The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-03-13

of Money to Campaign funds OF
Members of House In Order to In
sure Their Favor to obtain a Mo-
nopoly From the Govsrnment-Cap-
tain HOb.on CorrOborates His Tss-
timony, Saying That lie Was APP
| preached by Lobbyists.
WASHINGTON, March 13.-The spe-
,cial committee appointed by Speaker
! Cannon to investigate the allegations
/ that the Electric Boat company and its
I predecessor. the Holland Boat COM
pany, made undue efforts to influence
legislation listened TO the charges made
by Representative I.illey, on whose de-
mand the committee was appointed
Mr.. Llley called the attention of the
committee to the fact that his charges
1 do not embrace the accusation or In
! ference that any member of congress
had been actually bribed or knowingly
participated In or been Influenced by
wrongful efforts on the part OF the
Electric Boat company TO secure legis-
lilo pulpvSts hS ooibi was w
set on foot and assist the carrying out
of an investigation which, he believed,
II properly conducted would show that
wrongful methods had been used by
the Electric Boat company to secure
legislation in congress.
Mr.. Lilley said he was now prepared
to furnish the committee with the adj
dresses of all witnesses whom he de-
sired to have called. He said that
whether or not money had been Inn
properly used to secure legislation In
the interest of the Electric Boat COM
pany could be shown only by the ex-
animation of the officers, attorneys
and agents of that company and a
careful scrutiny of the company's
books, vouchers, check stubs and other
accounts.
81 now insist" said Mr.. Lilley,' that
you summon as witnesses Isaac y.
Rice. president of the Electric Boat
company; Elihu Il. Frost. vice presl-
dent; Maurice Barnett, treasurer, and
August Treadwell, assistant treasurer.
and they be required to lay before the
committee documentary evidence In
their possession. The calling Of these
1 witnesses is necessary to disclose
methods used by the company to Sc
cure legislation and money disbursed
by IT,"
Mr.. Lllley objected strenuously to
making his charges public before GER
tain other witnesses he named were
4 called, but when the committee Insist
ed that he proceed Mr.. Lilley made the
following statement under OATH
II propose to show that for several
years prior to the Lessler investigation
the Holland Boat company and its sue
cessor, the Electric Boat company,
4 maintained in Washington an organic
ed lobby for the purpose Of influencing
a legislative appropriations in favor OF
the submarine boats built by that com
Il pany and that 1t had under annual re-
d tainer G. K. Creecy, General Eppa
Hinton. former United States Senator
Marion Butler, 8. c. McNeir, DR.. w. r.
Kerr and others.
81 "That for teveral years Elihu b
= Frost, vice president of the said com
q pany. has been a continuous visitor al
Washington during congressional SEES
sions and has spent large sums of mon
K ey in furnishing entertainment to mem
bers of congress, his expenditures
n along this line amounting to thousandi
81 of dollars.
u "That the senate amendment to thu
a appropriation bill of March ., 1907
n was prepared and drafted by the at
torney for the Electric Boat company
for the purpose of and with the inten
4 ton TO eliminate competition in subma
rine construction and to prevent thu
secretary of the navy from exercisln,
N any discretion in awarding contract
for submarines.
a THAT thorough investigation by al
impartial committee will show tina
large sums Of money have been b,
the Electric Boat company, its officer
or agents contributed TO campaig
funds of members of congress who ia
vor and have favored the Electric Boa
company monopoly of submarine cor
struction; also that large sums of NOR
ey have been spent in accomplishin
IA the defeat Of members Of the navs
committee who did not favor the Ele,
trio Boat company.
"That an examination of the book
and records Of the Electric Boat con
pany and Of its predecessor, the Ho
land Boat company, will show tbs
large sums of money have been pal
from their treasures for the aboy
purposes.
n THAT continued and repeated effor
n have been made by representatives 4,
a the Electric Boat company and
predecessor to influence the action
+ the officials of the navy departlnel
n and that such efforts in the past we
so persistent and notorious as to ca
= forth the condemnation and CRITICS
3 of high officials of the navy depal
h ment. whose testimony can be secure
y by the investigation committee.
- That from 1893 up TO the pYese