The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-01
MILLIONS WASTED
UPON AIRCRAFT
Hughes Report Censures
Army Officers For :.
hsufficency.

WASHINGTON. Nov. THE long
awaited report on the aircraft inves-
tieation. conducted during the last
I'VE months by Charles e Hughes
and Attorney General Gregory, was
placed before President Wilson today
by the Attorney General and imme-
diately made public.
Delays and wastes Of the production
program. the report declares. were
due chiefly to the defective orEaniza-
ton OF the work OF aircraft produe-
ton and serious lack OF competent
direction Of that work by the re-
sDonsfble officers OF the signal corps."
No fault is found With the manage:
men of aircraft. affairs since the re-:
Organization OF last May which plac-;
ed John D. Rya In charge. The civil,
Ian personnel ok the Aircraft Pro-
ductton Board is exonerated OF any
wTongdotnS.
Letter transmitting the report to Presi-
den Wilson. says he Il in "substGu-
tfa1 accord" with the finding by Mr..
Hughes
The report finds no graft" IN the
generally accepted sense. but makes
recommendations for proceedings again
st Army officers held guilty Of dealing
with corporations In which they were
interested.
appropriation OF 1851, 1851. 1865, the re-
port says, was In the abandonment
Of two types OF airplanes-oue OF them
the Bristol-and q failure to salvage.
aggregatfng about $24,000.0o0. The
figures show that last May. OF that
great appropriation, $134. 100000 aetu-
ally had been disbursed and that up to
october 1. the expenditure had reach
ed about SIX, 100000 for All avtac
ton purposes This d1d noe meluae
expenditures Of the sales department.
which buys material and resells It to
manufacturers. and for advances fo7
building plants
Contracts let. however, committed
about S470.00o.0o OF the fund The
figures are given in answer TO the
general charge that the sum had all
been expended with practically no re-
suits.
The Attorney General concludes in
his letter OF transmittal that mo such
profits have been allowed as to justify
charge of bad faith"
Col. z. A. Deeds, the storm ce2ter
about whom ragged most OF the ch1g-
es which brought on the Investigation.
the report recommends. should be
brought before a court-maTtfal Tor
sending confidential War Department
information on the aircraft situation
to former business associates In Day.
ton, O.. and for being sponsor last
February for a grossly misleading
statement" to the effect that "the
first American-built battle planes are
today en- route to the front in France"
Criminal prosecutors OF three ar
my officers are recommended on the,
ground that they transacted business
with corporation In which they were
financially interested. These officers, ,
are: LieutCol. J. G. vindent, former!
vice-president OF the Packard Motor,
Car Co, now In charge OF the atrplan
engineery division Of the aircraft pro-
duction bureau: Lieut-Col. Geo. W.
Mtxter. q stakeholder In the Curdss :
Airplane and Motor Corporation. pro-;
ductton manager Of the aircraft ou-i
reau; and Second Lieut.. Samuel Bst
Vrooman Company. OF Philadelphta..
which sold mahogany to the Govern
ment for airplanes.
Mr.. Hughes concluded his report
With the statement that ut 10 not
wthtn the province OF this report TO
make recommendations with respect TO
administrate policy, but It should Do
said that under the direction OF ny
Ryan and Mr.. Potter, there has been
Improvement In organization ana gto.
gress has been made In gr1tttyane
measure.