The evening world., 1905-07-15
WILL
ACT AT ONCE
ON Equitable
Letter to Governor Said to
Intimate His Desire to Pro-
coed Immediately.

'N'f 'N'
ALBANY, n. V, July 15.-Gov.
Higgins has received a letter from Dis
trict-Attorney jerome, calling attention
to the refusal of the New York City
office OF the State Insurance Depart
ment TO let him have a copy of the
testimony taken by Supt. Hendricks
during the examination of Equitable
Life officers. The letter. 1t is said. con-
tanned harsh criticism of Hendricks's
attitude in the matter and calls on the
Governor to make good his promise to
deliver the testimony to tho prosecuting
officer of New York county.
Mr.. jerome, tt is understood, also
made plain his opinion of the course
pursued by the State Department n
his plan to begin immediate action
against the men charged with diverting
the funds of the Equitable TO their w
profit.
The Governor sent the Distr!ct-Attor-
ney to-day a reply TO the latter's letter.
He declined. however, to say what the
letter contained, or even to indicate gen.
orally the subject matter. The Governor
is somewhat annoyed over the situation.
He has lone all he could to AVE the
testimony placed in Mr.. Jerorae's hands.
but his efforts nave failed, owing to a
misunderstanding or TO negligence on
the part OF the Superintendent of In
surance.
II is said Mr.. Hendricks felt that his
department was sighted by Mr.. Jerome
when he sought to obtain a copy of the
testimony through the Governor, rather
than directly from the Insurance De-
partment. The Governor Is confident that
the difficulty will be Strengthened out
in a day or two.
He says there has been no intention
10 deprive Mr.. Jerome of the testi-
mony.
I In some quarters the attitude of the
Insurance Department has given rise
to the belief that the State admins
traion is trying TO throw obstacles n
the way of the District-Atlorney in
the interest OF big men who are ike
~ to be sent to prison II the District
Attorney should institute crininal pro-
ceedings against them.
Attorney-GeneraI Mayer went to New
YORK TINS morning 10 confer with men
in contro! OF the new management Of
the Equitable. who are anxious to CO.
operate with him in any action he may
take against former officers Of the
company.
GON. f1!EsInS WILL sO 70 MS HOIle' ~
Oiean. to-day. remaining there over
Sunday. 1t Is not altogether improb-
able that the Governor Will slip down
10 New York on Monday and talk over
the Equitable situation with Collector
OF the Port Stranahan,. who has just
been made an Equitable director by
the Ryan management.
Governor to Take a Hand.
No Republican leader is closer to the
Governor that Mr.. Stranahan. Their
friendship is one of long standing, and
the collector occupies first place In the
kitchen Cabinet that surrounds the
Governor. Although the Governor has
firmly repeated his determination not
10 recommend action in the Equitable
matter at the present session OF the
Legislature, some of his friends think
that he may be persuaded next week to
Yield TO the public clamor for a Legis-
iative investigation of Insurance com
panies.
10 the Governor from policy-holders
residing in all parts of the United
States. The majority of the members
of the Legislature are in favor OF an
investigation. and 1t IS impossible for
them TO see how the Governor can
longe ignore this pressure for imme-
date action.