The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-09-09
50, 700, coo, 900 WASTE IN WAR EX.
PENDITURES.
Total Cost of Finding 1t by Republi-
can House Not More Than 100000

Efforts of Governor Cox to divert
attention from Democratic waste of
$1,000 100000 in war expenditures I'M
der the Wilson Administration by per-
verting the facts in regard to his Sl5,-
100000 Republican campaign fund is
not proving successful.
This stupendous sum of waste and
extravaganza is the total of the many
evidences of Democratic incompetency
during the war period. Taken togeth-
err with the 81 ,400,000,000 saved by
the subsequent Republican Congress
in one year, they represent the differ
ence between Democratic and Repub-
lican rule.
Democratic members of Congress
have been sneering at the work of the
War Department Expenditures Com
mittee of fifteen which did the great
work of unearthing waste, but so far
they have not attempted to explain the
figures themselves. The committee
itself, however, has taken the view
that political parties are nothing if
not a check upon each other so that
the facts may be brought out for the
guidance of the voters, and that the
total of Democratic extravaganza is
sufficient cause for reputation at the
polls in November.
The committees report itself throws
considerable light on the subject 1t
says: Members of Congress get
their commission direct from the peo-
pie, and in any painstaking Con-
gressional investigation of public ex-
penditures the facts are sought and
given to those who ultimately pay the
bills. Critics who question the eX-
pense of Investigations are often in
tluenced by motives other than pub
lie money expenditures, but they are
reminded that directions to incur
such expense came from unanimous
vote of the House. All the combined
five subcommittee expenditures will
not be 100000. The subcommittee on
aviation offers the record as an evil
dence of how little was realized by
the government from $1,000,000, 900
ostensibly expended for aircraft.
Experience in prior investigations
has disclosed whitewashed reports and
efforts to smother or discredit any
thing rejecting upon the War Depart
ment. In an effort to distract public
attention from the finding of fact
reached by Justice Hughes and the
Thomas committee, apologists from
indefensible inefficiency and extrava-
gance may seek to mislead public
opinion and endeavor to confuse the
situation by reflections upon the COM
mlttee which was unanimously select
ed by the House to get the facts.
Such methods strikingly illustrate
course of procedure adopted in respon-
sible quarters of trying to minimize
anything affecting the Air Service.
War Department, or Administration.
No honest or, reputable member of
Congress can afford to take such TO
sition and the committee presents the
hearings, testimony and report as con-
elusive evidence in support of the find
ings submitted"
Helpful suggestions regarding pit
falls in future aviation construction
are made in the report by the COM
mittee, which says:
Adequate appropriations, wisely
expended, are necessary to put Amer
lea to the front where she belongs.
The imperative necessity for this pol
icy must be apparent to all who have
studied the constantly increasing
scope of aeronautice. Cooperation
with and encouragement to inventors
and manufacturers and broad, in
telligent policy is demanded. Prac-
tically all other countries have adopt
ed this course and ours must not fail
at this crucial period to do so.
The future of aviation is beyond
our. present dreams or understanding,
and our government must do her full
part in leading in its development"