The Senate War Investigating Committee was formed by Ralph Owen Brewster in 1947 to investigate contracts delivered to Hughes Aircraft for the Hughes XF-11 and Spruce Goose. The contracts, totalling 40 million dollars, never resulted in aircraft which were delivered to the United States Air Force. Senator Owen Brewster defeated after battles with Howard Hughes Ralph Owen Brewster (February 22, 1888–December 25, 1961) was an American politician from Maine. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Hughes XF-11 was a prototype military reconnaissance aircraft designed by millionaire Howard Hughes for the United States Army. ... Hughes H-4 Hercules The Spruce Goose is a nickname commonly given to the Hughes H-4 Hercules, an aircraft designed and built by the Hughes Aircraft company. ...
The committee accused Howard Hughes of corruption in the methods he used to obtain government contracts for the aircraft. It was stated that Hughes had held parties with women paid to be present in order to soften up government officials who had the power to grant the contracts to him. Howard Robard Hughes (December 24, 1905–April 5, 1976) was at times a pilot, a movie producer, a playboy, an eccentric, a recluse, and one of the wealthiest persons in the world. ...
However, the Committee never returned any formal report: it was abandoned amidst claims that Brewster was only leading the committee at the request of personal friend Juan Trippe. Juan Terry Trippe (June 27, 1899 - April 3, 1981) was an airline entrepreneur and pioneer. ...
The Committee is depicted in the latter half of The Aviator, a movie about the life of Howard Hughes. The Aviator is a 2004 drama movie, directed by Martin Scorsese. ...
The committee accused Howard Hughes of corruption in the methods he used to obtain government contracts for the aircraft.
However, the Committee never returned any formal report: it was abandoned amidst claims that Brewster was only leading the committee at the request of personal friend Juan Trippe.
Committees, except Appropriations and Budget, are not allowed to meet for more than two hours beyond the Senate's daily convening time, and not beyond two o'clock in the afternoon without the express permission of both party floor leaders, or their designees.
That committee filed its report within a week and, by April 18, the Senate had resolved that twenty rules "be observed." In those days, the Senate spent much of its time acting as a "Committee of the Whole," a parliamentary device for facilitating the legislative process.
Also in the first session, the entire membership of the Senate was divided into two large committees, with half the senators on the committee to prepare legislation establishing the federal judiciary and the other half on the committee to define the punishment of crimes against the United States.