New-York tribune., 1920-03-07
|gaker and Ryan
blamed for u. S.
in Air
|,.,ublican Members of
81 Investigation Committee
Tell of ssCreat Waste; ;
M Action Decided On
,emocrats Defend Acts

object to Putting Short
eomings Up to Leaders;
Ineeiciency Is Charged
vAsHINGTON, March 6.-Secretary
,.s.r and John D. Ryan, former direc-
q ~ the air service, were assailed to-
- an the hoor of the Huse for their
- in the notorious failure" of the
e. DEPARTMENTS aviation program
.s,c the war and for their alleged
ATE sSaarteon,ines in getting planes to the
hattie front.
- Taree, Of New York, Republican
.ss Ismhers Of the special committee
.s;sb -Is. investigated the aviation pro-
s.,r -m led the attack. Representative
E. of California, Democratic member
.;,he committee, answered the charges.
y. was supported by Representative
sinod of Virginia, Democrat.
ifter four hours debate the House,
..tng as . committee. reported to the
bale .s.le House that it chad come to no
N<euloH on @AAS SSA>s'AAS ASpoA %
Il the committee.
ryen this announcement by the COM
r;tfee of the whole did not pass un-
.ssIIensed, Republicans and Democrats
siurreeing as sharply as they had dur
hg debate on the committee reports.
Fl. disposition made, however, was
rae to the program of Republican lead
,n Their spokesmen during the de-
ate declared the only purpose was to
rake known the facts of the wartime
sriation failure"
Liberty Motor Only Merit
representative Magee told the House
.hst not one American-bailt battle
bIane or purely bombing plane was pro-
lueed during the war from the expen-
d;ture Of more than $1,000, 100000 for
aircraft.
~The Liberty motor" he said, swas
he only achievement of merit Of the
American Air Service in the United
sates"
#The 213 American built De Haviland
,lanes sent to France" he said, "mieht
I used for light day bombing.' He said
rrous" in service.
SIltiCiSm VI SuC all pIduC lQulOGI pro
duction in the Pacific Northwest was
made by Mr.. Magee, who argued that
Il experienced lumbermen of that local
Ay had been organized all the lumber
needed would have been produced at
moderate cost"
Those placed in authority in the
Northwest by the War Department" he
ssid, mot only had no experience in
the lumber business, but they were ar
rugant, autocratic and operated wholly
rgsrdless Of law and authority. Those
sho had no power to do SO ordered the
tanstruction of railroads in Oregon
trough cost-plus contractors at large
rvernmental expenses and not in the
public interest"
Soldiers Got High Wages
The employment of 10000 soldiers,
aeluding officers, in the lumber opera
aans was also attacked by Mr. Magee,
vao asserted the payment to them of
nps Of from SO to So day was "in
tfint violation Of Jaw" John D. Ryan,
tasttor of aircraft production, he said,
'Azltily approved of these payments" !"
Those who are responsible for
tais unlawful expenditure, he added,
.hauld be held strictly accountable
assefor. The Siems-C -Carey-K -Kerbaugh
lsporation was actually paid by the
.N Department Z per cent commits
sion on civilian wages paid to soldiers
sofklng for sub-contractors in the con-
struetion OF the Lake Crescent Rail-
iaad IN excess Of the compensation fixed
by Congress-"
Mr.. Magee reviewed railroad con-
strctlon in the Northwest spruce for
ests BY the Stems Carey-Ke ~baugh Cor
poratIon and argued it was Improper
!of Mr. Ryan to execute the contract
ies the road" after having refused to
agn 1t because he was director of the
Vhicago, Milwaukee G. st. Paul Rail-
rad, with which the government-built
y iead would connect. Mr.. Magee said
ae committee endeavored to get de-
alied explanation from Mr.. Ryan of
I'll the material facts connected with
nVernmental operations in the North
,sa tsss while he was director Of aircraft,
'a9 that "he does not explain"
Enormous Waste Revealed"
All Investigations of the management
= americas aircraft program during
.as war have revealed "inefficiency, ir-
ssponslbiiity and enormous waste Of
money, Representative Frear declared.
ns agreed with his Republican COL
.'sgue on the committee that there was
planes
=. inose in charge of airplane produc-
ss0n, representative Frear declared,
10y they bought 5000 planes from
lance :; as and other countries, but 1000
y 'nese were obsolete. General Per-
,'s lug testified he could not get enough
J,alaing planes in France, so the ex-
.snation ,sa that we relied upon foreign
iE,,ss.aments i,ss.n shows we leaned on q
me only American built machines
zach the front, he added, "were no.
r. ins'"us "os death-trape." He asserted that
~ s,"uooo was wasted on the produc-
W. 81 these de Haviland IS, which
sooed were condemned by every
4. s.'asss before the committee "as not
+" ~, LOT lighting purposes"
\, spruce production" continued
N ~ =, ,tfear, Secretary Baker ignored
q rs. sae loggers and lumbermen on the
ss ssss. and selected Colonel Disque, q
,,s soen Of the Michigan penitentiary
s.s nv tofmer captain in the army, who
i.m nss.n nothing about numbering. Colonel
m,s NIUE tr1ed to learn the business and
SsVpndsd himself with 10000 SOL
Md ma q wao we're largely clerks, lawyers
ss. s 0oesor!. farmed out on cost plus
nss.sctoss' nsss logging railroads In Wash
Sson and Oregon.
Ssoof cost-plus contractors were So
f...sa.s---->-------
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