New-York tribune., 1908-02-22
THINK LILLEY HASTY.
No Submarine Investigation Unless
He Makes More Specific Charges.
IFrcrn the Tribune Bureau.

Tribune
Washington Feb H.-Representative Lilleys res
olution providing that an investigation be made
/ into the methods of the Electric Boat Company OF
Newark. has found its way into a pigeonhoie Of
the Committee on Rules. where. with many others.
1t will probably rest until author sees fit to
make more specific charges. II is the custom of
'he Rules Committee to meet when 1t considers
that there are urgent matters to be decided. and
so lar as could be learned to-day, member of
the committee considers the I-ley resolution
gent II was the prevailing opinion among mem
oers To-day that Representative Lilley a bit
nasty in asking for a investigation of one Of the
committees of the House. and few found who
would give any credence the charges
The members of the Naval Affairs Committee
would not discuss the subject further than to say
tlat, as matters stand. they take no notice of
the resolution. but all were anxious that Repre-
sentative Lfley should specify the charges and
take chief part in the investigation which would
follow.
MT Lliey said he had washed his hands OF the
affair for the present having called attention
OF the House to crying evil and that he left
me investigation entirely in the hands Rules
Committee.
An interesting debate is expected when the naval
appropriation bill comes before the House. as Rep
resentatiye Hobson is daily becoming more tndig-
nant at the treatment received by the four battle
snip proposition and threatens to make a hard
night to restore that number TO the bill. He is one
OF those who, with Representative F'oss have op-
posed the submarines, and he expects to have the
submarine appropriation materially cut down and
10 substitute battleships. Representative Foss,
chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee, believes
that there will be hard fight TO keep even two
oattleships on the programme. as Representative
Tawney. chairman of the Appropriations Commit
tee Is bent on keeping the expenditures for all
purposes down. and Representative Bartholdt of
Missouri, one of the delegates to the peace con-
ference purposes TO assist manfully in the fight.
Chairman Foss wa. unwilling to-day to make
formal statement with regard Representative
Liileys resolution and the charges back of it. MI
Foss's attitude that he preferred not to take
official notice of the affair. becouse 1t was now in
the hands Of the Committee Rules. But per-
sonally he thought that full investigation ought
10 be made. provided Mr. Lilley could show that
he had the hard ground of facts under his feet"
An examination of the charge that a conspiracy
existed among certain members of the Naval Com
mittee to turn down President Roosevelts naval
construction programme shows that a majority OF
the committee expressed themselves at the meeting
on February 10 strongly in favor of authorizing
the four batteships asked for by the President but
they adopted the view OF Chairman Foss that
report such recommendation would merely
the committee TO be reversed the floor of the
House, and they therefore voted to recommend
two battleships. the limit of authorization which
would be supported by the House, in the opinion
of the chairman. who had consulted the leaders
Only five members of the committee-Lilley Of
Connecticut; Thomas, of Ohio; Meyer. of Louisiana;
Talbot. OF Maryland and Hobsor, of Alaoama-
voted IN favor OF four battleShipS vote 10 du-
thorize eight submarines instead of the four asked
for by the department and the President, 10
Z, the ayes being Loudenslager, OF New Jersey;
Butler, Of Pennsylvania Roberts, OF Massachu-
setts; Loud of Michigan; Bates of Pennsylvania;
Thomas. of Ohio: Dawson of Iowa; Ellis, Of Ore
eon; Gregg, of Texas. and Talbot, of Maryland.
The Foss. of Illinois; Mudd. of Mary
land; Lilley. OF Connecticut; OCott, OF New York;
Padgett, OF Tennessee Lamar of Missouri, and
Hobson. of Alabama. The committee to-day de-
cIined give the Of the member on whose
motion the authorization doubled
Mr.. Loudenslager, author of the committee
amendment making 1t obliga tory on the Navy De-
partment TO purchase eight submarines of the
Octopus type unless superior submarine should
be obtainabe by October l, 1908, refused TO dis
cuss Lilley resolution reply publicly Mr..
Lilley's charge that this amendment in effect
a delivery of the prospective contract into the
hands of the Electric Boat Company. Mr.. LOuden-
slayer innated that the proper time he would
be prepared refute all charges of favoritism so
far as his action in committee concerned.
The resolution of investigation was to-day. as
Yesterday. chief topic Of discussion in the lobby
and cloak rooms and other congregating places OF
the Capitol. No Representative willing TO talk
for publication, but many specuated privately on
the likelihood of investigation being ordered and
on its results That representatives of the Electric
Boat Company have been lavish entertainers in
Washington appeared to be common knowledge, but
no one went so far inlpute to them the i'm
proper motives charged by Representative Lilley.