The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-13
STATEMENT OF MR.. LlLLEY.
Committee Put in a Hole by the Con-
necticut Congressman.


Committee Put in a Hole by the Con-
necticut Congressman.
Washington. March 12-The special
/ committee appointed by Speaker Can
/ non to investigate the charges made by
| Representative Lilley that undue Ell
/ forts have been made by the Electric
| Boat company TO influence legislation,
| resumed its sttings today with all the
| five members of the committee pres
1 ent and the spacious room in which the
| committee is sitting well filed with
newspaper men and other interested
| spectators. At the opening OF the ses-
/ sion Mr.. Lilley addressed the commit
| tee saying that he desired TO correct
the impression that had been created
| by the report of the committee on rules
TO the effect that he had charged that
members of congress had been brlbed.
He denied that he had made such
charges, but said that up TO the pres
ent time his accusations have been sole
ly against the Electric Boat company
and its predecessor, the Holland Co.,
and had covered the point that these
companies had made effort to in
fiuence legislation by congress.
Statement Carefully Prepared.
Mr.. Lilley then read a carefully pre-
pared statement, receiving the closest
attention of all the members of the
committee. He called the attention of
the committee to the fact that his
charges do not embrace the accusation
or inference that any member of con-
gresS has actually been bribed or know
ingly had participated in or been in
fluenced by wrongful efforts on the part
of the Electric Boat company to Sc
cure legislation. His purpose, he said
was to set on foot and assist the carry
ing 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 legislation in congress.
Mr.. Lilley said he was now prepared
to furnish the committee with the ad-
dresses of all witnesses whom he de-
sired TO have called. He said that
whether money had been improperly
used to secure legislation in the interest
of the Electric Boat company could be
shown only by the examination of the
officers, attorneys and agents of that
company. and a careful scrutiny of the
company's books, vouchers, check
stubs and accounts.
Insists Upon Witnesses.
Il now insist" said MI Lilley. that
you summon as witnesses Isaac Rice,
president of the Electric Boat company;
Elihu B. Frost, vice president: Maurice
Barnett, treasurer; August Treadwell,
assistant treasurer, and that they be
required to lay before the committee
documentary evidence i'm their possess
sion. The calling of these witnesses is
necessary to disclose methods used by
the company to secure legislation, and
money disbursed by it.
4 never knew" continued Mr.. Lii
ley. of an important and successful in
vestiSation begun by informing the par
ties TO be investigated of the precise
character of the evidence that would be
produced TO show their corrupt prac-
tees, and, having informed this com
mittee on my responsibility as a mem
Der of congress of the witnesses ex-
hibits, etc, and from whom and which
can be obtained the necessary infor-
nation to show that the charges now
being investigated are established it is
for this committee and not for me to
determine whether or not these wit
nesses shall be brought before the COM
mittee and examined. A conspiracy to
corrupt public morals or unjustly in
fiuence legislation and official action,
cannot be proved by the testimony of
one witness. These practices are not
conducted IN open day or In public view
Their methods are secret and the aim
always is TO so carry on such an effort
that no proof will be left from which
their real character can be disclosed.
Turned Down by Committee.
mot being an attorney and not in
any way experienced in developing and
presenting testimony. am not qualified
in person TO examine witnesses and
therefore l requested that 1 be placed
in position TO develop the facts. This
request has been by the committee re-
fused.
The witnesses I have named to the
committee are nearly all officers, attor-