The Washington times., 1918-02-06
SENATORS MERELY,
WASTING TIME OF
BAKER At INQUIRY
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
lContiaued from First Page

when she should launch her offensives
against the allies.
Baker RereadE Testimony.
But Senator Hitchcock continued
his effort TO prove that the Secretary
had exaggerated in his promise 70
ship more than a million men TO
France this year. Mr.. Baker quietly
re-read his own testimony OF last
week showing that he had not said
that number would he shipped but
would be ready for shipment II the
transportation facilities were avail
able
In response to further question :.
the Secretary OF War, reluctant II
give any facts or figures in open se~-
sion. finally intimated that the Uni
ted States was not depending wholly
on her own ships. but expected a'd
from the allies. and that certain read
justments already were being made
with respuect to the use OF American
ships now srloat so that they might
be occupied only in the most essential
traffic.
Senator Hitchcock attempted TO
draw out the exact number OF tons
per man per year on which War De
partment estimates were based. Mr..
Baker repeatedly told the Nebraska
Senator that there were several kinds
OF estimates based upon changing
conditions and promised 10 supply
the committee with data.
Explains Two-Toa Statement.
At one time Mr.. Baker, explicitly
bssInG his statement on a recollec-
ton. said that some estimates had
been as low as two tons per man.
Senator Hitchcock persisted in tax
ing those figures as a basis for COM
puts ton and only when Mr.. Baker
called attention to the fact that the
two tons were not his own figures
but a recollected statement which
might better be substituted by the
actual figures, did the Nebraska SEN
ator desist from his tactics, the un-
fairness of which was a general sub
ject OF comment among those who
watched the proceedings.
Finally the Secretary OF War him
self made g suggestion. He pointed
out that it was useless 10 discuss fig
ures, and estimates when the data was
not in front of the committee and
when the experts who handled these
questions every day, and who WORKED
out the details OF transportation were
absent. so he asked that the commit
tee defer its session until all the
facts could be supplied the commit
tee in confidence and the experts
summoned TO answer the detailed
questions.
This line OF questioning was there
fore concluded with the understand
ing that Mr.. Baker would furnish the
data to the committee on another oc-
1.
saved both sides, but even the Sem
ate committee has not learned short
cut methods OF saving time. things
they are so vigorous in condemning
about the executive branch OF the
Government
FreliRghuyEen Asks QuestIOB.
Perhaps the most interesting reye-
lation of the unscientifc character OF,
the investigation was the inquiry by
Senator FrelinghuySen CRepublican)
OF New Jersey as 10 whether the
Secretary OF War was giving consid-
GRAFTON to the question OF moving the
soldiers from the hot climate OF the
South next summer.
Senator Fletcher. Democrat, Of
Florida, defended the South as q suit
the Secretary himself said a kind
word for the stimulating climate Of
Texas, where our national guard
spent a whole summer without serious
discomfort last year. The New Jersey
Senator promptly disclsimsd any in
teTest in Northern localities as a bet
ter camping ground for the troops
while a ripple OF laughter varied the
monotony of the proceedings.
Then Senator Weeks (Republicau)
Of Massachusetts made the broad
statement that some OF our own
army officers were pro-German i'm
their utterances. and wanted to know
what the War Department was doing
about il. Secretary Baker replied
that cases Of this sort, IL they in
volved disloyaIty and treason, and il
these charges were supported by evil
dence, would lead TO courts-martial
through the regular judicial channels
OF the army.
Here il was that Senator Reed
came 10 the rescue OF the rambling
committee by pointing out that Ill
was very dangerous TO have the ques-
lions OF the Senator from MassaChu-
sets give the impression that our
army Teeked with pro-GermanisIn just
because he had heard OF one or two
Then a wrangle ensued as to wheth-
or the committee room in the Senate
Office building was an Auditorium
or not and Senator New OF Indiana
Republican, pointed out that Secre
tary Baker wanted the hearings held
where members OF both Houses of
Congress could attend.
More time was wasted ia discussing
whether the hearings should nave
been held in smaller committee room
while the Secretary OF War sat by.
Back in the War Department were
important cablegrams from abroad.
many scores OF business men and
others who wanted 20 do business
with Mr.. Baker. but he had 10 be q
the Capitol At the service of The Sen