The producers news., 1919-09-05
ANACONDA HEAD
CHARGED WITH BIG
COPPER AND R. r. CRAFT
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4 COfFER AND r. r. GRAFT
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ed into solely in the interests of the
! government and its allies; that it was
necessary to build the road and pro-
/ vide for spruce production to insure
a full supply of airplan, wood; that
the need was urgent and unpreced-
enred and everything that was done
to meet it tnat had come to my
knowledge was done under capable
management by men who were act
ing from patriotic motives.
Had No knowledge of Plans.
This contract for the production
of spruce was entered into between
the officers of the spruce production
division and the contractors, with the
agreement" and understanding that it
was to go into effect upon the signing
OF contract between the government
and the Chicago, Milwaukee and ST..
Paul railway company for the build
ing of certain line of railway which
would tap the territory from which
this spruce was to be produced.
This contract between the govern
ment and the railway company had
been negotiated on the Pacific coast
and was brought to Washington for
execution by the United States rail-
road administration, just before the
time when | was put in charge of
aincraft production. / had no pre-
vious knowledge from either the rail-
read officials or the government that
any such contract was IN contempla-
ton.
investigation Ordered
These charges originated in a.
statement made by the military in
steahgenee office in a telegram to the
war department dated November %,
1898.
My resignation as assistant Sec
retary of war and director of air SER
vice having just been rendered to the
president and secretary of war and
accepted was published in the news
papers of the day before. Secretary
Baker upon receipt of this informa-
ton and at my request ordered the
Inspector general of the army to
have thorough investigation made
and report him. An officer of the in
spector generals department was de-
tailed and made such investigation.
The Inspector general himself visit
ed the Pacific coast, interviewed wit
resses and checked the investigation
of his office and reported to the Sec
retary of war that there was no evi- |
dence whatever that myself or any
officer of the government had proffted |
or had tried to profit by any Of the
operations or expenditures of the
spruce production division that had
been investigated, and further that
instead of the railroad costing the
government $12,000,O0O as charged.
it had cost less than one-third of
that sum completed. This whole mat
ter, both the railroad contract and
spruce production contract. had been
agreed upon more than month be-
tore | was appointed director of air
craft production or entered the gov
service.
Both the original contract and the
me entered into after insisted upon
the changes have been called to the
attention Of the inspector general and
are open records Of the government
tor any one to judge whether my
changes We're in the interest of the
government or of the contractor.
The complaints and criticisms, and
investigated all that were brought
o my attention, were made by men
Vno mad either endeayored and failed
o get contracts for themselves, or
Who had held positions in the govern
nent service which they were not
qualified to fill and who had to be re-
moved. The job of spruce produe-
ion for the allies and our govern
aent in the war was in my opinion
ne of the things that helped 70 bring
n early ending of the war and
Which reflected credit and honor up-1
n the men who were connected with
:, and | am proud Of the little had
. do to help carry out the work.
Meantime the investigator of the
ommittee of congress continues. The
ommittee Is now at Seattle. Fol-