Evening star., 1909-04-22
GOVERNOR uLLEY IS DEAD
EXECUTIVE Sue
CUMBs TO LONG ILLNESS.
Prominent Figure in Torpedo Boat
Scandal While a Member Of the
Sixtieth Congress.

HARTFORD. Conn. April 2o.-Gov.
George Leavens Lilley died at the execu-
tive mansion at 7:26 o'clock last night,
after battling with disease for four weeks
The end came peacefully. as he did not
regain consciousness from the coma In
which he had lain for many hours. Death
was due to acute nephritis and its attend
ant complications.
Lilley and Submarine Scandal.
George Leavens Lilley figured prom
inently in the submarine scandal of
year ago. Mr.. Lilley, then representative
from Connecticut, was the author of 1t
and caused the investigation. The House
of Representatives threw out the charges s
he made, administering censure to the
Connecticut legislator.
Within twenty-four hours after his first
statement, in which he intimated corrup-
ton In connection with submarine boat
on every tongue.
Congress was quick to investigate the
charges which reflected not only on
members of the House committee on
naval affairs, but on the Electric Boat
Company of New Jersey and on WASH
ington newspaper correspondents. One
after another Mr.. Lilley's charges fell to
earth.
None OF lnem was pTottu. W do
no evidence that anybody had been guilty
of corruption. 1t developed that about
all he had to go on was rumor
Two rival concerns were bidding Tor
| contracts from the government for the
construction Of the submarine boats. The
| one was the Electric Boat Company, Of
which, the Holland Boat Company was
predecessor, and the other was the Lake
| Submarine Boat Company.
| The Lake company was concern with
/ y,lo n JilIav'S state The Electric
Boat Company was the fortunate bidder
Test Of Submarines.
The Electric company was building gov
/ ernment submarines. About the time the
| Lilley charges were launched contracts
! had been awarded it for seven additional
! submarine boats. This was after COM
| petitive test had been held.
| The tests were held under the direction
Of the naval board at Newport. The
decision was in favor of the Octopus type,
| built by the Electric Boat Company.
The contracts were very desirable, the
| naval appropriation bill of the year before
| carrying an appropriation of $4,000, 00C
! for the purchase of submarines. The re-
port of the board was approved by the
| board of construction and Secretary OF
| the Navy Metcalf awarded the contracts
| On the advice of the Attorney General
the Secretary of the Navy withheld part
/
company a conditional contract under
which the government would accept one
OF its boats for $425.OOO If. after the re.
| quired tests. 1t was, found to be up to
| the standard set.
| With the exception of Mr.. Lilley, the
| members of the committee on naval af-
| fairs were in accord in. fixing the stand
| ard on which the Secretary of the Navy
| should exercise discretion in purchasing
| boats of this class.
Lilley Starts Inquiry.
February 20. 1908. Mr. Lilley offered a
resolution in the House for the appoint
ment of a special committee of five to in
vestigate the conduct of the Electric Boa,
Company. He had made the statement
that the boat company maintained a spe-
cial lobby in Congress.
! Hearings were held. Mr.. Lilley was
called upon to substantiate his charges.