New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-06
HYDE MAY BE UP FIRST.
PROBE BEGINS TO-DAY.
Witnesses Refractory-Mayer Plans
Separate Restitution Suits.

be examined by the legislative insurance investi-
cation committee at its opening session in the
aldermanic chamber of the City Hall at 10:30 this
morning.
Mrs. Sidney Dillon Ripley. Mr. Hydes sister, and
Miss Annah D. Ripley. her daughter. sailed for
Europe yesterday the Kaiser Wilhelm der
Crosse, and it confidently expected that Mr.
Hyde would be board to say goodby. He was
not however, and had not arrived at his home up
To late hour last night. BY last accounts, Mr..
Hyde was in Newport. 1t is known that the COM
mittee has been assured that Mr. Hyde will come
to New York to be served.
That the committees investigation will be ham
pered by obstructive tactics on the part of
sci for certain witnesses was evident last night
when the attorney for one of the Equitable wit
nesses announced that he reserved the right to
advise his client not to certain possible
questions the ground that they might injure
him in Attorney General Mayors suit pending
against individual officials of the Equitable
This may mean my client being adjudged in
contempt of court said the attorney. when ad-
vantage be taken Of the habeas corpus act
and his right to refuse to answer will be
termined by the courts"
1t is understood that Attorney General Mayer, in
his blanket suit against the Equitable, omitted
the syndicate operations, he purposes to in
stitute in this trial separate suits looking resti
tuition. This caused great interest in insurance
circles yesterday. The rumor that Mr.. Hyde would
appear on the witness stand received color from
the statement of Charles E. Hughes, of COM
not be on hand at the moment We require for
perfectly satisfactory reasons, an6 we shall be
obliged to go to other matters
Thus if Mr.. Hyde does not appear to-day.
is probable it may mean that in the absence of
his advisory counsel he cannot his way to
attend. Samuel Untermyer his private counsel.
is in Europe, and is not expected back until the
end of next week.
It is believed generally that not only the
questions of investments but as to auxiliary
aDiac fbodS oF inp hlISi
other general insurance phases Mr. Hydes testt-
mcny would be of great value to the committee,
although there is mass of Hyde testimony avail
able in the Hendricks report and testimony and the
Frck report. Again, 1t is known that Nj Hyde
is anxious sail to Europe at the earliest possible
date. 1t is scarcely likely, however that he would
be willing hasten his departure at the cost of an
appearance without the advice of counsel
His only counsel in town made official denial
yesterday that either he or to his knowledge. his
client had received any ntimation that his pres
ence desirable to-day. AS told exclusively IN
Thursdays Tribune the entire lists of officers OF
the Equitable, New-York Life. the Mutual Life.
the Mutual Reserve and the Metropolitan Life have
been summoned TO attend the opening session
It is understood that large part Of the session
will be surrendered to the introduction as evidence
of the charters, bylaws, etc, of companies which
the committee desires to examine This however
has not been definitely stated. Senator Armstrong
do not myself know exactly how things stand;
In some cases witnesses who have been subpCenaed
have asked be allowed to appear at some other
dae as being more conTHse 70 one ncial Of
company, it's lawyer has telephoned ana tod US
there was no need TO summon the others, as he
would be responsible for their appearance when,
they We're needed and SO we have dsp P 1i
know exactly who will be present to-morf row we we
are anxious to give out We al have !e to- the con-
cIson that we cannot safely state what we n0Pe
it, and false deductions may be drawn from b our
,1,1d rafh
Said Assemblyrnan Ezra P. Prentice. the score
tary of the committee:
The committee will take up different aspects OF
the insurance problem. and consider them IN the
Companies rather than through each COMPANY any
at time. do not know what 9Ioer Will po
a94ener Esl9' m TO look into those companies
adyerSise that they can issue policies
low rate, and then after a man has paid for some
Years suddenly discover that there has been a
mistake and they must raise his assessment
Getting western company such 6omP Ginis
moreover. always prompt to VOID the PolGi eS
on slightest pretext. We have also been asked
other companies have been extravagant and waste
full those others have been equally to blame with
100 how decjed whether the COMMITTEES will look
into them. but I presume it will not at present
Senator Armstrong and Senator Tully were en-
gagged all day yesterday in conferences with
Charles E. Hughes and James McKeen and AS
sistant Counsel Mathew c. Fleming.
One of the first subjects which 1t is said the
committee will take up will be the methods of
obtaining business as one of the first, operations
in the conduct of every day insurance
Gage Z. Tarbe. it is expected, will be able
give valuable testimony this point. as also
many others, including the alleged rebating by
certain Equitable agents. 1t is entirely likely that
Mr. Tarbell will be of the first witnesses.
District Attorney Jerome, his his
office from Lakeville. after absence of several
days said:
I will try to be present at some of the sessions
of the committee. / in close touch with coun-
sci in the case, and it will not be necessary to
nave transcripts of thousands of pages of testi-
mony,J that would not aid However. if
there is anything I do want have made arrange
ments TO get that part of the evidence for my own
study.
The entire committee is expected to be present at
the opening session The committee is composed
of the following
Senators William W. Armstrong chairman.
William ]. Tully and Daniel j. Rtordan, and AS
sernblymen James T. Rogers. Robert Lynn Cox.
William w WempIe, Ezra P. Prentice secretary
and John McKeown.
RAMSEY BACK FROM ARCTIC SEA.