Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-12

reluctant and adverse witnesses, and
the facts resting In their knowledge
alone cannot be fully brought tc
light except by careful and thorough
examination Of each witness by an
attorney qualified to conduct such ar
examination.
| "The committee on rules In Its
| resolution under which this commit
tee is acting has said to the country
that you are to investigate the
charges made by me, however, in,
correct this statement may be, 1t Ii
nevertheless the official statement oil
the resolution under which this COM
mittee is appointed. had supposed
| that it was the function of this com.
mittee to sit here as judges and not
to act as prosecutors or defenders and
| therefore that the orderly and ef-
fective procedure would be to have
witnesses examined in the first in
stance by some other than member
of this official tribunal.
''The suggestion of your commit
| tee that the line of procedure indicat,
ed by you in accordance with the
well established precedence of botL
houses Of congress, is not in accord
ance with my conception of the pre-
cendents.
80 far as l am individually con-
cerned, I am ready to obey any order
by this committee requiring me to be
witness before it, but in doing so
l state upon my responsibility as o
member of the house of representa-
tives that in order to fully bring out
the necessary evidence and substanti-
ate the charges the order of the ex-
animation of witnesses should be
otherwise arranged and such testi-
mony as I may be able to give should
be presented in the natural order and
sequence of the investigation, such as
would be presented by counsel learn
ed in the law.
II ask your honorable committee
whether or not, after consideration
of what I have just stated, the COM
mittee still adheres to its determine.
tion to prohibit me from calling the
witnesses and presenting their testi-
mony under the examination of my
attorneys?"
This request being denied by the
committee through Chairman Boutell
Mr. Lilley said:
Il now feel that am relieved from
any responsibility of this investiga-
tion, and as an individual l submit
myself to the direction and orders OF
this committee. still protest that it
would be detrimental to thorough
and complete investigation to have
my testimony taken at this time, for
by so doing you would advise the
parties charged with improper &C.
tions in influencing congressional ac-
tion in such manner as would en-
able them to prepare for a possible
defeat of the purposes of the investi-
cation. ] now waive service of sum-
mons, and If you now order me to dc
so, will take the stand as a wit,
ness" ..
when Mr. Lilley came to the frs
stopping point, at which time ne In
dicated desire to know the wishc,
OF the committee in the matter OF
summoning witnesses he stopped fol-
response and was told by Chair.
man Boutell that under its instruc.
tions, the business of the committed
must necessarily be confined to tb'
conducting Of an investigation. Tho
members of the committee he s9ie
were not there as prosecutors noi
would they permit Mr. Lilley to as
sumo the role Of a prosecutor. Wit
nesses would be called as the neccs.
sity for their presence was developed
by the progress Of the inquiry.
After reading another paragraph
In which he oppressed his willingness
to submit to the will of the commit
tee, Mr. Lilley suspended his state
ment long enough to be sworn anc
then proceeded under oath. Before
he went on however, the chairman
announced that Mr. Olmsted. ono of
the members OF the committee would
ask whatever questions might be
necessary in the conduct Of tae In
vestigatiou.
Mr. Lilley's statement under oath
was as follows:
IL propose to show that for severa
years prior to the Lessler investiga.
tion the Holland Boat company ant
its successor, the Electric Boat com.
pany, maintained in Washington, an
organized lobby for the purpose Of in.
iuencing legislative appropriations
in favor Of the submarine boats built
by that company. and that II hao
under annual retainer c. z. Cressy
General EphrIam Hunter. Unitel
States Senator Marion Butler, S. c
McNeir. DIR W. r. Kerr and others.
THAT for several years Elihu p
Frost. vice-president Of the said
company, has been a continuous visit
or at Washington during congress
Ional sessions and has spent large
sums OF money in furnishing enter
tainment TO members Of congress. hi.
expenditures along this line amount.
ing to thousands OF dollars.
That the senate amendment "a
the appropriation bill OF March 2
1907. was prepared and drafted by
the attorney for the Electric Boat
company for the purpose
of and with the intention tt
eliminate competition in submarine
construction and 10 prevent the Sec
retary n the navy from exercising
any discretion in awarding contracts
for submarines
THAT a thorough investigation hv
an impartial committee viii show
that large sums Of money have been
by the Electric Boat company. ifz
officers or agents. contributed 70 cam