The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-02-04

| ing business methods In buying sup
plies, and whether we can get order
out of confusion, and action, instead of
delay, by co-ordinating and bringing
under one head a number of great
government bureaus now running al
most Independently and often at cross
purposes.
Hears Only One Side, Like a King.
Il agree with Senator Chamberlain
that the president does not know the
real situation. He cannot give two
months to an investigation such as we
have done. Like a king. surrounded
by a court, he hears practically only
one side. The people who complain
do not reach the president. nor even
members of his cabinet. They come
to senator's and representatives. III
"The president and secretary of war
have evidently realized the defect of
the existing system and attempted to
change it without legislation. but with
out success"
Need Legal Director.
Praising Edwin Stettinius, the war
departments new surveyor of pur-
chases. Senator Hitchcock said he is
without legal authority, like all the
other voluntary agencies, and that a
LEGALLY constituted munitions director
was needed.
Senator Hitchcock said Gieat Brit
ain and France both had been forced
to remedy government weakness by a
system similar to the war cabinet, and
suggested that the president. under the
bill, would appoint and direct the war
cabinet. and, IL he pleases,, could ap-
point Secretaries McAdoo, Baker and
Daniels as the membeps.
The war departments obsolete
methods, the senator said, had brought
the expected results, t'confusion Of au-
sfffcapacity.r and he cited 7eyidenca,
given in the military committees in
quiry of clothing. rife and equipment
shortages and sickness and death in
camps as the result of overcrowding
and laok of clothing.
I'VE found we must depend on over
worked and overstrained france for
machine guns for ground use until
nearly the end of this year." he said,
adding that the first American made
heavy artillery will not be received un-
til July, and mot much before 1919
can we expect to use in France Amer
lean heavy artillery in any great guam
tity."
Two Courses Were Open.
1--WE found" he continued, that only,
now we are just beginning work on
two great powder plants to cost $60,-
100000. and cannot get powder from
these plants before August. We found
that though the medical department
asked for hospital ships last July, they
have not yet been ordered"
Two courses were open to the COM
mittee as a result Of the investigation,
said Senator Hitchcock-to report con-
ditions, making a few scapegoats and
ignoring the greatest evil of defective
or recommending eg.sla-
tion to give the president IAN up-to-
date warmaking organization"
Given Close Attention.
Senators on both sides gave Sena-
tor Hitchcock close attention.
Senator Kirby, democrat, asked If
the military committee formally had
made any findings or whether the
speech represented the Nebraska sem
ator's individual views.
Senator Hitchcock said the decision |
to report the two bills was by men, |
bers who had attended all the COM
meetings. Senator Kirby did |
not attend the investigation until early |
In support Of Senator Hltchcock's
statement on shoes ordered, Senator
Mcclellan another democratic member
of the military committee, cited testi-
mony of the quartermaster-g general
that from March to Dec. 81. 1917. or
ders were given for 21,117000 pairs.
"Pm not going to delay the senate
with all the proof" said Mr.. Hitch
cock. I'm merely stating the facts"
Senator Williams, of Mississippi,
asked Senator Hitchcock for his au-
thority for a statement that 21.00O.000
pairs of shoes have been ordered. SEN
itor Hitchcock said it came from ci-
,ilian officials in high position.
Enters General Denial.
"Then it's mere hearsay, after al"
Senator Williams replied. The Ne
,raska senator added ne understood
!, 900. 600 more pairs had been ordered
md he hoped the allies would take
'ome of them off our hands"
: When Senator Hitchcock said he
vas advised that a large quantity of
neat on a ship had spoiled by blum
Ter in turning off refrigeration =,
liant Democratic Leader Martin /;
Lsked the authority for the statement
Senator Hitchcock said it was widely ,
,ublished and never denied. Senator II
Weeks said the quartermaster-g general !
lad admitted it.
Senator williams demanded that |
senator Hitchcock disclose the names I
# his informants in all ca ses and Sem
tor Hitchcock declined. Senator Will
Jams then replied that in accordance .
With legal practice he would 'enter a
'eneral denial"
"And I shall leave 1t to the jury
eioined Senator Hitchcock.
When Senator Hitchcock declared
ecretary Baker had "widelv exag-
Grated" in predictions OF ability to !
end troops abroad, Senator Penrose
sked:
'T am curious to know what lnflu-
need the secretary to make sucn s
tatement so apart from the facts. Was ;
sanguine and hopeful nature or TACK
information to justify them?"
Replying that he believed Secretary T
aker merely lacked information, SEN
tor Hitchcock said:
Living Fools Paradise" '
81 consider it reckless-a terrible {
istake to so mfslead the country. OF Il
,urse the secretary did not do it in s