The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-07

mates IN the army bill are under con-
tsideration.
Committee Starts Probe
WASHINGTON. May THE house
military committee today opened an
informal inquiry of its own into the
air craft production work when it
began hearings on the $1,032, 000, 00o
appropriation asked by the war de
partment for airplanes. The commit
tee called Secretary Of War Baker.
General March, acting chief OF staff.
Director General Ryan, OF the aircraft
production board, and General Ken
ley, chief Of aeronautics, General
Suuier and Colonel Deeds, former air
craft officials. into the hearing this
morning.
Three Separate investigations.
WASHINGTON, May Three dis
cas- aircraft production program were
being developed today.
Upon receiving President Wilson'S
letter this morning asking the justice
department to go into the charges Of
graft and matversation launched
against air craft officials by Gutzon
Borgfum, the sculptor, Attorney Cen
eral Gregory summoned Assistant At
torney General G. Carroll Todd for a
conference on the subject. 1t is be-
heved Todd, who has been conducting
an investigation Of graft charges
against the Hog island ship yard Of
| ficials, viii also lead the air craft In
iquiry.
Secretary OF War Baker, before the
house military committee, was quoted
as having declared charges Of graft
and failure in the air craft program
constituted merely enemy propa-
ganda." and asked that he be allowed
TO outline next years program before
being asked about last years work.
Following publication of reiterated
charges of Bmgfum here today, the
storm OF criticism in the senate re
garding air craft broke loose again.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF
the. military affairs committee, re-
versing his previous position declared
that the committee would conduct
searching Investigation that would
spare nobody and make no use of
white wash"
There is something radically wrong
and we propose TO put our finger ON
the man or men who are responsible
for the present condition" he declar-
ed on the senate floor '"Tl1is commit
tee is going to find where the $780,
100000 afr craft fund has gone. There
ought to be a change in method. The
president has now instituted change
and l look for better results Air
craft production is now In the hands
Of a man who has made good In his
private business which is pretty good
evidence that he will make good In
business for the government
This committee proposes to do
everything IN fits power to win the
war. It does not propose to engage in
any white wash process, either.
"The people of the country should
be told the truth about the situation.
They never have been. do not
blame anybody Perhaps nobody has
known the truth"
He then declared that 1900 Ameri-
cans in aviation service were sent
abroad for training where they wait
ed a long time and were then sent
back here 10 train
CAS- result I have been Informed
that the morale of these men has been
absolutely destroyed" he declared.
Senator Thomas, Colorado, submit.
ted the letter received from the presi-
dent regarding the charges of Gutzon
Borglum. Thomas said he had looked
over the Borgfum report and was in
clined to doubt the credfbflity of the
findings
Senator Brandegee. Connecticut
submitted letter from the president
of the American Aero society defend
ing the officers of the society and the
engineers in its employ.
81 want to incriminate nobody he
asserted. 1.-THE people who are max