Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-01
whitney ADMITS AUTHORSHIP
SAYS He WROTE ANONYMOUS
LETTERS ON SUBMARINES.
AfRdavit Read by His Counsel, Ex-
Senator Thurston-Writer Ill
in the Hospital.

The investigation into the legislative
methods employed by the Electric Boat
Company directed by the House of Rep
resentatives under a resolution intro
duced February 20 last by Representative
George L. Lilley of Connecticut is ended
as far as open sessions Of the special
House committee which has been con-
Quoting II are concerned.
The closing hours of the case were dra-
matte Frederick Brown Whitney. an at
torney-at-law. admitted that he was the
author of the anonymous letters OF Feb
ruary 10 and February Is to the repre-
sentative Of the Detroit Free Press and
State Senator Frank Marlborough OF
Michigan which have figured so prom
inently In the investigation. The admis-
sion of Mr.. Whitney was made In the
form of an AFFIDAVIT. which was read by
Thurston Of Nebraska. Mr.. Thurston
stated that Mr.. Whitney is i'll in the Gar
Held Hospital. this city. and that 1t would
be impossible Tor him to appear before
the committee. In the afhdavit Mr.
Whitney stated that from 1901 to 1904 he
was clerk to the committee on naval af-
fairs of the House Of Representatives:
that shortly thereafter he became second
vice president Of the Lake Torpedo Boat
Company. which position he retained until
Nav 10. 1905; that he Is now vice presl-
dent of the Lake Submarine Company.
an independent organization.
The AFFIDAVIT.
The reasons for writing the anonymous
letters were given by Mr.. Whitney as fol-
lows:
..That of his own initiation he under
took what appeared to him at the time
to be not improper methods TO nave
brought to the attention OF Congress the
methods which he had believed mao Deen
pursued by the Electric Boat Company
in its endeavor to secure through con-
sressional action what might be termed
exclusive legislation. which would shut
out competition and prevent the Lake Tor
pedo Boat Company from competing In
the United States for submarine torpedo
boat construction
Reference is made to anonymous COM
muncations sent by Mr.. whitney TO
New York newspaper. and the amdavn
munications and said statements to said
newspapers believing that Representative
Loud had voted for an exclusive appro-
priation for submarines OF certain type.
REPRESENTATIVE Loud voted by letter for
submarines without condition, and ne
deeply regrets the wrong and injustice SO
done by him to Representative Loud. who
was innocent OF all suspicious Si. :. entertain
ed by deponent concerning him.
Mr.. Whitney. in his afiidavit says that
when he sent these anonymous communica-
tions he had good reason to beileve that
a resolution would be INTRODUCED In the
House OF Representatives for an tnvesti-
ration of the methods of the Electric
Boat Company and its predecessor the
Holland Boat Company. he furtner says
that he sent newspaper clippings to some
members of the naval committee and
NAV have sent to Representative I.illey
before February 90 19OS-the date or the
introduction Of Mr. Lilley's resolution OF
inquiry-newspaper clippings including the
figures of alleged excessive cost of sub
marines. namely &1.476. $500. which he
attempted to compile from the testimony
of Admiral Bowles given before the naval
committee Of the House in 1902. In con-
clusion the afidavit states that Mr.. Whit
new has no personal knowledge from
which he could give any evidence to sus-
tain any of the charges of Representa-
tive I-il1ey.
Chairman Boutell's Statement.
In announcing the close of the open
sessions of the committee Chairman Bou-
tell said that the question of the pro-
duction Of the letters Of Representative
Lilley and the books of the two subma-
rine boat companies will be determined
by the committee after a careful exami-
nation and analysis Of the evidence upon
which the demand for these documents
was based. He also stated that all the
witnesses whose names were suggested to
the committee by Mr. Liiley had been ex-
amined and that the committee had also
called, on its own account, all witnesses
who II thought could cast any light what
ever upon the issues raised by Mr.. Lii
ley's charges land also point cut. IL pos
sible. the motives lying behind the un-
sustained charges"
..There still remain" continued Mr. Bou-
tell. "a few fctitiously signed letters
handed In by Mr.. Ldlley. few anony-'
nous letters and one or two aMdavits
which have not been made the basis of
any evidence taken by this committee. On
careful examination II appears that these
suggestions relate either 30 dead members
of the House of Representatives. who
died In full honor and respect Of their
fellow men. or else thess matters relate
entirely to remote Congresses and raise
questions with which this committee has
no power to deal.
The report Of the committee probably
will not be presented to the House for
some time. II IL the intention OF the
members to make an exhaustive exami.
nation of all evidence and documents SUBJ
mitted. and should they decide to de-
mand the production Of the letters and
hooks referred to the report will be much
| delayed.