The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-03-17
HOBSON AIDS L|LlLEY
Hero of Santiago Was Approach
ed by Submarine Boat Man.
OFFERED INFLUENCE TO HIM

Lobbyist Said He Could Get Place on
Naval Affairs Committee For Fer--
mer Officer - Connecticut Congress
man Names "Third House" Members.
Washington, March 1.-THE Lilley
submarine boat inquiry was begun in
earnest by special house committee.
representative Lilley was heard at
length. He began his testimony by
reading long typewriter statement,
a part of which was in the nature of
an affidavit in which he outlined his
charges in detail. When he had COM
pleted this formal presentation he was
questioned at length by Representative
Olmsted of the committee, who was
designated by Chairman Boutell to per-
form the service.
Representative Richmond Pearson
Hobson testified that he had been ap-
preached by a man representing the
Electric Boat company, who told him
that if he would support the claims of
that company before congress the COM
pany could bring influence to bear on
Speaker Cannon to have him (Hobson)
appointed on the committee on naval
affairs.
Hobson Answers Questions.
After Captain Hobson had been
sworn he stated to the committee that
he preferred that questions be asked
him rather than that he make state
ment. Questioned by Mr.. Olmsted, he
said that he made statement to Mr..
Lilley something like that to which Mr..
Lilley had testified.
did some person claiming to be
representative of an electric boat COM
pany approach you in the manner indi-
cated?' asked Mr.. Olmstead.
Eyes, sir"
"Who was the partyf"
Lawrence Speer of New York. 1t
was in November last Mr.. Speer saw
my secretary first and few days later
called me up on the telephone, and 1t
was over the phone that he spoke to
me directly. He had previously written
me stating that there was matter of
mutual interest about which he wished
to confer with me, and I replied that
would be glad to confer with him. He
said over the phone subsequently that
he understood / wanted to go ON the
naval committee and that his company
would be able to help me; had infiu-
ence to bring that about If / stood
right on submarines"
Mr.. Lilley repeated his recent state
ment that he has been Swallowed by a
large number Of men since he intro
duced his resolution.
Concerning Mr.. Lilley's assertion in
his prepared statement that no report
had been made to the house of the in
vestigation of the Lessler charges by
the naval committee, Mr. Olmsted call
ed his attention to the fact that such
a report had been made and that 1t had
been shown that representatives of the
Holland company had made improper
overtures to member of congress-
Mr.. Lilley gave the names of the
| Connecticut members and the attorney
who had asked him, according to his
statement, to vote for an appropriation
| for submarine boat legislation. The
manufacturers, he said, were Franklin
H. Taylor of Waterbury and Charles
Ferry of the Bridgeport Brass COM
pany. The attorney was John T. KEEL
logg of Waterbury.
Competition Shut Out.
Mr.. Lilley said that Mr.. Kellogg, the
attorney for the Electric Boat compa-
ny, made an appointment for Mr.. Fer
ry with Mr.. Lilley, but Mr.. Kellogg
was not present at the interview. At a
previous visit, Mr.. Lilley said, Mr.,
Kellogg handed him a written form
| Of the provision that would be offered
In the naval committee while prepar-
ing the naval bill of the last session.
| 1t was offered, he said, but he did not
remember by whom. 1t was Mr.. Lii
ley's impression that he supported that
resolution. 1t was for open legislation,
he said, leaving the letting of contracts
with the department. The one submit
ted this year shut out any possibility
of competition.