Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-13
FERRY AND LILLEY
Bridgeport Man Says His Con-
versaiion With Waterbury
Man Was Legitimate.

company, said to-day he had been in
Washington and had talked with Mr.
Lilley about submarines, because, he
added, Mr. Lilley was the congress
man from his own district, and he,
Mr. Ferris, wished to know if there
We're to be any building of submarines
by the government at this time. He
denied that anything but legitimate
courses have been taken in seeking
government work.
Representative Richmond Pearson
Hobson testified that he had been ap-
preached by man representing the
Electric Boat company, who told him
that if he would support the claims of
that company before congress the COM
pany could bring influence to bear on
Speaker Cannon to have him Hobson)
appointed on the committee on naval
affairs.
After Captain Hobson had been
sworn he stated to the committee that
he preferred that questions be asked
him rather than that he make state
ment. Questioned by Mr.. Olmsted, he
said that he made a statement to Mr..
Lilley something like that to which Mr..
Lilley had testified.
Did some person claiming to be q
representative of an electric boat com.
pany approach you in the manner indt
cated?" asked Mr.. Olmstead.
"Yes, SIR"
Who was the party?"
Lawrence Speer Of New York II
was In November last. Mr.. Speer saw
my secretary first and a few days later
called me up on the telephone, and II
was over the phone that he spoke to
me directly. He had previously written
me stating that there was matter OF
mutual interest about which he wished
to confer with me, and l replied that
would be glad to confer with him. He
said over the phone subsequently thai
he understood wanted to 60 on the
naval committee and that his company
would be able to help me; had infiu.
ence to bring that about IL / stood
right on submarines"
Mr.. Lllley repeated his recent state
rnent that lie has been shadowed by q
large number Of men since he intro
dueed his resolution.
Concerning Mr.. Lilley's assertion In |
his prepared statement that no report |
had been made to the house of the in |
vestigation of the Lessler charges by |
the naval committee, Mr.. Olmsted call
ed his attention TO the fact that such |
a report had been made and that II had |
been shown that representatives of the
Holland company had made improper
overtures to a member of congress.
Mr.. Lilley gave the names of the
Connecticut members and the attorney
who had asked him. according to his
statement, to vote for an appropriation
for submarine boat legislation. The
manufacturers, he said, were Franklin
II. Taylor Of Waterbury and Charles
Ferry Of the Bridgeport Brass com.
pany. The attorney was John T. Kel.
iogg OF Waterbury.
Mr.. Lilley said that Mr.. Kellogg, the
attorney for the Electric Boat compa
ny, made an appointment for Mr.. Fer
ry with Mr.. Lilley, but Mr. Kellogs
was net present at the interview. At
previous visit, Mr.. Lilley said, Mr.
Kellogg handed him a written form
Of the provision that would be offered
In the naval committee while prepar
ing the naval bill of the last session
1t was offered, he said. but he did moi
remember by whom. 1t was Mr.. Iii
ley's impression that he supported that
resolution. IL was for open legislation
he said. leaving the letting of contracts
with the department. The one submit
ted this year shut out any possibility
OF competition.
Mr.. Lilley said that the name Of the
representative who. he claimed, haC
been approached by a member Of the
Electric Boat company with a PROPOSE
tion to get him on the naval affair."
committee II he would favor the sub
marine legislation was Captain Rich
mond r. Hobson. He said that Cap
tain Hobson was willing TO testify anC
give the name Of the man who ap
preached him.
Mr. LElley said Il was his under
standing that there was an agreement
between the Electric Boat company
and Yickers' Sons x Maxim OF Eng
land. who are building English subma.
rine boats. whereby all improvements ,
made By the Electric Boat company are /,
turned over TO the English company.
but under which all Of the improve
ments made by vickers' Sons a Max
I'm are not given to the Electric Boat
company.
Mr.. Liliey said he had been sp-
preached by a representative Of the {
Lake Boat company. who asked him I
4 be would stand for open Iegislstion.
meaning that II any appropriation was
made II should b left - that al the
,eople could have fair chance 10 Oh
sin the business. Mr.. LIlley said he
r0uld stand for open legislation. Later :,
le was asked by an agent Of the lake !,
Boat company n he would oTer q sub !,
Ititute resolution. leaving TIE sppro-
,ristion to be expended IN the regular
rsy by tbe serresary of the navy. In
~ 49, : -z--.------g W. =Fser 4 did A
~ care 20 oTsr the substitute rpsolu- a
'oz I did not think submarines are of =,
nura an-nurf huf IN we arp aosmr ta An