The Washington herald., 1908-03-07
PROBERS TO HASTEN
Chairman of the Submarine
Scandal Committee Busy.
WILL START WORK MONDAY
of Representative LiIIey,
Calling for Investigation Into
Electric Boat C0mDany's Alleged
TransactiOns, Adopted by House.
Five Men Put on Special Committee.

Congress. especially the House, may be
stirred to the very depths by the investi-
cation into the alleged lobbying and IN
derhand work or the Electric Boat Com
pany. in connection with legislation,
which was started yesterday when Speak
er Cannon appointed a special committee
Of FIVE members to carry on the probing.
Representative Boutell. Of Illinois. chair
man of the special cnmittee. of which
Representatives Stevens, OF Minnesota.
Olmstead, OF Pennsylvania: Howard. OF
Georgia, and Broussard. OF Louisiana.
are members. said yesterday that he ex-
poets 20 hold the first meeting Monday.
The committee VIII likely get down 10
work az once. and II Representative
George L. Lilley, OF Connecticut, who
first unearthed the scandal" backs 10
his charges, there VIII be plenty to DO in
the line Of investigation for many weeks
TO come.
Can Hire Clerks.
Chairman BouteH yesterday obtained
permission from the House 70 sit during
sessions Of the House and 10 hire clerks
and other necessary help TO aid in the
conduct Of the investigation The mem
bers OF the committee were al surprised
when Speaker Cannon. acting in con
formity With a resolution presented BY
Representative Dalzen, who acted for the
Committee on Rules. named them as the
chief Judges in a drama that may yet in
yolve many men at present high in the
nations esteem.
The alleged irregularities on the part OF
the Electric Boat Company. involving.
Alr. Lilley alleged, members OF Congress
and others. have been the subject Of talk
and press comment for many weeks. The
Committee on Rules OF the House, con
sisting Of Speaker Cannon, Representa-
uves Dalzeil. Sherman. Williams. and De
Almond, has been considering what &C
tion should be taken on the LiIley resolu-
ton for many days.
When the House convened yesterday Il
was known that the Committee on Rules
would submit some report, and II was
generally understood that an investiga-
ton would be ordered. Representative
Dalzeu reported the resolution asking for
such investigation, and also submitted a
report embOdying Mr.. Llley's testimony
before his committee.
The resolution was adopted without OBJ
lection, and Immediately thereafter the
Speaker appointed the FIVE men mention
ed as a special COMMITTEES 10 Use the
probe.
Charges a Lobby.
In his statement before the Committee
on Rules, Representative Liney charged
that the Holland Company and its sue
cessor. the Electric Boat Company, had
for several years. maintained an organ
lied lobby in Washington 10 influence
submarine boat legislation: that its vice
president spent thousands OF dollars en-
members Of Congress; that a
Senate amendment 20 the naval app-oprla-
ton bin Of last year was intended 10
competition - submarines, and
that the Electric Boat Conpany's attor-
1ey had drawn this amendment: that the
company contributed 10 the campaign
funds Of members OF Congress who favor
ed giving 1t a monopoly in submarine boat
construction. and spent large sums 70 de-
feat members OF the Naval Committee
who did not favor the company; that the
books and records Of the two companies
would show that large sums had been
paid from their treasures for those pur-
poses; that the companies had sought TO
influence officials OF the Navy Depart
ment; that the Efforts Of the companies
had suppressed any possibility Of compe-
ttiOn in submarine construction: that rep
resentatiVes OF leading newspapers had
been subsidized and paid by the Electric
Boat Company for favorable articles
Mr. Lilley declined 10 furnish names OF
members OF Congress whom he hac IN
mind as having been influenced by the
submarine companies until the investi-
eating committee met He assured the
Committee on Rules that he was not talk
ing on hearsay- I know my grounds"
he said, and I know that I can prove
these things before a committee that
means business"
To the committee Mr.. Lilley said also
that the Electric Boat Company had been
"a stencil in the nOstrils Of the country
for years. and IN my opinion has done
moro 10 corrupt legislation than all the
other corporations on earth"
He paid a tribute to the membership
Of the House. but it would be strange,
he said, ii there were not some sheep
in II that had the foot-rot or scables.
Leave for POst-office Employees.
Senator Penrose. chairman Of the Com
mittee on Post-Ofices and Post Roads,