Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-16
OFFICIALS Of the Bridgeport Con.
Germ Admit They Prepared State
menls for LlIey.
he HAS BEEN 1at Gd BETWEEN
Questions Asked by the Connecticut
co"uress"@n Were Dictated by
Former Senator Thurston and tho
Warrington Aaen, of the Lake ce...,.
pany-Lake's ohrstmas Dinner.
tBy Associated prcsal

tby Associated Press)
WARRINGTON, ID. c., April IL -
Tho Lake Torpedo Boat Company waa
placed IN the attitude OF prosecutor -
the Electric lioat Company In the i'm.
vestIsation now being conducted by
Il special committee Of tho House Of
hepres5 natives OIL charges preferrci
against the Electric company by Rep
resentaiive Lillcy, of Connecticut.
This was brought out at today's ses-
sion OF the commission. when Abner
Il, Mem, the Washington representa-
i've OF tho Lake compuny. ana foil
mcr Senator John NJ. Thurston. gen.
eral counsel OF that company adj
mitted that they had proposed most of
the questions that had been submitted
TO the committee by Mr.. Lilley TO be
asked The witnesses for the Electric
company ms well as number on
statements Tint Mr.. Iilley had pre-
sentcd TO the committee. Mr.. Ncff
said the Lake company Ind data In
Its possession from which he framed
u large number OF technical questions
that were asked the yarlons witnesscs
ana that others has been suggested
10 him by rumors. Newspaper articles.
etc. He said he had conferred fire.
anently with Mr.. Lilley In the prep
aration of these questions ana that
Mr.. Lilley had suggested various
lines along which he wanted qies.
lions asked.
rs 1t not true that substantlall4Slli
OF MIR. Lilley's formal statementuS,n
this committee have been prebAted
either with you or Senator ThurstSh?s
asked Mr.. Howard. fss
i should say that greater poillnuf
of them had been.r
is Il not also true that substantiai-
ly all the questions submitted byaRtr.
Lillcy to this committee to be f{go-
poundedi to the various witnsx5aes
have been prepared either by youlRnd
Senator Thurston. or after conyersa-
lion between you with Mr.. l.lleyS9
Practically all. yes" v
Mr.. Neff said he considered it5his
duty 10 lend all assistance possible to
the clearing mp OF the submarine Sit
uation
Statements Dictated to LlIley
Mr.. iiiley at various times has cub,
mitted lists of questions, addressed to
the chairman of the committee and
signed by himself. which have wound
up with the following statement:
Not being an attorney or having
an opportunity under the rules OF
the committee to have any of said
witnesses examined by attorneys. {.
am unable TO state more specifically
The line OF inquiry desire to have
pursued and, the responsibility OF such
examination must remain. as Decided
by the committee, upon the members
thereof"
Mr.. Thurston Informed the commit
tee that all lists of questions with
this ending had been dictated by him.
He also said he Ind dictated the
statement Mr.. Lllley presented to the
committee on rules as we'll as a num-
her OF other statements ne had pre-
sented to the investigating committee.
Mr.. Thurston told of a luncheon
given at n Washington hotel by Mir.
j. G. Lake dilring the past Christmas
holidays at which the entire Connec-
ticut delegation of both houses and
one or two others were present. The
purpose OF the luncheon, he said. was
to discuss with this delegation the
question of having the delegation ask
the secretary of the navy to give the
Lake company a chance under the
naval appropriation bill of last year.
He said the members were favorable
to calling on the secretary and that
some time in January n number or
them did go 10 see him in the inter-
est of the Lake company. 1t is under
the provisions of this bill that the
Lake company has secured the con-
tract to build one boat. no money 10
be paid until the boat demonstrates
that 1t is the equal OF any submarine
boat now owned or contracted for by
the United States government.
The hearings will be continued to-
morrow.