The sun., 1906-02-11
no STRIFE ~ THE Mutual.
President Peabody Denies Reports OF
Fight on the Truesdale Committee.

Fight on the Iruesuaie SOH'th''c''
President Charles A. Peabody of the
Mutual Life Insurance Company denied
emphatically Yesterday that the compsny's
self-nvestigatng committee, OF which
William II, Truesdale Is chairman, has
ever been hampered in its work by the
Mutuals present mana cement or that there
had ever been any desire on the part OF
himself and those associated with him to
oppose full and complete investigation.
President Peabody's remarks we're oc-
casoned by the stories printed yesterday
to the effect that there has been split in
the investigating committee over the con-
currence of two of its members in a PROPOSE
ton to withdraw certain acquisitions for
information made on President Peabody.
The two members referred to are william
H. Truesdale, the committees chairman,
and John W. Auchincloss. They have
been reported to be lined up against Stuyve-
SAINT Fish, the remaining member OF the
committee, over the requisition proposition,
with the result that the work of the COM
mittee is practically at standstill
Mr.. Peabody said that if there was
split in the committee he had no know
ledge Of It. There were, of course, ordinary
individual differences OF opinion among
the committeeman but 90 far as he knew
there had been no actual falling out and
nothing had occurred which would warrant
the statement that the committee had dis
continued its examination Of the companys
affairs. The committees accountants were
still busy going over the company's books
and records.
In regard to the reports that he had re-
fused to furnish the committee with in
formation called for and had adopted a
policy of covering up the transactions in
the company President Peabody said
"No request by the committee for in
formation has ever been denied by me.
l have always stood ready and willing to
give them any information that is desired
concerning every phase OF the company
business
MIR Peabody added that the attitude
of the board Of trustees toward the COM
lpitlee was equally open and aboyeboard.
His policy, he said, was to give the COM
mittee the fullest information possible.
In regard to the report that two members
acquisitions for information which might
have formed the basis for legal action
against certain Of the trustees Mr.. Pea
body said:
III the committee will send a request
for any information about any member
Of the finance committee or any other
member Of the board of trustees, will
furnish it if it Is to be had in the company.
MIR Peabody declared that he was will
ing to 90 to the limit Of his resources in
this matter and that he knew nothing OF
tie withdrawal Of any acquisitions. Incl
,'autally Mr.. Peabody expressed the opinion
that there we're no more scandals IN the
company which would he Of interest to the
new -lapprs He believed that all those
things had been disclosed
He declares that every recoIamcndatio
whiCA he TruesdaIe invest igating commit
ts' has made has received the prompt at
trn'iun Of the board Of trustees and that
all havt. Been adopted with the exception
OF ;hc ono cor cernng alleged claims against
certain individuals. In a matter Of 70
great importance the board Of trustees.
Ar Peabody SAID, deemed it best before
taking any detiI tie step to submit the quee-
ton of the e q inns TO the best available
legal authorltg In the opinion Of the
board no one was more thoroughly compe-
tent to pass on the questions than Joseph
II. Choate. and for that reason they were
referred to him.
The report of the Armstrong investigat-
ing committee will not be made public on
Monday, ga has been anticipated. The
committee has met with delays in its work
and the report will not be ready now prob
badly before the 20th Of the month. Charles
+. Hughes. the committee's counsel. had
expected to start for Europe on a vacation
before this but he will remain until the
report is finished