, il congress and the peo-
pie get the impression which your
general statements give. that every
thing is all right. they will believe
that no legislation to correct the de-
partment's system Is necessary
But | must insist" said Mr.. Baker.
that under facts as they are. the
country Is entitled to reinsurance"
Mr.. Baker cited statistics OF short
ages in December. and how supplies
had been increased during the month.
Mistakes in distribution and furnishing
correct sizes. he contended. also con-
tributed to shortages.
Objects to Munitions Director.
The establishment OF n munitions
director was disapproved today by
Secretary Baker, in testifying before
the senate military committee. who
saws the reorganization of the war de-
partment is virtually the same us that
of Great Britain.
Better Than British System.
By coordination under the war IN
dustries board. experimenting the nav
nj supply system and the reorgahtzed
army system. Mr.. Baker felt further
CO. ordination unnecessary and tnat
the whole system now Is better tnah
the British munitions direction.
When asked by Senator Chamner-&
lain why he objects to the bill to estao-
Iish a new department Of munitions
with a cabinet head. Secretary Baker
replied: a5&
"Of course, have no right to cons
ment on additions OF new member &c
the presidents cabinet but as to the
bill. first 1t creates an impossible task
No human being can be found to-
decide all the questions the bill would
present You would have an Industrial
Dictator"
"Yet it has worked a marked suc--S
cess in England" said Senator Wads-5
| worth.
quite the contrary" Mr.. Baker said.,s
insisting that the British system was
an improvement over former system