The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-18

4
| w sentative Richmond p. Hob.
Wv son, OF Alabama, before the
| special committee of the
House Investigating the charges made
by Representative George Lllley. oi
| Connecticut, that he had been ap.
| preached by a representative Of the
Electric Boat Company, who offered
| to use his influence with the Jpeak.
er to have Mr.. Hobson placed on tn.
Naval Affairs Committee IL he "stoot
right on submarines" was contradictee
to-day before that committee by Law.
renee Spear, the former naval officer
who Mr.. Hobson said had spoken tc
him. Mr.. Spear said he had not made
any promises to secure the influence
of Speaker Cannon or any one else
and that he never had tried to in
fluence them in fact, he said hs did
not know the Speaker
Mr.. Spear claimed that his COM
pany had never endeavored to suppress ss
competition; had never received any
legislative or departmental favors. and
had never received an order from the
Navy Department except as the result
of successful competition.
Ungunlificdly Untrue.
The other two witnesses Of the day
were A. A. Erly and Frank B. Lord,
two of the newspaper men whom Mr..
Lllley charged he had been warned
against as in the pay of the Electric
Boat Company. They both denied that
they were ever In the pay of the
company, although they said they had
done special work for Mr.. McNeir. one
of the attorneys for the company. IN
the way of getting out some "fea-
c,,b a,-t so. ~ tc.,
they had been paid. Both witnesses
testified that they had lost their po-
sitions as the result of Mr.. Lilley's
charges. Mr.. Lord characterized the
repudiation by Mr.. Lilley of an inter
view he claimed to have had with hin,
as "unqualifiedly, absolutely and de-
liberately untrue"
The committee adjourned until
Thursday.
Lawrence Spear. who said he was
one of the vice presidents and naval
constructor of the Electric Boat Com
peny, was called as the first witness.
He is a graduate of tho Naval Aca-
DENY. and relieved Mr.. Hobson in
charge of the School of Naval Archi-
lecture. He resigned from the naval
service July 1, 1902. and entered the
service of the Submarine Boat Com
pany.
Friendly Warming.
Mr.. Spear said that the last time he
had seen Mr. Hobson was at the Capt.
tol, month or six weeks ago. He
had gone to see him, he said, at the
instance OF Nice-President Frost, to
give him a friendly warning against
another man who was trying to influ-
ence submarine legisla ton.
Mr.. Spear said that in their CONVEX
sation Mr.. Hobson had expressed the
opinion that there should be twice as
many submarine boats as the four
recommended by the Secretary Of the
Navy.
Mr.. Spear was then asked about the
conversation over the telephone 10
which Mr.. Hobson had testified. EIe
flatly contradicted Mr.. Hobson. saying
that he had never promised to use his
influence with the Speaker or any one
else to get Mr.. Hobson appointed on
the Naval Affairs Committee.
.'I think Mr.. Hobson is mixed over
conversation had with his secre-
tary," continued Mr.. Spear. II had a
talk with his secretary during Mr.. Hob
sons illness, In which I said that
hoped Mr.. Hobson would recover.
asked how he was progressing In his
efforts to become member OF the
Naval Affairs Committee. and said that
supposed all Mr.. Hobson needed was
the recommendation Of Minority
Leader Williams, that 1 understood the
Speaker acted on his recommendation.I
I also said that thought Mr.. Hobson
would not have much trouble getting
this recommendation, as both he anu
Mr.. Williams were Southern mon.
Hobson Called Him Up.
told the secretary to tell Mr.. HOB
son that If I could assist him IN any
way would be glad to do So, | had
gone to see Mr. Hobson to talk with
secretary said he would tell Mr.; Hob
SON 1 had called and also given him the
substance of the conversation,
Referring to the &C, eonyersation {s1amhnma wtth Mn
Spear said 1t was his impression that
Mr. Hobson called him up at his hotel
and said: Spear. It is not necessary
for you to bother about talking to me
abensed aSons iuPmarlde my views o and there is
necessity for posting myself about
them" ~.
his views. ! then asked him
how he was getting along with, his
effort TO be placed on the Naval Com
aarnestly striving to get the place, and
replied, "Well. IL there is anything
| can do to help you,, let mo know.
lie said, There IS nothing you can do.
Moreover. would not want you to do
anvtning Your connection with a
sompany that is interested In the leg
station would prove embarrassing
[ told him would be guided de- by what
aims ia let Mr.. IIobson know that he
vas vas talking for himself and not for
The company.
stDid you say In that Conversations I
IL you can get Williams, ! viii do
,na 'rest?'
mo, sir. MY recollection of that
Is that no reference was
made to Mr.. Williams. the Speaker
Don't Know Speaker.
"Did YOU hold out to him that you Ii
lad any influence With any one, that ,
would tend to secure his appointment {
in the Naval Committee?'
mot III the slightest, Have no In
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