The sun., 1908-04-18
CLOSING SUBMARINE INQUIRY
LIILEY, WHO MADE TBECHARGES,
rs CALLED AGAIN.
he I5 Asked Il lie Has Anything Further
70 OHer 20 substantiRte Them-Mr.
| Howard Of the Committee Puts = Quet'
ton That Almost sums Up the Case.

ton That Almost sums Up the Case.
WASHINGTON. April 1.-THE inyestlga-
Hon cf the submarine boat scandal Is about
over. The House committee has been en-
eaged during the last few days and to-day
picking up the fag ends. All the officers
Of the Electric Boat Company and all the
officers OF the Lake Torpedo Boat Company,
employees and outside witnesses have been
examined Some Of the books Of each
company are to be examined by the com
mittee In executive session. Both COM
panies expressed willingness to hand their
books and records 10 the committee. though
tho committee was not certain demand
should be made for them. No foundation
for Il seemed 10 hpve been laid,
The committee called Mr. Lilley and
asked him II he had any further resource
that might he employed in substantlating
his charges. Mr.. Lilley was assured that
the committee desired TO give him every
opportunity to develop testimony that had
been taken or in contradiction Of it.
Mr.. Lilley answered that he would like
to have ii 70 refresh his memory He
asked permission to make n statement.
There seemed to be an impression. he said,
that the Lake Boat Company had instignted
the resolution for an investigation that he
introduced in the House. No one knew Of
his intention TO do 80 and neither the Lake
company nor any one else had influenced
him. He was actuated only by his own
idea Of duty as a Representative and his
only motive was In securing for the Govern
rnant opon pnupntitiOn iu tho ptlrphaga of
submarines.
Questions put by Mr. Howard for the
committee and answered by Mr. Lilicy in
edicate about what has been developed and
what has not been brought ont in the evil
dence. Mr.. Howard's first question almost
summed up the case and other questions
indicated what might be lacking,
on is material to NY mind that the charge
or charges are essentially Of fraudulent
methods on the part OF The Electric Boat COM
pany that tended 10 corrupt COngrtSs 10
legislste in their favor. aud white YOU have
Gid several tunes that YOU charge no par
ticular member OF congress OF being cor
rupted, your insistrnCe has proved that you
believe that Corrupting methods we're en-
ployed. I have been unable In my mind 10
suppose an active agency Of corruption d.
rected 10 the members Of Cougr,>s and still
further specialized toward the Committee on
Naval Affairs. II has been 10 me incon-
ceiva Bile that this active agency Of corruption
could have been in operation and nobody
toward whom II was directed affected. There
fore ] would like for you ~ explain TO the
committee-Whe you made turso charges
before the Rules Committee whether you
had the proofs then In your posse ssion and al
your command TO support them Also What
you had Of your own knowledge and you had
from other sources Of information distmot
from what YOU expected TO get from tho lake
Boat Company I would likc to know what
you depended on TO prove YOUR charges, in
dependent Of the LAKE kOa; Company, and
how much you expected TO get from the LAKE
Boat Company ~ the time the charges were
made A. J did not expect 10 g,t anything
from the Lake Boa Compouy thai time
thought had sufficient evidence in my pos
session or could procure it TO suhslautiatc
my charges.
o. You have testified hq' YOU introduced
your resolution Of inyrsi igation without sug-
gestiOn from any one but after you introduced
IL did you not utilize all the resources
Of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in the
preparation Of your case 10 this committee
and in order 10 suhStan;atc your charges?
A. ] drew from every source available IN
order TO give light TO the committee,
o. Did YOU not know that II was the policv
OF the Lake Boat COMPANY 20 bring about
such an investigation rs you procured, Jud
did Il not occur o you thsr you might become
the uncOnscious agent 0f a." Lax" company
in permitting them to act with youy \. ]
knew there had been feeling among the
Lake boat people that they have not had a
fair deal here. hnt I have never personally
expressed the opinion that they were not
having square deaf
Q. A. the very outset the charges them
selves we're drawn blythe isko Bcat Company,
were they noi' 4 great MANY Of the
charges wero suggps rd \, mr. Mr. Tlmrstou
put them into SHAPE.
q II there anything now hat you wish 10
add, any testimony yuu can suFges. hat will
aid the committee in reaching a conclusion
and making Us Urporl on the pyideuce before
it' A. csn only say thg' | think i unfor-
tunate that was compelled 10 disclose my
case at the start. thus enabling tho witnesses
10 cut their cloth accordingly ,J
Mr.. Howard then asked II Mr. I.illey
would point 10 single instance where
he believed the fact that he had disclosed
his case as he said or the committee had
examined witnesses IN tho order followed,
had encouraged false swearing or whether
any lack Of vigil on the part of Tho COM
mittee had permitted concaalment Of the
Truth.
Mr.. Liley did not reply. There is a
general impression that the case II prac-
tically closed.
Representative stevens tripd 10 get Mr. !
Iiley TO admit that he charged the Board |
Of Construction Of the Navy Department |
with being cheated or fooled by the Electric |
Boat Company into making contracts that
had lost the Government more than a
million dollars Mr.. Iilloy refused 10
adopt that language, but -aid he believed |
the board was not capable Of driving a |
close bargain and that tho letting Of navy |
contracts ought 10 be turncd over 10 ex-
perienced business mon. He refused 70 |
admit that the Secretaries OF the Navy |
should be charged with the responsibility |
because they signed their names In a per- |
functory manner at the suggestion OF the !
Board Of Construction.
He was reminded that Paul Morton was |
once Secretary Of the Navy and was asked |
" he recalled what business MIR. Morton |
was engaged in before he became Secretary |
Of the Navy.
HE was the manager Of great railroad,
replied Mr.. Lilley with smile,
And rebating" suggested John NJ. I
Thurston, attorney for the Lake Boat /
Company.
sYes, andS rebating, added Mr.. Lilley, |
adopting the prompting by ex-senator
Thurston.
Mr.. Stevens asked Mr.. Liley IL he meant to
charge the members Of the Board OF Con-
strictiou with being unpatricte.
They are no more patriotic than are |
Admirals Bowles, O'Neill and Melville /
Their experience has all been along the
same lines. said MIR. Liley
He added that the fact that a man was /