Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-17
THE SUBMARINES
Lilley Talked About Communi-
cation he Had Received at
To-Day'sS Meeting
SPEAR ON The STAND!

washington, Marct Ii.--La"-
renee Spear, an employe Of the Elec-
trio Boat Co, was the principal wit
ness to-day before the\ Lilley sub
marine inquiring comeittee. Mr.
Lilley has filed with the\committee
an unsigned communication re-
ceived from Philadelphia. Aaid COM
munication states that William
Bulles of New York and Robert NJ.
Floyd of Cold Spring Harbor, N Y,
both formerly directors of the\ E'ec-
trio Boat Co, resigned because Of the
amounts used for corruption for
which they would make no account
ing.
Mr. Spear said that the last time
he saw Mr. Hobson was at the capital
three weeks ago. He had gone to
see him, he said, at the instance OF
Vice President Frost of the Electric
Boat Co, to give him friendly
warning against another man who
was trying to influence submarine
boat legislation. Mr. Spear denied
that he had told Hobson that he
would use his influence to have him
appointed on the naval affairs COM
mittee provided he was right on
submarines.
The most interesting witness yes
terday was G. s. McNeir, attorney
for the company before the navy de-
partment, who was the last man call
ed. Denying that there was any such
thing as lobby in Washington, he
said it was his duty, for instance, to
show in the navy department that q
crank shaft could be procured in half
the time abroad that it could be in
America and for one-third the price.
He declined absolutely to show the
letter received from the Electric Boat
company officials setting forth what
his duties were to be and how much
he was to receive. He did not con-
slider himself in the least overpaid
however.
When asked if he had ever ap-i
preached any member Of the Senate.
or House with view in securing or
lCSlciullol hC tOio vi INV
and then explained that he had done
so at his own instance and had after
ward reported the fact to his COM
pany. F.
McNeir said that Judge w. d..
Gordon of Midvale, Mich, was one
of the attorneys of the company and
had rendered most valuable aid in
80 I,ta 10
not explain why 1t had been found
advisable to go TO the district OF an
inland member of the naval affairs
committee-Congressman Loud = to
get lawyer to assist in the prepara-
tion of briefs.
McNeir described the press mat
ter he had prepared and was pro-
fuse in his praise of the men whom
he had employed to do the work, but
declined to state their names until
one of them, A. A. Erly, who occu-
pied a seat in the rear of the room,
arose and said he had no objections
to Mr. McNeir telling about anything
he had ever done.
1t was then shown that Erly had
received only s36, and that was for
distributing stuff written by Frank
B. Lord, whose name McNeir was
most reluctant to mention.
McNeir baked at first at telling
the names of the men approached be-
cause. as he said, he feared 1t might
place them in a false light with those
who are prone to believe i'll of the
company and its representatives: but
finally he said they were Senator
Ankeney, of Washington, and Repre-
sentatives Humphrey of Washington,
and Kahn. former support of Booth
and Mccullough on the stage. of Cali
fornia. McNeir explained that he
called on Ankeney because he had
seen in the newspapers that the sem