Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-02
WILL TELL WHOLE STORY Oh FLOOR
Electric Boat Company Agents Admit
That They Urged Lillcy to Vote for
Submarine Appropriation-company
Official Says Nothing Wrong has
Ever Been Done to Get Contracts.
(ny Associated pressl

WASHINGTON, ID. c., April ] -
Franklin A. Taylor, of Waterbury.
Conn, today testified bsforc the spec
ial committee Investigating the charg-
es against the Electric Boat Company
that he had heard representative
George l.. l.illey. the author of the
charges. make the statement in the
Waterbury Club last Saturday, that IL
was quite likely he would get an adj
vcnse decision from the committee,
ana in that event he would tell all
he knew about the whole matter OF
submarine boats on the floor of the
House
Besides MIR. Taylor the witnesses
today were Elim Frost, vice presi-
dent of tile Electric Boat Company,
Maurice Barrett, secretary. and Chas.
Ferry. CT the Bridgeport Brass Works.
They ali denied any knowledge of I'M
due influence being used on members
Of Congress to secure legislation fav-
orable TO the Electric Boat Company.
although Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. Ferry
admitted that they had asked Mr..
L'lley 10 vote for the appropriation
as they thought 1t would help their
business should these boats be auth
orized. The investigation will be con-
tinued tomorrow.
Franklin A. Taylor. of Waterbury.
Conn, vice president of the Randolph
CLOVIS Company. manufacturers of
brass ami copper was The first wit
ness called today. He said he had
told Representative Lilley TO vote for
submarine boats as there was pos
sibility of his company getting some
business If the boats were ordered.
What was Mr., Lilley's reply?"
He would not commit himself one
way or the other"
The last conversation the witness
had with Mr.. Lnley was a week ago
Saturday. in Waterbury.
Mr. Lilley, according to the witness.
said that he proposed to see that the
Lake people had a fair chance.
lilIey Talked in the Club.
lie was present III the Waterbury
Club week ago Saturday, he said.
while Mr.. Lilley was talking with n
number of gentlemen about the pres.
ent investigation. According to Mr..
Taylor. Mr.. Lilley said It was quite
likely that he would get an adverse
decision, and in that event he said
he would go on the floor of the House
and tell all that he knew about the
whole matter of submarine boats.
Mr. Taylor said that he never lost
AN opportunity 10 impress upon Mr.
Lilley that he ought to vote for sub
marines and that he had shaken his
fist at Mr.. Lilley several times, but
always in iocular manner. He did
not intimate 10 him that he had gone
to him ut the instigation of the Elec-
trio Beat Company.
The Electric Boat Company, he said.
had never promised him contract If
the desired legislation was secured.
Mr. Taylor said he had stated to an
fsSsdcadted Press representative in
Waterbury that he thought that he
had informed Mr. Eilley to vote for
submarine boats. He assumed this
he said. because when Mr.. Lilley came
to Waterbury he said: II voted yes
Franklin, with your face before me
when / voted"
This referred to the naval appro-
priation bill OF 1906 or 1907.
Thinks His Skirts Are Clean.
The witness said he did not con-
slider that he had done anything i'm
proper in hsking Mr.. Lilley TO vote
for submarines.
Mir Taylor said he had been re-
auested by John p Kellogg. one of
the attorneys for the Electric Boat
Company. in January, 1908. ito gel
busy with Mr.. Lilley ana again tell
him about the possibilities of sub
marines"
Elihu p. Frost. vice president of
the Electric Boat Company. followed
Mr.. Taylor He said ne had the gem