The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-03-13
LlLLEY TELLS
MhAT NE KNOWS
REPRESENTATIVE TEsTlFlEs in
SUBMARINE INVESTIGATION.
MAKES \ STRONG CASE

ETVv1S lU8G W01nQoF0 OF Ine 6leGGTIG
Boat Company Had Used improper
Influences -Hobson 5. substantlates
This Charge. .
Washington, March 12.-The Lilley
submarine boat inquiry was begun in
earnest today by a special house COM
mittee beginning at 10 o'clock, the
committee continued its work the
greater part Of the day.
Mr.. Lilley was heard at length. IN
reply to one of Mr.. Olmstead's ques-
lions MI. Lilley said the Electric
Boat company had no plant and no
assets. He declared that that com
pany did not build boats. its only bust
ness being to secure contracts for.
boats and then sub-letting the con
tracts. M
Mr.. Lilley gave the names Of the
Connecticut manufacturers and the
attorney who had asked him, accord
Ing to his statement, tosvote for an
appropriation for submarine boat leg
islation. The manufacturers, he said.
were Frank H. Taylor OF Waterbury,
Conn, and "A. M. Fryes Of the Bridge
port Brass company, and the attorney.
WAS John T. Kellogg Of Waterbury.
Poor Agreement. h s VA
Mr.. Lilley said It was his under
standing that there was an agreement
between the Electric Boat company
and Vickers' Sons & Maxim, who are
building English submarine boats,
whereby all the improvements made.
by the Electric Boat company are.
turned over to the English company,
but under which all Of the improve
ments made by vickers' Sons & Max
i'm are not given to the Electric com
pany.
Mr.. Lilley insisted that IL the com
pany would call the witnesses whose
name he gave II would ascertain that
there were - great many men en-
ployed and that q great deal Of money
had been spent a that way. THE air
is full Of IL" he said. #
In his examination Mr. Lilley men,
TONED the fact that he had consulted
with former Senator Thurston Of this
city, who u the attorney for the Lake
Submarine Boat company. but insist
ed that the. gentleman had not formu-
lated his opinions. s3s "a M
Congressman Hobson testified to.
Lawrence speer OF New York telling
him last November that the Electric
Boat company would be able to help
Hobson to get place ON the naval
committee II he .stood right on sub
marines" that It had inAuence with
Speaker Cannon. .#.5.,
Mr.. Hobson said: Il told Nj.
Speer that I did not want the. inau.
ence that tho company had and Z
made no promise to support any naval
proposition he might have to ofer."
Wsrs Classmates. ).
Mr.. Hobson said that he had aeon
Mr.. speer since thia conversation oe-
CURED and IA reply to . question pro
pounded b. Mr.. Ltttleton. said he and
Mr.. speer had been classmates at IN.
napolis, and that they had belonged
to the same corps In the navy. Their
relations had been cordial. $T
Mr.. Alley was recalled and ques.
toned by Mr.. Olmstead regarding the
statement he made to the committee.
that he was being shadowed by de-
tectives and was asked II they were
hAmpering him In his work before the
committee. 4 have hadsa very large
number Of men shadowing me since
the resolution was introduced said
Mr.. IAlley.
"One man has been standing near
my door daily in this once building
and two more usually Ct the 81.
frances. Frequently have run into
three. At the hotels have never BEEN
aess than three, 90 the hopse detec.
tive telle me. The detsctiyes IT. J.
TONED = the house of rem esentatives
says there have been s least six In
there. I did not protest against this
proceeding until they began to shadow
the members Of my family. and Major
Sylvester, the chief Of police hers.
told me he would have them arrested
u 20 desired.
At'ths opening o. ths sssslon NJ.
Idlley addressed the committee, say
ing that he desired to correct the i'm
preston that had been created By q
representative Of the committee on
rules to the effect that he had charged
that members Of congress had been
bribed. He denied that he had made
such charges, but said that up to the
present time his accusations have
been solely against the Electric Boat
company and its predecessor, the Hol-
Land company. and had covered the
mint fiat $haan Nrlowmawaaa haN .maAn