Evening star., 1918-05-17
PRESIDENT UPHELD
|NM|NOR|TY REPORT
Senate Asked to Defeat the
Chamberlain Resolution A.
fecting Aircraft Inquiry.

President Wilson's request for de-
feat by the Senate of the amended
resolution of Senator Chamberlain of
Oregon proposing broader authority
for the Senate military committee to
conduct an inquiry into aviation. ord.
nance and other Army operations
was supported in a minority report
on the resolution filed today by Sena-
tor Thompson Of Kansas. chairman of
the Senate expenditures committee.
The Chamberlain resolution had been
referred to the expenditures COM
mittee. and Senator Thompson was
Joined in his report by Senator Jones
of New Mexico, another democratic
member of the committee.
"Mere Dragnet," Says Report.
Even as amended by the expendi-
lures committee majority-Senator
Mckellar Of Tennessee. democrat. and
Senators Smoot of Utah and France
Of Maryland. republicans-the minor
ity members declared the Chamber
lain resolution rs "a mere dragnet
proposition" and Is unnecessary in
order to enable the military commit
tee to continue its inquiries. as
resolution passed shortly after the
United States entered the war gave
the committee ample authority to
conduct Investigations.
Declaring that the original Cham
berlain resolution contained very ex-
traordinary provisions, senators tor >
the revised draft fs little better"
than the original, as wholesale in
quiries into various departments are
directed, whether there Is any neces-
sity therefor or not"
The minority report stated that
there is no objection to full exercise
by the military committee Of its prop
er inquisitorial authority, but refer
red the appointment Of Charles E.
Hughes to investigate the aviation
situation as assurance Of "a full and
complete investigation"
Favor Complete Inquiry.
I'VE are favorable to q most thor
ough and complete inquiry into the
aircraft situation" continued the re-
port. but call attention to the fact
that the Department of Justice. which
is equipped with every facility. Is now
most actively engaged in that work.
and that Mr.. Charles E. Hughes has
just been appointed by the President
to assist. which ought to put at rest
any possible feeling that for any
political or other reason a full and
complete Investigation might not be
made. even though the committee on
military affairs should not continue
its efforts in that behalf"
The report said there was no neces-
sity Unemployment Of experts and as
sistants, as proposed in the Chamber
lain resolution, and the appropriation
Of $4,000 provided. would exhaust
the Senate's contingent fund.
Regarding Powers.
Regarding the general inquisitorial
powers proposed in the Chamberlain
resolution. the minority added:
"It must be noted that the resolu-
ton not only gives authority to but
also directs the military affairs
committee.
'It Is evident that the numerous in
vestigations specified will cause great
annoyance and Interference with the
necessary war work now going on
in the most important branches Of the
War Department. For the depart
ment to attempt to answer the re-
Quirements which may be made upon
1t under the terms OF this resolution
much of the time Of its ofscers and
employees would be required and the
department. be prevented from devot-
int the time and energy necessary to
the performance Of essential work in
the actual prosecution Of the war SO
vital to the country at this time"