The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-07
WILL LEARN WHETHER
UNDUE INFLUENCE USED
Report of Committee Does Not
Reveal knowledge OF Any Such
Evidence-Bill Increasing
Army Pay Passes-Mr.
Jones Fights Church
Claim in Vain.

wv investigation of the charges
Wv made BY Mr.. Lilley, of Con.
necticut, that members OF
the Naval Affairs Committee had beer
unduly Influenced in recommending
certain submarine torpedo boats was
reported to the House of Representa-
tives to-day by Mr.. Dalzell, of Penn.
sylvania. from the Committee on Rules
and adopted by the House. The sub.
ject had been under consideration b,
the committee for two weeks.
VIII Investigate.
The resolution follows:
Whereas Mr.. George l.. Lilley.
representative from the State OF
Connecticut, on his response
bility as member OF this House.
before the Committee on Rules, has.
among other things. stated in sub
stance that the Electric Boat Com
pany OF New Jersey and their pre-
decessors. the Holland Boat Com
pany. have been engaged in efforts
TO exert Il corrupting influence on
certain members of Congress in
their legislative capacities. and
have, in fact. exerted such corrupt.
ing influence;
Therefore. be 1t resolved, that a
committee of five members be ap-
pointed to investigate the charges
made by said George l.. Lilleyy of
corrupt practices on the part OF
the said company and of members
of Congress with respect to leEis-
lation. and that said committee
shall have authority to send for
persons and papers and TO take
testimony In Washington or else
where, either before the full COM
mittee or any subcommittee there
of Said committee shall report
as speedily as possible. with such
recommendation, if any, as TO the
committee shall seem meet"
Accompanying the resolution was q
report declaring it to be due to the
House and its membcrs that an in
vestigation should be made.
Speaker Cannon announced the fol-
lowing as the committee to conduct
the Investigations: Messrs. Boutell
Illinois; Stevens. Minnesota; olmsted
Pennsylvania; Howard. Georgia. and
Broussard, Louisiana.
Without dissenting voice the reso-
luton was adopted Mr.. Lilley was
present, but made no remarks.
Committees Report.
The committee report by Mr.. Dalzell
accompanying the resolution, says. re-
y
troduced by Mr.. Lilley:
There was nothing on the face OF
tie resolution that charged corrupt or
even improper methods on the part II
the Electric Boat Company In connec-
tion with legislation or proposed leEls-
lation," but that on the next and sue
ceeding days newspaper articles lp-
peared, in which Mr.. Lilley was quoteS
as charging corrupt practices. and
thereafter numerous alleged inter
views with Mr.. Lilley appeared in cer-
tain newspapers Of the country, coup
ling the names of members of .he
House with the Electric Boat Company
and legislation in its interest. Follow
ing upon these publications Mr.. Lilley,
at his own instance. appeared before
tie committee on Rules and admitted
the authenticity OF an Interview In
the Washington cost, but repudiated
all others. and made a statement, which
is submitted herewith as a part of this
report.
..In that statement charges are made
Of corrupt practices on the part of the
Electric Boat Company. influencing
members of Congress and legislation,
and of such character. taken as a
whole, as to lead your committee to
that it is due to the main
tenance of the dignity and integrity
of the House and its members that an
into the charges made by
Mr.. Lilley should be had
Get to Work at Once.
Shortly before the adjournment OF
the House. Chairman Boutell got his
committee together and partly organ
ized it. He said afterward that the
would oe completed at n
to be held tomorrow. when
the question of whether to make the
sessions public or private
would be decided.
A report that Representative Lilley
was greatly incensed by the action of
Speaker Cannon In not making him a
OF the committee. and that he
had expected to be named as its chair
man, gained circulation, and became a
topic Of discussion after the committee
assignment had been announced. Mr..
Lilley himself refused to discuss the
situation.