The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-14
inquiry LOOKS
LIKE A FlzzLE
Submarine Boat Scandal Has
Developed Into Personal
Fight.
BoUTELL VERSUS LILLEY
REAL FACTS LIKELY. TO GET
LOST IN THE SHUTTLE.

Washington March l3.-Chairman Bou-
tell of the submarine investigating com
mittee. in an interview today, made the
following statement:
The apparent MISUNDERSTANDING on the
part of the public as TO the attitude Of
the Investigating committee toward NJ.
Llliey-a misunderstanding which appears
10 nave spa ing from public statements
IN which Mr.. Lilley has been quoted as
dissatisfied with the prospective course
OF the committee toward himself as the
originator OF the resolution Of inquiry-is
unfortunate. Il should be understood that
the COMMITTEES is proceeding not only
within the narrow lines laid down by the
law. but also with a view and purpose 10
protect Mr.. Ldiley and to prevent this
investigation from deteri0rating.
Mr.. Lilley told the committee that he
thought the investigation should proceed
along different lines: that he should be
allowed 10 name the order of the wit
nesses and that he through his counsel,
should have the privilege Of examining
and cross-eXamining them directly.
Now the fact is that if we had ac-
ceded to this desire and placed witnesses
on the stand before a foundation had
been laid by the testimony OF Mr.. Liney
himself. we should have been proceeding
contrary 10 law, and a witness subpoe-
naed by the committee could not only
have disfegarded the summons and treat
e,i IL, with contempt but could have
bicught action for damages against tEe
arms of the house OF representatives, IL
case the summons were obeyed.
Promises to Probe.
Il wish to state very clearly as chair
man of the investigating committee that
we propose TO probe this painful affair
10 the very bottom; and IN doing so We
propose TO proceed within the law and
with due regard for the protection of Mr.
Lilley as member of the house of rep
resentatiVeS- In pursuance of this course
the committee today decided unanimously
TO call on Mr.. Liiley for list of the
witnesses he desired TO have summoned.
and for a fun statement in connection
with each witness of the papers he de-
sires to have that witness bring
AS soon as this list is received by mo I
shall issue subpoenas for all of these
witnesses and they will be summoned At
once by the sergeant at arms.
The committee will resume its sittings
next Monday, ready TO swear and to hear
such witnesses as Mr.. Ldlley shall have
designated"
Statement by LilIey.
Replying to the statement made by
Chairman Boutel. Mr.. Lilley said to
sif the investigation does develop into
farce the responsibility viii rest with
others. as / personally begged to take
the responsibility of the investiga and
10 furnish the ablest counsel prOcurable.
The committee has denied me this privl-
lege and from this time on the committee
must assume the responsibility of secur-
ing the evidence from the witnesses
whom / have designated and will desfg-
nate"
Chairman Boutell will tomorrow issue
ordinary subpOenas for former United
States Senator Marion c. Butler of North
Carolina and S. S. McNeir of this city
bOth mentioned by Mr.. Lilley as attOr-
neys for the Electric Boat company: C.
b. Breezy, II. W. Creecy and B. F. Sands.
all of this city. and Frank B. Lord and
Angus Emily, newspaper men.
The names of all these men were men
toned by Mr.. Lilley in his sworn state
ment TO the investigating committee on
Thursday morning.
An important development of the situa-
ton tonight is that Secretary of the Navy
Metcaf. the members of last years navy
board which sat in trial on submarine
tests off Newport and other high officials
Of the navy department, VIII be called on
by the committee TO testify and to pro-
duce government records of plans, speci-
fications and contracts
BoutelI Comes Back.
In a supplemental statement to the As
ISOLATED Press tonight Chairman Bouten
said.
4 do not wish to place myself in the
light or critcising Mr.. Lilley but 1 will
say that If Mr.. Lilley now proposes to
step aside and no longer cooperate with
the committee the Investigation of the
charges he has made Will go on never
theless. These charges involve the honor
and the dignity of the whole house Of rep
resentatives and they will be sifted fO me
bottom with his aid or without
Mr.. Lilley in his sworn statement to
the committee retracted practically
everything he had said before the com
mittee on rules. He told the latter com
mittee that he expected TO prove that
large sums of money were contributed TO
the campaign funds of certain representa-
tives; but under oath before the investi-
eating committee he declared with en-
phaslS that he never had charged the
corruption of any member of the house
nor did he propose to make such a charge
Many Under Suspicion.
''lnasmuch as Mr.. Iiley in his sworn
charges averred that the government had
already paid to the Electric Boat com
pany Sl.000.o00 more than that concern
was entitled to. and that the proposed ex-