The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-06-02
CAME NEAR
TO BLOWS
Equitable Leaders About TO
Fight.
WERE PANIC STRICKEN.
Violence over the Committee Report
Now Coming 0ut-Mr. Hyde Ex-
citedly Declares That He Has
Been Betrayed.

New York, June ne principals
in the Equitable controversy were al
most panic-stricken yesterday at the
disclosures of the Prick committees re-
port. which was the subject Of such
prolonged discussion at Wednesdays
meeting of the trustees.
Some details of the report were pub
lished yesterday morning, but the story
told yesterday by those present or IA
miliar with what really took place at
the conference added fresh details OF
sensational interest.
Strong pressure was brought to bear
Yesterday on the committee to secure
further postponement, and one Of the
principal attorneys admittd that there
was good reason to expect no action
whatever today, except consent by all
sides to let the matter 90 over another
week and give ont then what was
deemed essential; in other words, #
the programme proposed yesterday Is
adhered to, the committee will not take
the public into its confidence until the
gentlemen accused Of wrongdoing are
given opportunity to explain their po-
sition and make good" if need be. the
sums received as commissions from syn
dicate undertakings.
In financial circles where the question
of further adjournment was discussed,
the action was objected to as exposing
the trustees to the charge Of not being
willing to back up the committee in
its effort TO right the wrongs that had
been committed.
One of the attorneys interested in the
case said that the report had been writ.
ten by Senator Knox, and was one Of
the most scathing arraignments he had
ever seen.
As soon as the officers were heard
at Wednesdays meeting TIE trustees en-
tered into vigorous discussion Of the
various charges, and the excitement be.
came so intense that one or two trus-
tees were on their feet at the same
moment explaining their position.
A subject touched upon at length in
this acrimonious discussion was the pur
chase and sale Of securities for the So
eiety in which several trustees were
charged with receiving fees or commits
| Siollo stfOt pei w ldWsA
The published reports contain much
that is misleading respecting the recon-
mendations of the committee, although
the gist Of the important declarations
was given.
The committe reported in effect
First, that the departments Of the
| president, first vice president and second
| vice president, had been extravagantly
managed and without due regard for
| the society's welfare; second that the
officials must pay back funds that had
been wrongfully received from their
connection with the underwriting or pur.
chase OF securities; third, that the sal
aries paid to Mr.. Hyde by the Equitable
and the subsidiary companies allied
with it should be Teadjusted: fourth
that the business of the society in gen.
eral had been extrayagantly managed
| fifth, that money used wrongfully, either
for travelling expenses OF other causes
must all be returned. and, sixth, in
substance that the interests OF the so.
ciety would best be served BY the re,
tirement Of Messrs. Tarbell, Hyde and
| Alexander.
|
as a tremendous surpfise to the prin.
cipals in the wrangle was apparent By
their actions and hurryings to and frc
| yesterday,
One report was that, after hearing
the report read, Mr.. HYDE had stood
mp in the board room and declared that
he had been betrayed by his friends.
Mr.. Hyde was eloseted with his law.
yers, as was Mr.. Alexander. Several
Of the directors whose relations witt
the Equitable have been the subject oI
comment, also sought advice.
\ One incident enlivened the forenoon
Messrs. Tarbell and Frick were the act
ors in an encounter of words over the
possession of copy of the Frick re-
port. When the reporters went into
Mr.. Tricks Office, the two mems voice.
were raised in high tones, and Mr. Tar.
bell was saying:
= want copy Of that report
| At the time Mr.. Frick was standing
halfway between the outer and innel
office, with the door partly aiar. Tn
on the appearance of the reporters botf
men stopped talking. Mr.. Prick went
into the inner office, and returned viii
copy Of the report, which he handed
70 Mr.. Tarbell without comment, and
the latter took it and hurriedly left
the room.
| At the time Of this episode Mr.. Fricl
and the other members Of the commit
tee We're holding an executive session
and it was evident that Mr.. Prick did
not appreciate the intrusion.