Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-02
LILLEY'S REPLY
Denies Charges of Submarine Committee - Admits Lake
 Co Belped Bim
HITS BOUTELL A RAP


 resolution and charges in connection with the so-called submarine scandal resulted last week in a severe SCOT ing of him by the Boutell investigat- ing committee, which charged him with wilful falsehood, bad faith and complicity in the Lake Torpedo Boat Go, to-day gave out statement on the subject. It includes a copy of a letter which alleges that two weeks before the report denouncing Lilley in scathing terms MT Boutell ex- pressed his admiration for Lilley and endeavored to effect an agreement whereby the matter should be com promised. The statement is as fol- lows: To the People of the State of Con
 necticut:
 E The report of the submarine in vestigation committee presented to the house of representatives on the goth inst, deals so largely with my personal conduct, and touches so closely my personal honor, that feel my duty to myself and to the public, that has honored me with generous expressions of it's confi- dence, justifies, if it does not de- mand, statement of my s:de of the case. l do not intend to enter into the question of how many of the charges made against the Electric Boat Co were proved by the investi- gation, or how much would proba~ ply have been proved if the inves- tigation had been conducted along lines proposed by myself.
 In this statement I restrict myself to the assault on my personal repu- tation contained in the finding of the committee that introduced my reso- lution and made my charges in bad faith; that l acted in concert with the Lake Torpedo Boat Co and con- cealed the fact from the committee; that 1 caused groundless charges to be made against a member of the house of representatives; tnat I act ed in bad faith in stating to the com mittee that made no charges against members of the house before the committee on rules, and that l knew that my statement to the effect that contracts for submarine boats award ed to the Electric Boat Co had yield ed an excessive profit to the contrac- tor was false.
 l desire first of all to express my gratitude to my colleagues in the house of representatives,, who, with out any defense or explanation on my part, refused to believe me capa- ble of the offenses charged in the report. l should be ungrateful if l failed to express also my obligation to the newspaper press and to the people of the state of Connecticut who have with such unanimity re- fused to believe me guilty of the off, lenses for which l have been ar raigned, and believe that 1 owe an added recognition of the ohivalrous conduct of that part of the press that, notwithstanding political diff ferences, has been not less hearty than my political friends in accord ing me it's confidence. I desire also to make acknowledgment 10 IIon H. s. Boutell, chairman of the commit tee making the report. for his tribute to my sincerity expressed by him to my physician as will appear in the following letter:
 1424 K Street, N. w.
 Washington, April 26, '0S. Mrs George L. Lilley.
 Washington, D. C.
 Dear Madame:
 As requested by you I called upon the Hon H. s. Boutell in The High lands for the purpose of informing him of Mir Lilley's illness and the nec- essity for his leaving the city. Mir Boutell received me in his private of- flee and introduced me to Mir Howard. member of the Investigating com mittee. stated Mir Lilley's condition and MT Boutell branched of into a discussion of the entire matter until Mir Howard brought the conversation back to the original request, told me to submit a written request to the committee. and said he was sure 1t would be granted.
 Both gentlemen spoke in the high est terms of George l.. Lilley person. ally and said they felt certain he was being used by someone. without his knowledge. but. Mir Boutell added, "It has reached the point in this in- yestigation that either the investigat- ing committee or Mir Lilley has 10 re- cede. and. of course. it is impossibie for the committee to do SO" Mfr BOutell then proposed to me that talk over the matter with Mir Li!ley. state to him the high opinion Of Jhe committee Of him personally. and to tell him that absolutely nothing had been proven and that get Mir Lilley to withdraw the charges-in which case everything would end right there.
 Mir BOutell said he was at Speaker Cannon's home for dinner and that l could phone oT reach him there. As you know. then left The Highlands with Mr Howard and proceeded to the Willard hotel I told Mr Lilisy Mr Boutell's requess and he replied that he would rather die than withdraw the charges. which he knew were honest and square.
 Throughout the entire conversation Mr BouteIl showed great indignation over the say the Connecticut papers had handled the Investigating com- miftea and its actions.
 Respectfully.
 E. PASSENGER. M n
 In my own behalf [ desire to ssv that I am not conscious of snTsh5nE ia my public or private life inconsisS- snt with the conduct of ga hoau-zbss man. If any perzon is aware of such a fact expert of conrse. that he Usi. .--. |. -. ...A. .- .a.-.a....- I..