Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-03-07
FORCE USED To
GE 7 OUT SPRUCE
FOR A|RPLANES
! NOT COMPETENT
Prison Warden, Who Knew
Nothing About Lumbering,
Put in Charge of Impor-
tant Government Bureau.
RECORD DENOUNCED
AND ALSO UPHELD
Majority Report Alleges Ex-
travaganCe and lncompe-
tenCy, While Minority Re-
port Takes Opposite View
10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrssl

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wIRE1
Washington, March 6.--After
four hours discussion of American
aviation efforts during the war, the
house sitting as a committee re-
ported today to the whole house
that it chad come to no resolution"
on the conflicting reports of the
special investigating committee
made after prolonged inquiry into
the air program and its results.
Even this announcement by the
committee of the whole did not
pass unchallenged, republicans and
democrats, disagreeing as sharply
as they had during debate on the
investigating committee reports.
The disposition made however, was
true to the program of republican
leaders. Their spokesmen during
the debate declared the only pur-
pose was to make known the facts
of, the war time aviation failure.
Democratic speakers pictured
American aviation efforts as q
dominance of the air. Such mis-
takes" as were admitted by these
speakers were said to be only what
We're to be expected in so novel
and gigantic enterprise
Representative Frear, of Wiscon-
sin, and Magee, of New York, re-
publicans Of the Investigating COM
mittee, led the attack on war de-
partment and aviation officials,
sharply arraigning them for acts
and policies in regard to aviation
during the war. Representative
Lea, of California, the democratic
committeeman, captained the DEM
ocratic defense, supported by Rep
resentative Flood, democrat, Vir-
ginia.
Washington, March 6.-All in
yestigations of the management of
Americas aircraft program during
the war have revealed 'inefficiency,
irresponsibility and enormous
waste of money" Representative
Frear, republican, Wisconsin, chair
man of the house committee that
made the latest investigation, de-
clared today in discussing the COM
mittee reports before the house.
He agreed with his republican col
league on the committee that there
was a notorious failure to provide
fighting planes.
"In spruce production con-
tinued Mr.. Frear, Secretary Baker
ignored all the loggers and lumber
men on the coast and selected COT
onel Disdue, warden of the Mich
igan penitentiary and former cap
tain in the army, who knew moth
ing about numbering. Colonel
Disaue tried to learn the business
and surrounded himself with 80
600 soldiers who were largely
clerks, lawyers, doctors farmed out
on cost plus contractors logging
railroads in Washington and Ore
gon.
"Four cost plus contractors were
selected by Disque to get out lum-
ber and three of these, who got
$4,000. 600 in contracts knew
nothing about numbering. The on
ly contractor with any experience
swore he had been interferred
with by under-officers sent him by
Disque so three months were lost
and 30,000,000 feet of logs prevent
ed from reaching the market.
Others in charge of the air pro-
gram, including John D. Ryan,
Colonel Deeds and w g. Potter,
were complained of by Mr.. Frear
for lack of experience in lumber
ing operations, which he charged
resulted in waste of much money.
Clash between Chairman Frear
and Representative Garrett, demo-
crat, Tennessee, a minority MEM
Der of the committee, was narrowly
averted several minutes after the
chairman began to speak. Mr.
Frear charged Garrett with making
false. statements cGncerIting him
yesterday in the house, and the
Tennessee member started toward
Frear. Several democrats blocked