The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-13
NAME
DRAGGED INTO
BOAT SCANDAL
Congressman LOndenslager Also
Figures in Submarine
Hearing.

WASHINGTON, March 13.-Speaker
cannon was dragged into the subma-
rine scandal resulting from Repre-
sentative Lilley's charges against the
methods of the Electric Boat Company.
of New Jersey, at the hearing before the
special committee yesterday.
Hobson testified that Lawrence Y.
Spear. construction officer of the Elec-
trio Boat Company, had asserted that
he had influence with the Speaker
which, he affirmed, he would use to get
Hobsoh on the naval committee, If
Hobson was Straight on submarines"
Writes to HobsoD.
Spear was a classmate OF mine at
Annapolis" said Captain Hobson, and
we kept up our cordial relations for n
number of years after we were in active
service. | got a letter from him last
November in which he said he wanted
to see me in regard to a matter that
would be for our mutual benefit. This
did not surprise me, as he had already
spoken to my secretary.
ii was i'll with the grip at the time
and did not answer his letter. He then
telephoned to me. lie said that If he
was assured that / was in favor of
submarines, for which the Electric Boat
Company is a contractor, he would see
to 1t that l got a place on the naval
committee. / told him then that l did
not want anybody's influence. and that
l would not discuss my position
Influence with Speaker.
In what direction did he say that his
influence lay?' asked Mr.. Olmsted.
Through the Speaker" answered Mr..
Hobson.
MIR. Olmsted, OF. the committee. who
conducted the investigation, did not
press the investigation on that point.
Captain Hobson's examination was
soon over. He was on the stand about
seven minutes.
Mr.. Lilley was the first witness. He
came prepared with a bundle of state
ments. His statements did not add
much light to what he had said before.
He denied that he had ever intended
to cast any aspersions on members OF
the naval committee or of the House
NIL i4All01 > ~ P0O ANA&A
were for the most part simply eXpan-
sions of the vague charges he had pre-
ferred before the House rules commit
tee. Under cross-eXamination, however
he named Representative Hobson as
the member of the naval COMMITTEES
who had refused the offer made By
Lawrence Spear to put him on the
naval committee. through his influence
with Speaker Cannon. 'if he was
straight on submarines"
L~OudensIaEer Named.
Mr.. Lilley said tina the motion in.
troduced by Representative Louden.
slayer of New Jersey. which in his
opinion cut off all competition anc
gave to the Boat Company 81, 1000, OOO
undeserved profit, had beer drawn b!
ex-senator Marion Butler, attorney TO
the company.
HE read his notion said Mr.. Lii
ley, from a typewriter sheet, ant
from the looks of the sheet, and from
the looks of the typewriting. my mint
went back in recollection to very SINH
lar documents I had received two year
before from Mr.. Butler"
do you mean to imply" Mr.. Ohm
sted asked, that in the district o
every member of the naval COMMITTEE
there is an attorney for the Electric
Boat Company trying to influence hi
vote or fight his election"
"Oh, no." replied Mr.. Lilley, will
his smile. Il think they hav
given up trying some of the members
I think they have given up trying MI
T-... .l..f.A.1,, 1f H. aAna,,ai44on 81