Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-03-13
HOBSON BEFORE THE COMMIT
TEE


Mr.. Lilley yesterday while before
the House investigating committee was
requested to furnish the committee with
nsmes in standardization OF certain as
serious contained in his sworn state
meut u,sbing certain charges in con-
necton with the purchase of submarines
by the government. This he promptly
did. He said nat Franklin n. Taylor
and John T. Kellogg, of Waterbury,
Ooon., and Charles Ferry, of Bridge
polt, had asked him to vote for an APP
preparation for submarine boats. But
the sensation came when Mr.. Lilley de-
| clared that one OF his colleagues ON the
naval affairs committee had been sp-
preached by a representative of the
Electric Boat Company.
'NWho was th> Congressman who was
| told by a representative OF the Electric
Boat Company that the company could
have him put on the naval committee
Mr. Lilley was asked.
"Capt. Richmond Pearson HobsOn,"
was the reply.
"Who told him?" was then asked.
"Captsin Hobson will tell you that.
Ask him." respol lded Mr.. Lilley.
Representative Hobson was called be-
fore the committee, and after being
sworn was inteuogated in connection
with the statements which bad just
been made by Mr. Lilley. Mr.. HObsou
c0rroborated the statements 40 far IS
they mentioned him by telling the com.
miitee that he hsd been told by rep
resentative of the Electric Boat Com
psny that influence would be brought
To bear to secure the appointment OF
Mr.. HObson to the naval committee il
he would favor submarine Legislation.
II was directed to state the details of
this matter.
Mr.. Hobson told the committee that
the person who had made this propos-
ton to him is Mr.. Lawrence Y. Spear, a
former constructor in the United States
nsvv. whD is now connected with the
f ct'ic Boat Company. Mr.. HobsOn
sad hat be aud Mr.. Spear had been
C a-smatts at the United States Naval
Academy togethor me years ago. Last
November, Mr.. Hotson said, Mr.. SpeR
told him that influence would be used TO
get him place On he House naval COM
milteo If he wss all right" on subma-
rines. Mr. Hob.on said that be himself
was i'll at the lime and that Mr.. Spear
f'st called upon Mr.. Hobson's private
secret ~ about the matter of arrangin
An appointment with Mr.. Houson.
Nothing came of that. According to
Mr.. Hobson's testimony, Mr.. Spear then
wiOie letter 10 him, in which he said
be wanted TO see HOhson On a matter
that would be OF inter s, to them both.
Mr.. HObson said thst be did not nee
Spear, md that the latter then called
him n. yer the telephone and told him
that il ", Vas all right on submarints he
(SpesD would use his Influence to get
MIN (hobsorl place on The naval COM
mi.tee. Mr. Hobson said he repudisted
he idea of such thing being done or y
templeu.
Mr.. HObson did not at first tell the
committee with whom this "iDhuence"
was to have been used. But the COM
mittee pressed him for details. Mr..
HObson, who was reluctant sbou. drag
giug in the name Of the Speaker, stated.
10 response TO direct question, that Nc.
Spear had told him tnat tive influence
~as to be used with Speak-r Cannon.
Friend of the Speaker lster in the day
declared that, if Mr.. Spear used the
name OF Mr.. Cannon in the telephone
conversation with'Mr. Hobson, it IVES
done without the Speakers authority.
The testimony of Mr.. Hobson hiss
created a ser ssion in congressional cir
cles. IL 10 well known That il has been
Mr.. HobsOn' ambition ever since he WAS
elected to Congress for position on the
House naval committee.
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