Evening star., 1947-07-31

Henry Kaiser. This memo, ask
chief, What Is there in this?
from Jesse Jones describing
plane.
the original contract was cancelled
at the direction of Mr.. Nelson, ant
at that time consideration was beinl
given to reletting it to build the BIZ
plane of metal instead Of wood.
1t was at this juncture that Chair
man Ferguson brought Mr.. Roose
velt's name into the picture by hav
ling Mr.. Jones identify memoran
dunn he wrote at the time, whicl
follows:
\ February 18, 1914
MEMORANDUM:
II spoke to the President afte
cabinet today about the big Kaiser
Hughes plane, and told him tina
we had been instructed by MI
Donald to cancel the contract.
"I explained that the estimat'
that Mr.. Kaiser furnished us a
the time the construction Of thes'
big planes was being considered wa
that three of the planes, including
the prototype, would cose $4,000, ,0O'
and that approximately $13 900 ,O0l
had already been expended on thu
building, equipment and prototype
that is was now estimated that tt
complete the prototype alone woule
cost probably $5,00o,0oO or 5000, 900
that Mr.. Nelson had ordered tht
contract cancelled due to the extrs
time it would require to complete
it, and upon the advice Of experts
in the aviation field.
"The President stated that hi
thought the experience to be gainet
by completing one plane would bs
Of too much value to throw away
the money already expended, anc
that the contract should not bt
cancelled. JESSE H. JONES"
Written in pencil at the bottom
was the notation:
"Mr. Nelson later authorized III
to coI1pfeta the prototype and DPC
Proceeded as per letter Of inten
dated March 27, 1914"
Roosevelt Interested.
Asked by Chairman Ferguson VIII.
he went TO the President, Mr.. Jone
said he anew of thesErcddent's in
terest in the plane, but that, to hi
knowledge, Mr.. Roosevelt had moth
ing to do with the making of tn
original contract in 1912.
Senator Ferguson wanted to know
how Mr.. Hughes could have spen
$1,000, 900 of his own money to fin
ish the big cargo plane, If the Gov
ernment had agreed originally Il
build 1t.
Mr.. Jones explained that, wher
he was told to 60 ahead with thu
project in 1914 ''it was my Job tt
negotiate" He said he tried to per
suade Mr.. Hughes to drop it, but tn
latter was determined. Mr.. Jone
then said he required Mr.. Hughes tt
agree to stand any cost above th'
original $18,O00,0 900 estimate.
Admiral Towers said he con.
ferred with Mr.. Kaiser early IL
August, 1912, on his plan for thu
mass production of flying boats bu
could not obtain any information
definite enough on which to mak'
a decision.
Expressed Concern.
Mr.. Kaiser's attitude seemed to be
Admiral Towers said, that his recort
as a shipbuilder was proof enough
he could produce the same result
in aircraft production.
The admiral expressed concerl
over the likelihood that such q BIZ
program would absorb too man.
scarce materials already allocated t.
aircraft projects.
He told the committee he asket
for details as to Mr.. Kaiser's avail
able engineers, tools and plan
equipment, and as to just how h
proposed to turn out 500 planes o
the Mars type.
Chairman Ferguson asked: "Wha
plans did he show you?"
They were artists conceptions o
aircraft plants and of a giant sea
plane" was the reply, but no spe
cif1c plans Of any value to us IL
appraising his proposal"
] Admiral Towers read into the rec
ord a letter to Mr.. Nelson dated Au
gust 10, 1912, from Mr.. Forrestal
expressing the conviction that pro
duction of cargo planes for the Nav!
should be the job Of established air
craft plants.
Extensive Contracts Cited.
Mr.. Forrestal detailed the exten
sive contracts for cargo planes al
ready entered into by the Navy ant
said these appeared adequate, if no
in excess Of the Nays needs.
In response to questions, Admira
Towers said that, since 1t required
some four years to design and pro
duce q plane like the Mars, he say
no possibility that Mr.. Kaiser coul'
produce a 20o-ton boat about thre
times as heavy as the Mars in tim
to be of use to the war effort.
Senator Ferguson asked: Did tn
Navy disapprove the project TO
three 2O0-ton flying boats?"
Admiral Towers replied he adviset
against issuing a letter of inten
in the absence of a more definit'
proposition.
Advised by a wPB spokesman
that the idea was to build the boat
of duramould, he agreed the thre
boats probably would not draw
seriously on short supplies lik
engines, but he warned that tn
plant should not raid other wa
projects for expert workers, he re
counted.
Il Admiral Towers said the Navy di'
not approve the planes or partici
pate in the planning and expresses
the opinion that wood and glue