The Washington times., 1908-05-20
lContlnued Ion - -

ing charges OF corruption Of Congress
by brides and campaign contributions
from the Electric Boat Company, the
report says;
THE aVowed motive for this investi-
cation, assigned az the outset was the
publication of this House and the ex-
posture OF the alleged corrupt practices
of a corporation enjoying and still seek
ing Government contracts.
This motive was expressed before the
Committee on Rules IN these words Of
Mr.. I4lley: This Electric Boat Com
pany has been a stencil ia the nostrils
OF the country for wears ana in NV
opinion. IL has done more 70 corrupt
legislation than all the other corpora
tons on earth. ] think the membership
Of this House is of the very highest
quality, and that they are the best men
usually from the districts from which
they come; but with "a flock OF 3S3 here
some sheep IN II that had the foot-rot
or scabies-' The evidence has demon
strated that the avowed motive was
neither well grounded nor sincere, and
that certain secondary and Interior pur-
poses instigated and encouraged the in
PRODUCTION Of the resolution.
Toward the cl9se of the hearings be-
fore this committee MI Lilley testified
that If the naval appropriation bill OF
this session as agreed on in committee
h9d contained cor a provision that met
submarines. he would not have intro
duced his resolution. The evidence fur
Their shows that before introducing his
resolution, but after the naval bill had
reported, he told James S, Sherman, a
Representative from the State OF New
YORK, mat II the naval bil could De
so amended that the clause relating 70
the purchase OF submarines should pro-
vide for his conception OF open competi-
ton, he would not offer the resolution.
This contrast between the motive an
nOunced by Mr.. Lilley in his first ap-
pearance before the Committee on Rules
ana the purpose disclosed by mis- course
during the Investigation and BY his final
evidence before this committee, must
be borne constantly IN mind by one
VINO tries TO understand Mr.. Lflley's at
utude toward the House and interpret
correctly the voluminous evidence taken
by this committee
Expected to Be Chairman.
In another place, the report says:
Mr.. Lillsys singular attitude toward
the investigation which his charges
had instituted. his somewhat incoherent
and irrelevant statements TO the com
mittee and his unwillingness 70 give
70 the committee those facts on which
bis charges were based and which they
thought he ought 10 be quick 10 i'm
part, puzzled the committee more at
the time than they would have done
had the committee known what the EVIL
oence subsequently, disclosed, that MT
lAliey expected, when he introduced his
resolution, TO be made chairman OF the
investigating committee, with power 70
employ counsel, and conduct the pro
ceedings and thus be relieved Of the
necessity OF either disaVOWiug or MAX
Ing good his charges against is col
leagues The appointment OF this COM
mittee. however. relieved Mr. Liiey Of
all responsibility for the conduct OF the
investigation. ana imply left 10 him the
duty of communicating TO the commit
tee the information.
NO one Of the three statements made
by Mr. Liuey, one before the Commit
tee on Rules and two before this COM
mittee. was made under oath Atten-
ton has been called to the peculiar
wording Of his resolution, which con-
talns no charges against members and
no charges OF corruption against any
one His charges were made IN his
statement and responses before the
Committee on Rules and in the Wash
ington Post article, which was made
part OF his case. This method Of max
ing his charges IS very significant, in
view Of his disclaimer of those charges
when called upon 10 testify before this
committee. II Is a grave and solemn
responsibility which a member Of the
House Of Representatives assumes in