The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-11-29


criticised severely by some. We have
lost some friends. We have made
some friends. Our effort has always
been to help: never to hinder. 1 be-
lieve we have been indicated"
Senator Chamberlain thus summed
up the work OF the Senate Military
Affairs Committee, of which he is
chairman. during the war period.
"We have had fearless COM
mittee," he said. with less coura-
geous men our achievements would
have been impossible. Now that the
war Is over, and Investigations will
be made to criticise and not to as
sist, / am, ina way, glad to relin-
Quish the craftsmanship"
Senator Chamberlain will retire as
chairman Of what has been the most
important committee of Congress dur
ing-1he last year and a half when the
Republicans come into power on
March 4. He may be succeeded by
Senator Warren, father-in-law of Gen
eral Pershing.
No man in Congress has been more
severely criticised than Senator Cham
berlain, although his colleagues be-
lieve he did more to assist in winning
.
His controversy with the President,
following his assertion that the Gov
eminent had fallen down" in the con-
duct OF the war, provided many SEN
sations.
Predicts Scandals.
Scandals growing out OF the war
cannot be avoided" Senator Chamber
lain said. MANY conditions will be
revealed within the next six months
that probably will shock the country.
The public will be shown where there
has been seemingly unwarranted ex-
travaganee in war expenditures and
will condemn those responsible for it,
without taking into account the press
ing necessity for speed in their work. /"
Senator Chamberlain let It be
known that one subcommittee OF
the Military Affairs Committee has
uncovered the most lavish expendi-
lures in carrying out the Ordnance
program. II, the war were still in
progress he said he would feel COM
PEELED to lay this information before
the country. but since It is not, he
sees little to be gained by such a
course.
Payment of SO for aircraft mate
rails worth only IS, and letting con-
tracts without competitive bidding
is difficult to understand" Senator
Chamberlain said, unless you take
into account the fact that the Air
craft Board was compelled to get its
materials as quickly as possible at
whatever price it could. 1t had no
time to look around for bargains
Similar circumstances existed in
many other departments"
Little to DO Now.
From this time forward the Mill
tary Affairs Committee will have lit
tie to do. Senator Chamberlain
believed. The Forthcoming army bill
will be of far less interest than those
enacted during the war. he said
President Wilson has practically
all the power he needs TO proceed
with rehabilitation" he continued.
The various bureaus created during
the war can be consolidated with
other bureaus under the Overman act,
and their service practically termi-
mated. The draft iaw-which was
the most important piece of war leg
islation passed by Congress-becomes
imperative with the proclamation Of
peace
The army should not be demobilized
too rapidly. Senator Chamberlain said.
1t would be necessary to maintain a
large force-the exact numbers to be
determined by General Pershing-in
Europe until the peace treaty is sign
ed.
Labor Absorption Important.
The absorption of army men and
war workers in civil employments
was perhaps the most important prob
lem confronting the country at this
time, he added. The cancellation of
war contracts on which great num-
bers OF men are employed should not
be pushed too rapidly, he believed.
Whether the threatened suits against
the Government over the cancellation
of contracts would develop, depend
ed upon the foresight with which the
contracts were drawn by the war De-
partment.