Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-12
Desires Witnesses Called.

Mr. Lilley called the attention OF the
committee to the fact that his charges
do not embrace the accusation or infer
ence that any member of Congress had
been actually bribed or knowingly had
participated in or been influenced by
wrongful efforts on the part of the
Electric Boat Company to secure leg
islation. His purpose, he said. was
to set on foot and assist the carry
ing out of an investigation which.
he believed, if properly conducted, would
show that wrongful methods had been
used by the Electric Boat Company to
secure legislation in Congress. Mr.. Llliey
said he was now prepared to furnish the
committee with the addresses of all Wit
nesses whom he desired to have called
He said that whether or not money had
been improperly used to secure legislation
in the interest of the Electric Boat Com
pany could be shown only by the examlna-
ton of the officers. attorneys and agents
of that company and careful scrutiny
of the company's books. vouchers, chech
stubs and other accounts.
Il now insist" said Mr.. Lilley, that
YOU summon as witnesses Isaac s. R1ce
president of the Electric. Boat Company
Blihu B. Frost vice president: Maurice
Barnett treasurer; August TreadWell, as
sistant treasurer. and that they be re-
uuired to lay before theN committee docu-
mentary evidence in their possession. Inc
calling of these witnesses Is necessary "
disclose methods used by the company 10
secure legislation and money dlsourseo
by it.
IT never knew" continued Mr.. Lilley.
..of an important and successful investlga-
ton begun by informing the partleS 10 oe
investigated of the precise character OF Tue
evidence that would or could De prouuceu
to show their corrupt practices, ana I'd.
ing informed this committee on my re.
sponsibility as a member of Congress OIL
the witnesses exhibits. etc, from WhoHi
and which can be obtained the necessary
Information to show that the charges now
being investigated are established, 1t IS
for this committee and not for me to de-
termine whether or not these witnesses
shall be brought before the committee and
examined A conspiracy to corrupt pupilc
morals or unjustly influence legislation
and official action, cannot De proved pS
the testimony of one witness These prac-
tices are not conducted in open day or IN
public view. Their methods are secret,
and the aim always is to so carry on such
an effort that no proof will be left from
which their real character can be dis
closed.
Not being an attorney and not In any
way experienced in developing and pre-
senting testimony, l am not qualified in
person to examine witnesses, and there
fore / requested that L be placed in a
position to develop the facts. This re-
quest has been by the committee refused
How the Facts May Be Learned.
The witnesses l have named to the
committee are nearly all officers, attor-
neys, agents and representatives of the
Electric Boat Company, or have been such.
and they are the persons-if any-Who
have been engaged in the improper efforts
to influence congressional action, II any
such improper efforts have been made.
Tln1v a q
nize as reluctant and adverse witnesses,
and the facts resting in their knoWledge
alone cannot be fully brought 10 light en-
cept by careful and thorough examination
of each witness by ah attorney quaIlhed
to conduct such an examination
The committee on rules in its resolu-
ton under which this committee is act
ing has said to the country that you are
to investigate the charges made by me.
However incorrect this statement may be.
il is nevertheless the official statement
of the resolution under which this COM
mittee is appointed. l had supposed that
it was the junction of this committee TO
sit here as judges and not TO act as prose-
ctltorS defenders, and. therefore, that
the orderly and effective procedure would
be to have witnesses examined in the hrst
instance by some other than member OF
this official tribunal.
."rhe suggestion of your committee that
the line bf procedure indicated by you is
I'm accordance with the well-established
procedure by both houses of Congress is
not in accordance with my conception of
the precedents.
so far as l am individually concerned
| am ready to obey any order by this
committee requiring me to be witness
before 1t, but in doing so l state upon
nv responsibility as member of the
House of Representatives that in order
to fully bring out the necessary evidence
and substantiate the charges the order
o" the examination of witnesses should be
otherwise arranged and such testimony
as I may be able to give should be pre-
sented in the natural order and sequence
of the investigation, such as would be
presented by counsel learned in the law.
Il ask your honorable committee
whether or not, after consideration of
what | have just stated, the committee
shall adhere to its determination TO pro-
hibit me from calling the witnesses and
presenting their testimony under the ex-
animation of my attorney?
Request Denied by Committee.
This request being denied by the COM
mittee through Chairman Boutell, Mr..
Liiley said:
Il now feel that l am relieved from any
responsibility of this investigation. and
as an individual l submit myself to the