The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-25
BAKER CASTIGATED
FOR EXTRAVAGANCE
Secretary Is Criticised for Pur-
chase Of Site at Camp
Benning.
FINE PLANT ABANDONED
Senator Lenroot Charges Cab
met Officer With fragrant
Breach of Faith.

WASHINGTON, June 24.-From both
sdes OF the Senate chamber to-day an
avalanche of criticism was launched at
Secretary of War Baker for permitting
the post war continuance Of the riot of
extravaganza In purchases OF land for
purely military purposes after the sign
ing OF the armistice. The particular
item of extravaganza under criticism
was the removal of the School of Small
Arms from Fort Sill. Okla, where
$500. 900 had been expended, to a new
site at Camp Benning, Ga, no Tangible
explanation for the abandonment of the
expensive plant in Oklahoma being given
and no better reason being advanced
for the Benning purchase. Later the
Senate approved an amendment author
king the War Department to conclude
pending negotiations for camp sites
II was disclosed that 1870, 900 acres of
land have been purchased for the new
small arms school at Benning. Sena-
tor Lenroot (Wis.), a Republican mem
Der OF the Military Committee. charged
Secretary Baker with fragrant breach
OF faith with his Government in enter
ing into such negotiations at this time.
He asserted that after the. war had
virtually ceased there existed no possi-
bic excuse or justification for the VEN
ture, after pointing out that the ulti-
mate expenditures at Camp Benning
may run into nine figures.
Acted in Face OF Dlsapproval.
The House had refused TO sanction
the project and Secretary Bakers SUBJ
ordinates had proceeded with the pur-
chase with full knowledge that the APP
prevail of Congress would not be forth
coming.
Senator King (Utah). a Democrat.
directed the attention OF the Senate TO
q series Of purchases contaminated after
the srmistice, involving land purchases
at Camps Lee. Taylor. Pike, Sherman
and Travis, and involving the expendi-
ture Of more than 100000.
In condemning the action OF the War
Department, Senator Lenroot said:
notwithstanding the fact that the
War Department or the Secretary of
War had no more moral right to take
these millions OF dollars of the Govern
ment's money and put 1t into this camp
than I would have to steal so much
money from my neighbor. nevertheless
they have gone on and expended millions
OF dollars ON this site out of an appropri-
alton made by Congress for the continu-
ance OF the war;"
Citing the instances of extravaganza
and unnecessary wastefulness OF public
funds by the War Department in the in
stances of the southern camps, Senator
King said: These instances merely IN
dictate the attitude of the War Depart
ment There are individuals and OFF,
Gals there who seem to be obsessed
with the idea that lands must be pur-
chased wherever they can be bought.
whether needed by the Government or
not Millions of dollars have been
taI nj, NJ. L. tsr.1x t.
the War Department ought to be pun
ished for this wilful and wanton scat
tering OF the public funds"
Excuse Is offered.
The excuse was offered by tho sup
porters of Mr.. Baker. most notably
Senator Smith (Ga.), whose State is a
beneficiary of the generosity of Secre-
tary Bakers land buyers, that Congress
had not withheld its consent to the
Benning purchase.
The action taken in proceeding with
the work at Benning," interposed Sena-
lation of the advice of the Military
Committee"
Dissatisfaction with the system Of
purchases In the War Department was
expressed to-day by members of the
House committee investigating war ex-
penditures during the examination of
Col. Julian l. Schley. director of pur-
chases.
"a system that would better fail to
disclose responsibility could hardly be
devised" remarked Representative Rea-
Wis (Nebraska) at the close of the hear
Ing.
In addition to seeking information
about the method of buying during the
war the committee tomorrow also ex-
poets to have before It representatives
Of the Council of National Defense to
explain the operations of that organixa-
uon-
The committee sought to-day to as
certain what disposition had been made
Of claims OF the Packard and Ford au-
tomobile companies. Representative
Bland Undiana) asked about heavy
and unreasonable claims made by the
two companies for settlements.
Col Schley did not have the informa-
don at hand.