The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-13

Washington, March 12.-The Lilley
a,s'ibmarine boat inquiry was begun in
farnest today by a special house COM
mittee. Beginning at 10 o'clock, the
committee continued its work during
the greater part of the day. Repre-
sentative Lilley was heard at length.
He began his testimony by reading a
long typewriter statement, a part of
which was in the nature of an affidavit
IN which he outlined his charges in de-
tail. When he had completed this for
NAL presentation he was questioned at
length by Representative Olmstead of
the committee. who was designated by
Chairman Boutell TO perform that
service.
Hobson Approached.
During the afternoon session Repre-
sentative Richmond P. Hobson testified
that he had been approached by man
representing the Electric Boat COM
pany, who told him that if he would
support the claims of that company be-
Wore congress, the company could bring
influence to bear upon Speaker Cannon
10 have him (Hobson) appointed on the
committee on naval affairs.
AT the suggestion Of Chairman Bou-
tell The names of the attorneys repre-
senting interested parties were entered
upon the record. Mr.. Lilley introduced
Frank T. Brown of Norwich and State
SeruAtor Stiles Judson of Bridgeport,
COVn., as his counsel. Martin w. Lit
Teton of New York announced that
John u. Lindsay, also of New York,
and himself represented the Electric
Boat company.
No Plant; No Assets.
IN reply to one of Mr.. Olmstead' s
questions, Mr.. Lilley said the Electric
Boat company had no plant and no
assets. He declared that that company
did not build boats, its only business
being to secure contracts for boats and
then sub-let the contracts.
Mr.. Idlley gave the names of the
Connecticut manufacturers and the at
torney who had asked him, according
\ s., his statement, to vote for an appro-
VssSfion for submarine boats legisla-
S1on. The manufacturers, he said, were
FRANKLIN II. Taylor of Waterbury and
a. NJ. Ferris of the Bridgeport Brass
company; the attorney was John T.
Kellogg of Waterbury.
One-Sided Agreement.
Mr.. Lilley said it was his under
standing that there was an agreement
between the Electric Boat company
and Vickers' Sons and Maxim of Eng
land, who are building English sub
marine boats, whereby all the improve
ments made by the Electric Boat COM
pany are turned over to the English
company, but under which all of the
improvements made by Vickers' Sons
and Maxim are not given to the Elec-
trio company.
A discussion arose between Mr.. Ohm
stead and Mr. Lilley over that portion
af Mr.. Lilley's statement relating to
Newspaper correspondents and the part
hey have taken in creating what Mr..
Inley termed a sentiment for sub
marines, particularly on the Pacific
cOas
How Scheme Is Worked.
while" he said II have no direct
testimony to offer on that subject l
am told that they Ohe Electric Boat
company have men who attend meet
ings of boards of trade, chambers of
commerce, etc, and who get up in their
meetings and make addresses on the
undergraduates of the Pacific coast
and the fear that the Japanese viii be
over on the next boat, and thus get
resolutions passed instructing their
congressman TO vote for a large num-
Der of submarines as the best means
OF protecting them from invasion. 1
think ii reprehensible conduct on the
part of the company to hire lawyers
am newspaper men to go about and
creyte war Scares and work through
boards of trade and chambers of COM
Inerce to bring pressure to bear on
members of the house to vote the gov
ernment's money for their boats"
Mr. Lilley said he could only name