HEARINGS BEFORE A DC JOINT COMMITTEE TO SEVENTY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION PURSUANT TO H.Con.Res. 15 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CREATING A JOINT 176296 MAY 22 TO JUNE 6, 1933 Printed for the use of the Joint Committee to Investigate Dirigible Disasters UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1933 Fechet, J. E., Maj. Gen. (retired) Fish, Hon. Hamilton, M.C. Foulois, Benj. D., Maj. Gen.. Fritchie, Carl B.. 743 617 623 Fulton, Garland, Commander (CC) - INVESTIGATION OF DIRIGIBLE DISASTERS MONDAY, MAY 22, 1933 CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE Washington, D.C. The joint committee met, pursuant to the call of the chairman, at 2 p.m., in the committee room of the Committee on the District of Columbia, Capitol Building, Senator William H. King (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators King, Walsh, Duffy, Kean; Representatives Delaney (vice chairman), McSwain, Harter, Andrew, and Hope. Present also: Colonel Henry Breckinridge. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order. The joint committee of the House and the Senate, consisting of 5 Members of the Senate and 5 Members of the House, has been appointed to make an investigation into certain matters, and to consider data and information described or referred to in the concurrent resolution, copy of which will be inserted in the record at this point. (The resolution is here printed in full as follows:) [H.Con. Res. 15, Seventy-third Congress, first session] Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That there is hereby created a joint committee to consist of five Members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and five Members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The committee shall select its own chairman. Such committee is hereby authorized and directed to investigate the cause, or causes of the wreck of the Navy dirigible Akron and the wrecks of other Army and Navy dirigibles, to fix responsibility for the same, to inquire generally into the question of the utility of dirigibles in the military and naval establishments, and to make recommendations to the Senate and House of Representatives with respect to the future use of dirigibles for military or naval purposes. The committee shall report to the Senate and House of Representatives as soon as practicable the results of its investigations, together with its recommendations. For the purpose of this resolution the committee, or any duly authorized subcommittee thereof, is authorized to hold hearings, to sit and act at such times and places during the sessions or recesses of the present Congress, to employ such experts, clerical, stenographic, and other assistants, to require by subpena or otherwise the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, to administer such oaths and affirmations, to take testimony, to have such printing and binding done, and to make such expenditures as it deems advisable, not exceeding $5,000, one half of said amount to be paid out of the contingent fund of the Senate and one half out of the contingent fund of the House. Subpenas shall be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee and shall be served by any person designated by him. The provisions of sections 102, 103, and 104 of the Revised Statutes shall be applicable to any person summoned as a witness under the authority of this resolution in the same manner as such provisions are applicable to any person summoned as a witness in the case of an inquiry before a committee of either House. 1 |