The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-28
HYDE, TIRED OUT,
( GOES TO FRANCE
~ - ...
= Dilettante Deposed from Eqrlt-
able Shakes Off Dust OF
a.. New York.
LOU PAWN ON GRILL
GIVES LIE TO WELLS
Former Insurance Commissioner
Of New York Questioned
by Hughes.

New York, Dec. 28.-James Hazen
Hyde, former first vice president of the
Equitable Life Assurance society, today
sailed for France on the steamer La
Lorraine.
'I am going to France" he said,
"for few months rest. [ wish to
deny emphatically that I am going to
leave America to make my home in
France. I am all tired out and I feel
the need of rest.''
Payn on the Grill.
Louis F. Payn, the former state in
surance commissioner, testified before
the insurance investigating committee
today that the charge made by James
D. Wells, former vice president of the
Mutual Reserve Life Insurance COM
pany, that $4,000 had been paid to
Mr.. Payn by the Mutual Reserve for
allowing the company to write its own
report of an investigation by the insur-
in every particular. He said it grew
out of the fight between Mr.. Wells and
President Burnham. Mr.. Payn who was
on the stand when the committee adj
journed yesterday was the first witness
today.
The investigation of the Mutual Re-
serve by the state insurance depart
ulouI LII 1OSc was GuSu GdhCH up. 4ul
Payn said of the charges made by Of
fcers and employees, that he made up
his mind that nothing that President
F. A. Burnham or James D. Wells, for
mer vice president of the Mutual Re.
serve company, said, was worthy of
consideration.
Afraid of State Officer.
Mr.. Payn was asked about the slip.
ulated premium law which was enacted
during his administration. He said
the department drew it up at his
(Payn's) suggestion. Mr.. Payn EN-
ployed personal counsel from time tt
time and when asked if he avai]ed him
self Of the attorney general IS office
t'I don't like to speak disrespectfully
of state officer. Ny experience, with
I did not feel quite satisfied to 90 there
for advice except in some cases where
the law compelled me to do so. There
were decisions one way and next yeal
there would be decisions another way
Then there would be an attorney gen
oral who would give another decision.'
At this poinv Mr.. Hughes asked Mr.
Payn what he had, to say concerning
the charges made by former Vice Presi
dent Wells Of the Mutual Reserve Life
Insurance company, that $40, 900 ha.
been paid to Mr.. I'ayn by that compan,
for tho privilege of writing it's own re
port of an examination by the stat
department. when Mr.. Payn was insur
ance commissioner.
False, Says Payn.
Mr. Payn replied: "When I wa
asked by the newspapers about that
said [ had no comment to make, but
say to you, Mr.. Hughes, that it is abso
lutelv false in every particular an
Mr., Burnham and Mr.. Wells both test
fed under oath that it was false. Tha
report grew out of a fight between Burr
ham and Wells.'
|'Has there been any payment to 20
personally or to anyone in your behal
ofany money or fees in connection wit
this matter7'' Mr.. Hughes asked.
Absolutely none,' replied M
Payn, "and any man who suggeste
such a thing to me would have bee
very fortunate to get out Of my pre-
ence with head on his shoulders.