Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-28
Congressman LiIIey Says Holland
 Boats Are "Sick Abed."
DEMANDS YET MORE LIGHT.
Introduces Another Resolution Calling Upon the Navy Department For in- formation as to Boats and Sums Spent In Repairing Them.

| oPoH tne NdNy DoPaTttueHt SoV tU@
 formation as to Boats and Sums Spent In Repairing Them.
 1 Washington, Feb. 2S.-To broaden
 the proposed investigation of the Elec- 1 tric Boat Company of New Jersey,
 Representative LilIey (Conn.) intro duced another resolution in the house,
 perhaps at the suggestion of the com
 mittee on rules, which has not yet re-
 ported on the original one
 1 This time Mir Lilley wants to know
 what has happened to make subma.
 rines cost $1,386 ton in 1908, where
 as these boats in 1902 cost only $745.45 per ton. He wishes to know why | nearly half as much as was paid for the boats commissioned in 1903 has
 been since expended on them for re- pairs and why it is that these boats, for which additional repairs are said to be necessary, are practically useless. He wants to know why contracts for everything pertaining to submarines contain secret clauses, whereas there is no secrecy about the contract for other vessels in the navy. The resolution follows:
 The Resolution.
 Whereas, Secret government con. tracing is against public policy and the specific provisions of the revised statutes, sections 512, 515, 3,T44 and 3,745, which provides that papers on file may be examined by any person desiring to do so and that copies thereof shall be furnished upon the payment of certain fees;
 Resolved, That the secretary of the navy is hereby directed to inform the house of representatives whether $745.45 per ton is a reasonable price for Octopus type of submarines; what price per ton is being paid for Octopus type submarines; whether $3,500, 900 is excessive for eight Octopus type of sub marines; what repairs have been made on each submarine, why, when, where and with what result; how many days each submarine has been in active commission; how many days each sub marine has been out of commission and why; what accidents each subma- rine has had, the nature thereof and causes thereof; what contracts have been made for submarines; what prices have been paid per ton for each sub marine built or contracted for; what submarines are available for use; what submarines are not available for use and why and to transmit verbatim copies of everything on file in the navy department relating to submarine boats, with the exception of detailed plans thereof, but not excepting re- ports relating to the performance of each submarine, accidents thereto, re- pairs thereon and condition thereof and the specifications thereof
 Submarines Sick Absd.p
 'I am informed" said Mir. Lilley, "that the dozen or so submarines pur- chased from the Holland Boat company by the government are practically all sick abed-broken down, tied up at wharfs, out of commission-and that the Octopus, which outstripped it's in the trials on Newport last year, is in such a state of dilapi- dation that acceptance by the navy de- partment has been refused"
 There is no longer any doubt in the minds of the house leaders that the on rSles will report the reso- lution calling for an investigation of the Electric Boat company today or to- and that the special committee called for will be appointed immediate ly. During the hour before the conven- ing of the house a host of members called on the speaker and told him they considered it his duty to bring about full investigation at once.
 Only the Lilley resolutions have been more annoying to certain members of the naval affairs committee than a dis patch telling of the existence of a fast sr type of submarine than the Octopus pr the Lake. Chairman Foss admitted that he had never heard of it or of the tests made with the model at the navy yard. The manner m which this boat was ignored by the naval construction board impressed hose fin favor of giving Mir. Lilley the fullest chance to prove his charges,