Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-17

by the Equitable was taken Up with
Daniel NJ. Junk, secretary and treasur-
er, of the cafe company on the stand.
He said none of the management of
the cafe received any compensation
from the proceeds of the cafe. They
We're employees of the Equitable Life
and were paid by the society
Louis NJ. Bailey, a clerk in the bond
and mortgage department of the
Equitable in whose name a trustee ac
count was carried on the books OF the
society, said he was asked by Mr..
Squire to permit the use Of his name
for this account, but he did not know
his purpose. Building operations car
ried on under his name for the Equita
BILE, he could explain only or the
ground that an individual could build
cheaper than corporation.
New York, Nov. 16.-B. B. Odell. Jr.
former governor of New York and at
present chairman of the state republic
can committee. was the first witness
before tho insurance investigating COM
mittee. today. Before his testimony
was begun, Samuel Utermeyer, counsel
for James Fl. Hyde, entered an Objec-
ton protesting against the investiga-
ton of the affairs of the United States
Ship Building Co, by the committee.
Mr.. Hughes, counsel to the commit
tee, began by asking Mr.. Odell to tell
the facts pertaining to the Mercantile
Trust Co, charter and the witness said
he would not prefer to tell of the whole
transactng leading up to the settle
rnent, if permitted. Mr.. Utermeyer
protested that if the committee per-
mitted this it would take far outside
the legitimate line of inquiry. Senator
Armstrong referred the protest to Mr.
| Hughes, who said he would call to Mr..
| Odell's attention the fact that the
matter which concerns the committee
| is simply the question whether there
was any political influence or pressure
brought to bear upon the Mercantile
Trust Co., directly or indirectly. to in
duce a settlement
There was not, said Mr.. Odell.
Will you state. Governor" asked Mr..
Hughes, whether you had any infor-
nation with regard to the introduction
| of a bill into the Senate for the purpose
of repeating the charter of the Mercan-
| tile Trust Co. ~
Il knew of it at the time. yes
who advised you of it,"
II knew of it before its introduction"
From whom did you get the infor-
nation"
"Oh. various people as to the proprie-
| ty of the introduction of such meas
| ure"
Did you suggest its introduction?
No"
Did you request its Introduction"
II say no objection to it,"
Did. you state that you saw no oh
| lection to the introduction of the
measure?"
AT the time it was introduced. yes"
ITO whom
"Oh, to any one who asked me:
have forgotten
| What was the ground for that ac-
| ton or APPROVAL"
| simply because the scandal incident
to the ship building trust was upper
most in the peoples mind and 1t was
| claimed that the Mercantile Trust Co.
had been behind Is or 16 corporations.
| every one of them had been insolvent
and it was time, l thought, such mat
| ters in the state of New York, should
be stopped
| While Mr.. Odell was testifying, Sen
ator Depew entered the room.
| Continuing, Mr.. Odell said the bill
was intended to provide for an investi-
| CATION of the Mercantile Trust Co. He
could not recall an interview with AS
| seniblyman Fish regarding the intro
duction of bill similar to Senator Am
bler's repeal bill in the Assembly. His
only interview with Senator Amber
about the bill was after it had ben in
troduced. At that time he had no suit
pending against the Mercantile Trust
| Co His suit was brought in August,
| 1904. the witness said ne still had ev-
cry dollars worth of his ship-buildng
holdings. These holdings were sold at
auction and brought s43.6S7 against
S164171 paid for them. The sale was