The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-05-15
WILSON OBJECTS
TO, ANY INQUIRY
OF General Conduct Of War;"
Chamberlain Resolution Is
Unnecessarily Broad
WOULD RESTRICT PROBE
TO Aviation Situation, Said to
Be the View Of Some
Senators.
WOULD RESTRICT PROBE
(Associated Press.)


TODAY 70 Senator Martin, Of vir-
ojnis. democratic leader in the
senate, President Wilson declared
he would regard the passage OF
the Chamberlain resolution calling
sor an investig cation Of aircraft and
other war activities az a "direct
vote Of want Of confidence in the
administration" and an attempt,
by congress to take over the con-
duct of the war.
Washington, May 15.-President
Wilson today confirmed reports
that he seriously objects to any In
vestigation Of the general conduct
of tho war;" In letter to Senator
Martin, no pointed out that the
Chamberlain resolution directing =
renewal Of the inquiry into aircraft
production and other Var activities
is unnecessarily broad.
n was believed that the presidents
attitude was due to the form In which
Senator Chamberlain, of Oregon, chair
man of the senate military committee
introduced the resolution. The reso-
luton "authorized and directed the
committee ito inquire into and report
to the senate the progress or aircrait
production in the United states or into
any other matters relating to the con-
duct of the war, by or through the war
department"
sothers Make Objection.
Objection to the wording of the reso-
lution was made yesterday by several
administration senators and also by
Senator Thompson, of Kansas, chair-
man of the senate expenditures COM
mittee, to which 1t was referred, ana
who conferred with the president late
Yesterday. Senator Thompson has In
sisted and members Of the senate mill
tary committee have agreed to redraft
the resolution to authorize the COM
mittee to inquire merely into army ac-
tiyities and not into general conduct
of the war or military strategy.
The expenditures committee met To-
day to redraft the resolution. senator
Chamberlain and others OF the mill
tary committee have declared there
was no objection to limiting the scope
of the resolution to army operations
and have disclaimed any intention OF
planning any general inquiry into tne
conduct OF the war"
The only Investigations planned by
the committee. which met today 10 ap-
point subcommttees to take charge'
are into aviation, aircraft patent ncens-
ing. ordnance production and the quar-
termaster- generals bureau. These in
uuiries are regarded by the committee
as combinations, divided into separate
branches. or it's recent inquiry.
To Aviation Alone. :, ,
II has been reported that some sena-
tors favor restricting the commuters
inquiry to aviation alone.
hnl
the committees inquiry was awaiting
consideration when the senate con-
vened today upon report by the ex-
penditures committee of the revised
Chamberlain resolution.
The subcommittee which viii tnves-
tigate ordnance production left today,
accompanied by Assistant Secretary OF
War Stettinius. and MaJ.-Gen. WIZ
jiams. acting chief OF ordnance, to IN
spect the bethlehem and Midvale ord
nance plants. The subcommittee COM
prised Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska,
chairman, and Senators Fletcher, or
Florida: Beckham, of Kentucky;
Weeks, of Massachusetts, and Wads-
worth. OF New York.
Would Not Press Further.
Senator Chamberlain indicated
that IL the senate were to refuse
to pass an amended resolution
thority he would not attempt toe
press the army inquiries further.
In co 1sideration of the Chamberlain
resolution, the expenditures commit
tee called Senator Chamberlain be-
fore IL and at spirited session the
Oregon senator disclaimed that the
military committee ever had any In
tention OF holding any general inquiry
into the conduct OF the war With
much show OF feeling. Senator Cham
berlain told the committee that It's
whole and only" purpose was formal
and in accordance with customary
routine and also TO give tho committee
somewhat moro power" than IL had
for past Investigations.
Chamberlain Protests.
Senator Chamberlain said he was
ready to take the whole question 10
the floor Of the senate and make his
record lhcre."
II developed at the meeting that the
military committee has held past In
qpiries by authority Of a somewhat
similar resolution, after, however. tho
committee itself had formally ordered
the war inquiry begun last December.
Senator Chamberlain. protesting that
his being summoned before the cx-
Ucnd1turcN committee Was an uhuhu"i
proceeding" insisted that the resolu-
ton TO which the president objects.
merely extended the military commit
tees authority and command OF neces-
sarv funds. He asserted positively al
no time has the committee had any
other intention than 10 confne its in
qulrios 10 army operations.
Specifically Limited.
nv \ vote OF to the senate eI-
pcnditurcs committee late today or
dorcd = favorable report on the Cham
l.erlatn resolution. but added amend
menfs modifying " 40 as 90 limit Fpe-
,.ifclily the military committee -.
ti,itics TO army operations. pro
,iso was added expressly prohibiting
the committee from a general inquiry
into the conduct of the war