The Washington times., 1894-08-21
GARDNER WANTS 1T ENDED
He Objects to Being Indicted on News
paper Articles.
PRESIDENT DUNHAM'S LETTER
He Has Sent One to the Certificate Holders Of
the Beneficial Endowment Association
Claims Assets Of s142 to Pay Each 500 Of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at Work.

'.Am I to be indicted on newspaper ar
ticles?" said Mr.. Lawrence Gardner yester-
day at the Shoreham. 1t was said without
irritation, but in tone indicating that the
speaker desired speedy end to the present
disturbed relations between him and the
Washington Beneficial Endowment Associa-
ton. The precise relation in which Mr..
Gardner propounded his interrogatory to the
reporter for The TIMES will be explained
elsewhere.
Notwithstanding the apparent but deceit
full calm in the agitation of this Washington
Beneficial Endowment Association matter, a
very important part Of the proceedings took
place yesterday. 1t had been determined
that the committee OF expert accountants
should call yesterday at the Office of the as
sociation and ask to be allowed ''to see the
books" Chairman White, however, who has
been absent for day or two, found yesterday
that he had not been furnished with "a copy
OF the resolution OF the committee OF nine,
instructing the experts to make the demand
for an inspection of the books. That defect
was cured yesterday by Mr.. Meyers, the sec
retary of the committee, who furnished Mr..
White with the required credentials. The
demand, or request, whatever the shape it
will take, will be made this morning, and it
will undoubtedly be an interesting incident.
A good deal will turn on the answer made
by Mr.. Gardner to the request or demand.
The compliance or refusal OF Mr.. Gardner or
his agent will be Of interest especially to the
attorney, Hon. S. F. Phillips, in the Sun
Building, who now has exclusive charge of
the law department of this interesting case.
QUESTIONING MR.. PHILLIPS.
Mr.. Phillips was called upon yesterday and
was asked great many questions on the
points at issue, very few of which he answered.
He is not yet giving away his case to the pub
lie. He said, in answer to question as to
the progress made SO far. that things had to
be eaten before they were digested. He had
received all the papers in the case only on
Saturday last. and while he was using all ex-
pedition Ii was too soon to expect conclusions.
He was quite aware that it was a case that
demanded speedy action, and, believing that.
he would be prepared to talk at very early
day, probably not later than the middle of the
present week. There is TO be no secrecy about
the investigation. and he thought that it was
due to the numbers of people involved, and,
considering the interests at stake. that the case
should be determined one way or the other as
soon as possible. Certainly he proposed to
work with that end in view.
The two other parties to this triangular
tangle are Of course Mr.. Gardner and Presi-
dent Dunham. of the Commercial Alliance.
Mr.. Durham was expected yesterday, but
will not arrive until to-day. There are some
rumors to the effect that Mr.. Dunham is COM
ing in spirit of calling the critics of his
company to task. Nothing as to that is yet
apparent on the surface. Some of the New
York Journals and speakers at the indignation
meeting alluded to the alliance as wildcat
- &c ilyal,v ,G1tx,
is coming on any other mission than the i'm
portant one of establishing the character Of
his company.
In ivance of his coming the president has
written letter to the certihcate-holders of
the local association. A few extracts from
this letter may be given and will to some eX-
tent anticipate the statement of the president.
Our his signiture he makes the following
statements:
PRESIDENT DUNHAM's STATEMENT.
1.-THE income OF the company shows net
gain OF more than S2S,0O0 over the preced-
ing year Qs92l and net gain over disburse-
ments in 1898 of more than s15,OOo.'
'The company has assets of SAP to pay
each 500 of liabilities.
1T has 100000 on deposit with the insur-
ance department of the State of New York as
security to the policy-holders in the payment
of its obligations"
"Keenly appreciating the numerous express
sions of loyalty and good cheer we have
received from the certificate-holders of the
Washington Beneficial Endowment Associa-
ton, who have already accepted our poll
cies, and beg to be and remain. DC"
Mr.. Gardner was asked yesterday il the OBJ
iect of Mr.. Dunham in coming was to prove the
solidity OF his company, as stated yesterday
in The TIMES. He said: 'Yes. and he will
accomplish that object"
At the office of the association on Tenth
street there appears to be dual government
Manager Phillips is there on behalf of the New
York Commercial Alliance; Treasurer Parks
appears to be holding down the treasurer's seat
for the Endowment Association. Money is
still paid to Mr.. Parks as treasurer of the En-
dowment Association, but Manager Phillips
said that he expected that the Endowment
people, as an organization, would have no ex-
istence by the 1st Of September. Mr.. Phillips
said that he did not care to talk at length on
the questions at issue, because he knew Presi-
dent Dunham would discuss them fully and
satisfactorily.
INTEREST CESTERs IN MR.. GARDNER.
As great deal of interest just now centers
in Mr.. Gardner, he was naturally asked for
his side of the case in view Of the reported
call upon him for the books. To this question
he would make no reply. He produced the
impression that he would not cross bridge
until he came to it, but would neither affirm
nor deny that the bookkeepers' committee
would have voluntary access to the books.
Mr.. Gardner merely said if they have right
to the books at all, they will have a right to
inspect them. His attention WAS called to the
fact that much stress was laid on the belief that
the meeting at which he was given authority
to sell the property, ETC., was secret one and
without warrant under the laws of the En-
dowment Association. At this he smiled and
said that that matter would be cleared up in
his promised statement.
He expresses the hope that the agitation
would soon be at an end, for it "does not af-
feet the large numbers of people said to be-
long to the Endowment Association. The
statement has been made that there are three
or four thousand certificate-holders In the
company. Mr.. Gardner says that there are
only about 200.
Il would like an answer to the question:"
said Mr.. Gardner, "what personal interest