Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-05-22
IL|LLEY IS HARD HIT
COMMITTEE SAYS HIS CHARGES
WERE NOT WARRANTED.
So eMARlNE CASE FINDING
Connecticut Man Said to Have Acted
In Bad Faith and az Tool OF Rival
company-AIso Accuses
Of Contempt.

George L. Lilley of Connecticut Was
not warranted in bringing charges
against certain of his colleagues IN
the house and accredited members Of
the press, il the conclusion reached
by the special committee named by
Speaker Cannon to investigate moth
DDS employed by the Electric Boat
Company of New Jersey IN connec,
ton with legislation before congress-
In an exhaustive report submitted
to the house Wednesday Chairman
Boutell and his colleagues review the
testimony brought out before the com-
mittee on hearings extending over sey-
eral weeks and declare with entire
unanimity that no member OF the
house and no representative OF the
press have been induced by officers Of
the Electric Boat Company to act from
corrupt or improper motives.
Makes Charge Against lt'iey. |,
Furthermore, the committee finds
that Mr.. Lilley allowed himself to be
used as an instrument Of the Lake
Boat Company in questioning the M
tegrity and fairness of the members
Of the investigating committee and IN
attacking competing submarine
company. Mr.. Lilley is charged aDo
with maintaining an attitude Of bad
faith, both in bringing the charges
and concealing from the COMMITTEES
tho identity Of the real parties In In
terest behind the investigation.
The investigation grew out Of 1eso-
luton introduced by Mr.. Lilley In tho
house on February 20 last asking that
a committee be appointed to iavesti-
gate the conduct Of the Electric Boat
Company of New Jersey and their
predecessors, the Holland company, 70
speeding the methods employed by the
companies named, in connection with
past and proposed legislation before
congress.
Calls LlIIey company's loot
It Is alleged that Mr.. LIley
acted in bad faith in stating before
this committee that he had made No
charge rejecting upon members Of tho
house before the committee ON ru1eB;
that Mr.. Lilley allowed himself to BE-
used as an instrument Of the Lake
Torpedo Boat Company in It's rivalry
and attack upon a competing COLE
pany; that Mr.. Lilley's real object In
introducing his resolution and making
his charges was the same as the pHr-
pose Of the propaganda of the Lake
Torpedo Boat Company, namely, the
defeat of the clause in the naval COM,
mittees bill relating to submarines;
that Mr.. Lilley acted in bad faith IN
concealing from the committee the
real parties in interest who we're be-
hind this investigation and furnish
ing him with information and evi-
dence. s.z,. Z. .-s
LilIey Severely Roasted
Regarding the battle-ship plans the
report says that the charge that the
four battle-ship proposition was de-
feated by the adoption of the submA-
rine clause in the naval committees
bill was false; that Mr.. Lilley, A6 .
member of the naval committee, knew
that the charge was false, and that he
refused to maintain the charge before
the committee. The report contiRues:
THAT Representative Loud was made
the object Of anonymous charges that
were without any foundation In fact;
that Mr.. Lilley violated his obligation
as member of this house in formulRt-
ing and urging before this committee
the groundless charges against Repre-
sentative Loud; that Mr.. Lilley acted
in contempt of this house in destroy
ing the forged letter from Webster to
Marlborough instead of delivering It.
to this committee; that Mr.. Lilley VIC
lated his obligations as a member OF
this house.
Lilley Charged with Contempt.
Contempt is charged in the clause
stating that Mr.. Lilley acted n con,
tempt Of this house in not disavowing
openly upon the floor of the house
the letter to Goff, published over his
signature, rejecting upon the honor
and integrity of members Of this
house; that no official of the navy has.
been induced by the officers Of tAe
Electric Boat Company or any one,
else to act in his official capacity from
corrupt or improper motives; that Mr..
Lilley's charge of excessive profits n
the submarine contracts was based On
fictitious figures, composed by An
agent Of the Lake Torpedo Boat Com
pany by perversion of the Testimony
OF Admiral Bowles in 1902. s
Old Cannon ExpIodes.