The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-03
LILLEY EXPLAINS BASE OF CHARGE Congressman Tells Norwich Business Men How Boat
 Company Steers
 Legislation.
ZEPHYR BECOMES CYCLONE
Printed Records of Naval ApprOpria- ation Bill Recently. as Passed by Committed, Used as
 Evidence.

Norwich, March 2.-Congressman George L. Iilley addressed the annual banquet of the board of trade here to- night, speaking on the recent resolu- tion introduced by him relative to the methods employed by the Electric Boat company in securing legislation, MT. Lilley was given an enthusiastic reception.
 MT. Lilley said: 1 desire to say a few words relative to a resolution which I introduced in the house of representatives February 20 asking for a special committee of five to be appointed from the membership of the house to investigate into the methods of the Electric Boat com pany and its predecessor, the Holland Submarine Boat company, in securing past and present legislation.
 Now. that resolution looked as in nocent as summer zephyr, but it is beginning to assume the appearance of cyclone, and l propose to submit to you prima facie evidence of the needs of an investigation directly from the printed records of the naval ap- propriation bill as it passed the naval committee
 When this bill was presented to the committee that part of it which dealt with new construction read substan~ tially as follows: "Ten destroyers, four battleships. four scout cruisers, one ammunition ship, four colliers, one mine-panting ship, four subma- rt, r1f tLo fx-n nn1pEc better plans are developed" Now what happened?
 The committee voted for the full number of the destroyers, two battle ships, no scout cruisers, no ammunit- ion ships, no colliers, no ship for planting mines and eight submarines, reducing the number of battleships one half and leaving out altogether the cruisers, ammunition, ship colliers and mine planting ship. Then proceeding to jam down the throat of the admin istration and of the naval experts dou- ble the number of submarines they wanted, and gentleman 1t is admitted that submarine is worthless except for harbor defense. and one ship for planting mines could put any of our harbors in few hours In a better state of defence than could all the sub marines in our navy, yet that one low cost vessel was disallowed. l do not say it was because it answered the purpose of a score of submarines, but leave you to draw your own infer ence. Then again the bill as it stands shuts out all competition and obliged the secretary of the navy to contract for eight Holland boats of an obsolete type at the Electric Boat company own price and appropriates at the rate of about $1,200 ton, notwithstanding that President Bowles of the Fore River Iron Works, where the Holland boats are built, testified in 1902 that $745 a ton was fair price and that his company could make satisfac- tory profit at that figure.
 Six years intimate study of the men who make up the American congress fits me 10 say that in my opinion it is composed of the very flower of Amer lean heart and intellect. Let me pay a sincere tribute to the corps of newspa- per correspondents at Washington. II became my duty as I saw 1t to speak very plainly of one or two of their number on a recent occasion, but would not have you think the word you may have seen expressed my views of the newspaper corps. This body is composed for the most part of some of the country's ablest journalists, the very pick of a high calling-honest honorable able and considerate; fully conscientious of the mighty power they wield and of the great responsibilities that power places upon them. They rank in ability with the strongest mer in congress. They ars sent there be- cause they are able and discriminating and just Their wisdom is sought by many of the members and they have silently and unostentatiously exertet their influence in the, passage of some of the hest laws senao1ed by congress.
 This Fourth Estate" as a great leg islator once. termed It, stands as a con. stant and powerful check against cor. ruption. While 1t is on guard it is i'm. possible for evil to flourish at Wash ington for any length of time If con