Evening star., 1921-02-13
URGES CONGRESS
T0PROBE pROBERS
Representative Flood Offers
Resolution Seeking Inquiry
Into War Investigations.

The long-threatened investigation
of the investigators into the conduct
of the war is provided for in a reso-
luton introduced yesterday by Rep
resentative Hal d. Flood of Virginia.
member of the general investi-
eating committee and chairman of
the democratic congressional commit
tee. This resolution calls upon Sec
retary Baker for all facts connected
with the application of j. NJ. Hill
and c. c. Lindsey "for permission
War Department and the refusal of
mission"
Hill and Lindsey were employed
ny the investigator. who was en-
ployed by the johnson subcommittee,
and not directly by the COMMITTEES
itself. the chairman explained last
night. a voucher for $2,4OO for their
work, or part of it. made out in the
name of their employer, is held by
chairman Ireland of the House COM
paid.
Department Refused.
The names of Hill and Lindsey
were brought before the general in
vestigating committee, of which Rep
resentative Graham of Illinois is
chairman. last June. At that time
Mr.. Flood. in denying charges by
republican members that the War
Departments attitude was unfavora-
ole to the investigation. declared the
only refusal was in the case of Hill
and Lindsey, who were seeking GER
tain secret records containing the
settlement of contracts.
This action, Mr.. Flood charged.
was taken after the department au-
thorities had found that the. real
purpose of Hill and Lindsey was to
information supposed to be on file
among government records "in the
event they were unable to obtain
large sum through blackmail."
Seeks All the Facts.
Mr.. Flood announced that it was
important to have the facts laid be-
fore the House. and that his resolu-
up from the floor in the absence of
a prompt report from the military
affairs committee, to which it was
referred.
Chairman Ireland Of the committee
on accounts in the House last week
criticized expenditure of large sums
by investigating committees. declar-
ing he had seen mo real application
of concrete results from the war in
vestigations, and that his committee
undoubtedly would have disapproved
many of the contracts had it known
about it. 1t was indicated last night
that another resolution bearing on
the case would be introduced tomor-
row.
In his statement to the committee.
which he made public yesterday to
explain the reason for his resolution.
Mr.. Flood said that Hill and Lindsey
went to the War Department with
letter from Samuel T. Ansell, former
acting advocate general of the Army,
counsel for the Johnson subcommit-
tee.
Statement to Committee.
Mr.. Floods statement to the
Graham committee last June follows:
''The subcommittee has assumed to
both " the military authorities
abroad and at home. and such testi-
mony as it has taken with respect
to expenditures is only incidental to
tb.s main purpose. The gentlemen
who constitute the majority of this
subcommittee charge that the War
Departments attitude was unfavor-
certain fiscal records were not avail
able There is nothing in the con-
duct of the War Department to
justify this charge. and the statement
that the records are not available Is
wholly without foundation and fact.
THE only instance in which the
War Department declined to honor
Investigations made under authority
from the committee or its attorney
was that of a Mr.. Hill and Mr..
Lindsay. who went to the War De-
partment with a letter from Gen. S.
T. Ansell. the twenty-thousand-dollar
attorney. requesting that these gen.
tlemen be given access to certain
secret records containing the settle
ment of certain contracts.
Agreed With Baker.
Upon investigation the War De-
partment 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
a large sum through blackmail.
THE proper authorities in the War
Department very promptly refused
to honor Gen. Ansell's request. and
the Secretary OF War wrote a letter
to the chairman Of the select COM
mittee. in which he set forth reasons
for such refusal Mr.. Graham, the
chairman. naturally agreed with the
Secretary Of Wars presentation of
the matter and his refusal
Ack culpc Tn Ain CulMEcc