Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-18
It is Discussed by Members Of the
Investigating Committee.
HIS STATEMENT NOT YET READY
Experts to Have Access to the
Books for Notification.
LAST NIGHTS ETIN q

The committee empowered by the policy
holders of the Washington Beneficial En-
dowment Association to represent them in
coming to some definite understanding with
the officers of the corporation regarding the
recent transfer of its business to the Com
mercial Alliance Life Insurance Company of
New York, met late yesterday afternoon at
the Office of iir. William J. Miller. There
was a full attendance of the members, ami
before adjournment was reached they
listened to the reading of a letter from Mr..
Lawrence Gardner, which is printed below,
and, upon recommendation Of the subcom-
rIittee, consisting Of Messrs. n. O. Claugh-
ton, f. II. Mackey and W. j. Miller, selected
ex-Solicitor General Samuel F. Phillips to
be the legal adviser of the policy holders
during the investigation which it is pro-
posed small be held into the affairs of the
Endowment Association.
Mr.. Wetzri's Statement.
Chairman Simon Wolf presided with Mr.
T. Percy Myers as secretary, and read a
letter from an insurance paper rejecting
on the character of the Commercial Ali
ance Company. Mr.. W. H. Wetzel, a truss
tee of the Endowment Association, was
introduced by Mr.. Robert BAH, and stated
that he knew nothing of the transfer of
the organization to the New York COMPANY
L.
quested him to surrender the stock he held
In the association, he having previously
informed Mr.. Gardner that he was willing
10 sell 1t. Mr.. Wetzel said he had never
received notice from Mr.. Gardner of a
meeting authorizing the transfer of the
property of the Endowment Association
TO the Commercial Alliance and knew moth
ing OF it until he returned to Washington
after the transaction was closed
When Mr.. Wetzel had concluded an in
quiry WAS made II Mr. Gardner was pres
ent, and Chairman Wolf replied that he had
invited the president of the Endowment As
he had not given any definite reply. He
then laid the following letter before the
meeting:
Mr.. Gardner's Letter.
Hon. Simon Wolf. Washington, d. c.
Dear Sir; 1t seems proper that 1 should
write to you and your associate commit
teemen regarding the proposed meeting
with you and them, to which you invited
me yesterday afternoon, and thank you
for the expressions of personal good will
with which that invitation was accom-
panied.
l hope that on reflection you and those
who are acting with you will concur in the
wisdom of the conclusion / have reached.
that Ii is better that the statement | am
to make regarding the affairs of the Wash
ington Beneficial Endovmen Associat ton
and the relations of myself as its president
anu ltS otner oIlcerS, trustees and stock
holders, 10 its certificate holders should be
made complete and final in writing and
through the public press, rather than mere
~ verbally to your committee at its pro-
posed meeting in the office of Mr. Miller.
The invitation you brought YESTERDAY was
the hrst that reached me from your com
mittee, while there have been consuIta tions
accounts Of which have been published
with others connected with the association
without any request for my presence AS
Tor myself, proceedings have been taken
without hearing, and unstinted denunci
uon, against which l solemnly protest as
utterly unwarrantable, and even condemna-
ton, so far as a body SO constituted could
condemn have gone on upon entirely ex
parte statements and in advance of anv
adequate inquiry into the excited mjsan-
prehensions and Misrepresentation on
which they are based.
In this way the transactions of the or
ganization over which / had the honor To
preside and the transfer of its stock have
become matters of public interest involving
personal and business regulations, and /
plete exposition of all the transactions in
question should be made to all the public, in
a more dispassonate and exhaustive manner
than would be easily practicable in a per-
sonai coioquy under the circumstances at
tendant upon today's meeting.
Cherishtng above all other earthly pos
sessions the esteem of my fellow-citizens of
Washington, which l have long enjoyed
that 1t would be difficult for me to discuss
dfspassionately some recent statements
made at meetings held under the auspices
Of your committee, which feel to be most
cruel calumnies.
l write this without the slightest refiec-
ton uron the Justice Of yourself and many
of those with you. who. / am sure Join me
judgments to which I refer.
The statement which will shortly be pub
hshed VIII make answer on all topics COW