New-York tribune., 1905-07-17

y
the State Department of Insurance to rest longer
under criticism in relation to the investigation of
the Equitable Life Assurance Society, Superin-
tendent Hendricks made a statement to-day, in
which he declares in the most positive terms.
that there change in the testimony, that
the report was not edited by Governor Higgins
or by any one else, and that his department was
in no way connected with the publication of any
part of the testimony.
There were three copies of the testimony, he
says, one of which has remained undisturbed in
the vault of the department in the Capitol. An
other was sent, under seal. TO the Superintend-
ent's office in New-York and the seal was
unbroken at the time of the publication of the
testimony. The third copy of the evidence. Su-
perintendent Hendricks says, has been in the
possession of Attorney General Mayer since
July g.
AS to the failure to examine Mr.. Hartman in
the Equitable inquiry Mr.. Hendricks says he
was not a member of the executive committee or
the finance committee by which the business of
the company transacted and there was
nothing in the purchase of Hartman securities
which demanded investigation.
Superintendent Hendricks says:
REPORT NOT ALTERED.
The statement made in certain newspapers
that my report and to testimony taken were
edited and altered in the interests or at the
suggestions of certain individuals is unqual-
hedly false. No person, except those employed
by in the conduct of the investigation. read
had access to the report prior to the time
it was delivered to the printer, except Governor
Higgins and his counsel. Cuthbert w. Pound
No suggestion made by either of them as
to any modification of the report, and no change
was made IN the report as prepared by me-
The report as printed, is in the exact form in
which it finally drafted by me and my
counsel.
At the interview with the Governor and his
counsel | was asked by the Governor whether
l had been successful in securing the facts rela-
tive to all matters under investigation. l stated
to him that had not; that the investigation
necessarily still incomplete; that among
other matters which had not been fully covered
which 1 deemed of immediate import
ance, but concerning which l had been unable
to procure the facts by reason of not having
learned of ii until the preliminary investigation
was about completed I then stated to him
that 1 had been informed that the Equitable
Society was carrying loan in the Mercantile
Trust Company of S6S5, 200, of which no record
appeared its books a liability.
The Governor stated to me that he believed
that further effort should be made to thor
oughly investigate that subject. In accordance
with that suggestion l then directed my cOun-
sci to make further investigation and exam
inaton relative to that item and by reason OF
such action my report delayed until the
conclusion of his effort
Our efforts in that particular were unsuccess-
full. At that time we were unable to secure the
facts relating to the matter and consequently
my report remained unchanged
With reference to the criticism that
port does not fully cover all of the facts brought
out in the testimony, l never intended that it
should specifically refer to everything that was
developed by the testimony. On the contrary,
I stated at the outset that it did not; that the
report preliminary in character and covered
only such matters as deemed of Immediate i'm
portance to the policyholders. l undertook to
comply with the promise that l made TO the in
surance commissioners of other States early III
May. to present a report early June 10
and it was impossible, in the limited time had
TO refer in detail to all matters developed dur
ing The investigation. If l had undertaken in
the report to cover all matters referred to in
the testimony it would have delayed issuing the
report al least sixty days, and the report would
comprise a volume OF at least two or three
hundred pages.
NO TESTIMONY SUPPRESSED
The further charge made that some of the
testimony taken was suppressed or edited in
unqualifedly false Every word of the testi-
mOny given and taken was transcribed bv the
stenographet in the transcripts OF the testimony
absolutely without change No person except
those employed by me in conducting the fnyesti-
CATION saw the transcript of testimony, or asked
TO see it or made any suggestions with reference
to it. directly indirectly. ONLY three comics Of
the testimony were transferred to me personally
by the stenographer who transcribed them and
each copy was separately wrapped up marked
and placed in the private compartment of +ba
department vault at Albany.
on July T. delivered, by one of my deputies
one copy OF my report and one copy of the tran
script Of the evidence, to the Attorney General
accompanied by the following letter:
Julius NJ Mayer, Attorney General Albany
Sir: hand you herewith copy OF the preliminary
report In the recent investigation of the E0tahle
Life Assurance Society with copy of the evidence
taken during the investigation
FRANCIS HENDRICKS, Superintendent
At the same time I forwarded by express one
copy Of the transcript of the evidence taken
marked and sealed. to Robert H. Hunter my
deputy in charge of tie New-York office. ac-
by the following letter:
Dear Sir: | send you herewith by express ono /
copY OF the evidence taken in the investigation of
the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United
States Should the District Attorney desire access
this evidence. you are at liberty to deliver II
him allow him to examine II.
FRANCIS HENDRICKS. Superintendent.
The other copy has at all times since compile
tlon rSnaned in the department vault where it
was placed by me.
The charge that a copy of the testimony was
procured by any other persons from this depart
rnent is absolutely false and without foundation.
AT the time of the publication in the newspapers
Of part of the testimony the copy in the New