Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-12-13
Railroad Builder Sought 10
Bluff Equitable Owner.
DECLARED LEGISLATION
MIGHT PROVE TROUBLESOME
Interesting Details for Policy Holders
in Struggle Of Big Financiers to
Control Company's Millions,

New York, Dec 12.-Thomas f.
Ryan today appeared before the in
surance investigating committee and
told what e. II. Hartman did and
threatened to do when he demanded
that Mr.. Ryan concede him share
in the control of the Equitable Life
Assurance society last June. Mr.. Ryan
assured the committee that he had
meant no disrespect by his former re-
fusal to disclose their conversations
and said that he had determined to
answer the questions to which he had
refused replies on Friday last because
District Attorney Jerome said he ought
to do So
Mr.. Ryan's version of what Mr.
Hartman demanded and what he
threatened to do upon the refusal of
his demands was In substance as fol-
lows:
That Hartman demanded one-half
Of the 502 shares of the stock of the
Equitable Life Assurance society
which Mr.. Ryan had purchased from
James III. Hyde and which gave Mr.
Ryan control of the property.
That Hartman threatened, unless
he was conceded this share I'm the con-
troll OF the society, to exert his politi-
cal and all other influences against
Mr.. Ryan and his project.
That Hartman declared there prob
ably would be Legislative action and
that In that event his influence would
be important
That Hartman demanded the right
to name two of the five trustees to
vote the controlling stock I'm the cleo
ton of directors OF the society. ~
In reply to repeated questions by
Charles e. Hughes. counsel of the
committee, Mr. Ryan stated that Mr.
Harriman did not threaten that there
should be legislative action unless he
was given share in the Equitable
control, but said there probably would
be such action. Neither did Mr.. Harri-
man threaten any action by an officer
of the government
1t was a strenuous interview, Mr..
Ryan said, and was held in the pres
ence of Elihu Root, then Mr.. Ryan's
counsel. now secretary of state, and
Paul ID. Cravath, also Mr.. Ryan's
counsel.
Mr. Ryan told the committee that
he drew the inference from 1t that
Ms. Hartman did not want anybody
to control the Equitable society un-
less he had share in IT, Mr.. Ryan
also stated that he paid no attention
70 MT. fldFFitndn statement lHdt MS
influence would be important in the
event of legislative action and in
formed him that he wanted no part
ners in the enterprise. Mr.. Hartman
did not get the coveted shares in the
stock
Mr. Ryan declared that this inter-
view took place within few days
after he got control of the Hyde
stock.
Prudential Heavy Contributor.
United States Senator John F. Dry
den of New Jersey, president of the
Prudential Life Insurance company of
America, was on the witness stand all
the remainder of the day.
He testified that his company paid
$4,000 to the republican national
campaign fund In 1896. 1900 and
1904. 1t also paid $4,000 to Andrew
Hamilton, formerly the New York
Life Insurance agent at Albany.
Senator Dryden testified that in
1899 the Prudential expended s15,S00
for legislative expenses
The Prudential Insurance company,
Senator Dryden said, paid $500 to
James II. Flood for fees in opposing
the Colorado law against child in
suranee few years ago. Dryden said
his company had had much trouble
over legislation.