The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-16
INQUIRY PREPARATION

Preparations for the department's investigation. ordered recently by the President as result of sensational charges based largely upon state- ments by Gutzon Borglum. the scuip- tor, already are proceeding under the direction of Assistant Attorney Gen eral William l.. Frierson. MT. FTicr- son now is examining documents fur nisked by the war department showing how contracts for airplanes, engines and parts were let and giving other information on the airplane manu- featuring programme. He also has ths report to the President of the investi- gating committee headed by H. Snow den Marshall and that of MT Borglufn As modified. the Chamberlain reso- luton will be reported tomorrow by Senator McKellar of Tennessee. demo- crat. who is joined in the recommends t1ons by Senators Shoot of Utah and France of Maryland. republicans It will be accomplished by an opposing minority report iron, Senator Thomp- son of Kansas, chairman of the ex penditures committee, who conferred yesterday with the President and Sen ator Jones, democrat. of New Mexico.
 ACTION TO BE DELAYED
 Action in the Senate is not planned tomorrow and 8 vote may be deferred until Saturday or early next week. The opposition of Senators Thompson and Jones is directed largely at minor fea- lures of the resolution, which they also regard as unnecessary.
 At conference of democratic sena- tors during the day it was agreed that the administration forces would oppose adoption of a resolution in form whicI, might be considered to authorize an in- quiry into general conduct of the war and also to oppose authorization of ex- perts and assistants for the committed.
 The vote in the Senate may be post poned until the return next Saturday of military subcommittee which, antiei- pating adoption of the resolution with vir- tually no opposition, left today to investi- gate ordnance production at the Bethle- hem and Midvale, Pennsylvania plants.
 The choice of MT. Hughes to act with the Attorney General was met with ex- pressions of satisfaction on all sides at the capitol. Some republican senators voiced surprise but there was not a sug- gestion of disapproval.
 LETTER TO HUGHES
 In asking MT. Hughes to help in the investigation. the President said.
 You have doubtless noticed that very serious charges of dishonesty have been made in connection with production of aircraft.
 Because of the capital importance of this branch of the military service, I feel that the charges should be thoroughly investigated. and with as little delay as possible in order that the guilty. if there be any such, may be promptly and vigorously prosecuted and that the regulations of those whose actions have been attacked may be protected in case the charges are grodndless.
 T request the department of justice to use every instrumentality at it's disposal to investigate these charges and with the approval of the Attorney General I am writing to beg that you will act with him in making this in- vestigation. I feel that this matter is of very great importance, and I sin cerely hope that you will feel that it is possible to contribute your very valuable service in studying and pass ing upon the questions involved"
 HUGHES REPLY
 The Presidents letter to MT Hughes was written Monday and the reply came today just before the announce ment that the former justice had ac- cepted the task. MT. Hughes wrote:
 T beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May IS. Appreciate fully the, gravity of the matter. I shall be glad to cooperate with the At torney General in making a prompt and thorough investigation of the charges of dishonesty in connection with aircraft production. You may be assured that nothing will give me greater pleasure than to render any assistance within my power. I as- sume that the Attorney General will advise me of his wishes for a confer ence with a view to the making of definite and adequate plans for the and I shall endeavor to arrange my affairs so that these plans may be carried out with as little de- lay as possible