The Washington herald., 1908-02-25
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Acknowledges One Newspa-
per Man Was Slandered.
ONLY A LITTLE BIT OF GOSSIP
Representative Who Made Serious
Charges Against Writers Meets
standing Committee Of Correspond
eEts-HOuse Not Likely TO Act In
less Specific Cases Are Cited.

New York. Feb. PA special dispatch
from the Washington correspondent Of
the Sun says:
There were no important developments
to-day in regard 70 the sweeping insinus-
tons Of Representative George L. Idlley,
Of Connecticut that members OF Con-
gress ard. newspaper men had been cor
rupted by the Electric Boat Company, Of
New Jersey, in connection with the action
Of the House Committee ON Naval Affairs
in voting for an appropriation TO con-
struct eight submarine torpedo boats.
Representative Lilley appeared before
the standing committee Of Washington
correspondents and made a statement
which the committee regards as conf
Dental A signed statement was given
by Representative Lilley 10 the Asso-
ciated Press in which he admitted that he
had said that newspaper men were IN
der the influence of the Electric Boat
Company and might be expected 10 dis
tort the facts
He said in this statement that he had
made this serious allegation on the au-
thority OF a bit Of gossip Further
more. he said in his signed statement that
the warning given me- in regard TO one
OF the newspaper men named Yves ut
terly without foundation and that I
regret exceedingly that his name was in
eluded.'
The Associated Press Vas exonerated in
this statement OF any connection with the
charges OF Representative Lille, In Rep
Tesentative Lilley's statement. he men
toned By name a newspaper correspond
ent against whom an allegation had been
made by Representative Lilley on the au-
thority Of a bit Of gossip and withdrew
that allegation as utterly without Toun-
dation' and as false.
A. II. shows Fairness.
The Associated Press, ln spirit of
fairness. did not send to it's clients this
statement for the reason that # involved
a newspaper correspondent, who had not
been mentioned by name in newspapers,
IN connection with Representative LlIley's
charges.
1T was this correspondent whom Repre-
sentative Lilley In his statement 20 the
Associated Press exonerate6 OF any COM
plicity in his allegations regarding the
EAcCLIlI DUAL 1Ulnpdly Az Win 4tAdlO
20 whom he withdrew as utterly without
foundation his statement that this cor
respondent was under the influence OF the
Electric Boat Company.
The Committee on Rules OF the House
10 which Representative Lilley's resolu-
ton OF inquiry, concerning the methods OF
the Electric Boat Company. was referred
has not taken any action upon that reso-
luton, II Is doubtful II the Committee
on Rules viii give consideration TO the
resolution unless Il IS revised by Repre-
sentative Lilley so that IL is made TO In
clude n specific charge.
"As proposed BY Mr.. Liliey, the resolu-
ton provides for the appointment of a
special committee Of five members Of the
House. 20 be appointed by the Speaker.
to investigate the conduct OF the Electric
Boat Company. OF New Jersey. and its
predecessor, the Holland Boat Company.
prospecting the methods employed by said
companies in connection with past and
proposed legislation before Congress.
should He Specific.
1T is understood that the individual
members OF the Committee On Rules take
the position that this resolution should
be phrased In some specific terms. With
out pretending that the entire House be-
lieves that the resolution OF Represent
alive Lilley is inadequate for the pur-
pose OF an inquiry. II is conrended as not
beyond the facts that a large majority Of
Representative Lilley's colleagues in tht
/ House are OF the opinion that IL his
resolution in it's present form Is TO bs
made the basis for an investigation, the
doors will be opened for food Of reso
buttons 10 investigate anybody and every
body, anything and everything. without
the necessary foundation of specific al
| legations upon which the investigating
committee can proceed