Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-18
Mr., lILLEY TAKES THE STAND
HAS NO FEELING AGAINST
ELECTRIC BOAT PEOPLE.
Regrets That Witnesses Were Not
Called by Committee in Order
He Suggested.

Representative George L. Lilley OF Con-
necticut, under whose resolution special
committee of the House has been investi-
eating the Electric Beat Company. re-
iterated his charges yesterday before the
committee that the. company had made
excessive profits on the contracts it has
secured from the United States govern
ment. and the most rigid cross-examina-
ton by members Of the committee. assist
ed by Martin Littleton. attorney for the
Electric company. failed to make him re-
tract.
Mr.. Lilley assured the committee that
no person connected with the Lake com
pany in any way shape Of form ever had
the slightest intimation from his that he
intended to introduce his resolution. After
the resolution was introduced. he said
he thought 1t would assist the committee
IL he secured information from every
available source. and he welcomed any
suggestions from Mr.. Neff or Mr.. Thurs
ton.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Howard
as to how much information Mr.. Lilley
possessed at the time he brought his
charges and how much additional infOr-
nation he expected at that time to get
from the Lake Boat Company. in order to
prove them. Mr.. Lilley replied:
II did not expect to get anything at
the time from the Lake Boat Company.
thought I had sufficient evidence or
could procure sufficient evidence myself
to substantiate these charges
Mr.. Howard-At the very outset the
charges themselves were drawn by the
attorney for the Lake Boat Company.
Mr. LiIley-A great many of the charges
were suggested by me. Senator Thurston
put them into shape.
Regarding the production of the books
of the Electric company. Mr.. Lil}ey said
he thought they would show that very
large sum of money had been expended
by this company-"some such fund as the
yellow dog fund developed during the
insurance investigation in New York
Mr.. Lilley claimed that if the witnesses
had been called in the order suggested
they would not have had knowledge In
advance of his information. and 1t might
have been possible to bring out something
from the officers of the Electric Boat
Company.
You mean by that to say that the tes-
timony that has been delivered has been
false testimony" asked Mr. Howard.
Il do not mean to say anything about
it, / think they had a chance to cut
their cloth according to my knowledge
You think that the methods of exami-
nation have facilitated false swearing on
the part of witnesses in evading the
charges?"
closing my knowledge to them before
they were summoned.
Mr.. Howard then took up the question
of Investigations and asked Mr.. Lilley
whether 1t is the policy of the Lake COM
pany to inaugurate investigations. with
out concedins that you could become an
unconscious agent of the company. have
you any knowledge that it has been for
several years the policy of the Lake Boat
Company to bring about this investiga-
tion?"
II know there has been a feeling among
the Lake Boat Company that they have
not had square deal here was the
reply.
care you friendly to the Lake boat
people?" asked Mr. Howard.
Il am friendly TO every --uman being"
responded Mr.. Lillay. Il have no per-
sonal feeling against the electric boat
psople. notwithstanding the fact I have
been told some of the officers of the COM
pany have said Hebson and myself are
blackmailers."
Before the committee adjourned for the