The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-14
EXPOSES SCHEME
Oh WAR PROBERRS
t.OuSe Resolution Likely to.
Shift Investigation
BAKER ASKED TO EXPLAIN
Agents Sent by AnssII Said to tlave,
Sought Secret information Fcrt
Purpose of Siackmail.


Sought Secret information Fer
Purpose of stackmail.
Washington, Feb. l4.-A resolution
hhlch IS expected 10 shift the who!e
subject OF q congress onai inycs iG,.--
don Of the conduct Of the war iuto i
new field was introduced by Repre-
sentative Flood, Democrat. Virginia,
a member of Inc general investigate
ing committee.
The Flood resolution called jpoti
Secretary Baker for all facts cnnnect-
Ell With the application of J. N. Hin
and c. c. Lindsey FOR permission 10
Inspect the secret archives OF the
var department and the refusal OF
,he department to grant such per-
mission"
Hill and Lindsey worked for an in
vustigator who was employed by the
Johnson subcommittee and not di,
rvctly by the committee Itself, the
,...airman explained. y voucher for
400 for their work, or part OF it.
lde out in the name of their en-
.oyer. is held by Chairman Ireland,
I the house committee on accounts,
al has not been paid.
The names OF Hill ANA Lindsey
we're brought before the general In
vesligating committee Of which Reps
,r>cntative Graham. Of Illinois, is.
chairman. last June Al that time
Flood. III denying charges by Rcpuh-
iican members that the war depart
ment'S attitude was unfavOrablc 10
;he investigation, declared the only
refusal was in the case of Hill and
Lindsey. Of certain secret records,
containing the settlement of con
tracts
This action, Flood charged. weg
aiken after the department authori
.es had found that the real pur.
,ose of Hin and Lindsey was to
btain money from Il newSpape foi
attenuation supposed to be on fiji
,mong government records 'ia The
vent they We're unable TO obtai., Il
1rge sum through blackmail."
In his statement to the COMMITTEES,
yhich he made public to explain the
eaSon for his resolution, Flood said
hat Hill and Lindsey went 10 the
var department with letter from
,amuel T. Ansen. former acting
udge advocate general of the army,
ounsel fol the Johnson subgonnit
.Ce
Floods statement teesttle Gfshaill
allnmiftee last June faslozrs
The subcommittee has assumed
inveJtigate the conduct of the
var, both by the military authorities
broad and at home. and such testi-
,nnny is it has taken with respect To
expenditures is only incidental TO
his main purpose. The gentleAen
yho constitute the majority Of this
subcommittee charge that the war
departments attitude was unfavor
oblt to the investigation, and that
'cFrain fiscal records were not avail.
tble There is nothing In the con
dnct Of the war department 10 jus
t.fy this charge. and the stu-emCnc
that the records are not available IS
NHtIIN NlIllOul lpuIIutltiOil ttl-N ltN =
The only instance in which the
war department declined to honor
Investigations made under authority
from that committee. or its attorney,
was that of Mr.. Hill and :.
Mr. Lindsey, who went to the war
department with Il letter from Gen
eral S. T. Ansell, the $4,000 atJor-
ney, requesting that these gentlemen
be given access TO certain secret
records containing the settlement Of
certain contracts.
Upon investigation the war de-
parment authorities found that the
real purpose of Mr.. Hill and Mr..
Lindsey was to obtain money from a
newspaper for this Information, in
the event they were unable to obtain
i large sum through blackmail. The
proper authorities i'll the war depart
-ment very properly refused TO honor
General AnSelrs request. and the
secretary of war wrote a letter 10
he chairman of the select commit
N which he set forth reasons for
such refusal Mr.. Graham, the chair
man, naturally agreed with the sec
retary of wars presentation Of the
matter and his refusal