The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-25

'
Lilley. of Connecticut, last
week, providing for all investigation OF
the sources OF the influence cxerted by
the Electric Boat Company, OF New Jer-
sey. successor to the Holland Company,
manufacturers OF submarines. Is arrlv-
ing in sections Two OF the CORE
spondents in the press gallery, in addi-
tion to several members OF the House.
have been named specifically In con-
nection with the charges OF undue In
fluence used by the submarine people
through which they induced the Naval
Committee to authorize tho construc-
tion of eight submarines OF the Hol-
land type. while authorizing the con-
struction of but two battleships, the
President and General Board of the
Navy having recommended but four
submarine vessels. though recommend
ing twice the number OF battleships au-
thorized.
Mr.. Iilley was quoted in the New
York Sun and tie Washington Herald
of Saturday as having stated that
the Holland people had got control Of
the Naval Committee of the House
through Representative Griggs. of
Georgia, and Representative Sherman,
of New York, who had exercised their
influence in Inducing the Democratic
and Republican members OF the COM
mittee to vote for the construction of
large number OF submarines, and to
stipulate that they should be of the
Holland type.
Denounced Statement.
On Saturday. in the presence of Mr..
Sherman and Mr.. Griggs. on the floor
of the house, Mr.. Liliey denounced this
statement attributed 10 him as untrue.
and it's author as liar. The latter said
he was at a disadvantage, as he was
accorded the privilege Of the floor as
the representative of the Laffan News
Service, which is the New York Sun
service, and did not resent the langu-
age OF the Connecticut representative.
Both Messrs Sherman and Griggs
rrofessed themselves satisfied with
the statement OF Mr.. Lilley. But the
standing Committee OF Correspondents
entitled to seats in the press galleries
Of the two houses issued an order yes
terday suspending the two correspon-
dents referred to from the gallery,
I its action being based on charges by
Mr.. Lilley that both the correspond
ents mentioned were IN the eEnPloy VI
the Holland people.
| At session of the Committee of
Correspondents this afternoon for the
purpose of Investigating the charges
against the correspondents, the Laffan
| man denied that he had ever received
compensation for anything ne hau
| done for the submarine people.
He admitted that during the trials OF
submarines at Newport last year ne
spent a week or more there as the
guest OF the counsel for the Electric
| Eoat Company, of New Jersey. who
was there with his yacht. The reports
| Of the trial furnished the Laffan
service were written by another cor
respondent, he asserted. He said
he had written several special articles
on submarines which he had sent TO
WASHINGTON to be disposed Of or
.placed' by a friend, but received no
compensation for this work
iIley Fails to Appear.
Mr.. Lilley did not appear before the
committee. though summoned TO DO So
ana make good his charges. Later he
issued a statement, in which he en-
Generated one correspondent. whose
name he had mentioned in connection
with alleged submarine graft" Lilley
is the man who introduced bill maxi
Ii ing graft punishable with death.
There is much speculation as to the
course which will BIO pursued by the
Committee on Rules tomorrow when
1t takes up consideration OF the reso-
|lution for tho Investigation of the
Naval Committee. It would appear as
though the rather loose manner in
which Mr.. Lilley has talked Indicates
/. that he has nothing specific to present
as proof OF his charge that about thir-
teen Of the nineteen members of the
4 Naval Committee have been influenced.
4 Tt is believed that 1t will be developed