The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-01
COMPANY Pure
AND UNDEFtLED
President Rice of Electric Boat
Concern Before House
Committee.

Washington, March 31.-The inYestiga-
ton of the charges made by Representa-
tive Lilley against the methods pursued
by the Electric Boat company in securing
legislation was resumed by the special
commission of the house today. Isaac
L. Rice. president of that company. pro-
nounced as "a malicious lie" the state
ment of Representative Liiley that the
Electric Boat company had made con-
tinued and repeated efforts to influence
the action of the navy department"
Isaac j.. Rice. president Of the Electric
Boat company, was the only witness AZ
the afternoon.
Mr. Olmsted read the. charge made by
Mr.. Lilley that the continued and repeat
ed efforts made by representatives of the
Electric Boat company to influence the
action OF the navy department and such
efforts in the past were so persistent and
notorious as TO call forth the condemna-
ton and criticisms IF high officials of the
navy departm
Absurd and False.
THE only influence we have used with
the navy department. replied Mr. Rice.
sis to build the best boat The rest of
the story is a malicious lie.
Regarding the charge that the Electric
Boat company has suppressed cOmpeti-
ton. Mr. Rice said that is so utterly alb
suTd it sounds like rawlings" He de-
nounced the charge that the company has
subsidized newspapers as the purest in
vention.
Mr.. Rice deuied that the company had
made any contributions to the campaign
fund of any members of congress or had
helped to defeat any member which did
not favor submarine legislation. He
claimed that the reports derOgatOry 10
the Electric Boat company were belng
circulated by members of the Lake Boat
company. and while he absolved Mr.. Lii
lev from any Interior motive in bringing
these charges, he maintained that he had
gotten his information from the Lake
people.
Claims to Have Been Approaches.
Mr.. Rice claimed that he had been sp-
preached on four occasions by representa-
lives of the Lake company with PROPOSE
tons to buy out that company or 10
merge the two companies and form a new
one. The representatives Of the Lake
company, who, he said, approached nlm'
were L. @. Brown and Charles r. Fhnt,
both of New York. Mr.. Rice said that
he declined all the propositions.
Mr.. Rice testified that he was given TO
understand by Mr.. Brown that these pro-
pOsals were made contingent to the pres
ent investigation being stopped, thdt II
could be stopped if the consolidation were
"He said through United States Senator
Buckley of Connecticut, replied MI
Rice.
Refused to Answer.
Mr.. LiIley. through the committee. sub
mitted a list of 214 questions to Mr.: Rice
dealing largely with the technical detalls
of submarine boats; names OF foreign
stockholders in The Electric company
amounts paid different attorneys OF the
company, etc Mr.. Rice declined TO an
swer the questions regarding foreign
stockholders and fees paid TO attorneys
although he said he would give this IN
formation to the committee for It's secret
oerusal His failure TO answer these ques-
lions will be considered by the commit
tee at a later date.
Among the questions prepared by MT.
LiIley and propounded TO Mr. Rice were
a number relating TO the alleged employ
ment of a woman by the Electric Boat
company to influence members OF con-
gress. Both Mr. Rice and Mr.. Olmstead
of the committee objected TO this class OF
questions, which Mr.. Rice denounced as
COURAGEOUS and a perfect lie.
Mr. Rice denied that large sums OF
money had been spent in Washington for
champagne or for entertainments OF
members of congress or officials OF the
navy department, or that his company
ever made gift TO any member oil con-
gresS or any navy OFFICIAL