Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-01-18
From Equitable Society Is
to Be Investigated
In Accordance With a Request
Made BY Himself.
Received Money Only for Legal Services,
Not for Political Purposes.


nlcr Senator David B. Hill by the
Equitable Life Assurance Society, the
fact of which was first brought Out
i'll the report on the Equitable by Supt
Hendricks of the state insurance de-
partment, will be investigated at Sen
ator Hills request. by a committee OF
the New York Bar Association. Sen
ator Hill himself brought the matter
before the association at its annual
meeting here today. under circum-
stances somewhat dramatic. 1t came
as an entire surprise to the members
OF the association, few of whom knew
of Senator Hills presence i'll the mee.-
ing.
The resolution providing for the in
vcstigation, offered by Mr.. Hill, him
self and adopted with but one dis
scnting voice is as follows:
Resolved, that the subject brought
to the attention of the association IN
the remarks Of David e. HILL be re-
fcTred to the committee on grievances
who arc hereby directed to investigate
the same and to report to this body
whether there was anything improper
or unprOfeSSiOnal in his employment by
he Equitable Life Assurance Society
and whether the compensation re-
ccivcd by him was reasonable or cX-
ccaSiVe and whether the same was re-
cciycd for any political purposes or
| So rViccs. and to make its report there
Oh to this association with all con-
V. nicnt speed
The grievance committee to whicIl
! the matter was referred to is the same
| in personnel as that which Investigate
ed the charges against Supreme Justice
| Warren T.. Hooker and consists of
,tic, members from each judicial
afternoon and delegated the resolution
| tn a sub committee of five to be named
| later by the chairman.
1T also appeared therein that -.
| F,lihu Root had been counsel for the
company ana that he received in 1904
for his legal services the sum OF $10.-
$50 and in 1905. the further sum of So
| 600. But those facts as TO Mr.. Root or
myself did not require either of rs Ia
| rush into til" public prints to defend
curse Ives from what did not amount to
| ;n accusation and which cast no re-
| lection on us. and there was nothing
disclosed in that invests igatiun con-
| corning either Mr.. Roots or my own
services that really dcnia ndcI any c.
| llanation on TIL" part of either of us
| Senator Hill quoted entire corrc-
Srondcncc and kilograms between him
self and Charles f.. Hughes. counscf
| for the Armstrong committee, relative
- his inability owing to illness to aD-
| rear before the committee in New
York.
| 1T docs not appear" said lic. that
| Mir. Foot was ever requested to ar-
| pear before the committee to testify
| III relation to the compensation o.
| moneys which he received from the
, Equitable in 1904 and 1905.
although the whole committee with
"aly two exceptions belong to an op-
! posi;c political party from my own ana
| all the counsel belong to that same
party | have no disposition to impute
to them any political motive i'll this
matter"
Senator Hill in offering he rcsoiuiio ion
| referred to his retirement i'll 1891 from
The Office of governor of this state, ana
| Lis announcement at that time that So
| far Us his duties as United States SEN
ator would permit. he intended to prac-
'i'' l'iN. NfnoltS oJlltf Ttt1IllcrS which
! cain" to him ut that time. he said, was
| one from the Equitable life Assura!lcc,
Society.
Tie nature Of his services to tho
Equitable Society, II" said, consisted III
"iicuucnt consultations with the Equi; :
all" officers in furnishing opinions in
litlSation$ actually pending, and threat
| chcd and opinions as to the conslitu-
tioA3lity and Interpretation of statutes
enacted and proposed, and in advice
furnished on all sorts Of legal questions;
winch were constantly arising in the
business of that corporation."
The services rendered. he continued.
were wholly and strictly professional
declare that | never received from the
Equitable Society any moneys wilatso-
ever for any political services or for
any Political purposes.
Ihcre is nothing in my professional
connection with the Equitable that re
HGires either explanation or apology, or
warrants any just criticism. [ was not
q director of that corporation, but was
legally ana cthiCally free to contract
with it for my professional scrviccs.'
His employment by the Equitable
Mr.. Hill said. continued from 1892 to
1903.
!;cfcrrinE e. 'tho bringing out in the
hendricks report Of the fact that his
employment by the Equitable, Mr.. Hill
said: