The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-04-07

Officials DfQ NOG Sce xAHS dhAA5 A@~S
rcnensibie in Means Used bJ Com
Y,any-AIore Anonymous Letters
rrouuced-LoGu 1oFccd 10 vote
for Appropriation 0y tilreats OF
bringing Gut Candidate Against
Him.
washington, April 3.-The most in
teresting development of the day De-
fore the special house submarine boat
investigating committee was the pro-
duction of another anonymous let
ter charging that an attorney or the
Electric Boat Company had Deen
brought out as a candidate for con-
gress against Congressman Loud OF
Michigan, but had been withdrawn
upon Mr.. Loud's's promise TO vote Ior
submarines. The letter was mailed
from this city to the Detroit free
Press and was produced by jesse
Carmichael, it's Washington cores
pondent
BENJAMIN Micou, attorney Tor the
Berger Subsurface Torpedo Boat Com
pany, and F. r. Pemberton, or New
York. who assisted in bringing the
claims of that company before the
navy department and congress test1-
fed as to the methods used, Wnlcn
they did not consider to he reprehen-
sible.
Representative George Lilley, or
Connecticut, author of the resolution
under which the special committee
of the house is investigating charges
against the Electric Boat Company,
today placed in evidence an affidavit,
dated March IL, and signed by Sam
Ferguson, residing at Bridgeport,
Conn, who sWore that during the
fall and winter OF 1902 he served in
the United States navy in the capa-
city of it's chief electrician; that dur
ing that time ''he served upon the
submarine torpedo boats Fulton,
Shark, Adder, Moccasin, Porpoise and
Plunger, all of which torpedo boats
were at that time owned by either
the Holland Torpedo Boat Company
or it's successor, the Electric Boat
Company, and none Of which at the
time were owned by the United
States government, and that during
said period many of the crew of the
said submarine torpedo boats were
sailors in the service of the United
States navy and received from the
United States government their pay
addition thereto received wages from
the Holland Torpedo Boat Company
and that they performed full service
in their individual capacities SO that
it was not necessary for the Holland
Torpedo Boat Company or the Elec-
trio Boat Company to independently
employ men to do and perform the
services performed by said sailors
in 0vTh
sanitation of Mr.. Llleys charges
that the Electric Boat Company has
paid money to enlisted men.
Mr. Lilley also presented an aff1-
davit from John G. Lake, vice-presi-
dent of the Lake Torpedo Company,
dated Bridgeport, Conn, March 16,
to the effect that about two years
ago he had an interview with Char
les Ferry, representatives OF the
Bridgeport Brass Company, in which
Ferry told him that President Bow
les of the Fore River Shipbulding
and Engine Company, had asked him
(Ferry) to use all influence possible
upon a Connecticut congressman to
induce him not to use his influence
in favor of the Lake Company and
to use it in favor of the Electric BoaS
Company; if he was successful in this
the Fore River Company would make
contracts with the Bridgeport Brass
Company fer goods to the value Of
about 100000.
MIR. Ferry, in his testimony We'd
nesday, denied that President Bowles
had made any such proposition Or
that he had ever promised him an
order for seeing any one.
Benjamin MicOu, counsel for the
Berger Subsurface Torpedo Boat Com
pany, admitted making arguments be-
fore the secretary of the navy and
the house naval committee, but con-
tended that there was no improprie-
ty in such course.
f. r. Pemberton, of New York,
a retired broker, testified that he had
been asked by directors of the Ber-
ger Company tn assist in trying to
secure a portion of the $4,000 900 ap-
preparation for the Berger boat COM
pany. He told of his interviews with
Secretary Metcalf regarding the mat
ter and said it was at the Secre-
tary's suggestion that the company
laid the matter before Congress. He
talked with Representative Littlefield
and said that gentleman offered to
introduce bill. He also had talked
with Representative Hobson and
had found him favorable to sub
marines.
AT the afternoon session of the Com
mittee Jesse Carmichael, Washington
correspondent of the Detroit Free
Press, testified that he had received
an anonymous letter informing him
that the submarine people had
brought out a candidate for congress
against Mr.. Loud of Michigan, but
that had withdrawn upon a promise
by Mr.. Loud to vote for submarines.
The committee adjourned until Mon
day.
SENTENCED TO PENITENTIaRY.