The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-07
Resolution to Probe Submarine Lobby Passed Unanimous ly and Committee
 Appointed.
LILLEy IS NOT SELECTED
Committee Makes Public Charges of Connecticut Representative on Which Investigation is
 Based.


 affairs committee were unduly infiu- enced in recommending certain sub marine torpedo boats. was reported to the house of representatives to-day by MT. Dalzell, of Penn, from the. com mittee on rules and adopted by the house. The subject has been under consideration by the committee for two weeks. The resolutions follows:
 Whereas, Mr. George L. Lilley, a representative from the state of Con- necticut. on his responsibility as a member of this house before the com mittee on rules, has among other things stated in substance that the Electric Boat Go. of New Jersey and their predecessors, the Holland Boat Co.,, have been engaged in efforts to exert corrupting influence on certain members of congress in their legisa- tive capacities and have in fact eX- erted such corrupting influence.
 Therefore, be it resolved, that a committee of five members be appoint ed to investigate the charges made by said George L. Lllley of corrupt prac- tiNcS Oli tllc polt ol Sdld tOltl'dllN oiiu of members of congress with respect to legislation and that said committee shall have authority to send for per- sons and papers and to take testimony in Washington or elsewhere before the full committee or any subcommittee thereof Said committee shall report as speedily as possible, with such rec ommendation. If any, as to the com mittee shall seem meet"
 Accompanying the resolution was a report declaring it to be due the house and it's members that an investigation should be made.
 Speaker Cannon announced the fol- lowing members as the committee to conduct the Investigation: Messrs. Boutell, (1lls.) Stevens, (Minn) Olm- sted, (Penn) Howard, (Ga.) and Broussard, Oa.)
 Without dissenting voice the res- olution was adopted.
 MT. Lilley was present but made no remarks
 The committee report by MT. Dal- xell, accompanying the resolutions, says in reference to the resolution of inquiry introduced by MT. Lilley: There was nothing on the face of the resolution that charged corrupt or even improper methods on the part of the Electric Boat Go. lin connection with legislation or proposed leglsla- tion," but that on the next and suc- ceeding days newspaper articles ap- peared in which MT. Llley was quoted as charging corrupt practices, and thereafter numerous alleged inter views with MT. Lilley appeared in cer- tain newspapers of the country coup : ling the names of members of the house with the Electric Boat Go. and legislation in it's interest. Following upon these publications, MT. Llley at | his own instance appeared before the committee on rules and admitted the authenticity of an interview in the Washington Post, but repudiated all others, and made a statement which Is submitted hefewith as part of this report.
 Tn that statement charges are made of corrupt practices on the part of the Electric Boat company in influencing members of congress and Legislation and of such character, taken as a whole as 10 lead your committee to conclude that 1t Is due to the maintenance of the dignity and integrity of the house and it's members that an investigation into the charges made by Mr. Lilles should be had
 The report is accompanied by a stem ographic report of the proceedings be- fore the committee on rules on Febru- ary 25 NIT Lilley appeared before that committee that day and read the fol- lowing statement:
 "I propose to show that for severa years prior to the Lessler investigation the Holland company and its successor the Electric Boat company, maintain cd in Washington an organized lobby for the purpose of influencing iegisla. tive appropriations in favor of the Hol- land boat, and that it had under an nual retainer C. E. Creecey. General Eppa Hunton. ex-United States Senator NJ. C. Butler C. s. MeNeir, pr. ". R Kerr and others
 ''That for several years Mir. Elihu B Frost. vice president of the said com. pany. has been continuous visitor at Washington during congressiona sessions and that he mas spent larg, sums of money Tn furnishing enter tainment for members of congress ant that his expenditures along this lin, amount to thousands of dollars.
 That the senate amendment 10 tn appropriation bill of March 2, 1soi, wa prepared and drafted by the attorne, for the Electric oBat company for ta nurnose and with the intention to eiim inate competition in submarine con struction to prevent the secretary O the navy from exercising any discre ton in awarding contracts for submar ines.
 'That a thorough investigation by al impartial committee will show tha large sums of money have been. by tn Eelectric Boat company, it's officers O agents. contributed to campaign fund of members of congress who favor an, who have favored the Electric Boa company's monopoly of submarine con struction: also that large sums O money have been spent to aecomplisl the defeat of members of the maya committee who dia sTt favor the Flee tric Boat compaa..'