Evening star., 1947-07-31
Hughes May Appear
With Publicity Aide
AT Probe omorrow
Ferguson Awaiting
Reply to Invitation
To Plane Builder
BULLETIN

Howard Hughes and his public
relations man, John Meyer, on
hand for tomorrow's session Of
the Senate War Investigation
Subcommittee hearing into
plane contracts of Mr.. Hughes
and Henry J. Kaiser. Senator
Ferguson said, however, he has :
had no definite word from Mr..
Hughes since inviting him by
telephone last night. Thomas
Slack, Mr.. Hughes attorney at
the hearing, said also he did
not know what Mr.. Hughes had
decided to do about the COM
mittee's change in plan. Mr..
Slack indicated Mr.. Hughes
had expected to be called next
Wednesday.
The War Department had no
desire to underwrite the KAISER
Hughes giant cargo plane ven-
ture when the War Production
Board embarked on it in 1912,
Robert Lovett, then Assistant
Secretary of War for Air, told a
Senate War Investigating Sub
committee today.
The committee called Mr.. Lovett,
now Undersecretary OF State, to the
stand while awaiting an answer
from Howard Hughes, West Coast
aircraft builder and Aim producer,
to the request that he come here to
testify not later than 10 am. to-
morrow.
Mr.. Hughes, who is expected to
be one of the key witnesses, was
called last night by Chairman Fer
guson of the subcommittee con-
ducting the hearings after he
learned that the appearance of John
w. Meyer, Hughes public relations
man, would be delayed by his return
from Paris.
Hughes Confers With Lawyers.
A spokesman for Mr.. Hughes In
Los Angeles said the plane maker
and film producer was still in town.
1t was reported that Mr. Hughes
conferred with his attorneys until
midnight last night.
Mr.. Lovett testified that shortly
after the Kaiser Hughes cargo
plane project was authorized, the
War Department received a COM
plant that hiring squads" were
trying to recruit labor for the ven.
ture from one Of the plants already
working on Army planes.
The committee was told q WPB
official had given assurance In 1o42
that the Kaiser Hughes planes
would be built of non-strategic ma
terials and would not involve taking
personnel from other aircraft con-
Germs. Mr.. Lovett said his impress
sion was the complaint of hiring
squads came from a division of the
Boeing Co. in Kansas. Mr.. Lovett
said he took up the complaint with
Mr.. Nelson, pointing out that 1t
would interfere with the effort to
get out planes for the North African
invasion.
A Matter for Navy.
Mr.. Lovett testified that when Mr..
Kaiser first called on him In the
summer of 1912, he explained to the
industrialist that the flying boat
aspect of the project made 1t a Navy
matter, and that the Army already
had contracts out for a number Of
transport planes.
The former Assistant Secretary
also identified and read to the COM
mittee a report from the Joint
Chiefs of Staff in July, 1912, stating
that, since maximum production Of
combat planes was essential, none of
the facilities should be used for
additional transport plane construc-
tion.
Mr.. Lovett recalled that the WPB
and its aircraft board recommend
ed that the contract for the huge
flying boat be cancelled either late
in 1943 or early in 1914
He said he had been called on
at that time to supply technicians
to make an appraisal Of the project.
In response to question from
Senator Pepper, Democrat, of Flor
ida, Mr.. Lovett said there was
nothing corrupt or fraudulent as
far as he knew about Mr.. Kaiser's
plans to produce flying boats IN
quantity, or about the later con-
tract for three experimental types.
do you have any knowledge Of
what, if any, interest the late
Franklin Roosevelt took in the
planes?" Senator Pepper asked.
mo, sir"
Answering a hypothetical ques-
ton, Mr.. Lovett said in his opinion
the decision as to whether to
abandon the project after $13,000.-
900 had been spent on the flying
boat or to invest another $5,000,-
900 was solely a matter Of judg-
ment.
Senator Pepper asked: do you
believe the late President Roosevelt
acted in the public interest if he
told Jesse Jones of the Defense Plant
(see HUGHES, Page A-4J
Woman Ara kiIfad