New-York tribune., 1918-05-17
Opposes the Chamberlain
Resolution as Amended
by Committee
Senate May Decide
The Issue To-day
Appointment of Hughes
Means P->.;dent Wants to
Do All Investigating
By C. w. Gilbert

WASHINGTON, May 16.-The fate
Of further Investigations by the
Senate into the effectiveness of war
preparations is likely to be decided to-
morrow The President is opposed to
the Chamberlain resolution, even as
amended by the Committee on Audit
and Control. He is opposed to any
resolution at all extending the inves-
tigatine powers of the Military Af-
fairs Committee. Senator Thompson,
who saw Mr. Wilson this morning,
said:
"The President authorized me to
say that he was just as much opposed
to the amended resolution as he was
to the original resolution"
It is understood that Mr.. Wilson
holds no resolution is necessary, as
the Military Affairs Committee has
now all the powers it requires to con-
duct any investigation needed. He
thinks, it is said, that the passage of
the amended resolution or any resolu-
ton of similar nature would be
equivalent to direction to the COM
mittee to start inquiries into various
subjects and that continuous inquiries
By Congress would interfere with the
progress of war preparations.
1t will be recalled in this connection
that the President, in his letter to
Senator Chamberlain at the time the
Senator offended him by his speech in
New York. said that the investigators
had delayed the work of making ready
for war, using up the valuable time Of
War Department executives by calling
them to the witness stand.
Real Attitude of
the President
The exact language he used was
this:
Investigations which drew indis-
seassA6 officials constantly away
from rhetr work and officers from
their commands and contributed a
great deal to such delay and confusion
as had inevitably arisen"
That letter represents the real atti-
tude OF the President. He resents in
sestigations, and he is determined that
IN the way the Chamberlain resolution
as amended provides that they shall
be. If that resolution should pass, Con-
press will not wait for a scandal to de-
veiop before making an inquiry, but
VIII inform itself constantly how the
billions it appropriates for war are
being spent.
Mr.. Wilson means that Congress
shall not do this. The amendment of
me resolution has compelled him to
snlft his ground and disclose more
nearly what his real attitude is. It is
not unlikely that a further letter from
him to-day will make plain that con-
stant oversight of expenditures for
supplies will be intolerable to him. and
VIII declare it to be an interference
with the conduct of the war and a re-
nectlon of want of confidence in his
administration.
me meaning of the Hughes appoint
ment, as OF the earlier appointment of
,he marshall committee, is that the
resident intends to take the function
o. investigating away from Congress.
ne wants everything, even the inquiry
lnto the acts of his subordinates, in his
sosa hands, and by opposing even the
amended Chamberlain resolution he is
boldly challenging the right of the SEN
.e s.s 70 inform itself about the expen-
diture of public moneys.
Investigation Only
Independent Activity
!, Investigation is the one real function
LAT "a Congress has been exercising. For
-. .ne rest it has been merely doing what
sae resident tells it to do-passing the
Jaws ne asks for and appropriating the
money he demands. Investigation has
asen Ir its one vital independent activity.
auu the PRESIDENT means to take that
away and exercise it himself.
III tho Cho ~
VI passage the Military Affairs in
ssst'gations will run on for little
sane' but will stop soon for lack of
~Her during recess or for lack of
means IL the Senate refuses to an.
tvIsupriate $4,000 now for carrying
s,.sn smsm on 1t very soon will decline to
/. ;u.nish money on the basis on which
In mas furnished money in the past.
tne resolution is beaten there can
y. - no mistake about the meaning Of
- de1eat. 1t will be a vote against
dn.ssas,tigation. d.na, in obedience to the Presi-
ssnss ,;au wishes, and inevitably investiga-
ss;as yas VIII stop, unless some scandal
Uses Uses which cries out for more
,ndependent inquiry than one con-
itself. 'us'se uepare'"ehs
"a oenstor McKellar made his report
mi.sn sne majority of the Audit Com
ma.tse to-day, in favor of the amended
m.ci ,ssccla,ion. Senator Thompson will
r.ak ake his minority report against any
~ ,hsosution tomorrow. The members Of
~ I Military Affairs Sub -Committee
nave been visiting gun plants will
- BACK in their seats tomorrow, and
A., sots may be had. The issue is close.
~. me general expectation is that the
Sndent will win and investigations
" sne Senate will soon stop.