The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-13

been engaged i'm the reprehensible eff
forts to influence members of congress
and officials of the navy department In
favor of their boats and appropriation:
therefor
Newspapers Subsidized.
THAT it can be shown upon investi-
cation that certain representatives OF
leading newspapers have been subsi-
company for favorable newspaper ar
ticles and reports in behalf of said
companies.
IF these things are not actually with
out the pale of the law, they are
wrongful practices and tend TO throw
discredit upon the congress of the Unit
ed States.
4 Il cannot be expected to have per
sOnal knowledge of all these transac-
tions, which, if they exist, must neces-
sariiy remain largely in the secret pos
session of the officers and agents of the
Electric Boat company and of those
with whom they have conferred in the
prosecution of their attempts to in
ffuence congressional action"
Mr.. Lilley repeated to the commit
tee as cOnfirmatory of his suspicious
against the Electric Boat company the
incident related by him to the commit
tee on rules wherein an intimate friend
of his, large manufactures in his home
town, told him that he (the manufac-
turer) had promise of large order il
he (Lilley) would vote for the subma-
rines; and that a lawyer of his own
city came to Washington and stayed
with him and endeavored to influence
him in favor of the Electric Boat COM
pany.
Indirect Methods.
Mr. Lilley also told of other efforts
to Influence him through promises made
TO MS constituents, and of efforts to
influence other congressman in an in
direct way.
Il also submit" said Mr.. Lilley, "as
one of the facts influencing me to in
troduCe my resolution of investigation.
that in my judgment under special and
exclusive legislation the Electric Boat
company and its predecessor already
have received from the United States
an excessive profit Of more than $1,00O,-
600 for the construction of it's subma-
rines and that under the proposed leg
islatiOn now pending it will receive "a
profit of more than 81 900, 900 in excess
of what ought justly and fairly to be
paid for construction of submarines
provided for; and that this fact can be
substantiated by your committee by
calling as witnesses the expert Off
cials and constructors in the navy de-
partment."
Submarines inferior.
Mr.. Lilley said that investigation
would also show that the submarines
already constructed by the Electric
Boat company for the United States
government or now under contract. as
well as those provided for in pending
legislation. are inferior in type, speed,
power. armament and efficiency to those
now in the possession of and under con-
tract for construction for foreign gov
ernments.
Mr.. Lilley reafirmed the statement
that in his resolution of investigation
he had cast or intended to cast mo
reflection upon the official conduct of
any member of the naval committee
or of the house of representatives"
Il realize he said, that there is a
wide distinction between the fact of
actual corruption of a member of con-
gress and the effect upon his legisla-
tive action induced by such influences
as can be brought to bear by parties
desiring favorable legislation; my de-
sire has been and is only to bring to
the public attention of the congress and
the country the improper methods that
have been employed by the Electric
Boat company and which tend to dis
credit the integrity of the house of rep
resentatives and the community.
Having made this statement to your
committee, and bowling to your decision
that you are TO conduct this investiga-
ton without further assistance from
me or my attorneys, / am prepared to
answer so far as / can, any question
you may desire TO ask.