The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-02
IILEY TOTELLl
ALL HE KNOWS
If He Gets an Adverse
Decision.
AN INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Many Witnesses Testify Before ne
Special Committee.
An Denied Any Knewiedse OF Uadus
Influence Being Used On Con-l
sressmen To Secure Fav-
;: erabie Lesisiatiea.
AIN INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

washington. April l.-Frankhn n.
Taylor. OF waterbury, Conn. today
testified before the special House COM
mittee investigating the charges
against the Electric Boat Company,
that he had heard Representative
George L. Liiley, the author Of the
charges, make the statement in the
Z Waterbury Club. 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 sub
marine boats on the floor OF the
House.
In addition to Mr.. Taylor. the wit.
nesses today were Elihu B. Frost, vice
president of the Electric Boat Com-
pany; Maurice Barrett, secretary-treas-
ureF of the Electric Boat Company,
ana Charles Ferry. Of the Bridgeport
Brass Works. They all denied any
knowledge OF undue influences 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 APP
preparation, as they thought 1t would
help their business should these boats
be authorized. The investigation will.
be continued tomorrow.
Mr.. Taylor. vice president OF the
Randolph CLOVIS Company. manufac-
turers of brass and copper, was the first
witness called today by the special
committee of the House that Is fnves-
tigating the charges against the Elec-
trie Boat Company. He said he had
told Representative Lilley to vote for
submarine boats as there was q pos
sihlity of his company getting some
business II the boats were ordered.
what was Mr.. Lilley's reply7"
He would not commit himself one
way or the other"
The last conversation the witness
had with Mr.. Liiley was q week ago
Saturday In Waterbury. During that
conversation, according to the witness,
said he proposed TO sNe thht the
Lake people had q fair yehancs. He
was present In the Waterbury Club
week ago last Saturday, he said. while,
Mr.. LiiIey was talking to q number OF
gentlemen about the present investi-
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 ON the
floor Of the House and tell all that
he knew about the whole matter of
Submarine boats.
shook Fist I'm Face.
Mr.. Taylor said that he never lost
an opportunity to impress upon MIR.
Lilley that he ought to vote for sub
marine boats and that he had shaken
his ist at Mr.. Lilley several times, but
always in a jocular manner. He did
not intimate to him that he had gone
to him at the instigation OF the Elec-,
tfic Boat Company.
The Electric Boat Company, he said,
had, never promised him a contract IL
the desired legislation was secured.
Mr.. Taylor said he had stated to an
Associated Press reporter in Water
bury that he thought he had influenced
Mr. Lilley to vote for submarine boats.
He assumed this. he said. because when
Mr.. Lilley came to Waterbury. he
said;
II voted yes, frankly, with your face
before me when I voted"
This referred to the naval appropri-
alton bill Of 1905 and 1907.
The witness said he did not consider
that he had done anything improper
in asking Mr.. Lilley to vote for sub
marines.
Mr.. TAYLOR said that he had been re-
ouested by John P. Kellogg. one Of
the attorneys for the Electric Boat
Company In January, 1908, ito get busy
with Mr.. Lilley and again tell him
about the possibilities of submarines"
Elihu B. Frost, vice-president of the
Electric Boat Company. followed Mr..
Taylor. He said he had the general
management of the business. John
P. Kellogg, he said. was employed for
the purpose of counteracting in Con-
necticut alleged Misrepresentation
that were being made in that State
about the Electric Boat Company
sort of Ananias antidote," suggest
ed Mr. Howard.
YES" replied the witness.
Mr.. Frost denied all knowledge as
to the amendment offered in the Senate
Naval Committee to the naval appro-
r. 4
charged had been drawn by attorneys
for the Electric Boat Company with
the intention of suppressing COMPETE
ton.
ROosevelt's Submerged Trip.
Referring to the time President
Roosevelt made a submerged trip in
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 it.
This was the only money paid any ma
val officer by him or his company. Mr..
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..
Frost as the member of the House
Naval Affairs Committee with whom
Attorney McNeir had an interview,
made a statement at the conclusion of
Mr.. Frost's testimony. He said that
at Mr.. McNeir's suggestion he intro
duced a bill providing for a number
of submarines for the Pacific Coast
He said that Mr.. McNeir had not men
toned the name of the company he
was connected with and he (Kahn) did
not know what company 1t was.
Maurice Barnett Of New York. the
Secretary Treasurer of the Electric
Boat Company, said he had no knowl-
edge of any money having been paid |
by the company for the purpose of |
subsidizing newspapers. He also de-
MED that any money had been con-
tributed by the company for the pur-
pose of helping to elect or defeat any |
member of Congress He said the /
President, Vice-President and counsel |
81 the company were authorised to