Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-14

possible way, was to place Mr.. Lilley
on the stand and have him testify
Il wish to state very clearly as chair
man of the investigating committee
that we propose to probe this painful
affair to the very bottom; and in do
ing so we propose to proceed within
the law and with due regard for the
protection of Mr.. Lilley as a member
of the House of Representatives. In
pursuance of this course the commit
tee today decided unanimously to call
on Mr.. Lilley for a list Of the witnesses
he desires to have summoned and for
Il full statement in connection with
each witness of the papers he desires
to have that witness bring. AS soon
as this list is received by me / shall
issue SubpOenaS duceS lecum for all OF
the witnesses and they will be sum
moned at once by the scrgeant-at
arms.
The committee has thus placed en-
tirely in the hands Of Mr.. Lilley and
his attorneys the question of what wit
ness shall or shall not be called at this
time and what papers and documents
shall or shall not be produced, The
Monday. ready to swear and to hear
such witnesses as Mr.. Lilley shall have
designated"
Replying to the statement made by
Chairman Boutell, Lilley said tonight:
"Itcferring 10 the first paragraph of
the committees statement. | would
say that if the investigation does de
velop into Il tarce the responsibility
will rest with others, as l personally
begged to take the responsibility of
the investigation and to furnish the
ablest counsel procurable. The com
mittee has denied me this privilege ana
from this time on the committee must
assume the responsibility of securing
the evidence from the witnesses whom
l have designated"
Ar important development tonight is
that Sec. of the Navy Metcaif. the
members of last years navy board
which presided over submarine tests
off Newport. and other high officials
of the navy department will be called
on by the committee to testify and to
produce government records of plane,
specifications and contracts.
In a supplemental statement to The
<tNStSi'i'Su i'nS, i''N'N'-
said:
81 do rot wish to place myself in the
light of criticizing Lilley, for the COM
niittee and ali of its members are as
friendly to him as to any other MEM
Der of ther'Hoase, but I will say That
if Lilley now proposes to step ASIDE
and no longer cooperate with the COM
mittea the investigation OF the charges
he has made will go on nevertheless.
These charges involve the honor and
dignity of the whole House of Repre-
sentatives and they, will be sifted to
the bottom with his aid or without.
"Mr: LilIey in his sworn statement
to the committee Thursday retracted
practically everything he had said be-
for the committee on rules. He told
the latter committee that he expected
to prove that large sums of money
were contributed to the campaign fund
of certain representatives. But, under
oath before the investigating COM
mittee he declared with emphasis that
he never had charged the corruption Of
any member of the House nor did he
propose to make such a charge He
told the rules committee that it would
not be surprising to find some dshon-
est persons in a membership so large
as that of the House-af Representa-
tives and he spoke of the necessity Of