Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-01
INTERESTING DATA
IN PAPER HEARING.
Publishers Keep Up Their Fire---S@w
Business In House and Senate
Sec. Taft Leaves For Panama.
THE LlLLEY HEARING.

Washington, April 3O-The investi-
cation into the legislative methods EN-"
ployed by the Electric Boat Co. direct
ed by the House of Representatives
under a resolution introduced Feb. 70
last by Rep. George l.. Lilley OF conn.,
is ended SO far as open sessions OF the
special House committee which mas
been conducting it, are concerned Inc
closing hours of the case were ORA
matte. Frederick Brown Whitney, an
attorney at law. admitted that ne was
the author OF the anonymous letters of
Feb. 10 and Feb IS to the representa-
tive of the Detroit Free Press and
State Senator Frank Edinburgh OF
Michigan, which have figured so promi-
nently in the investigation.
The admission of Mr.. Whitney was
made in the form of an affidavit which
was read by his counsel. Former Unit
cd States Senator Thurston of Nebras-
ka Mr. Thurston explained that Mr.
Whitney is ill in the Garfield hospital
this city, and that it would be lmpos-
sible for him to appear before the COM
mittee. In the affidavit Mr.. Whitney
stated that from 1901 to 1904 he was
clerk to the committee on naval al
fairs of the House of Representatives.;
that shortly thereafter he became sec
ond vice president of the Lake Torpedo
Boat Co., which position he retained
| until May 10, 1906; and that he is now
vice president of the Lake Submarine
Co., an independent organization. The
reasons for writing the anonymous let
ters were given by Mr. Whitney.
That of his own imitation ne under
| took what appeared to him at the time
to be not improper method to nave
brought to the attention OF Congress
the methods which he believed mad
been pursued by the Electric Boat Co.,
i'm the endeavor to secure through Con-
sressional action what might be term
! ed exclusive legislation which would
| shut out competition and prevent the
Lake Torpedo Boat Co, from Compel
| ing in the United States for submarine
| torpedo boat construction.
| Reference is made to anonymous com
mrrication sent by Mr. Whitney to 8
New York newspaper. and the as.idaVl
continues:
said deponent sent said communica
tons and said statements to said news
papers believing that Rep. Loud l'a'
voted for an exclusive appropriation TO-
submarines of a certain type but that n
subsequently learned that Rep. Loud Vot
ed lv letter for submarines without con
dition, and he deeply regrets the wron'
and injustice done by him to Rep. Loud
who was innocent of all suspicious enter
tanned by deponent concerning him.
Mr.. Whitney says in his affidavit tina
I IN
cations he had good reason to bellev
) that a resolution would be introduced 1
the House of Representatives for an in
yestigaton of the methods of the Elec
; trio Boat Co. and its predecessor. tn
, Holland Boat Co. He further says tina
he sent Newspaper clippings to som
members of the naval committee and ma
have sent to Rep. Lilley before Feb. =
. 1908, the date of introducing Lilley's res
oution of inquiry. newspaper clipping
, including the figures of alleged excesslV
cost of submarines, namely, $l,4I6.29o6
which he attempted to compile from tn
testimony of Admiral Bowles before TT
/ naval committee of the House in 1902
l conclusion the affidavit states that M
t Whitney has no personal knowledge frol
5 which he could give any evidence to SUI
tain any of Mr. Lilley's charges.
In announcing the close Of the ope
sessions of the committee, Chairman Bot
tell said that the e1uestion of the pr
durtion of the letters of Representa-,
n I.illey and the books of the two submit
rine boat companies will be determine
> by the committee after careful exam
nation and an analysis of the evident
r upon which the demand for the doc'
4 ments was based. He also said that
: the witnesses whose names were sugges
: ed by Mr. Lilley to the committee hay
7, been examined, and that the committ'
has called on its own account all WI
nesses who 1t thought could cast ar
f light whatever upon the issues raised
I.illey's charges. land also point out,
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