Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-12-09
ON The RACK,
Ryan Refuses to Answer
Questions Of Committee
Investigating Insurance ndLat-
ter Will Ask Atty. Jerome
To Institute Proceedings Against Him.. Strain.
ed Relations Of Hartman and Ryan.

| New York, Dec. S-The legislative
| commission which is Investigating life
| insurance conditions. today, determined
to send to District Attorney William r.
jerome a request that he institute pro-
| ctcdings against Thomas F. Ryan, ii
| n,.ncier and oWrer of the majority of
| the stock of the I[Guta BILE Life Assur-
| ancc Society, to punish Mr.. Ryan for
refusing to answer questions before the
| committee. Mr.. Ryan had refused to
| answer, when asked what E. H. Harri-
| man. president of the Union Pacific and
South Pacific Railway Companies, had
| said TO him when Mr.. Hartman tried
| to induce him to share his control of
| the Equitable Society with Mr.. Harri-
man.
Mr.. Ryan was asked whether Mr.
| Hartman had threatened that results
| disastrous to Mr.. Ryan's interest would
| enSue or if Mr.. Hartman had told him
| that some action would be taken by the
state legislature or any officer of the
government unless Mr.. Ryan consented
| to share his stool; with him. Acting on
the advice of his attorney. Paul d.
CraVath, Mr.. Ryan declined to answer
these questions, although Senator VIM.
w. Armstrong. chairman of the COM
mittee directed him to do so. Mr. Ryan,
however, did answer one question by
saying that Mr.. Hartman did not tell
him at that time there would be leg
islative investigation of the life insur-
ance business unless he gave up part
OF the Hyde stock.
Mr.. Ryan had already testified that
he secured control of the Equitable So
ciety by paying James II. Hyde $780,
| 90 for SOP shares of the total 1000 shares
Of the society.
after you had bought that stock
was there any proposition to share it
with you?" asked Charles E. Hughes
counsel for the committee.
cam l obliged to answer that ques-
tion?' asked Mr.. Ryan.
Il think You ought to, Mr.. Ryan,"
said Mr. Hughes.
cir. T.. II. Hartman desired TO share
the purchase with me. and l refused
to permit that replied Mr.. Ryan.
Mr.. Ryan said that he thought Mr..
Hartman had made his request on the
day shat Mr.. Ryan bought the stock
and before the purchase was publicly
announced.
"What did Mr.. Hartman say to you
to influences won to make the salc?'
81 do not think, Mr.. Hughes, I ought
to be called upon to answer a question
like that-to characterize or state a
conversation ] had privately with Mr..
Harriman.' said Mr.. Ryan.
Paul y. Cravath Interrupted by say
ing to the chairman:
II feel bound to say to my client, Mr..
Ryan. that while he should testify most
fully to what he did and what he
planned 10 do he cannot unless he
chooses to do So, Voluntarily. be re-
quircd to attennt t" state conversa-
tions which Mr.. Htrriman 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
commttcc may understand the motive
which may Ictuatc those who desire to
obtain control Of the stock of the in
Suraicc company and the proceedings
which may b" taken to acquire it; and,
secondly, that we may know whether
there is any truth in the report that
there was any suggestion that life in
surancc "ondi! ions in this state would
Lc investigated if Mr.. Ryan did not ac-
cedc to Mr.. Harriman's request. l think
that we should have full light upon the
| transaction and l hope that Mr.. Ryan
will feel that he can do another pub
| lie service by advising the committee
fully
Mr.. Cravath said that Mr.. Ryan could
| testify freely as to facts, but that he
was not required to state what Mr..
Hartman said to him in private con-
verSatOr.
Mr. Ryan" said Senator Armstrong,
"'the committee directs you to answer
| the question:
The following colioquoy ensued.
Mr. Ryan-"I will answer it as far
| as to state that I refused to share the
purchase with MIR. Hartmann
| What did Mr.. Hartman say to you
in connection with the matter?"
| Mr Cravath-"My advice is that you
are not required to answer that qucs-
| ton"
| The chairman-"Do you refuse?'
| Mr. Ryan-"I refuse to answer on the
advice Of counsel
Did Mr. Hartman say that there
would be any result injurious to your
| interests in case you refused to admit
| him to share in the ownership?
| MIR. Cravath-'I give the same ad-
vice. Mr. Ryan. that you are not re-
oured to answer that question:
| Mr.. Ryan-"San,e answer"
| At the order of Senator Armstrong,
the last two questions were repeated
to Mr.. Ryan. who again refused to
answer. saying he did so ''on advice
of counsel
Mr.. Hughes then asked the follow
ing question;
Did Mr. Hartman say to you there
would be an investigation by commit
fee of the Legislature or that steps
would be taken to have an investiga-
tion bv committee of the Legislature
Of either house Of any insurance con-
ditions or insurance companies if you
Continued on page six.)