The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-23
Parallel Action Would
Tend to Embarrass
Department.
PROTEST RECEIVED
Statement Of All PERT
nent Facts Promised
When Probe Is
Completed.

washington, May 22-In a vtgor-
Gus letter sent TO the senate military
affairs committee today. Charles r.
Hughes made II plain that the air.
craft investigation by the departm
OF justice must not be hampered by
parallel inquiry by the committee.
In taking this stand against a con-
tinuanee of the committees investt-
cation II is understood that Mr..
Hughes reflects the wishes Of the pres
ident. who has been opposed to the
committees action,
II IS probable that-the committee
itself will wave it's ciaim to continue
with the inquiry and Will consent to
Jet Mr. Hughes conduct the 1nvestiga-
ton along the lines he has laid down.
Following IL the letter o. Judge
Hughes TO the attorney-generai:
May IS. 1918.
My Dear Mr.. Attorney
I'm accordance with your request,
I shall attempt To summarize briefly
some Of the points discussed in our
conference today. particularly with
respect TO the scope of our inquiry.
1T In quite evident. from the ma
ferial you have already gathered and
from the matters discussed with YOU
and Mfr Frierson. that II would he
necessary for us carefully 70 examine
all thu activities relating 70 aircraft
production 1t Is easy. OF course.
theoretically TO distinguish between
an inquiry within the province OF the
derartm ent of justice and one which
Ia aimed merely at alleged waste. or
neglect. or mismanagement, or In
efficiency, apart from any appropriate
basis for civil suit to recover mis-
Appropriated moneys, or a criminal
prosecution.
The Practical View.
AS practical matter. however. II
ia evident that In the eEdeavor TO de-
termine whether there ia a basis for
civil suit by the government or a
criminal prosecution II will ba neces-
sary for us 10 make a thorough in
CURRY into the entire history Of air
craft production since the beginning
OF the war and of all proceedings
which have been taken by any per-
sons or corporations concerned there
with. We shall not be able to as
certain whether there has been dis
honesty or malversation OF any kind
unless we 60 thoroughly into all the
! transactions which have been had.
IF we discover basis for civil
suits by the government they VIII be
instituted II we fi-d grounds for a
I criminal prosecution, II will be in or
| der to go before the grand jury 10
/ obtain indictments II we find nc
sufficient basis for such proceedings
/ our conclusion. 20 he convincing &c
! the country. could not well be stated
/ as a more negative conclusion in gen
eral terms. but should be accompain
ed by a fair, candid and adequate
statement Of the facts which our in
vestigation has disclosed.
I'VE should of course, In no case
make ANY statement which, from n
military point OF view. should not
/ be made, and II we had a basis for
/ civil or criminal proceedings, We
should properly reserve the evidence
so far ~ IT would be appropriately
/ disclosed upon the trial and previous
/ " withheld
| But | am very sure that the coun'
! try would not he content with our In
4 qutry. and particularly II we discover
no ground for further proceedings
unless we showed the basis for our
conclusion In an adequate report OF
/ the facts we have ascertained. This
certainly should be dispassionate and
! impartial. and be confined to the facts
/ When we are in a position TO make
such report of our inquiry we shall
/ know facts. and IT will he reassurtne
! to the country and support our in
quiry. and its reputation for integrity
! II we state concisely, but fairly an6
/ completely. the results OF our In
vestigation.
| Wants No Embarrassment.
| "1f 1t Is understood that we con
| template this course of action should
suppose there will be a general dis
| position to permit our investigation