Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-17
Alfred 0. Crozier of Wilmington,
DEL, Tells Committee He
Heard Financier Predict.
DECLINED TO GIVE HIS NAME
A, conclusion of His Statement CHAIR
man Fowler Announced Hearings
On Aldrich I3ili Were Closed.

washington. Apr!l 16.rn picturesque
language. ut times violently denunoia-
torv Alfred o. Crozier of Washington.
Del. today told the house committee
m banking and currency that he had
,nearthed a secret scheme for n COM
pronIse on the Aldrich currency bill
He lntimated plainly that the members
Of the currency commission ana the
American Bankers association did not
act fairly with the banking and cur
rcncv committee in unanimously OPP
rosinr the Aldrich bill yesterday.
While opposing the bill "of princi-
ple," he said, ''the members of that
commission objected TO 1t because the
emergency currency was to bear per
cent interest and are ready to support
II now if the interest is reduced TO
per cent.
Last evening our distinguished
banking friends had 81 conference" he
said. To-day they are having anoth-
er with the wicked promoters of tho
wicked Aldrich and Vreeland bills.
What for? They are agreeing on a
compromise. on what basis? Just
simple little amendment reducing the
tax TO per cent and some other minor
changes"
He declared that this conference was
only held after it was stated that the
hearings before the banking and cur
rency committee had been closed.
IF this committee had not honored
me with this opportunity to speak at
this postscript to the public hearing"
said Mr. Crozier, "and II one of the dis
tinguished bankers who addressed you
yesterday had not mistaken me last
evening for one of their fraternity and
unreservedly told me the whole pro-
gram the trick would have been turned
quickly and suddenly. The business in
terests of the country might never have
known that they had been sold out by
their banking partners. and even this
committee might not in time have be-
come aware that the great men who
appeared here against the bill openly
were in fact favoring it privately.
The Adrich bill" Mr.. Crozier de-
clared, lis a gambling game from start
to finish, brought here by gamblers and
promoted by gamblers for gambling
purposes"
He asserted stoutly that he knew thu
late financial stringency was brought
on deliberately by Wall street men,
81 was told In Wall street that such a
Measure as tho Aldrich bill would be
brought before this Congress and that
q panic would precede It."
Mr.. Crozier said that II q commission
was appointed he would furnish a list
of witnesses to the counsel by whom
this charge can be proved.
AS an evidence OF the conspiracy to
bring on panic, Mr.. Crozier said a
prominent fnanctsr told the president
OF tho New York, New Haven e. Hart
ford railway that 1t was to be brought
on before the meeting OF Congress and
on that information he said the rail-
road borrowed $40, 900, 900. Urged to tell
who the f1nancier predicting panic
was, Mr.. Crozier said he did not like to
give his name at this time, but would
give It to the counsel of any commits
sion Congress might appoint to investi-
gate the causes of the recent financial
crisis.
Upon tho conclusion of Mr.. CToZters
statement. Chairman Fowler announced
that hearinsg on the Aldrich bill were
closed.
After a short executive session, the
committee adjourned until tomorrow at
lO:S0, when 1t Is expected an adverse re-
port on the Aldrich bill will BIO agreed
upon.
The Vreeland bill IS before the COM
mittee, and II Mr.. Vreeland should de-
sire to have hearings on that measure
he probably will be given an opportuni-
ty to present any testimony no desires.