Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-13
DEMOCRATS WAGE HOT
FIGHT ON CAMP REPORT
Although I'm Minority, Loyal
Leaders Make Strong Defense
OF War Administration,
Ipy Associated press.l

NHSiiiNhIpN. April after
Republican leaders had denounced.
and Democrats had upheld The gov
crnment system OF building army
camps In the ruv, days OF war. the
House made ready today for a light
tomorrow on two proposals for deal
ing with persons alleged to have
r"aped rich profits out OF alleged
extravaganza and waste.
Along with the Investigating com-
mittce'S report Attacking the meth
DDS OF construction. the Republican
majority presented resolution
directing that evidence obtained dur
Ing the nine months Investigation
be turned over To the Attorney Gen
cral with the request that he in
stitute criminal and civil proceed
ines. Th" Democrats countcrcd with
II substitute resolution proposing to
instruct the committee 10 name per-
sons, firms aud corporations which
should be Investigated by tho At
t"rne:-G eneral' before directing that
official To proceed.
Debate Not Ended.
When the House quit work tonight
debate on the majority and minority
reports Dad no; reached an end The
principal speeches were made by
.hNNullphSI-
can. Of Ohio. signing the majority,
and Representative norcmus. Demo
crat. OF MichiZ gan. author Of the min
GRITTY statement.
Like the opposing reports. tn"
spccchcs were far apart. Eeprescn-
tativc MCCULLOUGH declared that the
cry I'VE won the war" had been
made to cover Il multitude OF sins,
while Representative Dorcmus as
serted that III the supreme architect
OF the universe had built those
camps. the bicncher managers would
have found fault with the job.
Deny BiE Loss.
To the Republican claim that the
government lost SIS,a3i.j2i on six
teen national army cantonments
alone, through waste. and was en-
titled to record damages. the Demo
cratic member said If his computa
tiun was correct. he figured he ma"
squeezed ss5.000.o00 water Oh, OF
pretended claims 20 recovery"
MIR Mccullough said it. was not
within the province nor the duty OF
,le committee to prosecute crime or
indict criminals.
.'rhe report Of the majority con-
tains facts and evidence" We de-
clsred. 'aInl the record OF the tes-
timoMy taken IN connection WI TIE
construction OF Camp sherman ut
Chilicothc, ohio. aud Camp Grant at
Rockford, Ill, contains evidence on
which the Department o. Justice
should imme diately predicate Sfanl
jury invtstig cations"
80 attempt was made 10 save pub
lie money, Mr. Mccullough said, add
ing:
You are payin: your children ind
your chilircn's children FOR genera
lions TO come will pay ANA cont:nua
TO pay for the cosi-plus sEcter. Let
us hope that never again in the his.
tory OF The republic will su n rep-'
hensiblc system br put Into operation.
ana IL the labors Of this commit,c"
have accom- lishcd that result Ne viii
he content"
uphoids Maker. Action.
Representative Doremua argued
that the stress Of war justified ADAM
donin& peace time methods OF con-
struction."
'lnred," he declared. ~ Secretary
Baker had attempted 10 build the
camps h. The competitive system, he
would have been guilty az the Sross-
est Incompetence and merited removal
from office
After nine months Of investigation,
with access 10 all records. he said the
majority %. the committee was ''un-
willing 20 make specific recommends
tion to the Attorney General or spe-
c.nc allegation OF fraud against any
person, firm or corporation
Now they PROPOSE" he continued.
10 pass the investigation on 10 the
Attorney General. rhe resolution Is
"a concessiou OF failure. aud the coun-
try viii 50 regard it,