The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-13
CONGRESSMAN ROBSON
 TESTIFIES THAT HE
 HAS BEEN APPROACHED
MT. LIlIey Declares That He Makes No Charges Against Any of His Colleagues, But That the
 Electric Boat Company
 Is the Offender.

Washington, March 12.-The Lilley sub marine boat inquiry was begun in earn est today by a special House committee. Beginning at 10 o'clog the committee continued it's work ng the greater part of the day. iesentative Llley was heard at length. He began his tes- timony by reading a long typewriter statement, part of which was in the nature of an affidavit. in which he out lined his charges in detail When he had completed this formal presentation he was questioned at length by Representa- i tive Olmstead of the committee, who was designated by Chairman Boutel to per form the service.
 MT. 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 Elec- tric Boat company to secure legislation. His purpose he said, was to set on foot and assist the carrying out of an investi- gation which he believed if properly con ducted, would show that wrongful meth- ods had been used by the Electric Boat company to secure legislation in Con- rress Mir Lilley said he was now pre- pared to furnish the committee with the eddresses of all witnesses whom he de- sired to have called. He said that whether or not money had been hupror- erlv used Oto secure legislation In the Interest of the Electric Boat comr could be shown only by the examination
 of the officers, attorneys and agents of that company. and careful scrutiny of 1 the companys books. vouchers check stubs and other accounts.
 Witnesses Named.
 "J now insist said MT. Lilley, that you summon as witnesses Isaac c. Rice, pres ,dent of the Electric Boat company; Elihu R Frost. vice president; Maurice Bar | nett treasurer; August Treadwell, assist ant treasurer, and that they be required Ito lay before the committee documen- |tarv evidence in their possession The calling of these witnesses is necessary K to disclose methods used by the company to secure legislation and money disbursed by it.
 Not being an attorney, and not in any
 way experienced in developing and pre- |jsentinr testimony, I am not qualified in harson to examine witnesses and, there Rfore I request that be placed in posi- [tion to develop the facts. This request Rhas been by the committee refused. N "rhe witnesses I have named to the Ecommittee are what the courts always |lrecognize as reluctant, and adverse wit Illnesses, and the facts resting In their alone cannot be fully brought Eto light except by careful and thorough Hexamination of each witness by an attor- bev qualified to conduct such an exam |ination
 q ask your honorable committee wheth- yler or not, after consideration of what l Ihave just stated, the committee still ad- There's to it's determination to prohibit me .from calling the witnesses and present. Hing their testimony under the examina- .Ition of my attorneys?'
 |f This request being denied by the com hnittee through Chairman Boutelle, MT. ELilley s-iai--s
 .J It I am relieved from &anv respoa.s.u..-- this investigation, Band as an individual l submit myself to Mhe direction and orders of this commit Nee. I still protest that it would be detri- &nental to thorough and complete in-
 Iestigation to have my testimony taken Eat this time, as by so doing you would Fldvise the parties charged with improper kactions in influencing congressional action Nn such a manner as would enable them No prepare for a possible defeat of the
 purposes of the investigation.
 LlIey's Statement.
 MT. Lilley's statement under oath was
 is follows:
 q propose to show that for several
 gears prior to the Lesser investigation &he Holland Boat company and it's suc- [tcssor, the Electric Boat company, main &ained in Washington an organized lobby Htor the purpose of influencing legisla- Ntive appropriations in favor of the sub |&narine boats built by the company, and %hat it had under annual retainer c. E. &t.reecy, Gen. Eppa Hunton, former Uni
 ed States Senator Marion Butler, S. ..
 McNeir, Dr. w. R. Kerr and others. " That for several years Elihu B. Frost, WEice president of the said company, has &been a continuous visitor at Washington Hsiuring congressional sessions and has {lkpent large sums of money in furnishing Entertainment to members of Congress, lx,is expenditures along this line amount Eng to thousands of dollars
 That the Senate amendment to the ap- &bropriation bill of March ?, 1907, was pre- &bared and drafted by the attorney for the &rlectric Boat company for the purpose Mi. and with the intention to eliminate MI ~--~----------------
 CONTINUED ON PAGn s.)