The Washington herald., 1918-05-28
PLANE PROBE
IN FACTORIES
BY SENATORS
Committee, to Junket and
Ferret. Consulting Judge
Hughes Often.

The Senate subcommittee which Is
to investigate the aircraft production
decided yesterday to commence the m
quiry BY making q tour of the factor
les where airplanes are being built
under government contract The first
of the factories will be inspected some
day this week The committee de-
elined to name in advance the factory
first chosen for inspection.
As soon as the tour of the factories
has been completed, the committee
will hear testimony from witnesses
summoned to explain reasons for de-
lay in production The committee in
tends to devote itself chiefly to as
eertaining the facts as to whether or
rot the manufacturers of airplanes
for the United States army has been
proceeded with as expeditiously as
possible and whether there has been
delay due to inefficiency or criminal
purpose.
. Cooperate with Hughes.
The committee will cooperate with
Charles z. Hughes, who is conduct
ing the Department Of Justice inquiry,
10 the fullest possible extent. As ev-
idence of this intention. the commit
tee announced this morning that. In
the examination of witnesses, Judge
Hughes will be called into consulta-
ton frequently. so that there may be
no conflict between the two lines OF
investigation. For instance, II the
ccflIcittee should ind that a witness
ssnam0ns' by the committee might
s-ife TESTIMONY that would encroach
lsson the investigation Judge Hughes
fs naakinS into the criminal phases OF
tn sfrcfaft productICE. halt would
~ called anli the ClV-l .rs would
deSEne 70 procesd via ths witness
without authorization rom Judge
Hughes.
Senator Thom1 Who = chairman
of the investigating -01Elittee. ex-
planned at the committee = session the
results of his conference with Judge
Hughes last Saturday. He suggested
TO the committee that Judge Hughes
had expressed himself as unopposed
to the committees investigation, and
'outlined a definite course of inquiry
which the committee might adopt and
which would be entirely acceptable to
the Department of Justice officials.
Other Investigators.
All Of the members of the commit
tee accorded with Senator Thomas
views. Those present beside Thomas
were Senators Reed. of Missouri
Smith, of Georgia. and Frelinghuysen.
Senator New, of Indiana. went to In
dianapolis to attend the State Republi-
can convention. He is due to return in
about three days when definite plans
for visits to the factories will be
completed
The three other subcommittee ap-
pointed by the Military Affairs Com
mittee to investigate branches of the
War Department activities are also
planning inspection trips that will take
them away from Washington. The
subcommittee on ordnance has al
ready visited two factories, and is ar
ranging to visit others before COM
pleting its report. The subcommit-
tees on cross-licenses and Quartermas-
ter Generals supplies will Iikewie in
spect various factories where work for
the government Is being done.
The expenses of these trips will be
paid out of the contingent fund of the
Senate in accordance with the author.
ization given by the Senate in the Mil
itary Affairs Committees resolution
which the Senate adopted.