The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-08

! of three members each, two of them re-
publicans. Each of these FIVE sub-com-
mtttees is empowered to employ two
clerks, two stenegraphers and one attor-
ney; and to retain for its convenience, as
disbursing officer, a representative of the
sergeant-at- arms. Payment of vouchers
| is to be made on signature of the chair
man of either of the subcommittee The
Gb-oommittees may go anywhere they
choose.
| The subcommittee will investigate:
! ID Expenditures in France. This sub
committee will visit France. 1t has en-
| ployed the services of Attorney Ansell,
/ formerly the army officer who protested
so vigorously regarding courtsmartial
procedures in the army.
| ~ Spruce production as 1t entered into
| the manufacture of aeroplanes. This sub
| committee will tour the great northwest.
No member of it is familiar with spruce
or any other variety of timber.
| (3) Quartermaster supplies This sub
committee win visit industrial and manu-
featuring districts from which the gov
eminent drew heavily for its supplies, and
| where army posts are or have been main
| tanned.
| "a Ordnance supplies. This commit
/ tee will visit industrial and manufacture
| ing districts from which the government
obtained it's guns and ammunitions. A
| NlSlL 10 muscle CnOdlS 10 SOilhCiliPfSAtSN-
| (5) Camps and cantonmen ts. This sub
| committee will visit the many states of
! the union where the government had its
camps for training officers and assem-
bling enlisted men.
But these five subcommittee VIII not
do all the investigating. The republicans
have concluded to investigate the navy.
| No charge has been preferred, and &C
| cording to all available testimony the
| conduct Of ia during time of war
was exemplary. But the navy must be
| investigated. The republicans desired to
employ an attorney. That proposition ap-
peared so ridiculous that democrats Wig
orously opposed it. They won. But then
they lost the second fight The democrats
wanted the activity of the committee con-
fined to Washington. But the republicans
are sufferers of the wanderlust. They
wanted another junket at the expense OF
the government. So they used their ma
| jority to out-vote the democrats And
the committee investigating the navy will
go to New York, Hog Island and probably
all ports of the United States f it de-
sires, it can go to France or the North
Sea. or make a special trip to the scene
! of the battle of the Jutland.
| Another committee will investigate ex-
penditures in the treasury, including the
war risk insuran department.. Another
will investigate the shipping board and
fleet corporation. This investigation will
make necessary various and sundry trips
in and about the country.
Another committee will investigate ter
ritories. Just how this investigation will
be prosecuted is unknown. 1t is known.
| however, that the committee will visit
among other resorts that of Alaska.
| And finally, a committee will investi-
gate war claims. This will necessitate a
visit to the scene of the destruction of the
Lusitana, and of course to England. And
perhaps, in order that f1rst-hand lnfor-
nation might be acquired. the committee
will see Berlin and other points of in
terror Germany.
! And so Chairman Cummings evidently
spoke advisedly when he referred to pros
| pective visits for investigation pur-
poses as political junkets.