The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-01-29

cAcCutiNc SESSION 10 put 10 you - it1p
fact that the federal reserve bank oe-
eupied building belonging to your
firm?"
Yes, during the first year and
half OF its existence" The witness said
he personally had nothing to do with
the lease OF the offices to the bank.
these having been conducted by the
agent of the building
Talked to Secretary.
Did you talk to the secretary OF the
treasury about the matter?" pursued the
attorney.
II think | did. | told him that our
offices were best adapted to the bank
of any IN the street at that time. ! sail
would be very glad to have the federal
reserve bank take lease on our offices.
II was Just after the outbreak OF the
war. Wall street was closed up and
very few offices were available
Did you ask II as favor1"
Il did not ask it as a favor. | thought
we had right. however, to use any
proper influence we could use"
Two other concerns, he conceded.
were seeking to lease offices TO the
bank at the same time. Mr.. Fisk could
not recall the price charged. but said
ne would procure the information for
the committee. also a copy of the lease
and the names OF the two other CON
Germs. Returning to stock market af-
fairs, Mr. Whipple placed before the
committee the accounts OF the market
dealings OF the Fisk firm during the
leak period and asked il they CON
tanned the names Of any public official.
The witness replied in the negative
McAdoo Refuses Conference.
Fisk said that since the leak" in.
Quiry started Mr. McAdoo once de-
clined to converse with him over a
telephone and again in a Washington
hotel, and said publicly that until the
investigation was at an end they would
have no communication with each
other. A week ago last Tuesday, after
having been excused temporarily from
testi'ylng before the committee in
Washington. Fisk said he went to the
New Willard hotel and tclephoned Nc.
Adoo's office that he would like TO sec
him
Mr. McAdoo did not answer me-"
Fisk testified. "He said through clerk
that he was quite busy and would call
me. Later | received letter in whic'
he said it would only be wise and
proper for us to have no communica-
ton until the leak inquiry was over
Notified Friends.
Asked by Representative Campbell
when he last talked with Mr.. McAdoo.
he said II was week ago last Friday.
Il was leaving the New Willard hotel
when Mr. McAdoo came in" he said.
Il said Good morning to him and he
passed me Then he turned and said to
those about. Until this leak inquiry is
over Mr.. Fisk and ! will have no fur
ther communication
Prior to that time, Mr.. Fisk said, he
had not talked with Mr. McAdoo Tor
several months. lie added however,
that recently he had had members OF his
firm call Mr.. McAdoo by telephone and
request him to grant an audience TO
| an unnamed man who was on his way
| to Serbia in the interest Of a relief
fund
Denied Advance Information.
Fisk said his firm retains in Wash
ington a ncwspapcrman whose name he
could not recall, to keep il informed
regarding governmental matters in
which it is, interested. lie promised to
furnish the representative name later.
He derhed specifically, however. that
his firm had received any communica-
ton from It's Washington representa-
tive between December 10 and Decem-
Der . relative to the peace note.
Mr.. Whipple requested Fisk to look
through his files for previous communi-
cations from the firms Washington rep
resentative, MITIGATING possibility Of a
search for other leaks
Ready for Drop.
In response to questions from Repre-
sentative Bennett. the banker said that
it was his Judgment that the market
prior to the publication of the preii.
dents note was in IAN overbought con.
di,ion and ready for violent drop. All
it wanted was an excuse"
II never he declared. talked,
dreamed of or imagined a pool for
stock market speculation with Mr.. Nc
Adoo or any other government official
Our business is notstock gambling"
LAWSON Criticised.
In closing his testimony Fisk made
the voluntary statement that he still
thought Lawson's statement was the re-
suit of "disordered brain" and Sc