Evening star., 1924-01-29
Representative Nelson Sees
Same Men Branded as War
Grafters at Work.
RESOLUTION OFFERED
FOR FULL INVESTIGATION
Government Air Services Accused
of Propaganda to Force Big
Appropriation.

A sweeping investigation of the
air services was demanded in the
House today by Representative Nell
son, republican, Wisconsin, who de-
clared he was informed that condi-
tions which now exist are a continu-
alton OF the same practices by the
same parties that wrote the blackest
page in Americas war history in the
aircraft failure"
Introducing a resolution asking for
the appointment OF a special commit
tee OF inquiry, he said:
Il am preferring no charges against
anybody. l simply wish to end this
condition in the air serv-
ice or set at rest these charges If
found untrue"
Has Mass of Documents.
Mr.. Nelson said he had more than
seven thousand documents, which, he
added. II am told will show the same
conditions which existed during the
darkest days of the black scandal in
the air services now exists in those
services and that tI.e same firms which
participated in the loot OF more than
$500, 00O. 900 of the peoples money are
still getting the contracts under the
same conditions and provisions they
got those previous contracts"
He declared the air service Is con-
Quoting propaganda "over mountain
and sea, desert and valley, in order to
try to force Congress, through an
aroused public sentiment. to appropri-
ate more money than the officials Of
the air service seem to feel Congress
would be willing TO appropriate upon
a proper presentation to it of the
needs of the service" and he asked:
is this the purpose of the pro-
posed flight of the dirigible to the
north pole?"
Sees Violation of Laws.
Mr.. Nelson said that in his opinion
the Manufacturers Aircraft Associa-
ton, Inc. and its methods OF opera
ton were In absolute violation Of
the Sherman antitrust law" and
that he was convinced that an inves-
tigation would show this, mot only rs
being as fact then, but its being q
fact today" -. .
Representative Nelson declared It
the duty OF the House to see to II
that the more than 1000 documents
dlC NieiSoihCN anu SCdHlcu ny COnpe.
tent attorneys. under the direction
of a committee, ''in order that this
House may be informed as to the
proof or falsity of the charges that
are openly made that the air service
procedure today is corrupt and that
our defense in the air is in peril be-
cause of these conditions"
Conditions in the air service, he
continued now imperil America >
defense in the air at this very mo-
Fhny
zines are being filled with state
ments by officials of the air services
which can be shown to be plain and
deliberate misrepresentation.
:. Old Offender. Hinted.
"A condition, 1 am informed, at
present exists in our air service
which Is a continuation Of the same
methods by the same individuals and
corporations who have been bitterly
condemned by unprejudiced investi-
gators and investigating committees
in the past as having been RESPONSE
BILE for the shameful failure which
developed during the war"
Quoting list of firms which he
said participated in the contracts in
which more than S7O0,0Oo,O0o was
spent and not a fighting plane de-
veloped during the war" MIR. Nelson
declared:
Now, how did these firms proceed
to take control Of the situation i?
First, their friends and former Off
cials were placed on a so-called ad-
visory board, which, instead of ad-
vising. took control of the situation
until 1t saw that it's course was to
be disclosed, whereupon it promptly
endeavored by resolution to divest it.
self of the usurped power and again
call Itself an advisory board in an
effort to escape just condemnation
for it's conduct
Next. and most Importantly, these
firms got up what was then called
and what is now designated as the
cross-llcenSe agreement What was
the cross-license agreement
Says Patents Were Pooled.
Briefly, it was an agreement en-
tered into by and between the mem
bers of the Manufacturers Aircraft
Association. Inc, under which the
patents owned or controlled by them
were cross licensed to each member
of the trust by the other members;
in effect, the patents were pooled.
Each member company was to pay
into the trust treasury royalty of
5000 for each airplane built by 1t. Out
of the first deposits thus made the
Wright Martin Aircraft Corporation
was to receive s175 of each 5000 thus
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