New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-08
Money Trust Committee De-
cides to Send Its Own Rep
reSentative to Get Facts
of His Illness.
TWO AFFIDAvITS ON FILE
New York Broker Refuses to
Answer Questions and Will
: Be Cited for Contempt
Insurance Companies
Heads Tell of Stocks.
frrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

washington, JAN T. ne uJo IIlohcy
trust investigating committee is un-
willing to accept as final the state
ments Of William Rockefeller's physi-
clans that their patient is too i'll to
appear as a witness. The committee
decided tonight to send its own rep
resentative to report OH the physical
condition of Mr.. Rockefeller
Affidayits Of Drs. Walter F. Chap
pel and Samuel w. Lamont, of New
York were put into the record late
to-day. The physicians jointly declare
that William Rockefeller, now said to
be ont of the country, is unable to ap-
pear as a witness on January 13. The
affidavit of DR.. Chappell reads:
/ am a physician, having my office at
No. East j5th street.
During the last eleven years | have
been I'm almost constant attendance upon
William Rockefeller, who has been suf-
fering from equity Inflammation OF the
larynX and windpipe, accompanied by a
swelling on the vocal cords. This has
pecessitated at various times six opera
lions. the last being Of a more serious
character
bad intermittent attacks of 9dema Of
the larynX. accompanied by some stenois
ana spasms. This condition Is brought on
by talking. excitement or disturbance OF
the stomach. and severe attack would
terminate fatally.
Advised Silent Treatment.
Since the last operation Mr.. Rockefeller
has also been unable to talk above a
whisper and cannot express himself In
that way more than a few minutes with
safety. | have advised complete rest
of the larynx. or, in other words, the
silent treatment.
Mr. Rockefeller is in his seventy-second
year, and under my advice he has care
fully avoided all excitement or strain
since the last operation. 1t would not
only be an act Of inhumanity to subject
him to the excitement incident 20 his ex-
animation as a witness at this time. but.
In my Judgment 1t would actually en-
danger his life.
DIR. Lamont, Of No. 13O East 35th
street, makes affidavit that DR.. Chap
pell has correctly described" the con-
dition o: the millionaire. and con-
tinues:
Mr. Rockefeller has a distinctly pro-
nounced gouty tendency, and a further
condition. 10 which DR.. Chappell does not
refer in his aff1davit. is the tremor habit,
or shaking of the head and hands. which
has existed ever since | have attended
Mr.. Rockefeller and is the result or ad-
vanced years and general condition. the
shaking of his hand makes II very dim
cult for him to write continuously with.
out great effort for more than few min
utes.
In the present highly sensitive and
critical condition Of his throat any ef-
fort Of strain or excitement might pro-
duce a condition that would not only i'm
peril Mr.. Rockefeller's life, but might
very reasonably be expected to cause his
death
Threatened contempt proceedings
against a recalcitrant witness and the
testimony of the heads of several life
insurance companies regarding the
operations of these companies gave di-
yersity to the hearing Of the commit
tee to-day
George r. Baker, a director In the
United States Steel Corporation and
other big financial concerns, Is to be
an early witness, and the committee
regards his testimony as important a.
that Of ]. Pierpont Morgan.
Broker Won't ANSWER
George G. Henry, Of the firm Of Salo-
mon & Co.. Of New York, declined to-
day to answer several questions asked
by Samuel Untermyer. the committee
counsel. and was threatened with con-
tempt proceedings. Chairman Pu)o
and Mr.. Untermyer told him his con-
Duct would be reported to the run
Banking and Currency Committee and
thence to the House. "for such action
as the House may see fit to take MT.
Henry merely nodded his head. and Is
apparently willing to make test case
OF his recalcitrancy.
Mr.. Henry declined to answer ques-
tions regarding the operations or the
syndicate which f1oated the stock OF the
California Petroleum Company. Tho
questions. he held, amounted to "an
unlawful intrusion" into private busl-
ness.
The New York broker gave the
names Of three of the firms interested
in the underwriting Of the stock-Salo-
mon G. Co., Hallgarten & Co. ana
Jewisohn Brothers. He refused to fur-
nish the name Of the fourth concern in
terested, nor would he name twenty
four officers Of national banks in New
York. Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee
who were said to be interested in the
4otation of the stock. Mr.. Henry said
he.did not desire TO divulge the names
of those on the syndicate lists, as this
was confidential information.
The witness read statement OF his
attitude. said to have been framed By
ex- Senator Spooner, in which he chaf-
lenged the right Of the House investi-
gators to demand the information.
Several times witnesses have shown q
reticent disposition regarding their
business affairs. but Mr.. Henry Is the
first who has been openly threatened
with contempt Of the House.
After the hearing the committee pre-
pared forms to be submitted to the full
committee, charging Mr.. Henry with
contempt.
Mr.. Henry said that in the flotation
of the California petroleum company
the national bank officers. whose names
he would not give, made a profit OF
$4,000, and the banks a like amount