The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-21

- Y<ASI11N1lOS, u. u. May t1u.--A
The conclusions OF the spe.
/ AA/ cial committee which has
wv been investigating the
charges of Representative
Ltlley. Of Connecticut, that memberx
of the House had been improperly in-
fluenced in connection with submarine
torpedo boat legislation, that Mr.. Lis
| ley had violated his obligations as
member and had acted in bad faith
with the committee, and In contempt
of the House, We're sustained to-day by
the House by vote of 2s2 to SO. Five
hours OF the session were devoted to
the case. four of which were con-
sumed in reading the report. The Con-
Inecticut members Joined in voting
against the resolution by which tho
House adopted the conclusions of thA
committee as Its own.
Mr.. Williams, OF Mississippi, de-.
nounced Mr.. Lilley as being guilty OF
treason, for which. he said, he should
be expelled. He presumed that the
reason the committee did not carry
its report to Recommendation to thai
end was because Mr.. FLilley was at his
home Ill and unable to be present to
defend himself in such proceeding.
1t was a noticeable fact that the five
members OF the committee. Messrs
Boutell. Olmsted. Stevens, Broussard
and Howard, sat together throughout
the entire proceedings, and that nons
OF them submitted any remarks IN
connection with the report.
The partial conference report on thl
sundry civil appropriation bill occa.
stoned lively debate. 1t was adopted.
and the conferees will continue thelf
efforts to arrive at complete agree.
| ment.
Attitude OF Bnd Faith.
In the exhaustive report submitted
\ to the House, Chairman Boutell and his
4 colleagues review the testimony
brought out before the committee Id
hearings extending over several weeks
and declare with entire unani1nity that
no member of the House and no reporr
of the press has been induced by off,
GERS of the Electric Boat Company ia
act from corrupt or improper motives,
Furthermore, the committee finds
that Mr.. Lilley allowed himself to be
used as an instrument OF the Lake
torpedo Boat Company in questioning
the integrity and fairness of sthe mem-
bers of the Investigating committee
and In attacking a competing subma-
rine company.
Mr.. Lilley is charged also with main
tanning an attitude Of bad faith both
In bringing the charges and concealiur
from the committee the Identity OF the
real parties in interest behind the In
IsYestigatlon.
The reading of the report occupied
four hours time. 1t was the lengthiest
document placed before the House this
session Upon the conclusion Of the
reading Mr.. Payne, the majority leader,
offered resolution approving the re-
port and Its conclusions. and adopting
them as the conclusion of the House.
Defended by Colleagues.
Mr.. Higgins. of Connecticut, a coll
league OF Mr.. Lflley's, announced that
the delegation from that State would
vote against the resolution
Declaring his absolute belief that tha
members OF the House We're above
venal and improper influence Mr.. Hig-s
gins maintained that those who knew
Mr.. Lilley could not accept the cons
mittee's findings that he was guilty
either of bad faith or of wilfully or
knowingly making any misstatements,
intended to deceive, or that he had
any other than proper and absolutely
right motives in attempting to reach
the ultimate truth of the subject mat
'er of the Investigation.
Stating that at Mr.. Lilley's tele-
graphic request he would not antago-
nize the report, Mr. Hill. of Connects
/
league, and expressed. his confidence in
Mr. Lilley's integrity and sincerity Of
| purpose.
Treason, Says Williams.
Following a statement by Mr.. Payne
| that the committee was justified In it's
conclusions, MI, Williams. of Missis-
I3sippi, the minority leader, denounced
Mr. Lilley as being guilty OF treason.
THE very worst form of treason to
a government like ours.N he said, ais
corrupt practice on the part taof a
preventative Of tho people," He
maintained that any member OF tho
House guilty of corrupt practices was \
| an enemy of the people themselves,
mot only an enemy. but tratitor.n'
Such a member, he declared, was not
a gentleman, for, he said. no gentle
man betrayed a trust. The very
worst form of treason to the people.'-
he exclaimed. "is to stismattze az
being guilty Of corrupt practices felow
representatives of the people who are
not guilty of the charges. II
He had no hesitation in saying, he
said, that such a man ought not be-
allowed to remainza member OF tha
House, The committees he contended,
had acted very leniently with Mr.. Lii
ley, but he was sorry to observe thai b
the Connecticut delegation did not
seem to appreciate that fact,
Mr.. Williams presumed that thes
reason the committee did not recom-
mend expulsion was because Mr.. Lii
ley was sick. No man." he sald. h
ought to he arraigned ard visited With
a heavy penalty without the emporium
ity OF being heard,nand he felt 3thst
that Was the reason the report had I,
not been carried to It's logical con-
clusion, A. Nm
Raising his voice "a a Nigh pitch. AIR.
Williams exclaimed: :B s3s
II am tired ot the d degradatioa -