The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-02
NO UNDUE INFLUENCE ON
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS-
Several Officials of the Electric Boat
Company Make Statements Before
the House Committee Generally
Denying the Charges.


ior of Waterbury. Conn.,. today testified
before the special House committee in
vestigating the charges against the Elec-
trio Boat company that he had heard
Representative George L. Lilley, the au-
thor of the charges, make the statement
in the Waterbury club week ago last
Saturday that it was quite likely he would
get an adverse decision In the committee,
and in that event he would tell all he
knew about the whole matter of SUBJ
marine boats on the floor of the House.
In addition to Mr.. Taylor the witnesses
today were Elhu B. Frost, vice president
of the Electric Boat company; Maurice
Barrett, secretary treasurer of the Elec-
trio Boat company, and Charles Ferry
of the Bridgeport Brass works. They all
denied any knowledge of undue influence
being used on members of Congress to
secure legislation favorable to the Electric
Boat company, although Mr.. Taylor and
Mr. Ferry admitted that they had asked
Mr. Lilley to vote for the appropriation,
as they thought it would help their busi-
ness should these boats be authorized. The
investigation will be continued tomorrow.
Taylor Testifies.
Franklin A. Taylor said he had told
Representative Lilley to vote for subma-
rine boats as there was a possibility of
his company getting some business if the
boats were ordered.
what was Mr.. Lilley's reply?"
"He would not commit himself one way
Nv tho atharp
The last conversation the witness had
with Mr.. Lilley was a week ago Saturday
in Waterbury. During that conversation,
according to the witness, Mr.. Lilley said
he proposed to see that the Lake people
had a fair chance.
He was present in the Waterbury club
a week ago Saturday, he said, while Mr..
Llley was talking to a numb of gen.
tlemen about the present inveS, cation.
According to Mr.. Taylor, Mr.. Lilley said
it was quite likely that he would get
an adverse decision and in that event
he said he would go upon the floor of
the House and tell all he knew about
the whole matter of submarine boats.
Mr.. Taylor said he never lost an op-
portunity to impress upon Mr.. Lilley that
he ought to vote for submarines and that
he had shaken his fist at Mr.. Lilley sew
eral times, but always in a jocular man.
ner. He did not intimate to him that
he had gone to him at the instigation Of
the Electric Boat company.
The Electric Boat company, he said,
had never promised him a contract if the
desired legislation was secured
y ho1 OH 10
Associated Press representative in Wa
terbury that he thought he had asked
Mr.. Lilley to vote for submarine boats.
He assumed this, he said, because when
Mr.. Lilley came to Waterbury he said:
"I voted yes, frankly, with your face
before me when voted"
This referred to the naval appropriation
bill of 1906 and 1907.
The witness said he did not consider
that he had done anything improper in
asking Mr.. Lilley to vote for subma-
rines.
Mr.. Taylor stated that he had been
requested by John w. Kellogg, one of
the attorneys for the Electric Boat COM
pany, in January, 1908, ito get busy with
Mr.. Lilley and again tell him about the
possibilities of submarines
Frost's Statement.
Elihu B. Frost, vice president of the
Electric Boat company, followed Mr.. Tay-
lor He said he had the general man
agement of the business. John P. Kel-
logg, he said, was employed for the pur-
pose of counteracting in Connecticut al
legged Misrepresentation that were being
made in that state about the Electric
Boat company.
"Sort of an Ananias antidote?' sug-
gested Mr.. Howard. s
YES" replied the witness
Mr. Frost denied that he had made con-
tributions in behalf of his company to
any campaign fund, republican or dem
ocratic, national or congressional He
said that his company did not maintain
a lobby in Washington and declared that
no undue influence in behalf Of his COM
pany had been brought to bear by him.
self or anyone on any member OF Con-
gress nor had any money been paid to
influence the navy department
Mr.. Frost denied all knowledge as
to the amendment offered in the Sem
ate naval committee to the naval ap-
propriation bill in 1907, which Mr.. Lii
ley charged had been drawn by attor-
news for the electric boat company
with the intention of suppressing cont
petition.
Submarine Trip.
Referring to the time President
Roosevelt made a submerged trip III
one of the submarine boats, Mr.. Frost
denied that the company had paid any
newspaper men at the trial, and said
he did not know who was responsible
for the publications concerning that
event. The boat was commanded by
Lieutenant Nelson, u. S. N, and Mr..
Frost testified that the company had
purchased from Lieutenant Nelson an
invention which is used on the boat.
The company paid him $500 for 1T.
This was the only money paid any
naval officer by him or his company.
MIR. Frost said that no member of Con-
gress or naval official owned any stock
In the company.
Representative Kahn of California,
whose name was mentioned by Mr..
fVrost as the member of the House
Naval affairs committee with whom
4Attorney McNeir had an interview.
Ymade a statement at the conclusion of