New-York tribune., 1905-06-04

Whether or not the committee to nominate
the chairman of the board of directors OF the
Equitable Life Assurance Society will serve IS
the problem which will confront the directors at
the meeting on Wednesday Members OF thal
committee consider that their nomination was
irregular. A contest in the board of directors
as to whether the resolution which named the
committee was permissible seems likely.
J. B. Forgan and D. 0. Mills refused yesterday
to serve on the committee. Mr.. Mills mad not
decided to resign from the board of directors,
but 1t was reported that he and several other
directors were considering such action
Mr.. Mills made the explicit statement late last
evening that he should not serve on that COM
mittee. Mr. Mills said:
have some doubt of the regularity of the ap
pointment of the so-called nominating commit
tee inasn1uch as the original resolution on the
subject was defeated by the adoption OF the SUD-
stitute.- leaving the committee out, introduced
by Mr.. Krech. In any case, however. 1t IS evil
dent that there Is such lack of harmony IN
the board that the practical usefulness OF tne
proposed plan is open to question, and nave
concluded not to accept the appointment on the
nominating committee which was mace last
Friday, after the meeting had virtually oroken
I'D and some of the directors had actually left
| the room.
Three members of the committee named were
| not present when they were selected They were
| August Belmont, Robert I. Lincoln and A. j.
| Cassatt Robert T. Lincoln is prominently
named as a candidate for the proposed chair
man He has been considered an Independent
| in the factionaI fight. He is a man of national
| reputation, and many of the directors think ne
would be the man to bring peace to the society.
| It Is understood that the insurance examiners
| of States other than New-York have decided in
| view of last weeks happenings. not to wait Tor
| Superintendent Hendricks's report. Through
= the Massachusetts examiner Mr. Hendricks has
| been told that they will begin an INVESTIGATION OF
| the EQUITABLE their own account AT re-
| cent convention at the Fifth Avenue Hotel here
| the examiners agreed to await the report of Mr.
! Hendricks.
| The report of a permanent alliance between
James Hazen Hyde President Alexander and
| Gage E. TarbeI head of the agency forces was
| denied positively by Mr.. Hydes friends. Mr..
Hyde they intimated. was III command of the
| situation at present He had dominated the
| board at its meeting on Friday and it was by
| his consent that the resolution for chairman
| of the board had been passed It was his idea
| TO have a reorganization Of the executive COM
| roittee 1t was his promise, originally, to ap-
| point a trustee for his stock.
| All of these suggestions had been passed by
the directors at his request said his friends. So
| far he was willing TO go, but that he would for
| get that Mr. Alexander and Mr.. Tarbell had be-
4 attack
| believed that If no renewal of hostilities cam
from the other side was possible that the truce
might be prolonged until the next annual cleo
| tion That it was permanent unless Mr. Alex
ander and Mr.. Tarbeu agresd with Mr. Hyde
they denied absolutely.
STOCK TRUSTEE NOT LIKELY.
Mr. Hvde said his advisers. was unlikely to
mt his stock into the hands of trustees Io'
| voting or TO make any arrangements 10 dispose
| 20 !, E4is suggestion originally had been Il
Mace it in the hands of trustees for voting bu
| tt+ had been SUPERSEDED. He still was willing
N trustee the stock said they but he would d'
| !, only nv getting men of reputation outside th'
,raeent directorate to handle the proxies. HI
would consent to arrangement by whach M M
| oDnonents could obtain control OF the society
| a naturalization arrangement were put INTO Ell
feet the agents could have no handling OF th
nroxies lest they throw control of the Equltapl
to his enemies
1.eyond ofticial statements none of the leader
in the controversy would discuss the situate
Yesterday The Hyde adherents made public
statement which contained most OF Mr.. Hyde
address to the directors. The Alexander factiol
replied with the arguments when II mas use
already. .
Henry 9 Frick held a secret session wit
r members of the committee in his office In IN
r,ornine but would not admit that they con
cerned Equitable affairs. Il have nothing I
cav" was his answer to all questions
The publication of sections of the Frck re
,ort saw Mr.. Hyde's friends. has nsled tn
! n,,b,;c To counteract this they made publ
! yesterday letters written by Mr.. Hyde to Nj
: THE SECOND EMPIRE.