The Washington herald., 1908-03-14
BARBO FOR LILLEY PROBE
Special Committee to Subpoena
Many Witnesses.
Deep Digging Into Alleged Subma-
Relates HObsOn's appointment.

The special committee Of the House.
appointed 10 investigate the charges of
Representative Lilley, Of Connecticut.
concerning alleged legislative methods OF
the Electric Boat Company and the Hol-
land Boat Company, in connection with
appropriations for submarine boats. de-
cided yesterday TO make inquiry upon the
broadest possible lines.
To that end the committee will ask
Mr.. Lilley 10 furnish list Of all the wit
nesses he desires 10 appear. specifying in
each case whether books and papers are
TO be brought by the witness for the in
formation Of the committee.
The committees action is supposed TO
have been the outcome OF the testimony
given by Representative Richmond p.
HObsOn. OF Alabama, alleging that Law
renee Spear. designer Of the Electric Boat
Company. had offered 10 use his infiu-
ence TO have Mr.. HobsOn made a men,
Der OF the Committee on Naval Affairs
Mr.. HCbson and Mr.. Spear We're cadets
at the Naval Academy. and both went
into the construction corps Mr.. Hobson
resigned from the navy 10 enter politics.
and Mr.. Spear resigned to take employ
ment with the Electric Boat Company
In his testimony, Representative Hob
son said that Mr.. Spear had told him
that If Mr.. Hobson could get the indorse-
ment Of Representative John Sharp Will
Jams. the minority leader, for place on
the Naval Committee. Mr.. Spear would
see that Speaker Cannon made the ap-
poinment. Questions were asked Mr.
Hobson by Representative Olmsted. OF
the investigating committee. for the pur-
pose OF bringing out that Speaker Can
non, in making committee assignments OF
Democratic Representatives, followed the
recommendations OF Minority Leader
Williams.
Yesterday. L. White Busbey. the Speak
er's secretary. explained the circum-
stances OF Mr.. HObson's assignment to
the Naval Committee. When he was
asked il he had any objection 10 telling
what influence placed Representative
Hobson on the Naval Committee Mr.
Busbey said:
Not in the least. Capt. Hobson was
recommended for assignment TO the Naval
Committee by the Hon. John Sharp Will
Jams, the minority leader of the House,
AMI Mr.. Cannon accepted Mr.. Williams
slate
The action OF the investigating commit
tee in deciding 10 summon all persons
named by Mr. Lilley was the result of
an executive session The committee dis
cUssed several matters pertaining to the
procedure TO be followed. It was brought
out at the meeting that courts had de-
cided that committees Of Congress had
no right to summon witnesses to testify
except under circumstances involving re-
fiections upon the integrity Of the House.
The submarine boat inquiry was OF that
character, the committee agreed. and it
reached the conclusion that it could
summon witnesses and institute contempt
proceedings for failure TO obey the sum-
mons to answer questions
The committee decided also not to per-
nit the open cr0Ss-examinatlon OF wit
nesses by representatives of any persons
involved In the inquiry. 1t was explained
that experience had shown. notably in
the Occur d'Alene investigation, that
open cross-examinatiOn resulted in un-
dignihed proceedings and il was said that
the committee was opposed to open cross
examination, because il might bring out
in the record matters not germane to
the inquiry or beyond the scope OF the
House resolution for the investigation
The first witness to be called viii be
Vice President Frost, Of the Electric
Boat Company. and others connected
with that company.