New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-05-04
PRESIDENT. Will
NOT BLOCK PROBE
Believed Agreeable to InVestiga.
ton Of Aircraft Production

Washington, May 4.-Thero is
| every prospect that there will be a
| thorough investigation of the allega-
| tons made by Gutzen Borglum whose
| charges with respect to men connect
| ed with aircraft production have
| aroused members of congress-.
President Wilson, it was asserted
| will interpose no objection to a con-
gressional investigation to get at the
| facts regarding aircraft production
and those in charge of that import
ant task in the past, and may even
! take action himself to clarity the sit
uation. There was no official an
nouncement from the White House,
| or any intimation as to the chara cter
of the action the President might
| take.
Secretary Baker is not interposing
any objection to an investigation if
the senate considers it wise to seek
the facts and is, in fact, himself
very carefully studying the text of the
Borglum report to the president,
which has as yet not been made pub
lie. When Secretary Baker was
asked today regarding his attitude in
the matter he said:
THE War Department will, of
course, welcome any evidence of any
wrong doing, if there has been any.
in any branch Of the War Depart
ment, and if anything is brought to
my attention Warranting an investi-
cation it will be investigator
Secretary Baker was asked wheth-
er the allegations contained in the
Borglum report had been brought to
his attention.
Il have the Borglum report before
me now said he, land am studying
the contents of it,
The Secretary added that the Mar
shall report, which now was before
the president, was being considered
by the secretary also as part of his
consideration of developments in the
aircraft situation that had come dur
ing his absence in France. Both these
reports were filed while he was in
Europe.
Secretary Baker said he had not re-
ferred the matters covered by the
Borglum report to the department of
justice, and when asked what his at
titude would be toward any investi-
cation the Department of Justice
might see fit to make, Mr.. Baker
said: There will be no conflict what
ever between the war department and
the department of justice"
In response to another question,
Secretary Baker said that he had
taken no action on the basis of the
Borglum or Marshall reports and that
as a matter of fact he had not COM
pleted his consideration of the Bor-
glum report.
The senate military affairs commit
tee laid the ground work for an IN
vestigation of aircraft production. In
an informal discussion, the committee
decided that if Mr.. Borglum could pre-
sent facts and witnesses to substan-
tiate his charges, the committee would
delve to the very bottom of the mat
ter, and if it discovered conditions to
warrant the department Of justice
act promptly and decisively.
1t all rests with Mr.. Borglum. With
facts the committee will unhesitating-
ly go on. Without additional evidence,
the committee will not act. Mr..
Borglums report to the president, as
printed in The New York Times, and
read into the Congressional Record,
does not contain enough substantial
ing evidence, the committee holds.
But if the investigation is entered upon
it will be amp1ified to include every
division of the war department.
;Ir. Borglum is engaged in round
ing up witnesses and he is expected
to communicate with the committee
early in the coming week.
Word from the White House that
President Wilson would not in any
way oppose a congressional investi-
cation of the aircraft situation rather
spurred committee members toward
action Some members, however, take
the position that the committee has
gone far enough and that 1T now
rests with the department OF Justice
to investigate and prosecute If any
prosecuting is to be done.
Senator Weeks of Massachusetts,
voiced the views Of these members
when he said:
This committee has done its part.
1t has already shown conditions to be
bad. It has called this to the atten-
ton of officials of the government.
The committee is made up of very
busy men and we should not DO any
more investigating.'
Other members, however, pointed
out that the department Of Justice ap-
parentlv had no inclination to take
upon itself the investigation Of alleged
shortcomings or criminal acts of any
one connected with the government,
and that unless the Military committee
acted nothing would be done.