Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-11-08
| HUGHES GIVES
! CLEAN BILL
Aircraft Report Says Only 1884,
044,399 Has Been
Spent.
HAD S691, ,351,866 TOSpEND
Result of Hughes Investigation Made
Public at the White House-ce-
scribed by Nonpartisans as
Splendid Showing.

Washington, Nov. .. - The lonS
awaited report on the aircraft situa-
tion by former Justice Charles Z.
Hughes was made public at the White
House.
Taken in its entirety il is practically
clean bill of health. The country is
informed that the $691.351 ,S66.41
which it gave in taxes and in bond is
sues for our aircraft program, has not
been squnndered.
On the contrary, only $t34,044. 1927
thus far has been expended. with re-
suits which nonpartisans describe as
splendid.
The findings of Mr.. Hughes in brief
follow:
Col. Edward A. Deeds, formerly in
charge of aircraft production, shoulo
be tried by court-martial for improp-
erly favoring the Dayton Wright AIT
plane company, holding airplane con-
tracts, and for making q false anc
misleading statement in regard to the
progress of aircraft production, 1t nav
ing been untrue at the time that any
airplanes had been shipped to France
as he had reported.
Officers found to have had transac-
tions on behalf of the government with
corporations in the pecuniary profits
of which they had an interest should
be prosecuted under section Al OF the
criminal code.
Lieut.. Col. Jesse G. Vincent vio-
lated the statute by participating in
transactions with the Packard Motor
Car company, of which he is stock
holder and formerly was vice presi-
dent.
Lieut. Col. George w. Mixter. for
merly vice president of Deere & Co.,
Moline, H., violated the statute.
strictly construed, in serving in
supervisory capacity over inspections
at the Curtiss Airplane and Motor
company, in which he holds % shares
of preferred stock.
Second Lieut.. Samuel e. Vrooman,
Jr., violated the statute by serving In
supervisory capacity in inspec-
tions of aircraft propeller lumber sold
to the government by the S. B. Vroo-
man company.
while bombing planes are being
produced in quantity not a single COM
bat plane has been sent to France. al
though 'such pursuit planes could
have been produced in large quantities
many months ago had there been
prompt decision and conscientious pur-
pose
"The Bristol fighter, withdrawn from
production as unsafe and unsuccessful,
has been replaced by the S. S. E.-5.
two of which have been delivered. Up
to October IS the De Haviland 4 type
of bombing and reconnaissance plane
had been produced to the number of
1855 One hundred Handley-Page
heavy bombers have been delivered
in parts. S5 per cent complete.
and FIVE lie Pere planes recently have
been delivered.
"Up to October is the number of
Liberty motors delivered was 10,J6S.
Since June 80 there have been deliv-
cred 242 Hispapo $50 horsepower mo-
tors and one Bugatti motor. Five His
pano 300 horsepower motors have
been delivered.
Aircraft production has been at
tended by serious waste of materials
and impeded by chaotic labor condi-
tons, the government having been
| largely competing with itself in the
labor market.
"An 'extravagaRt scale of pronts
| has been allowed TO manufacturers of
behind in deliveries, expects. to com
pIete his contract for 5000 engines by
January with an aggregate profit OF
| $5,S15, GOO. The Packard company is
due to reap $15,OO0,00O in profits, and
the Lincoln Motor company $11,o50, ,OOC
on a capital Of $S50,O00."
In a separate report Attorney Gen
eral Gregory says he finds himself Sin
substantial accord" with the findings
If MIR. Hughes, including those con,
| cerning violation of law. It is assumed
that Mr. Gregory will institute prose
cutions of the alleged offenders.
Howard f. Coffin. former chairman
of the aircraft board; General Squier
| chief signal officer; Col r. l.. Mont
gomery, Col. S. d. Waldon, Richard F
Howe, Harry B. Thayer. Admiral Tay
lor and other naval officers who are
members of the aircraft board are ex
oDerated Of charges of violation Of
law.