The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-13

ciai Club on the Trinity river project said Mr. Gregg. but that he had never broached the subject of submarine boats to him.
 He does not even live in my dis trict.g said MT 3regg. "but two hun dred miles from it."
 MT. Broussard; Lid any one else ir your district ever approach you or this subJect?-
 MT. Gregg: No sir. don't believe any one in my district knows anything about submarine boats" Mir. Broussard: Has any one out side of your district approached you on this subject"
 Mir. Gregg No one. The only ap- proach I have ever had if you can | call it an approach, was by literature through the mails. No one has ever l mentioned anything to me as to what l should do in the committee" Mr. Broussard: Has any one in any way ever contributed to your campaign expenses who is connected with this company?ss'
 Mr. Gregg. NO one. My campaign expenses usually amount to $6s or $70. and l pay them myself
 Chairman BoutelI stated that the commfttee had received letters from ex Senator Butler and McNair asking the privilege of testifying As neither one of those gentlemen was present the open meeting of the committee ad- journed until 10 o'clock Monday morn ing.
 The committee has not yet decided whether to subpoena all of the witness es asked for by MT. Lilley.
 LiHley Ansiyzes Charges.
 MT. LiIley called the, attention of the committee to the fact that his charges do not embrace the accusation or infer ence that any member of Congress had been actually bribed or knowingly had participated in or been influenced by wrongful efforts on the part of the Electric Boat Company to secure legis- laticn.
 His purposes, he said. was to set on foot and assist the carrying out of an investigation which he believed If properly conducted. would show that wrongful methods had been used by the Electric Boat Company to secure leg islation in Congress.
 Mr. Lilley said he was now prepared to furnish the committee with the ad- dresses of all witness whom he desired to have called. He said that whether or not money had been improperly used to secure legislation in the interest or the Electric Boat Company, could be shown only by the examination of the officers attorneys and agents of that company and careful scrutiny Of the contpany's books, vouchers, check stubs and other accounts.
 q now insist" said Mir. Lilley, that you summon as witnesses Isaac s. Rice, President of the Electric Boat Compa- ny: Eiii1u B. Frost, Vice-President; Maurice Barnett. Treasurer; August Treadwell, Assistant Treasurer, and that they be required to lay before the committee documentary evidence in their possession. The calling of these witnesses is necessary to disclose meth ods used by the company to secure legislation and money disbursed by It.
 Not being an attorney. and not in any way experienced in developing and presenting testimony. I am not quali- fled in person to examine witnesses ana therefore I requested that be placed fin a positton to develop the facts. This request has been by the committee re- fused.
 .'The witnesses I have named to de- termine the facts are what the courts always recognize as reluctant and ad- verse witnesses, and the facts resting in their knowledge alone cannot De fully brought to light except by care ful and thorough examination of each witness by an attorney qualified to con- duct such an examination.
 q ask your honorable committee whether or not, after consideration of what have just stated, the committee stilI adheres to it's determination to prohibit me from calling the witnesses and presenting their testimony under the examination of my attorneysg
 Cannot Get Evidence.
 This request being denied by the committee through Chairman BouteIl, Mr TjIlev said: q now feel that I am relieved from any responsibility of this investfgation and as an individual l submit myself to the direction and or- ders of this committee. I still protest that if would be detrimental to thor ouph and complete investigation to have my testimony taken at this tlme' for by so doing you would adVise the parties charged with improper actions in influencing Congressional action in such a manner as would enable them to prepare for a possible defeat or the nurpose of the investigation.
 When Mir Lilley came to the nrst stonping point, at which time he in- dicated a desire to know the wishes or inc Committee in the matter of sum moning witnesses he stopped TOT re- sponse and was told by Chairman Boutell that under its instructions, the business of the Committee must necessarily be confined to the conduct ing of an investigation.
 The members of the Committee. he said were not there as prosecutors, nor would they permit MT. Lilley to assume the role of a prosecutor. Wit nesses would be called as the necessi- ty provided for the progress of the in- quiry.
 After the reading of another para praph in which he expressed his will ingness to submit to the will of the Committee, MT. Lilley suspended his statemen. long enough to be sworn. and then proceeded under oath.
 Before he went on, however, the Chairman announced that Mir. Olm- stead. one of the Committee. would ask whatever questions might be neces- sary in the conduct of the investiga- ton.
 Statement Under Oath.
 Mir. Lilley's statement under oath was as follows;
 T propose to show that for several