The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-11-16
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"Had anything occurred to change your
mind as to the propriety Of the lntroduc-
tion of such legislation"
HYDEs BASE CALUMNY."
Yes. sir. The fact that the base cal
umny which Mr. Hyde uttered here had
been circulated IN the papers and called
Senator Amber in and l said. as de-
sirable as j believed the legislation to be,
feared that my unfortunate connection
with the shipbuilding matter was OF such
character that 1t would be better for
him TO drop this legislation. That inter
view took place sometime during the egis-
lative session Of 1904"
Mr.. Odell said he told James III. Hyde
at their first interview that the Amber
bill would be stopped by him; that there
was no fear. no matter what was done
about his settlement, OF any retallatory
legislation. He did not bother Mr.. Har-
riman about the matter
Mr.. Hartman aud are social friends, "
said the witness. II have no business
relations with him"
Mr.. Odell said he wrote a letter at the
request OF Mr.. Mcintyre, former fourth
vice p-esidcnt OF the Equitable In behalf
of Mr. IHyde's candidacy for the French
ambassadorship., This had nothing TO do
with the shipbuilding settlement The
letter was written before the settlement.
DID NOT SOLICIT FUNDS
Mr.. odell said that he had never so
ncited a political contribution from any
insurnnce company ana none mad ever
been made 10 him voluntarily.
Did any ever come 10 you indirectly"
Possibly through the national COM
mittee and through Senator Platt."
What relation had Senator Platt 20 the
matter?"
He always gathered all tho fund to-
Eether ever since / have been connected
with Republican politics except las,
year"
The witness said he knew nothing OF
the efforts OF insurance companies 20 pre-
vent inimical legislation and knew OF A.
c. Fields activity in that line only by
hearsay.
He did not know Andrew Hamilton. Ho
said no moneys had ever been placed I'm
his hands directly or indirectly for politi-
cal purposes or otherwise to influence leg
fslation. His was not the only shipbuild-
Ing suit settled said Mr. Odell He felt
that his claims We're just and added
II could have gone before any court
and recovered a great deal more than I
did from the Mercantile Trust company"
''Of course" said Mr.. Hughes. you will
understand the committee is not here 10
try the merits OF the claim, we are
simply interested because Il is said
threats were made"
NO THREATS MADE.
There is no truth I'm that statement. so
help me God"
When his settlement was under discus
sion said to him the Equitable Life
had always made political contributions
Here Mr.-odef, WIS usfzec TO tefi tfrr
facts about the Introduction OF the Amber
bin He replied
why | had prepared the introduction
Of that bill and brought the whole case
before District Attorney Jerome and that
he had better look into Il and see whether
there was anything connected with the
scandal which should not be investigated
by his officers. He said to me after sew
tral weeks that he had gone into Il very
carefully and concluded that there were
no grounds for criminal prosecution
I'm the meantime such concerns as the |
Fire company and tho Whiting company |
and American Bicycle trust and some II /
or 10 others had been mentioned as having \
neen either projected by AleNande- & /
Green and presumably with the approval I
and support OF the Mercantile Trust All I
of which had been failures and I sug- /
gested that something ought 20 De done TO !
ttop that, and IN talking over the matter I
IN confidence with people who cane ~. !
u was decided that some remo1iai icgis- /
lation could be formula ed and would pre- /
vent the unloading upon the puntc OF /
these securities among others those which /
] have mentioned.
ANTAGONIsTIC VIEWS
I'm the meantime the paper had t,kcr /
entirely different and antag0nistic views
OF the matter. whether they had been I'm.
spired or not I do not know. but Their,
was more or less talk about ~ being
measure 20 get even with somebody: and
then when Senator Amber talked with me
about ~ / said 90 him that under the cir.
cumstances he better let the whole mat
ter drop"
Mr. Cntermeyer asked permission to
cross-examine Mr. Odell. but waa.refuscd
Mr.. Hughes here asked several ou, a.
tions suggested by Mr. Untermeyer. aad
a. was brought out that Mr Odeil told
Charles NJ. Schwab that the shlubuudine
ease was ono FOR criminal prosecution
Senator Brackeit was present az this IN
terylew. Goycrnor Qdeu was then *
cused.
THE TRUSTEE ACCOUNT.
Justice Erastus W Ransone OF the SUI !
pt@Sne court and counsel Tor George N |
Squire IVES next called IIe said Mr.
Squire is a very sick man lie saw
hr. Squire last niRhf and aoouafufed hin, 4