Evening star., 1924-04-03
WEEKS IS ORDERED
TO BRING AIRCRAFT
FACTS TOPRODERS
Subpoena Follows Seques-
tration of Papers by War
Secretary's Order.
DISMISSED LEGAL AIDE
SAYS DESK WAS RIFLED
q. S. Lost Millions in Settling
Claims and Selling Property,
T. F. Lane Asserts.

T. F. Lane Asserts.
The Daugherty investigating com
rittee pursued its aircraft inquiry
into the War Department today, with
the result that Secretary Weeks was
subpoenaed to appear on the witness
stand tomorrow morning.
The summons directed the Secretary
10 bring with him certain papers re-
lating to aircraft frauds, taken from
the desk and brief case of Thomas F.
Lane, who was suspended from the
air service a day or two ago after re-
fusing to comply with a request of
his superior officer that he stay
away" from the COMMITTEES
VoIandt Brought Into Case.
Lane, who was legal adviser to Maj.
Gen. Patrick. chief of the air service,
testified today that the advice against
appearance before the committee was
given him by Capt. W. +. Volandt,
who, he said, also took possession of
lis records III the aircraft cases.
Eolandt followed him on the witness
St&pd and conceded that Lane had been
advised by him not TO go before the
committee and that certain official
records" in Lanes possession had been
taken away and turned over to Secre-
tary Weeks He denied Lanes state
ment that the papers included private
documents and he insisted that Lane
had been suspended only because of
absence from duty at the War Depart
which led to his appointment had about
been concluded.
Must Subpoena Weeks.
Secretary Weeks, Volandt said, had
instructed him to notify the committee
that if it wished to get the papers it
must subpoena the Secretary himself.
That the Committee did at once. direct
ing him to be present at 10 am. to-
morrow, when Nolandt is to again take
the stand to complete his testimony.
One Of the reasons why the papers
in Lanes possession were taken away
from him, Volandt told the committee,
was to rush two aircraft cases to the
Department of Justice for action. Com
mittee members pressed the witness
with questions designed to couple the
War Departments haste in these cases
with the committee inquiry, but he in
sisted there was ~
Describes Missing Papers.
ordS to the committee as relating to
many aircraft cases on which he had
worked. These cases, he said, included
the Lincoln Motors case, the Standard
Aircraft case and the Bosch Magnetic
case, in all of which he charged that
overpayments had been made by the
government.
In the Lincoln case, he said, the De-
partment of Justice made a settlement
over the protest of the War Depart
ment, and so bad" that when it was
preached Gen. Patrick and the other
War Department representatives
walked out" of the conference.
Was Rushing Cases.
The papers in possession of Lane,
to complete the records that I'VE were
rushing" to the Department of JUS
tice for action.
oh, so you'd get them over there
before the committee got the wit
nesses?" said Senator Wheeler.
No, we were rushing these cases
all the time
Rushing them for five years."
About three"
You wanted to rush this case over
before the testimony came out to
show the dilatory tactics you and
the rest Of them at the War Depart
ment have been pursuing to protect
these crooks Senator Wheeler
charged.
Calls Copies Illegal.
Absolutely not. The crux of the
whole situation is that Mr. Lane has
copies of papers in the government
files" Volandt said. "I understand
there is statute that forbids that"
Did you know that Mr.. Lane, dur
ing two or three years, considered
these papers as his own?' asked SEN
ator Jones, republican, Washington.
That's the point we are trying to
SETTLE" Nolandt returned.
The legal question, he said, was
taken up this morning by the Secre-
lary of War with the judge advocate
generals department"
The committee recessed until to-
morrow with Capt. Volandt still on
the stand
Wanted Case Reopened.
As legal adviser to the air service,
Land said, he had recommended to the
Secretary of War that the government
cases against the Standard Aircraft
Corporation and other contractors who
supplied war materials be reopened. He
declared he felt there was some ul-
terror purpose behind his dismissal and
that he had been shocked and panied"
because he had trusted" in Capt Vo-
ldndt.
The committee decided to call on
Nolandt and direct him to bring with
linn papers taken from Lane. Senator
AShurst suggested that Volandt be at
1ached" if he did not appear soon"
These papers, Lane said, included his
only copy of the report to Secretary
Weeks.
Doesn't Know His Status.
II presume 1 was dismissed" he
said 81 don't know what my status
is. Yesterday / found my private files
emptied, and all the papers taken from
the desk where have worked for five
years."
His files, the witness said, were
extra copies" of all papers that had
gone through his hands in following
1ip $4,000, 900 worth of war claims
which 1 kept as a matter of personal
pride"
AS far back as 1919, Lane said, he
had become convinced that the sit
uation regarding aircraft construc-
tion was bad" The Lincoln Motors
ease was the first he dealt with
which he thought was bad" he said.
1t was settled for $1,000, 900, he
added, while the government claim
was more than $9,000.u00.
Ignored Daugbefty View.
The War Department refused to
accept the settlements in the Lincoln
case recommended by Attorney Cen
eral Daugherty," Lane said, but they
went ahead and settled anyhow
Sanator Wheeler. the committee