Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-12
Sensational Testimony Given
Before the Insurance Invest
igating Committee
WOULD
FIGHT
HARTMAN
Told Ryan Unless He Was Given
Share in Control of the Equitable
His Influence Would Be Against
Him and Hinted at Possible Adverse
Legislative Action.

New York. Dec. 12.-Thomas f.
Ryan was the first witness before the
insurance investigating committee to-
day. He said to Mr.. Hughes he had
meant no disrespect by his declination
to tell what E. II. Hartman had said
to him at the time Hartman sought
to obtain a share in Ryan's purchase
of the Hyde stock.
"What did Hartman say to you
about sharing the Hyde stock?" asked
Hughes.
Immediately after my purchase of
the Stock" said Ryan, Hartman CALI
ed on me. Hartman said I should not
have come into the situation without
consulting him. That I ought to let
him have an equitable share in the
Hyde stock. 1 declined. He objected
to the trustees and wanted to name
two of them. He said he did not think
I would carry out my plan without his
aid, that his influence would be against
me. I think he said legislative action
would probably result and that his
influence would be important"
Ryan said Hartman did not say in
so many words that his political influ-
ence would be against Ryan,
but the witness understood Hartman
to mean his entire influence whether
political financial on otherwise. Wit
ness understood this to include the
possibility of Legislative action. Wit
ness was not willing to ALLOW Harri-
man to name two trustees. because he
did not want anybody as partner in
the enterprise. Hartman offered, IL
Ryan would sell, to put his share 10
the Equitable into trust.
my conversation with him was
strenuous" said Ryan. II think he
said he did not want anybody to con-
troll this property unless he had a
share in 1t. Hartman did not say
anything to indicate what action the
legislature would take. No other per-
son made any such threats
AS Ryan left the stand Senator
Armstrong said the committee appre-
ciated his coming to testify and rec-
ognized the motives of his unwilling
ness to reveal the actions of another
man.
Senator Dryden. Of New Jersey,
president of the Prudential Insurance
Company was the next witness.
During Dryden's examination,
Hughes read statement showing that
the Prudential Life had made contri-
buttons aggregating twenty-six thou
sand dollars, to the republican national
committee in 1895, 1900 and 1904. Dry
den testified that in 1899, the Pru-
tial expended $15,800 for legislative
expenses. OF this sum $4,000 was paid
to Andrew Hamilton.
Dryden said all his company's legal
expenses were fair, open and above.
board and honest and the company
never spent dishonest dollar on leg
lSlature. nave nedEo q Siedl oedl
about corruption" said he, "but never
found 1t necessary. Never to the ex-
tent of one dollar did my company
contribute to any corruption funds"
Witnes said the John Hancock and
the Metropolitan had contributed with
the Prudential to oppose hostile legis-
lation. The expenses were divided SO
the Metropolitan and Prudential each
bore two -fifths Of it and the John Han
cock one-fifth.
Dryden said that in 1904 Thomas N.
then Attorney General New
Jersey, was paid s27,5O0 by Prudential
that under the laws Of New Jersey a
public official In that state is at
liberty to engage in private business
while holding office.