The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-06
TO REPORT TO-DAY
IN L|LLEY TIER.
Committee Will, 1t is Thought.
Advise Investigation OF the
Charges as to Contracts.
INTEREST IN LORDS SUIT
Action OF Correspondent Against
the Congressman Growing
Out OF the Attack.
Times Dispatch Bureau,
N,yg.U RtttIIt-t =,


Munsey Building,
Washington. d. C March ).
1t was learned to-day that the House
Committee on Rules will report to-
morrow the resolution introduced by
Representative Iilley. OF Connecticut,
calling on Congress to Investigate the
influence welded by the Electric Boat
Company. of New Jersey, in the matter
of securing authorization for the con-
striction of submarines, and limiting
such authorization to vessels OF the
type manufactured by the company
mentioned.
1t would look as though the House
would have to adopt the resolution and
order the investigation. The adoption
of the resolution and the Investigation
which Will follow will be n distinct
feature OF this first session OF the
Sixtieth Congress.
One Libel Suit Already.
The charges brought by Mr.. Lilley
that prominent Democrats and Repub-
licans of the House were In the employ
of the Electric Boat Company, the sue
cessor OF the Holland Company. have
already caused the institution OF one
libel suit against him. Frank Lord.
formerly of the New York Sun bureau
in this city has brought suit against
Mr. Lilley for $4,000 for alleged
defamation of character.
Lord published an alleged interview
with Mr.. Lilley, In which the latter
was quoted as saying that John Sharp
Williams. and Representative Grirgs.
OF Georgia, and Representative James
sherman, OF New York, the latter a
Republican. were instrumental In in
fluencing the Committee on Naval At
fairs to authorize the construction of
eight submarines, and limiting the de-
partment to vessels of the Holland
type.
Liley denied that he had given such
an interview, and in the presence OF
Griggs and Sherman on the floor OF
the House, denounced Lord toJhis face.
as a liar. the designation being pre-
ceded by several unquotable adjectives.
used to more specifically denominate
the character of Justification OF which
Lord had been guilty.
The Sun promptly dismissed Lord
from it's service. and the standing
committee of correspondents entitled TO
the privileges of the press galleries of
Congress. suspended him from the
galleries. pending an investigation.
Lord admitted to the committee that
during the vacation of Congress last
year he did receive 5000 for work done
for the Electric Boat Company. LII
ley's statement to the committee was
very unsatisfactory. The committee
dismissed the charges against Lord
with a reprimand.
Lord bases his suit against Lilley on
the ground of Lilley's having repudi-
ated the interview making charges
against other members, which repudia-
ton caused the standing committee to
suspend Lord from the gallery and
caused him to lose his position with
the New York Sun. Lord insists that
Llley made the charges. and that he
can sustain this contention by the tes-
timony of three or four or more men,
bers of Congress.
Wants Facts Az to Trusts.
A resolution calling upon President
Roosevelt to submit to Congress all
of the information that has been gath
cred by the Bureau of Corporations of
the Department of Commerce and
Labor with reference to all sorts of
combinations, trusts and other giant
corporations was to-day introduced in
the House by Representative Hard
wick 1t was referred to the Commit
tee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce, but regardless Of its fate IN the
committee the resolution will become
privileged in week and entitled toI
consideration on the floor OF the
House.
Representative Hardwick and other
Democratic leaders. with whom he
consulted before Offering his resolu-
ton. believe that the President is we'll
stocked with much valuable informa-
ton gathered at the governments ~
pense through the Bureau of Corpo-
rations. They are sure he has been
holding this back, releasing bits of 1t
at such times as he has deemed propi.
tious.
They believe further that much of
the Information is being held back for
political reasons. because it shows the
iniquity of the protective tariff
fathered by the dominant party.
Under the law creating the Bureau
of Corporations, only the President IL
entitled to the information that is
gathered by the commissioner and his |
assistants, who are subject to the dl-
recton of the chief executive. It's |
charged that Mr.. Roosevelt has used
the bureau as sort of detective
agency to investigate everybody and
everything In the country that he has
1t Is further charged, manipulates this
information as he sees tit. making dis
closures when he likes and withhold
Ing from the country much that the
people are entitled to know
Representative HardwicR and those
supporting the resolution propose that
all of this information shall be given
10 the public, Just as 1t has been coll |
lected by the Commissioner of Corpo-
ratlons, 1t Is impossible to predict the 4
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