The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-01
SAW NOTHING IMPROPER
INUNDERHANDM METHOD
Chairman Boutell, in Announcing
the Close ofthe Public Sessions
Of the Committee Declared
Every Witness Offered
by Lil1ey Had Been
Examined.
s .;.;:; :; If; s:

Wv by the Electric Boat Com
pany, directed by the House
OF Representatives, under resolution
introduced February goth last by Rep
resentatfve George L. Lilley, OF Con-
nectlcut. Is ended, as far as open ses-
sions of the House committee which
has been conducting It are concerned.
The closing hours OF the case were
dramatic. Frederick Brown whitney.
an attorney at law. admitted that he
was the author OF the anonymous let
ters of February 18th and February
18th to the representative Of the De-
troit Free Press and State Senator
Frank E;dinhorough. OF Michigan. The
admission Of Mr.. Whitney was made in
the form OF an affidavit, which was
read by his counsel. former Senator
Thurston of Nebraska. Mr.. Thurston
stated that Mr.. Whitney is Ill in the
Garfield Hospital this city, and that 1t
would be impossible for him to appear
before the committee.
In the affidavit, afr. Whitney stated
that from 1901 to 1904 he was clerk
to the Committee on Naval Affairs of
the House of Representatives; that
shortly thereafter he became second
vice-president Of the Lake Torpedo
Boat Company which position he re-
tained until May 1e. 1906; that he is
now vice-president of the Lake Sub
marine Company. an independent
organization. The reasons for writing
the anonymous letters we're given by
Mr.. Whitncw as follows:
Believed Act Proper.
THAT of his own initiation he under
took what appeared to him at the
time to oe not improper methods to
have brought to the attention of Con-
-. $1,aI yot, I,n l., Ao-
lleved had been pursued by the Electric
Boat Company in their endeayor to Sc
cure through congressional action what
might be termed exclusive Legislation
which would shut out competition and
prevent the Lake Torpedo Boat Com
IpanY 1ruin competing in the UnifeG
States for submarine torpedo boat con-
struction."
Reference is made to anonymous COM
munications sent by Mr.. Whitney to a
New York newspaper. and the affidavit
continued:
Said deponent sent said commune
cations and said statements to said
newspapers, believing that Representa-
tive Loud had voted for an exclusive
appropriation for submarines of a cer-
tain type. but that he subsS quently
learned that Representative Loud voted
for submarines without condition, and
he dee ply regrets the wrong and IN
justice so done by him to Representa-
tive Loud. who was innocent Of all sus-
p!cions entertained by deponent con-
corning him."
Hnd No PERSONAL Knowledge.
Mr.. Whitney in his affidavit. says
that when he sent these anonymous
communications he had good reason
to believe that resolution would be
introduced IN the House for an inves-
tlgation Of the methods of the ELECTRIC
Boat Company and its predecessor, the
Holland Boat Company.
He further says that he sent news
paper clippings to some members of
the naval committee, and may have
sent to Representative Lilley before
FEBRUARY 90 1908, the date OF the in
troductIon of Mr.. Lilley's resolutions OF
inquiry, newspaper clippings including
the figures OF alleged excessive cost
OF submarines. namely $1476,2966o,
which he attempted to compile from
the testimony Of Admiral Bowles given
before the Naval Committee OF the
House IN 1902. In conclusion. the af-
I5fdavit states that Mr.. Whitney has no
personal knowledge from which he
could give any evidence to sustain any
OF the charges of Representativ Lii
| ley.