Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-09
Dist. Atty. Jerome is Requested
TO institute Proceed
lngs.
DID NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS.
Acted Under Advice OF Counsel---Nlr
Hughes Thought Matter Import
ant aud Insisted on Reply.

life insurance conditions today deter
mined to send 10 Dist. Atty William
r. Jerome e request that he institute
proceedings against Thomas F. Ryan
hnancler and owner Of the majority OF
the stock Of the Equitable Life As
surance society, to punish Mr.. Ryan
for refusing TO answer questions be-
fore the committee.
Mr.. Ryan had refused TO answer
when asked what y. III. Hartman,
president Of the Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific Railroad companies,
had said to him when Mr. Hartman
tried to induce him 10 share his control
Of the Equitable society with Mr, Har-
riman.
Mr. Ryan was asked whether Nr.
Hartman had threatened that results
disastrous to Mr. Ry8ns interests
would ensue, or II Mr. Hartman had
told him that some action would be
taken by the state legislature, or any
officer of the government, unless MIR.
Ryan consented to share his stock
with him. Acting on the advice " his
attorney. Paul ID. Cravath, Mr. Ryan
declined 10 answer those questions. al
though Senator Armstrong chairman
OF the committee, directed him 10 do
so.
Mr. Ryan. however, did answer one
question, by saying that Mr. llarri-
man did not tell him ut that time there
would be a legislative investigation Of
the life Insurance business unless he
gave up part OF the Hyde stock
Nj Ryan had already testified that
he secured control Of the Equitable So
ciety By paying James II. Hyde $500
900 for SOP shares of the total Of l,000
shares Of the society.
After you had bought that stock,
was there any proposition to SHIRE It
with you?' asked Charles Il. Hughes.
counsel for the committee,
Am | Obliged TO answer that ques-
TOM asked Mr. Ryan.
u think you ought to. Mr. Ryan"
said Mr. Hughes.
II, II. Hartman desired to share the
purchase with me. and | refused TO
permit that" replied Mr. Ryan
Mr. Ryan said that he thought Mr.
Hartman made his request on the day
that Mr. Ryan bought the stock and be-
fore the purchase was publicly an
nounced
What did Mr.. Hartman say to you
TO ME- renee you to make the sale?"
81 DO not think Mr.. Hughes. | ought
10 be called up to answer question
Ike that--to characterize or state a
conversation | had privately with Mr..
Hartman said Mr. Ryan.
Paul y. Crayath interrupted by say
Ing to the chairman.
u feel bound 10 say 10 my client, Mr.
Ryan. that while he should testify most
fully to what he did and what he plan
ned TO do, he cannot, unless he chooses
TO do 50 voluntarily be required to at
tempt TO state conversations which Mr..
Hartman or any other man had with
him"
To this Mr.. Hughes replied:
Il deem the matter important In TWO
respects IN the first place, that the
committee may understand the mo-
tive which may actuate those who de-
sire 10 obtain control Of the stock Of the
Insurance company and the proceed
ings which may be- taken To acquire II:
and. secondly. that We may know
whether there Is any truth I'm the re-
port that there was any suggestion that
life Insurance conditions In this state
would be investigated If Mr.. Ryan did
not accede to Mr. Harriman's request.
think that we should have full light
upon the transaction, and | hope that
Mr. Ryan will feel that he can do an
other public service by advising the
committee fully"
Mr. Cravath said that Mr.. Ryan
would testify freely as 10 facts, but that
he was not required to state what Mr..
Hartman said to him In private cons
NersatiOn.
MIR. Ryan said Senator Armstrong,
the committee directs you to answer
the question
The following collOquy cnsued.
Nf. Ryan viii answer 20 It SO far
a. 10 state that ] refused TO share the
purchase with Mr. Hartman
What did MI Hartman say to you
IN connection With the matterg"
Mr.. ordyuth-My advice is that Won
are not required to answer that uues-
ton
The Chairmau--Do you reruec2
Mr. Ryan, refuse TO answer on the
advice Of counsel
DID Mr. Hartman say that there
would Doe any result injurious 10 YOUR
interests IN case YOU refused 20 adj
INIT him 90 share I'm The ownership?"
Mr.. Cravath-l give YOU the same ad-
vice, Mr., Ryan, that you arc not re-
qulred To- answer that question.
MI Ryau-Same answer
40 the order of Senator Armstrong
tho last two questions were REPEATED TO
Mr. Ryan, who again refused To anSwtr.
saving he did so, ION advice OF coun-
sell"
Mr. Hughes then asked the follow
ing question:
DID Mr. Hartman say to you there
would Dee an investigation by a COM
miitcc of the legislature. or that steps
would be taken TO have an inyestiga-
ton by a committee of the legislature
Of either house OF any Insurance con-
dtlon or Insurance companies II YOU
did not permit him to share In the
ownership"
Nj Crvath-The same advice.
Mr. Ryan--He did not say that.
Nov, ala he say that any action on
The part OF the Legislature or any oin-
oial or officer of the government, would
DE taken in the event you refused to
acrcde to his request"
Mr. Nravuh-l advise you not to an
swer that question.
Mr. Ryan, refuse to answer on the
same grounds.
Nov, Mr. Ryan, I think you win be
Nj Hartman"
Mr.. Ryan-Weil, ! told Mr.. Hartman
] wanted 10 be- free. and did not want
any partners In the transaction.
Did YOU tel him why?"
Mr.. Ry,;r-My principal reason was
mat ] wanted 10 make this trus. deed
IN my own way
Did You tell him that?
Mr. llyou-I did.
VIVA. did he say 70 your"
Mt CraV9th-I advise that Won are
not required to answer Mr.. Ryan.
vi. Ilyan-The same answer Mr..
Chairman
The Chalman--Mr Ryan, the COM
mItee does not want you to think that
is seeking To be oGicous I'm the mat
ter. '''''
Mr. Ryan, know that.
The Challman-lt thinks Won nor.
formed great public service, and Is