Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-21
LILLEY KICKS
IDlimaieS That Graft Was Lying
Around Loosely 10 The Naval
Commission
COMMITTEE ASKED FOR

Washington, Feb 2l.-A reSolu-
| ton was offered in the house yester-
day by Mr. Lilley of Connecticut pro-
| vlding for the appointment by the
speaker of a special committee of
five members to investigate the con-
duct of the Electric Boat Co of New
Jersey and its predecessor, the Hol-
land Boat Co." respecting the meth
DDS employed by the said companies
relative to past and proposed legis-
lation before congress.
The resolution empowers the pro-
posed committee to compel attend
ance of witnesses, administer oaths,
etc, and requires the findings of the
committee to be reported to the
house. The resolution was referred
to the committe on rules.
The proposal for congressional
investigation is an outgrowth of the
refusal of the house committee on
naval affairs to support President
Roosevelt's naval construction pro-
gramme. The president personally
backed the navy department in its
request for authorization Of the con-
struction of four battleships, ten tor
pedo boat destroyers, four subma-
rines, etc. The committee cut the
battleships to two and raised the
submarines to eight and relative to
the latter craft adopted the Louden-
Slayer amendment providing that
they should be of the type of the Oc-
topus, unless a superior type should
be offered and demonstrated by Oc-
tober /, 1908.
1t was pointed out by the friends
of the presidents programme, among
them Representative Hobson of Ala
bama, that this provision practically
delivered the contract into the
hands of the Electric Boat Co, build
ers of the Octopus, because eighteen
months is the time required to build
submarine, and the time limit of
October 1 afforded a period of only
eight months in which to build
competitor craft.
The president sent for Representa-
tive Lilley yesterday and conferred
with him about naval construction
matters and the action of the house
committee on naval affairs. Imme-,
diately after coming from the white
house Mr. Lilley introduced his reso-
luton Of investigation; but when ask
cd whether IL had the presidents sup
port, or had been a subject of dis
cussion at the white house conference,
he refused to reply. ....s
Enough has come under my per-
sonal observation he said, ito con
vince me that thorough and search
ing investigation should he made of
methods that have been employed TO
gain committee support of the Octo-
pus type Of submarine. The depart
ments programme has been ignored
and in its place they have succeeded
in augurating programme of their
own.
THE plans of Secretary Metcalf
for improved submarines were voted
down, and in their place the commit
tee voted 10 double the number asked
for and practically stipulated that they
shall he Of the Octopus type. The
Octopus was finished some months
prior TO the battleship Vermont. which
was completed year ago and is now
admitted to he Obsolesccnt--passing
into desuetudc as fighting machine.
resultant Of vast Improvements
which have been perfected since her
launching. \ proposition now 10
build battleship on the out-or-date
lines of the Vermont would be just
rs reasonable and unsuspicionable as
this arbitrary proposal TO acquire !
eight more Octopuses.
"A thorough investigation after the !
manner of the insurance inves;iga-
tions of the Hughes type In New York.
would pile up n big benefit 70 the !
| favor no particular style Of |
submarine craft. favor square !
deal, though. and my resolution of |
is aimed to secure it,