The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-22
REPRESENTATIVE LILLEY
CENSURED BY COMMITTEE
Accused Of Having Violated His Obli9a.
ton as a Con9ressman.-Charges
Are Declared UnfOunded

HE &Er 6'|-S
sions Of the special committee which
has been Investigating the charges OF
Representative Lilley of Connecticut,
that members OF the house had been
Improperly influenced In connection
with submarine torpedo boat legisla'
ton, that MI. Lilley had violated his
obligations as a member and had
acted in bad faith with the commit
tee and in contempt Of the house,
we're sustained today by the house by
a vote Of 157 to 50. Five hours Of the
session were devoted to the case.
four of which were consumed In read.
ing the report.
The Connecticut members Joined
in voting against the resolution by
which the house adopted the conclu-
sions Of the committee as It's own. MI.
Williams Of Mississippi denounced
Mr.. Lilley as being guilty Of treason.
for which he said he should be ex.
PEELED. It was a noticeable fact that
the five members Of the special COM
mittee. Messrs. Boutell, Olmsteads
stevens. Broussard and Howard, sat
together throughout the proceedings
and that none Of them submitted any
remarks in connection with the re-
port.
Four Hours to Read.
The reading of the report occupied
-four hours time. 1t was the lengh-
dest document presented before the
house this session, and put the two
reading clerks to a severe test of
their vocal powers. Upon the conclu-
sion of the reading, Mr.. Payne, the
majority leader, offered a resolution
approving the report and it's conclu-
,sions, and adopting them as the con
,clusions of the house.
Mr.. Higgins of Connecticut, a col
league of Mr.. Lilley, announced that
the delegation from the state would
vote against the resolution. Follow
ing a statement by Mr.. Payne that
the committee was justified in it's re-
port and conclusion, Mr.. Williams Of
mississippi, the minority leader, de-
nounced Mr.. Lilley as being guilty Of
treason.
THE very worst form Of treason to
a government like ours" he said, "is
corrupt practice on the part OF a
representative Of the people,"
Williams Denounces LiIIey.
He maintained that any member of
the house guilty Of corrupt practices
a an enemy Of the people them
selves, mot only an enemy, but a
traitor" 35e.
Mr.. Williams presumed that the
reason that the committee did not
recommend expulsion was because
Mr.. Lilley was sick. mo man." he
tsaid, "ought to be arraigned and Wis
dted with a heavy penalty without the
opportunity OF being heard" and he
felt that was the reason the report
had not been carried to it's logical
conclusion. s+,ss
Raising his voice to a high pitch,
<Mr. Williams exclaimed:
II am tired. of the degradation Of the
representatives Of the people. l am
tired Of my own association with that
degradation"
It had, he declared, reached the
point that simply because q man had
been elected by the people to fill a
place on the floor Of the house he at
pnce became q suspect.
Following an unsuccessful attempt
.by Mr.. Parsons of New York, to OBJ
tain a postponement Of action OF the
resolution until the next session, the
resolution was adopted, yeas 1877
nays 50. present" SO. It was an un'
partisan vote.
Charges Were unfoundsd.
In the report submitted to the
house today Chairman Boutell and
his colleagues reveal the Testimony
brought out before the committee OF
hearings extending over severa
weeks and declare with entire unan
unity that no member Of the house
and no representative Of the preai
have been induced by omcers Of tn
Electric Boat company to act from {
corrupt or improper motive.
Furthermore, the committee ind
that Mr.. Lilley allowed himself to n'
used as an instrument Of the Lak'
Boat company in questioning the In
tegrity and fairness Of members o
the investigating committee and 4
attacking a competing submarine
company. Mr.. Lilley is charged ais
with maintaining an attitude Of bal
faith, both in bringing the charge
and concealing from the COMMITTEES
the identity Of the real parties in in
terest beyond the investigation.
The concluslons Reported.
The conclusions reached q tn
unanimous act Of the committee. To-
lows: