New-York tribune., 1920-02-17
War, Aircraft !.
Deals Called f..
Riot Of W aste
Planes Given to U. S. Flyers
Worse Than Equipping
Shock Troops With
Wooden Guns, Is Charge
-Ryan's Plan Is Raked
Minority Report Defends
Program; Says III, 900
of Aeros Were Built

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.--Reports of
the long continued investigation of the
aircraft production program were pre-.
sented to-day in the House from the
special committee inquiring into war
expenditures.
Representatives Frear and Magee, the
two Republicans Of the subcommittee
which conducted the investigation
characterized the aviation program as
"a riot of waste" and Representative
Lea, the Democratic member of the
subcommittee, declared that the Re-
publican members had sacrificed facts
for sensationalism in an effort to dis
credit the government
A prominent part of both reports is
| given to the controversy over the con-
nection of John D. Ryan, former Di-
rector of Aircraft Production, with the
construction of government built
railroad, which, it has been charged,
redounded to the benefit of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road, of
which Mr.. Ryan is a director.
Series of Errors Seen
Disclaiming any attempts to deter
mine motives, the majority report on
that point says:
''lf Mr.. Ryan's statement Of disinter-
estedness is true he has been most un-
fortunate in handling public matter
that in the judgment Of your commit
tee covered d fimsy effort to promote
q nTiy- 70 h11Si Mt nd
was accompanied by laundering eX-
planations from beginning to end"
In contrast, the minority report by
Representative Lea says
"The evidence shows that Mr.. Ryan
practically abandoned his own bust
ness affairs and devoted himself un-
remittingly TO the service of his official
duties. Without directly charging it,
the report of the majority jnsinuates
that Ryan used his power as head Of
aircraft to cause selections of the
Lake Crescent route for the benefit of
the Milwaukee Railroad. The purpose
Pleasant, connecting with the Milwau-
kce at some point on its line. was de-
termined several weeks before Mr..
Ryan was connected with the aircraft
service"
The majority report however, sava
that under the surface the stake be-
ing played for in the abortive attempt
to produce spruce lumber in Washing
ton and Oregon was for control of the
lumber interests in the Northwest
after the wal"
Secretary Baker Attacked
Besides Mr.. Ryan, the majority re-
port attacks his assistant, William c.
Potter; Colonel Edward A. Deeds, who
preceded Mr.. Ryan in aircraft produc-
.tion, and Secretary Baker, as RESPONSE
Bile head OF the aircraft production
program. 1t describes the program as
IAN appalling record Of orders and
counter orders, ignorance and dicker-
lngs, waste and extravaganza, evidence
Of self-interest and improper prac-
tices''
In detail the majority report takes
up the alleged waste and extravaganza G
in the early aircraft appropriations,
the alleged failure of the De Haviland
planes, the alleged failure to get suffi-
cient American planes to the battle
front. the spruce production project
in the Northwest, millions of alleged
wastes on cost-plus contracts, and
many specific charges of ineAciency
and squandering of millions of dollars.
Answering the charge of the major-
lty report that only 213 planes had
been shipped to the front up to the
armstice and that these were De Havi-
lands dangerous and known AS "fying
coftns,' the minority report quoted
brigadier General NJ. A. Patric k, di
rector of construction and forestry op
erations of the American Expeditionary
Forces, as saying that no larger per
ccentage of De Havilands came down in
flames than other types Mr. Lea as-
serted that only thirty-three De Havi-
lands out of AZ sent over enemy lines
were lost. The majority report declared
more American aviators would have been
hl44ed &C. p .JI lie 1al4~4v . i-
eral Pershing to receive more than 213
De Havilands."
Sending American aviators to tho
front in this type plane, the maiority
SAID, was more wasteful of human life
than "equipping shock troops with
wooden guns"
1900 Planes Turned Out
On this point the minority report
SAID the government turned out more
than 1000 planes during the war, and
these were practically the same as
MACHINES used by the Allies.
Touching on responsibility, the
major ty report said Secretary Baker
was properly chargeable with any sue
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