Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-03-07
CHARGES BRIBERY
Submarine Boat Company Contrib
utes 90 Campaign Fund.

utes 90 Campaign Fund.
WASHINGTON, March TN re-
ply to questions in the house today
Representative Lilly refused to give
the names OF members who, he
claimed, had received from the
Electric Boat company, seeking con-
tracts to build submarines, large
sums Of money for campaign pur-
poses, or members against whom
large sums had been spent to ac-
complish their defeat. Mr.. Lilly
stated, in reply to a question by Mr..
Dalzell, that he expected to prove
that wrongful methods had been
used by the Electric Boat company
to secure legislation by influencing
members of congress. He further
said that his statements were not
vague ones; that they have been
constantly and continuously in the
air for about Is years, and that he
would be glad to indicate the par
ticular parties as soon as his resolu-
ton of inquiry should be passed and
the committee named
During the examination of Mr..
Lilly Speaker Cannon asked him:
do you allege corrupt action against
members OF the present congress-"
Il allege just what my document
says" replied Mr.. Lilly.
Mr.. Dalzell asked: "Will you
state the names Of individuals who
have corrupted or attempted to cor
rupt members of congress?" They
are using wrongful methods in al
most every members district who
served on the naval committee" re-
piled Mr.. Lilly.
Mr.. Lilly gave an illustration OF
an attempt made to induce him to
vote for the submarines. and said:
This Electric Boat company stinks
in the nostrils OF the country for
years, and in my opinion has done
more to corrupt legislation than all
the other corporations. think the
membership of the house is of the
very highest quality and that they
are the best men usually in the dis
tricts from which they come. but
with a flock of 800 1t would be
strange IL there were not some sheer
in 1t that had the foot rot or scabies
| think the disease ought to be eradi.
Gated before IL spreads. | have nc
motive or animus in this at all, ex,
cept so far as l would like to see
the business run on business lines
and the building of submarines left
to experts and not take them from
the hands of the navy department
experts"
In reply to a question by Mr.. Dial
zell asking him II he meant tina
money has been paid to members o.
congress to influence their votes
Mr.. Lilly said:
II do not claim that money hal
been paid to bribe a member OF con
gress. l do expect to prove tina
money has been contributed to cam
pafgn funds. which morally Is no
different from passing a bride across
the table in committee rooms whel
we take a vote. Morally there Is no
a particle OF difference; logical!
there Is"
Shortly after the adjournment o
the house Chairman Boutell got hi
committee together and partly or
ganized It. He said afterward tina
the organization would be complete,
at a meeting to be held tomorrow
when the question of whether t
make the committees sessions pub
lie or private would be decided,
A report that Mr.. Lilly was great
~ incensed by the action OF Speake
Cannon in not making him Chairman
OF the committee gained currenc
and became topic of discussion
after the committee assignments ha
been announced Mr.. Lilly himsel