The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-25
CONGRESSMAN LILLEY's CHARGES.

CONGRESSMAN LILLEY's CHARGES.
 Those who are acquainted with the | congressman at large from the State of Connecticut, George F.. Lilley of | Waterbury, will wait for an investiga- tion of his charges against the commit tee on naval affairs and report, be- fore they will be satisfied that he has suddenly entered upon the automatic manufacture of "hot air" MT Lilley is a man of very practical turn of mind and not given to pipe-dreaming. He owes his entrance into public life to his courageous condemnation of poli- tical graft and owes his continuance there to his imperturbablity and inf mite good humor. In particular the people of the State of Connecticut, re- gardless of party affiliations, will await further information before sid ing with his enemies He is likely to prove his case if the opportunity is given him.
 If we understand him, MT. Lilley charges that many of the committee on naval affairs are manlfestly moved by mercenary motives in substituting their judgment of the needs of the navy for the judgment of the navy department and the naval officers. He refers to the action of the committee in appropriating for larger number of submarine torpedo boats than the navy department has recommended. He has in mind in particular the makers of the Holland type of sub marines, who he asserts have usurp- ed the power of the President of the United States and the Secretary of the Navy, and gained control of the house committee on naval affairs According to his understanding, these submarine bosses have been able in ways known lV tHtIusCiNCS lo lluuCC tAC EDinflIll~ tee to override the judgment of the navy department with regard to an improved type of submarine in behalf of defective type, and they have been able 10 do this by having concerned themselves in the election of mem bers of congress and their appointment to the naval committee. He has in ad- dition accused two Washington corre- spondents connected with well known newspapers of being in the pay of the offending submarine boat-makers They have already been suspended by their newspaper colleagues from the privileges of the press gallery pending a thorough investigation. He asks that the house of representatives investi- gate for itself and ascertain what measure of truth there is in the charges
 Naturally there are counter charges cfOu6ht u6dfilot NIL i<iilCy. It ID HUI mated for example, that he was dis appointed because type of subma- rine boat made in this State was re- jected by the committee, and that in other ways he has been moved by pique and love of gallery applause If these things are true they can be readily substantiated, but in the mean time they should not detract from the vital seriousness of his charges It is obvious that he runs terrific risk if he is without the necessary ammuni- tion to mow down his enemies when the investigation comes. Among those of us who have a more or less intelli- gent comprehension of his character, there is strong reluctance to believe that he is shooting in the air for no better reason than to make a noise That has not been the way in which he has made his fortune nor the way III WI HUI fit fif-o iiduc ilitilottl he- ure in the political life of the State. Shrewd and nervy, he has hitherto taken the direct path to the end in view, which justifies the opinion that he has probably done so in this in stance, and that if he is given the up- portunity to show his hand, under rules of investigation which permit him to send for papers and people, the truth will come out. At the same time it is no mean task he has set him. self to purge the house of representa- tives of untoward influences. It is such a task as President Roosevelt delights in. a task which lines up. in opposi- ton and obstruction the whole crew of nation -wreckers and political pol troons.
 We find it increasingly difficult to begin anew an understanding of Mir. LiIlev which we have not hitherto had. and for that reason the hope grows and widens that the committee on rules, acting with Speaker Cannon. will afford him the opportunity to formu- late his charges before committee of investigation Ii may be argued that the eve of a presidential campaign is