The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-24
Congressman ChaTgedWith Cast ing Reflections Upon Men-
 bers of the House
L|LLEY HINTS AT USE
 OF WH|TEWASH BRUSH
Priv se Letter Is Quoted In Which Congressman Speaks Slightingly of Investigation, But He Re-
 fuses Other Letters.

Washington, April 23-Interesting devel- opments followed each other in close sue cession today in the hearing being con- ducted by the special committee of the House of the charged preferred by Repre- sentative George l.. Lilley of Connecti1 cut against the Electric Boat company. They ranged from the participation of the Lake Torpedo Boat company in the prepa- ration of resolution of inquiry intro duced in the House by MT. Lilley to mat ters of a personal nature in which criti- cism of the committee played a promi- nent part Incidentally Representative Liley was severely taken to task by members of the committee for allowing ! published criticisms of it's actions over his signature to stand for a month with f out being contradicted. MT. Lilley and ] the committee locked horns over the ques- ton of the production of letters which he claimed are confidential, and the ques- ton of whether they should be produced had not been decided when adjournment had been taken until tomorrow.
 The question of the authorship of the two anonymous letters that have played such an important part in the investiga- { tion also was gone into, and it is the be- lief of the committee that the identity of the writer will be established within the next 4S hours.
 MT Olmstead read clipping at to- day $ session from the Hartford Cour- ani of Marels So containing a letter signed by MT. Lilley and addressed to George w. Golf of East Hampton, Conn. This f letter, which was in reply to one re- ceived by Mr. Lilley from MT. Golf con- \ ,hed the folowng
 Extract From Letter B'The select committee to investigate lave already demonstrated their inten- tion to apply the whitewash brush wherever they can. Therefore, it is safe to assume that very little will be brought out. They refused me the privilege or counsel to cross-examne witnesses and don't allow me to ask questions, and fore ing me to submit them in writing, and even then they may throw out those (which they deem improper, which means throwing out all important questions. I Kbeieve, however, that the press of the fcountry is already fully convinced. Mir Lilley stated that that letter was z written by his secretary, Mr. Webster, and that he had not seen 1t until it ap- peared in print MT. Webster, he said, had authority to sign his name to let ters MT. Webster was called to the stand Y and admitted that he wrote the letter He said that he had gathered his inference about to come from newspaper clippings and from conversations he had with man who attended some of the hearings. The letter was not suggested by MT. Li- ley he said
 Mir. Lilley then resumed the stand and was asked if lie had repudiated the let ter He replied that he had not.
 Do you repudiate it now, asked MT. Olmstead
 T don't personally desire to make that charge" answered MT. Lilley, "and I am perfectly willing to withdraw 1t.
 Tt is not question of withdrawing the charge" said MT. Howard. We want to lift the responsibility for the sugges- tions in that letter"
 Reflection Upon Members.
 "This letter cast reflection upon the character of the House of Representatives and the officers of it which cannot be un noticed" nterposed Chairman Boutell. "A month has elapsed since you had knowl- edge of it's existence over your signature. During that time it would certainly have been possible for you to explain it on the floor of the House or to this commit tee but no explanation was forthcoming.
 
 Mr Broussard asked MT. Lilley if he had reprimanded his secretary for writing such a letter.
 T think I reprimanded my secretary. . replied MT. Lilley, T am very sure did.''
 Why have you not discharged man who would abuse your confidence in such a manner" asked MT. Broussard.
 a'Well, have not discharged him." re- sponded MT. Lilley.
 MT Liley said he did not know MT. Golf, and when asked if other letters of similar character had been written and signed with his name replied that there might have been others, but he did not know how many.
 Will you let us have these letters" asked MT. Olmstead.
 q don't think 1t is within the scope of this committee to examine my private correspondence, replied MT. Llley.
 This committee does not need a reso- lution to protect it's honor remarked Chairman Boutell. We would like to see your letter press book containing copy of this letter and similar letters re- ferring to this Investigation"
 LiIIey Objected.
 M MT. Lley persisted that he objected n producng his private correspondence, and his counsel, Judson Brown, said that MT. Liley felt that 1t would be an injustice to him to be compelled to produce letters he had written to friends containing ex- pressions of opinions of the committee or any member of it. He objected to produc- ing any letters that are confidential be- tween himself and friends. MT. Lilley promised to produce the letter from MT. Golf and a copy of the reply, and the question as to whether the production of the other letters will be required will be passed upon by the committee later.
 The committee had in it's possession clipping from the Bridgeport (Conn) Standard of March 25, saying that it was .ennrted around the corridors of the cap