The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-25
CONGRESS HAS 1S
PROBES, A RECORD
PostOffice Department and
Shipping Board Were Add
ed Yesterday.
SMELL OUTLINES CHARGES
Democrats Accept Challenge
and Bid Republicans
to $50 to It."
SMELL OUTLINES CHARGES
sptciu Despntch 10 TIE suN.

WASHINGTON, July 24-With two
more Investigations OF the Wilson ad-
ministration ordered to-day, the House
will soon have under way the most ex-
tensive programme of investigation of
executive conduct ever attempted by
Congress. No less than thirteen inves-
tigating committees will soon be at work
and requests for several others have
been made.
The Investigations ordered to-day will
be into Postmaster General Burleson's
handling OF the postal, telegraph and
telephone systems and the work of the
Shipping Board and the Emergency
Fleet Corporation.
The House Committee on Expendi-
lures In the Post Office Department to-
day determined to probe the Post Office
Department because of the many COM
plants against the Postmaster-General.
Original plans were to begin the inves-
tigation next week but because OF the
plans of House Republicans to recess
during the large part of August. 1t will
not be undertaken until September.
1--WE plan to make a complete investi-
CATION Of the many complaints against
the Post Office Department and the Post
master General will be called as one OF
the first Witnesses" Chairman Seilman
(Md.) said to-day. Particular atten-
ton will be paid to the many delays
| In the mail service and the whole inves-
| tigation will be to show that better SER
| vice is possible"
Shipping Board Probe.
Tho investigation Of the Shipping
Board by n special committee TO be
chosen by the Speaker was ordered by
! the House by a vote OF 2S7 to nothing
after Democrats claimed the whole in
| vestigation was for nothing but political
| purposes. The resolution asking the
investigation was introduced by Repre-
sentative Walsh tMass.).
Five specific points OF inquiry were
! charged by Representative Smell On. "
In urging adoption of the resolution:
/. That land was bought at Hog ISL
and for S1.7o0,00o which a few months
previous had been offered for 100000.
2. That when there was a great de-
lmand for ships some plants fully
| equipped to construct wooden ships
which had not then been abandoned were
unable to secure contracts from the
Shipping Board.
3. That in the case OF ships OF the
Edgar Luckenbach line ships were COM
Wandered at the beginning of the war
| with the understanding that they would
be returned. but were subsequently,
turned over to another privately owned
line, a director OF which was high in the
Shipping Board
4. That ships were delivered which i'm
mediately had to be repaired and were
sold for a fraction of their original cost
He cited the Redcloud. delivered August
2S and laid up October so for $4,000
worth OF boiler repairs. Another snip
by the same com pany, he said, four days
after delivery required $4,000 worth OF
repairs, Them ship costing $3.50, oo0
was sold for 100000.
S. That when private firms came to
buy Government ships at cost price one
firm had charged back S1,0O0,000 which
II was claimed, had been expended for
such matters as athletic supplies. ciga RS
contributions to chambers OF commerce
membership dues and subscriptions to
Elks' conventions.
Other Investigations Listed.
In addition to the two invest cations,
others now in progress are:
War Department expenditures being
probed by five committees. the Mexican
situation. the threatened coal shortage
the right OF Victor Berger to seat in
the House. the Alien Property Custo-
dams disposal of valuable German dye
patents to the Chemical Foundation
Inc, and the American loans to Russia
Resolutions have been introduced for the