The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-04-21
War Contracts Investigated

Washington. D. Glow the
| Government rose to the emergency
| of war overcame unprecedented diff
| ficulties and put a winning army in
! to the field when there were gloomy
| predictions that the feat was impoS-
sible, was told in the House of Re-
| preventative by Frank E. Doremus,
| of Michigan. Mr.. Doremus is a
| minority member of the House select
war investigating committee.
Representative Doremus said that
| despite the arduous labor necessary
as a member of an investigating
committee, he was glad he had serv-
ed because it gave him an insight in
to Americas remarkable achieve
nents.
/ do not regret the part l have
taken in this investigation" said Mr..
Doremus. 1T has given me clear
er idea of gigantic task that con-
fronted the Government when war
suddenly threw it's shadow athwart
the path of a peace-loving people.
1t has given me a keener apprecia-
tion of the obstacles that were sur
mounted and of how a mighty ma
tion arose to its great responsibility
when the supreme test of its genius
and patriotism came"
Referring to the report of the ma
jority of the subcommittee, which
criticized various things in the con-
duct of the war but brought no
specific Indictment against any one,
Representative Doremus, with
touch or sarcastic emphasis, said:
This is momentous occasion in
the life of our Republic. On this
day our reconstruction Congress
pauses in it's tortuous and question
able career to add another chapter
to that celebrated historical work
entitled How America Lost The
War written by Honorable William
j. Graham, of Illinois.
Representative Doremus added
that he had been assigned to the sub
committee to investigate construc-
tion of army camps "and this inves-
tigation has been one of the most
successful building programs in the
history of the world"
after nine months of investiga-
ton" continued Mr.. Doremus. "the
majority of this committee is unwill-
ing to make specific recommends
tion to the Attorney General or a
particular allegation of fraud against
any person, firm or corporation.
During all that time they have had
access to the records of the construc-
tion division of the War Department
and the emergency construction
committee, with unlimited authority
from the House to investigate every
phase of construction program.
''They have employed able inves-
tigators and counsel, and no limita-
ton has been placed upon their ex-
penditures. During these nine
months they have left no stone un-
turned in their efforts to discover
evidence of fraud and graft, and now
they propose 20 pass the investiga-
tion on to the Attorney General.
They have brought in a report
which they would not dare to sub
nit to a vote of the House because
it contains findings and recommen-
dations the House would not approve
The resolution is a confession of fail
ure, ad the cuntry will so regard it.
Representative Doremus challeng-i
ed the Republican, laiority to pre-
sent for a straight out vote a report
not dealing in general charges OF
waste of money and inefficiency. but
specifying particularly what matters
should be investigated by the Attor-
ney General After a fruitless in
vestigation of nine months, Mr..
Doremus argued, the committee was
merely sidestepping in resolving that
the Attorney General should now in
vestigate war contracts.
LET the select committee bring
in a report specifying the persons,
firms or corporations which in the
opinion of the Committee should be
by the Attorney General
in connection with construction OF
these camps" urged Representative
Doremus Why do you not request
the Attorney General to institute in
vestigations, either by grand jury or
for the purpose of be-
ginning criminal OF civil prosecu-
tions against such persons, firms or
in any case whee the
facts warrant I could gladly sup
port such a resolution"