Evening star., 1942-06-26
House Group Splits
Over Condemnation
OF War Expenditures
Minority Report Chorees
Committees Criticism
Is 'Biosed. lntemperote'
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The House Military Affairs
Committee was split. 10 to IL, to-
day over it's investigation of the
war program.
In a minority report filed late
yesterday 10 Democratic members
defended the War Department
against charges of reckless expendi-
lures made by nine Republicans
and three Democratic members.
Filing the minority report re-
vived speculation that Chairman
May might abolish the three spe-
cial subcommittees that have been
conducting the investigation for
more .haE a year
Representative May. who ap-
proved the majority report along
with Representatives Faddis of
Pennsylvania and Durham of North
Carolina Democrats, and nine of
the committees 10 Republican men,
bers, refused to comment on the
reports he would order the inves-
tigatiOn continued by the committee
as whole.
Significantly. though, he said
there might not be any subcom-
mittees when asked il the inves-
tigation would be continued by the
three s'oups.
Minority Charges Bias.
To the dissenters' charges that
they had been given no opportunity
to read the long majority report.
Representative May retorted that
they started a filibuster on 1t and
didn't var, it to come out at all"
The Kentuckian declared that
two DAYS before the committee met
to act on the main report, copies
were sent to the chairmen OF the
three subcommittee with the sug-
gestion they call their groups to-
gether TO study it. Two of the SUBJ
committee chairmen, Representa-
tives ThomaSnn of Texas and Har-
ter of Ohio. signed the minority
report. The other was Mr.. Faddis.
The minority charged the ma
jority report was totally lacking"
in the essentials of AN impartial
appraisal OF the war effort" and
was 'biased and intemperate."
The minority signers said they
could not find language adequate
enough TO express our condemna-
ton of the procedure under which
the reDort was filed. They COM
planned that members had no time
to read 1t.
Criticism Called Unjust.
we regret TO see approximately
Is months of effort beclouded, If
not destroyed. by a hastily consid-
cred, loosely prepared, harshly word
ed and biased report said the mi
nority members, Representative
Thomason, Harter. Edmiston. Mer-
rift. Costello. Brooks. Sparkman,
Kilday, Davis and Fitzgerald.
We believe on the whole" they
said. that the War Department,
Navy Department and War Produc-
ton Board are performing their
duties with remarkable efficiency
and are entitled to our commenda-
tion. This is no Time for partisan
ship. hasty action, unconsidered !
judgment or unjust criticism ..
This Nation is facing the most crit ,
ical hour in all its glorious history. !
and what we seek TO promote is un-
derstanding, cooperation and un-
ity."
In a defense OF the Army Air
Force. which the majority report
singled out for criticism. the mi
nority said that while those charged
with the procurement of military
aircraft and equipment were some
what tardily alert to changing con-
ditions" it should be remembered !
that efforts of the War Department
to increase the size of the Air Force
have continually been frustrated"
the opponents including some of
those who approved the majority re-
port.
Contract Savings Shown.
In general survey of the aviation
industry the minority said the in
dustry is actually capable of pro-
ducing 10000 planes annually with
its present facilities and in the COM
ing year will turn out 10000. |
Through voluntary price reduc-
tions or renegotiation of contracts. /
the report continued. the Army Air
Force has effected saving of $242.-
954,739 since the first OF this year.
The minority said there was mo .
justification" for a ma jority charge
that reckless expenditures" had
been made in War Department con- |
struot ton activities and added that /.
evidence showed "a very determined /
effort to Immediately correct any
cases of extravaganza"