The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-05-23
President Names Hughes as AS.
sociate TO Gregory in lnvestl-
cation Into Aircraft Charges.
SAW WAR CONTROL SOUGHT.
President, In Letter 70 Majority Leader
Martin, Declares Passage Would
Constitute Vote OF Want Of Con.
hdence In Administration.

Washington. President Wilson made
two decisive moves In the demand for
Investigations
In letter TO Senator Martin, major.
ity leader. the President called upon
the supporters OF the administration In
Congress 20 defeat the Chamberlain
resolution for general investigation
OF the conduct OF the war.
The President also announced the
appointment Of Charles Evans Hughes
OF New York TO be an associate OF At
torDey General Gregory In inyestigat.
Ing charges OF dishonesty In aircraft
production.
The spirit OF the letter by which the
appointment was accepted to aid the
Democratic administration Is under
stood TO have been a source OF pro.
found qualification al the White House.
The President is determined to pre-
vent politics from playing any part In
the war Inquiries, but the fight is still
on, as substitute resolution intro
duced by Senator Chamberlain calls
for an investigation of ordnance as
well as aircraft production.
BY vote Of 3 to 2 Senate Fxpendi-
lures Committee ordered favorable
report on the Chamberlain war inquiry
resolution, but added amendments to Ii
+, 80 ip,It th. NfftItu
Committees activities TO army opera
lions. A proyiso was added expressly
prohibiting the committee from gen
eral inquiry into the conduct of the
war.
The President, In his letter to Sena-
tor Martin OF Virginia. Democratic
leader, declared the resolution. II
passed would constitute vote of want
Of confidence In the administration,
and would indicate that Congress de-
sired to take on itself the conduct of
the war
Senator Chamberlain. called before
the Senate Expenditures Committee,
displayed considerable feeling and In
a prepared statement issued later In
dlcated that If the senate were to re-
fuse TO pass an amended resolution
giving the Military Committee author
ity, he would not attempt to press the
army inquiries further,
II deem II my duty 10 say" the pres
ident's letter said. that | should re-
gard the passage OF this resolution as
a direct vote OF want of confidence In |
the administration, The purpose which |
II undoubtedly expresses has been ex-
pressed again and again In various |
forms during the present session and |
has always seemed to originate In
rooted dlstrust of those who are at |
present In charge OF the executive
functions OF the government. Those
executive functions are very clearly |
understood They have been defined
both by the Constitution and by long
experience. and no one can doubt
where the responsibility for them lies
or what the methods are by which
those who are responsible can be held
TO their duty.
SutI utliNltits bu lHe part VI
particular committee of the senate as
this resolution would look forward to
would constitute nothing less than an
attempt TO take over the conduct of
the war. or AT the least so superintend
and direct and participate ip the exec
utive conduct OF II as TO interfere in
the most serious way with the action
OF the constituted executive protest
most earnestly against the adoption OF
any such action and shall hope that
every senator who intends TO support
the present administration In the con.
duct OF the war will vote against II.
These are serious times, and II is abso-
lutely necessary that the lines should
be clearly drawn between friends and
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