Evening journal., 1908-03-09
PROBING THE
LILLEY CHARGES
Should They Fail the Con-
gresham May be Ex-
PEELED From House

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. March s.-That the
Electric Boat Company OF New Jersey
intends to take no chance in the in
quiry Of Congress into the company's
alleged corrupt methods influencing
legislation in the House
was shown to-day, when it developed
that it had retained as counsel before
the committee such eminent lawyers
as Martin W. IAttleton, chief counsel
in the Thaw case and John D. Lind
say. Of New York.
The committee conveyed its first
public session at 1850 o'clock. with its
fve members present. They are Bou-
tell, of Illinois; Stevens, of Michigan;
olmstead. OF Pennsylvania; Howard.
Of Georgia, and Broussard. Of Louis
lana
Representative Roberts. of Massa-
chusetts, Of the naval affairs commit
tee. was present when the committee
met While the court was reading from
the report of the committee on rules
its resolutions providing for the inves-
tigation, Representative Lilley spoke
his first word in the inquiry. The re-
port stated that Lilley had appeared
before the rules committee on his own
instance. Lilley interrupted with:
Il would like to say a word about
that. 1 was notif-d-"
1T will be Best to let the report be
read through first" said Chairman
Boutelle.
The rumor was current to-day on
good authority that should Lilley fail
to make good all his charges, a reso-
luton viii be introduced in the House
demanding his expulsion.
This would be pnt on the ground that
he had attacked the integrity Of the
membership Of the House without
justification. Such action would prob
ably end his political career just when
he Is on the threshold Of receiving his
greatest honor. the governorship OF his
State.
owing. however. to the growing i'm
preston that Lilley has the goods, "
and win substantiate at least some OF
his charges. the members Of the House
generally are content to await the re-
suit Of the inquiry. It VIII mean either
disgrace for one or more members of
the House. or expulsion for IAlley.
Lilley Addresses Committee
At the conclusion OF the reading OF
tho report Lilley addressed the COM
mittee, saying;
"As have been placed in the atti-
tude Of prosecuting officer OF this in
vestigation, should have the right to
have witnesses summoned in the order
desire. Also as most of this testl-
mony will come from unwilling wit
nesses. I desire to employ legal coun-
sci skilled in cross examination.
ALSO another request. 1 wish to call
the attention Of the committee to the
fact that I am being shadowed and
Followed by detectives. Not wishing
TO be subjected to such a thing, ask
i that action be taken to prevent II. In
order TO take such action, / ask you
] 20 summon three men,"
Here he mentioned three employees
of a detective agency.
Boutelle said both requests will re-
ceive Consideration by the committee In
Executive session.
4-tiiSJ 1Ditiiiuiisb oe'fu' NY ChdtBcE
are contained in my resolution. dc
not propose to constitute myself as a
grand jury and submit written charges
and have myself held down to that
But 1 will have witnesses called. and
with help Of the counsel will examine
them to bring out the facts.
Boutelle wanted Lilley to proceed to-
day, but the Connecticut congressman
said that he would not be ready to ex-
anime witnesses till Thursday.
IF / should testify now" he de-
elared, 1T might prevent some Of the
facts coming out"