The Billings gazette., 1908-03-20
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0h|'S'I And
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY CALL
ED 10 TESTIFY IN SUBMARINE
BOAT INQUIRY.
FAILS TO STAR tie

There 10 Nothing Sensational in the
Testimony of the High Official Who
Says That He Knows Nothing Of
Corruption Caused by Electric Boat
Company.
Washington, March 19.-secretary
Of the Navy Metcalf and Admiral
Capps were among those who ap-
peared today before the submarine
boat investigating committee to tes-
tify In relation to the charges made
by Representative Lilley Of Connecti-
cut that wrongful methods had been
used by the Electric Boat company to
secure legislation IN congress.
Mr.. Lilley presented to the commit
tee an afiidavit signed by Clement b.
Adams and dated Bridgeport, Conn,
March Is, 1908, IN which Mr.. Adams
swears that while he was engaged ii
business In Washington during the
summer Of 1906. J. #. F. Archibald
represented to him he was a war cor
respondent for Golfers Weekly and
that he had been appointed ~ the
president OF the United States to
visit certain cities and towns on the
Pacific coast and to report to the
president upon the condition Of the
coast defenses In that section.
At later period, according to the
afidavit, Mr.. Adams showed to Archi-
bald 9 newspaper article on the sub-
ject Of submarine torpedo boats
wherein the Lake submarine boat was
criticised and Archibald informed him
that he was the, author Of the article:
that he wrote the same and that the
criticism Of the. Lake boat therein con con
tanned was melted and caused bysa re-
quest to him made BY Lawrence i,
Spear. an somcers of the Electric Boat
. company, and that the request was w
cepted by. Archibald, because ks
(Archibald) was under obligations 10
Spear and the Blectric Boat com
pany. III
M ppeintsd.
Accompanying the, afidavit Was -
letter from svslts deny. ny
ing that Archibald was ever appoint
Cd 81 snspployed ~ him. ~ 10 tai -
he knew appo ointed y or employed 81
any one connected with the admins.
tration.
Il Secretary Metcalf was questioned
concerning the section of his annual
report OF 1907 concerning submarine
boats including tho report II ms
bsard, which conducted tie triSls ofl
submarines ana which recommended
the adoption Of the octopus type 81
boat.
Admiral Dewey, 10 said, signed the 4,
report. .of the board recommending
submarine boats. IN reply to ! ques-
tion on President Roosevelt's atti-
stude. Mr. Netcalf said that he did not
,haye the president's message With
him. Secretary Metcalf stated that
the contract for the Lake boats va
entered into BY the department on
certain guarantees. that the oompany's
bid wasH $b25. 900 and the department
agreed to pay $3.50. 900 for one Of their
boats to approximate 500 tons, no
money to bepaidson this contract sun.
til after the boat had been fully tested
j and had developed q speed equal to
the speed of the best submarine boat
owned by the government.
How was It the contract was made
( for = boat that was loser In the COM
petittve trial?" asked Mr. olmstead.
Seasons for Contract
Some question VA raised q 70 The
discretion vested II the department
and tho department referred certain
auesttons' to the attorney general Who
decided that tho secretary Of the navy
had ahtAosttY to- 4nter into : contract
with ths Lake company. Tho con.
tracts Tor submarine boats were made
under the act Of congress authorizing
the expenditure Of . certain amount OIL
money for submarines.'' SS545i
Who was It that asked you to sub
NIT the questions to the attorney gem
eral?"
Former Senator Thurston, the rep
resentative Of the Lake Boat COM
pany.'
did any member of congress ask
you to submit the questions?"
Il think not" NC:
DO you remember whether any
member Of congress called upon you
in favor Of or In opposition to the let
ting Of the contract to the Lake COM
pany?"
u number OF congressman called
on me-not with reference to letting
The contract but referring to tie opin-
ion of the attorney geussal and the
questtoa of the ~ ~
vested IN mo under the act.
WHO called upon yop9s
16St tthe oalls1
..0t N661S6 IN speaaiiG ffoa|