The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-13
An incorrect Statement.


tribunal.
1.-THE suggestion of your committee
that the line of procedure indicated by
you is in accordance with the well-es-
tablishe1 presidents of both houses of
congress. is not in accordance with my
conception of the precedents.
so far as l am individually con-
cerned, l am ready to obey any order
by this committee requiring me to be
witness before it, but in doing so,
state upon my responsibility as
member of the house of representa-
tives that in order TO fully bring out
the necessary evidence and substanti-
ate the charges the order of the ex-
animation of witnesses should be other
wise arranged and such testimony as
may be able to give should be pre-
sented in the natural order and Sc
quence of the investigation. such as
would be presented by counsel learned
in the law.
Request Again Denied.
Il ask your honorable committee
whether or not after consideration of
what l have just stated, the commit
tee still adheres to its determination
to prohibit me from calling the wit
nesses and presenting their testimony
under the examination of my attor-
neys?"
This request being denied by the
committee, through Chairman BouteH.
Mr.. Lilley said:
now feel that I am relieved from
any responsibility of this investigation
and as an individual / submit myself
to the direction and orders of this com
mittee. l still protest that it would
be detrimental TO thorough and COM
plete investigation to have my testi-
mony taken at this time, for by so
doing you would advise the parties
charged with improper actions in in
huencing congressional action i'm such
a manner as would enable them to
prepare for a possible defeat of the
purposes of the investigation. I now
waive service of summons, and if YOU
now order me TO do so / will take
the stand as a witness"
Committee Against Him.
When Mr.. Lilley came to the first
stopping point, at which time he in
Dictated a desire to know the wishes
of the committee in the matter of
summoning witnesses. he stopped for
a response and was told by Chairman
Boutell that under its instructions the
business of the committee must neces-
Sarily be confined 10 the conducting
of an investigation. The members of
the committee, he said. were not there
as prosecutors. nor would they. permit
MIR Lilley to assume the role of a
prosecutor Witnesses would be call
ed as the necessity for the presence
was developed by the progress of the
inquiry.
After reading another paragraph. in
which he expressed his Willingness TO
submit to the will of the committee,
Mr.. Lilley suspended his statement
long enough to be sworn and then pro-
ceeded under oath. Before he went on
however. the chairman announced that
Mr.. Olmstead, one of the members of
the committee. would ask whatever
questions might be necessary III the
investigation.
Statement Under Oath.
Mr.. Lilley's statement under oath was
as follows:
Il propose to show that for several
years prior to the Lester Investigation
the Holland Boat company and its sue
cessor' the Electric Boat company,
maintained in Washington an organ
lied lobby for the purpose of jnflu-
encing legislative appropriations i'm ia
vor of the submarine boats built by
that company, and that it had under
annual retainer c. z. Creecy, General
Eppa Hunton. former United States
Senator Marion Butler. s. C. McNeir.
DR.. w. r. Kerr and others.
THAT for several years Elihu p.
Frost, vice-president of the said com
pany, has been continuous visitor
at Washington during congressional
sessions and has spent large sums of
money in furnishing entertainment to
members of congress, his expenditures
along this line amounting to thousands
of dollars.
That the senate amendment to the
appropriation bill Of March .. 1907. was
prepared and drafted by the attorney
for the Electric Boat company. for the
purpose of and with the intention to
eliminate competition in submarine
construction and to prevent the secre-
tary of the navy from exercising anv
discretion in awarding contracts for
submarines
Campaign Contributions.
THAT a thorough investigation by
an impartial committee will show that
large sums of money have been spent
by the Electric Boat company, its Of
ficers or agents. contributed to cam
paign funds of members of congress
who faver and have favored the Elec-
trio Boat company monopoly of sub
marine construction; also that large
sums of money have been spent to ac-
complish the defeat of members of the
naval committee who did not favor the
Electric Boat company.
That an examination of the books
and records of the Electric Boat COM
pany and of its predecessor the Hol-
land Boat company. will show that
large sums of money have been paid
from their treasures for the above mr.
pose.
forts have been made by representa-
tives of the Electric Boat company and
its predecessor 10 influence the action
of the officials of the navy department
and that such efforts in the past were
50 persistent and notorious as to call
forth the condemnation and criticism