Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-12

without warrant by this offer CT
pretended influence and to mislead
said member to believe, in case he
were appointed, that he owed his
appointment to the Electric Boat Go.
Il also submit" said Mr. Lilley,
las one of the facts influencing me
to introduce my resolution of inves-
tigation that in my judgment under
special and exclusive legislation the
Electric Boat Co and its predecessor
already have received from the
United States an excessive profit of
fore than $1,000,000 for the con-
struction of its submarines, and that
under the proposed legislation now
pending it will receive a profit of
more than $1,000,00O in excess of
what ought justly and fairly to be
paid for the construction of sub
marines provided for; and that this
fact can be substantiated by your
committee by calling as witnesses
the expert officials and constructors
in the navy department
Mr. Lilley said that investigation
would also show that the submarine
already constructed by the Electric
Boat Co for the United States gov
ernment or now under contract, as
well as those provided for in pend.
ing legislation, are inferior in type,
speed, power, armament and ef
ficiency to those now under contract
for construction for foreign govern
ments. He declared it to be his be-
lief that the proposed appropriation
of $3,500,O00 to be expended with
out possibility of competition for
the construction of submarines &C
the Electric Boat Cos type, ''is de-
signed and has been urged by that
company in order to prevent COM
petition in construction of type
which would be unavoidable after
reasonable time had elapsed in
which a more powerful competing
boat could be constructed and placed
in American waters"
Mr. Lilley reaffirmed the statement
that in his resolution of investiga
tion he had cast or intended to cast
mo reflection upon the official con-
duct of any member of the naval
committee or of the house of repre-
sentatives."
II realize" he said, that there is
a wide distinction between the fact
of actual corruption of a member of
congress and the effect upon his leg
islative action induced by such in
tiuence as can be brought to bear by
parties desiring favorable legislation;
my desire has been and is only TO
bring to the public attention of the
congress and the country the improper
methods that have been employed
by the Electric Boat company and
which tend to discredit the integrity
of the house of representatives and
the community.
Having made this statement to
your committee. and bowling to your
decision that you are to conduct this
investigation without further assist
ance from me or my attorneys, /
am now prepared to answer. so far
as can, any question you may H.
sire to ask"
When Mr. Lilley had completed his
written statement ne was queStlOneo
by Mr. Olmstead. He gave the names
OF Franklyn A. Taylor and John
Kellogg of Waterbury and Mr. Ferris
of Bridgeport, as those of persons
who had asked him to vote for an ap-
preparation for submarine boat legis-
lation. He also said that Representa-
tive Hobson had been approached by
a member of the Electric Boat COM
pany with a proposition to get him
on the naval affairs committee. If he
would favor submarine boat legisla-
ton. He spoke of an amendment to
previous legislation offered by Mr.
Laudenslager, which he said he
thought had been prepared by Mr.
Kellogg, an attorney for the Electric
company.