The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-25
Outlining Basis of Charges on Boat Building Scandal to Houhe Rules
 Committee.
SHOULD GAIN HIS POINT
Demand of Investigation Has Meant Loss of Popularity to Lillcy- His Courage Acknowl-
 edged.

Washington, Feb. 24.-Representativ Lilley of Connecticut, who a few days ago introduced a resolution attacking the Electric Boat company in charge of wrongfu!ly influencing legislation, was in consultation to-day with mem- bers of the committee on rules, and ex- poets to be heard by that body prob ably to-mor ,ow in support of his charges, which he asserts his ability I to prove. Meanwhile tho standing com mittee of Washington newspaper cor respondents is Investigating the all legged connection of certain correspon- dents with this affair but pending conclusion the committee declines to make any statement for publication,
 Mir. Lilley spent the greater part of the day in drawing the brief which he will submit to the Rules committee to- morrow, and marshallng his facts and allegations in orderly array. He re- fused this afternoon to disclose any of the things he will allege in his brief or give any indication of the informa- tion he has received about any undue l influence the Electric Boat company may have exercised over members of i Congress. When the Rules committee has received the brief, it is widely said, Speaker Cannon and the other members will find 1t difficult to refuse the request for m inquiry.
 Messrs. Cannon, Dalzell, Sherman, Williams, and De Armond now have the fate of the resolutions in their hands Mir. LilleW Is reputed to have no fear that this request for an inquiry will be refused.
 Representative Padgett, of Tennes. see, a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs, has notified his col leagues on that committee that when the naval appropriation bill comes be- for the House he will propose an amendment to vest in the secretary of the navy discretion as to the type of submarine boat to be purchased. When the clause of the bill relating 10 sub marines was before the committee MT, Padgett made an effort to change the phraseology of the provision so as to make it possible for the Navy depart ment to select any type of submarine boat which seemed to be best adapted to the naval service. His amendment was defeated by two votes in the com mittee.
 Naturally. there is no eagerness on the part of Speaker Cannon and Rep resentatives Dalzell and Sherman, the ttree Republican members of the Rules committee, to take action on the Lilley resolution calling for an investigation of the present makers of the Holland submarine boats, with respect 10 their influence on legislation Politically, this is a most inopportune time for a submarine boat scandal, or indeed, any scandal at all likely to involve Republican Representatives in Con- gress.
 Mir Cannon is a candidate for presi- dent He does not want to make any enemies in the house.
 MT. sherman of New York is as keer to be made speaker of the house a s i' MT. Cannon 10 be made president Therefore he is most anxious that DO litical advancement should come 10 th' present speaker
 NIT. Dalzell is one of those strong DO littcal disciplinarians who never trou bles trouble until trouble troubles him He is willing to let sleeping dogs lie
 Ii has been realized since MT. Lille, introduced his resolution that it woul' not be reported out of the rules com mittee unless outside pressure was ap fContinued on Third Page