The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-09

Witness Declines to Say What F. H.
 Hartman Threatened When Share
 fin the Control of the Society Was Re-
 fused Him-EfOrts to Get Ryan to
 Admits that the Great Railroad Mag nate Said nm Investigation by the
 State Legislature Would Result if He
 Were Not Taken In.
 New York, Dec. S.-The legislative committee which is investigating life insurance conditions to-day determined to send to District Attorney William T. Jerome a request that he institute pro ceedings against Thomas F. Ryan, financier and owner of the majority of the stock of the Equitable Life Assur- ance society, to punish MT. Ryan for refusing to answer questions before the committee. MT. Ryan had refused to answer when asked what E. H. Harrl- man, president of the Union, Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroad companies, had said to him when MT. Hartman tried to induce him to share his control of the Equitable society with MT. liar riman.
 Mir. Ryan was asked whether MT. Hartman had threatened that results disastrous to MT. Ryan's interests would ensue, or if MT. Hartman had told him that some action would be taken by the state legislature or any officer of the government, unless MT. Ryan consented to share his stock with him, Acting on the advice of his at- }torney, Paul D. Cravath, MT. Ryan de- cIined to answer those que 3ns,s al- though Senator William w. Armstrong, chairman of the committee, directed him to do so. Mir. Ryan, however, did t.aswer one question by saying that MT. Hartman did not tell him at that time that there would be a legislative inyes- gation of the life insurance business unless he gave up part of the Hyde stock.
 MT. Ryan had already testified that he secured control of the Equitable so- ciety by paying James H. Hyde $2.5OO,- GOO for 502 shares of the total 1,VOO shares of the society,
 "After you had bought that stock was there any proposition to share 1t witb yoll?'' asked Charles E. Hughes, coun" sel for the committee.
 "Am I obliged to answer that ques- tion?" asked MT. Ryan.
 II think you ought to, MT. Ryan" said Mr. Hughes.
 "Mr, B. H. Hartman desired to share the purchase with me, and I refused to permit that" replied MT. Ryan.
 MT. Ryan said that he thought Mir. Hartman made his request on the day that MT. Ryan bought the stock and before the purchase was publicly an- nounced.
 "What did Mr. Hartman say to you to influence you to make the sale?"
 q do not think, MT. Hughes, I ought to be called upon to answer question like that-to characterize or state a con- versation I had privately with MT. liar rinlan," said MT. Ryan.
 Paul D. Cravath interrupted by say ing to the chairman: T feel bound to say to my client, MT. Ryan, that, while he should testify more fully to what he did and what he planned to do, he can not, unless he chooses to do so volun- tarily be required to attempt to state conversations which MT. Hartman or any other man had with him.
 To this MT. Hughes replied: T deem the matter important in two aspects in the first place, that the committee may understand the motive which may actuate those who desire to obtain con- trol of the stock of the insurance com pany and the proceedings which may be taken to acquite it; and, secondly, that we may know whether there is any truth in the report that there was any suggestion that life insurance condi- tions in this state would be investigated if MT. Ryan did not aceede to Mir. liar rinlan's request. think that we should have full light upon the transaction, and hope that MT. Ryan vii feel that he can do another public service by ad- Nising the committee fully"
 MT. Cravath said that Mr. Ryan would testify freely as to facts, but that he was not required to state what Mr. Hartman said to him in private conversation.
 MT. Ryan," said Senator Armstrong, Ethe committee directs you to answer the question.
 The following eolloquy ensued:
 MT. Ryan-"I will answer it so far as to state that refused to share the pur- chase with MT. Hartman"
 "What did MT. Hartman say to you in connection with the matter?"
 MT. Cravath-"My advice is that you are not required to answer that ques- tion.'
 The chairman-"Do you refuse?"
 MT. Ryan-"I refuse to answer on the advice of counsel"
 Did Mr. Hartman say that there would be any result injurious to your interest in case you refused to admit him to share in the ownership?"
 MT. Crayath-'I give you the same advice, MT. Ryan-that you are not re-
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