The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-03-17
u
SAY LHLEY
IS TN ERROR
General Denial Made to
All Charges.
NEWS WAS DISTRIBUTED
Senator Butler Denounces the
Accusations.
cspsresspea Eat.rtaisea VIA Drinis
~ Boat Company nut This Wa.
Net Regarded as species
Of Bribery.

Washingtou. March lo--Au"isstoh
yas made todaw before the special
House COMMITTEES Investigating the
charges Of Representative Lilley. of
Connecticut. regarding the legislative
methods OF the Electric Boat Company.
that money had been paid by the Eiec-
tric Boat Company 10 certain newspa-
per men 10 prepare ana distribute news
concerning submarine boats.
>This testimony was given by Charles
g. McNeir. of this city. an attorney for
the Electric Boat Company. Mr.. Nc
Neir, however, entered general denial
that his company had ever paid for
the dissemination Of news with the pur-
pose OF influencing legislation or for
creating q wrong impression in the
public mind. He also denied that
general press bureau was maintaina.i
By the Electric Boat Company or that,
as far as he knew the company nsa
ever spent money for the entertainment
OF members of Congress or others who
might exert an influence in securing
contracts with the government for its
boats.
A number Of other witnesses were ex-
Namfned during the day and they en-
sered general denfaIs to Mr.. Lilley's
Narmee. These witnesses were former
united states Senator NJ c. Butler OF
North Carolina and Il. w. Creecy and
Tp. 3. sands, both Of this city. all of
whom at one time or another had been
employed as attorneys by the Electric
Beat Company.
Carolina was called as the hrst wit
ness. He was questioned by Mr.. How
ard Before his examination was be-
gun Mr. Butler said he desired to make
3 statement on behalf of Hon. Eppa
Hunton whose name has been mention
ed IN connection with the charges Mr.
Butler said Mr.. Huntan was unable to-
come here hecause Of his age and in
hrufties He said that he had served
ln both the House and Senate with. Mr..
Nunton and did net believe there was.
{ sneEc hon&x@lSe man than he to The
United States.
letter addressed to Chairman Hou-
ten from Mr.. Huntopss son, Eppa
Nunton, Jr.. was read. stating that his
fafher's health was such that he could
not 70 to washington. The letter stat
ed that his fathers sole connection
With the Holland Boat Conlpany was
that at one time. a number OF years
ago, he was employed as member pf
its counsel It was stated that Mr..
Hunton, during the previous investi-
cation OF the Holland Boat Company.
voluntarily appeared before the COM
unittee and asked that that statement
now be accepted as his testimony.
-Mu$AeE MN3 AttN3NG&s E.
Senator Butler, speaking of his own
affairs, said that after leaving the San
ate. he was engaged by tha Holland
BOAT Company and later by the Electric
BOAT Company, hut has done no work
for the company for the last three or
four years. He thought II likely he
had a written contract In the form of
4 letter with the boat companies. but
aid not recolIect positively.
He said that one year he receiyed
retaining fee of 400 and since then
probably has received about $1,000.
HIS employment principally was 70
make arguments before the Senate
Naval COMMITTEES. He never had ap-
neared before House Committee. nor
had he discussed submarine boats with
any member of the House. His recol-
lection was that he had bean employed
by e. y. Frost.
Mr.. Butler said he had taken no part
in the present Congress- for or against
submarine boat legislation and that he
had no apologies to make fer what he
had done in the past. He thought that
submarines were a good investment and
that the government should have at
least one of them.
Speaking of test OF the Holland boat
In the Potomac river a few years ago,
Mr. Butler said that the party Of SEN
ators and members Of the honse were
guests on q tugboat to witness the ex-
periments and that food and drinkwere
furnished, which. he supposed. the
boat company paid for.
II did not think any suspicion or
bribery could be connected with the
asking of members OF congress to take
4 drink" he added caustically.
He resented mfr. Lilley's imputation
that he was member of an organized
lobby, and stated emphatically he had
been guilty of no corrupt practices.
tnar
said he would like TO make another
statement but feared It would be un-
parliamentary.
g. q. Creeey. Of Warrington. said
that he was the principal attorney for
the boat company from 1894 until 1903.
He denied that he had ever spent any
money to influence government officials
or members Of congress in favor Of the
3soats, and that he did not believe any
one else had done So
Mr. Creecy said that the testimony
of Admiral Dewey before the house
naval committee that he could not
have taken his ships into Manila II
there had been two submarines there
prompted him to draw up an amend
nnent to the naval bill providing for
twenty submarine boats. This amend
ment was offered by Amos Cummings
W. Creepy, a brother OF c. H.
ereecy. denied having had any connec-
tion with the Holland or Electric
Roat Company and after a hrief ez-
animation he was excused.
e. c. Creecy further testified when
asked II he could produce any docu-
- ments bearing on the investigation,
that he had burned all contracts, let
tiers and other papers in his possession.
This was about the time he severed his
connection with the boat company
Therefore there was nothing OF that
H.
mittee.
Sands sued for Money.
r Pr. Sands. another Washington
attorney and brother of Rear Admiral
Sands. u S. N, testified that he had
been employed by the Holland Company
to look after its affairs In Russia. He
asserted that he had never approched
az snoken to q. member OF Congress
IN regard to legislation nor had he
conferred with 0dlciala OF the so&vy