Evening star., 1934-06-18
House Chairman Says Gen.
eraI Gave False Testi-
mony Under Oath.
OFFICER FIGHTS DEMAND
FOR REMOVAL FROM JOB
"Wilful Violation Of Law" in
Purchase of Planes Claimed
by Committee.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Chairman Rogers DemocraO of
New Hampshire said today on the
House floor that Maj Gen. Benjamin
D. Foulois told a lie" to the military
affairs subcommittee, which yesterday
recommended the generals removal as
chief of the Army Air Corps.
Discussing the report. Rogers said
Foulois had testified that Army pilots
who would fly mail planes had had
from 80 to so hours of night flying
He then quoted figures to show that
those who had been involved in accl-
dents had averaged much less night
flying than that, some of them having
had only 80 hours.
Referring to Foulois' testimony,
Rogers said:
Its lie-a falsehood that the
chief of the Air Corps told to us
under oath"
ASKED Secret Hearing"
Rogers quoted from a statement Is
sued'by Foulois expressing regret that
the committees hearings had not been
open to the public.
Mai. Gen. Foulois himself came
before our committee and asked that
the hearings be kept secret Rogers
asserted.
Rogers asked that House members
read the committees report and help
see to it that there is a thorough
house cleaning" in the Army Air
Corps.
The report, he asserted "was an
unpleasant duty for the members OF
the committee, but we must have the
truth"
Our whole concern was to do our
duty and let the consequences take
care of themselves"
Asks Removal at Once.
The Investigating Committee OF
eight members recommended formal y
to Secretary of War Dern that Foulols
be dismissed without delay"
Striking back at the committee for
its secret hearings, Foulois challenged
his accusers to a meeting In open
court.
Il consider that the accusations are
most unfair and unjust" he said IN
a statement, "and I am ready and
willing at any time to meet my ac-
cuserS in open court.
The committees report, to be sent
to President Roosevelt this week,
charged. the general-in command OF
the Air Corps since 193l-with dis
honesty" gross misconduct" in
competency and 'miSmanagement."
Airmail Tragedies Cited.
Two outstanding points in the re-
port dealt with the purchase OF planes
and the Army's recent task OF flying
the airmail, an episode marked by
tragic list of deaths.
Attacking the buying of planes by
negotiations rather than competitive
bidding. the report said the evidence
discloses deliberate, wilful and inten-
tional violations of the law by the
chief of the Air Corps aided ana
abetted by his assistants in charge OF
procurement"
Declaring the law was flouted re-
peatedly, the report said the nego-
tiating system was "pernicious" and
let to "favoritism." This system was
declared detrimental to our national
air defense
The committee said "glaring ex-
ample of mismanagement and inefh-
ciency'' by Foulois lis apparent from
his actions or failures to act in con-
nection with plans and preparations
prior to the transportation OF the
airmail."
Lack of Preparation"
Foulois testified. the report said,
that he had informed a postal OH
cial he was quite certain" the Army
could carry the mail and that airmen
had had 80 to 60 hours night flying.
One pilot. the committee added, had
had only 17.3 hours before crashing
to his death and another 80 hours.
Testimony before the committee. >.
the report said, showed the total
lack of preparations made by the
chief and assistant chief of the Air
Corps for the welfare of the per-
sonnel engaged in the carrying OF
the mail"
Foulois declared "it is to be re-
gretted" that the committee has
conducted its hearings in secret,
rather than in open session, IN order