Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-13


the Electric Boat GO. or have been
such. and they are the persons-lf any
who have been engaged in The inI-
proper efforts TO influence COMPRESSION
al action, if any such improper efforts
have been made. They are what the
courts always recognize as reluctant
and adverse witnesses, and the facts
resting in their knowledge alone can
not be fully brought to light except by
careful and thorough examination of
each witness by an attorney qualified
to. conduct such an examination.
The committee on rules in its
resolution under which this committee
is acting has said to the country that
you are to investigate the charges
made by me. However incorrect this
statement may be, it is nevertheless
the official statement of the resolution
under which this committee is APP
pointed. | had supposed that it was
the function of this committee to sit
| here as judges and not to act as
| prosecutors or defenders and therefore
| that the orderly and effective pro-
J cedure would be to have witnesses eX-
amined in the first instance by some
other than a member OF this official
, tribunal.
The suggestion of your committee
that the line of procedure indicated by
you is in accordance with the well
established precedence of both houses
of congress, is not in accordance with
my conception of the procedents.
so far as l am individually con-
! ccrned, L am ready to obey any order
h,r nit taea n "a
witness before it, but IN doing so
state upon my responsibility as a
member of the house OF representa-
tives, that in order to fully bring out
| the necessary evidence and SubStantl-
ate the charges the order of the eX-
animation of witnesses should be
otherwise arranged and such testimony
as | may be able to give should be
! presented in the natural order and ac-
quence of the investigation. such as
would be presented by counsel learned
/ in the law.
| II ask your honorable committee
whether or not. after consideration of
{ what | have just stated if the COM
+ mittee still adheres to its determine
! ton to prohibit me from calling the
. witnesses and presenting their testi-
mony under the examination of my
| Attorney"
This request being denied by the
committee through Chairman 3outell,
Mr.. Llley said
II now feel that I am relieved from
any responsibility Of this Investigation,
and as an individual l submit myself
to the direction and orders of this COM
mittee. I still protest that it would
| lie, detrimental to q thorough and COM
| plete investigation to have my testimo-
| ny taken at this time for by 50 doing
i you would advise the parties charged
with improper actions in influencing
congressional action in such manner
| as would enable them to prepare for a
possible defeat Of the purposes of in
vestigation.
| Il now waive service of summons,
and if You now order me to do so, /
will take the stand as a Witness
! When Mr.. Lilley came to the first stop
ping point at which time he indicated a
desire to know the wishes of the COM
mittee in the matter of summoning Wit
| nesses. he stopped for a response and
| was told by Chairman Boutell that under
its instructions the business of tile COM
mittee must necessarily be confined to the
conducting of an investigation. Tie menu
| berS of the committee, he said, were not
there as prosecutors nor would they per-
nit Mr.. Liiey to assume the role of a
| prosecutor. Witnesses would be called
as the necessity for their presence was
developed by the progress of the inquiry.
| After reading another paragraph in
which he expressed his Willingness to
submit to the will of the committee, Mr.
Lilley suspended his statement long
enough to be sworn and then proceeded
under oath. Before he went on, how
ever, the chairman announced that Mr.
| Olmsted. one of the members of the COM
mittee. would ask whatever questions
might lie necessary in the conduct of the
investigation.
Mr.. Lilley's statement under oath
was as FIJI, KS
Il propose to show that for several
years prior to tic Lesscr inveStigatu
the Holland Boat Co and its successor.
the Electric Boat Co. maintained in
Washington an organized LOBBY for
the purpose Of influencing Legislative
appropriations in favor Of the sub-ma-
rine boats built by that company, and
that it had under annual retainer G.
T.. Creecy, General Eppa Hunton. for
mer United States Senator Marion
Butler, S. G. McNair, DR.. w. r. Kerr,
and others.
THAT for several years Elihu p.
Frost, vic" president of the said COM
panv. has been a continuous visitor at
Washington during congressional ses-
sions and has spent large sums Of
money in furnishing entertainment to
members of Congress, his expenditures
along these lines amounting to thou
sands of dollars.
THAT the Senate amendment to the
appropriation bill of March ., 1907 was
prepared and drafted by the attorney
for the Electric Boat Co. for the pur-
pose of and with the intention to elimi-
nate competition in submarine con-
struction and to prevent the secretary
of the navy from exercising and dis