The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-01-29
GOTHAM BANKER
DENIES DEAF
WITH n 'il|0O
Leak Investigation Resumed at
New York to Be Restricted
In Scope
FL1NY FISK FIRST
WITNESS TO BE CALLED
President Wilson s Son-in-law Not
Dragged Out of Bed, as Law.
son Declared
ASSOCIATED Prese)

(ASSoclateo pFSSo)
New York, Jan. 29.-Pliny Fisk, 4
New York banker, named by Thomas
w. Lawson as the banker in the mys.
terious cabinet member.setstor! or!bank.
er" investment trio, denied ut the
leak" inquiry today that he ever had
been interested with Secretary Nc.
Adoo and a senator in any joint stock
deal.
Drags Him Out of Bed.
Testifying as the first witness from
the floor, House Committeeman Fiske
was questioned about an alleged meet.
ing with Archibald White, OF which
Lawson said White told him. Accord.
ing to Lawson, White said Fiske had
dragged McAdoo out of bed as early
as a. m. The meeting described
never took place, said the witness.
81 never mentioned McAdOo's name
to White nor he to me-" the witness
said. As to knowing McAdoo, Fiske
said he had business relations with
him only, but since he became secre-
tary he had no relations with him."
Blame Newspapermen.
Representative members Of the
house leak" inquiry committee con-
to hunting the source Of the note leak.
Questions were raised by Democrats
as to whether an investigation Of the
ethics and rules of the stock exchange
come within the scope of the commit
tee.
Democratic members said they
wanted to find the leak and that they
did not think probe OF short selling
was necessary. They expressed tho
idea that certain newpapermen passed
along the confidential information.
Rented Offices. r.''1 u
After denying that his firm had ever
received from the treasury depart
ment ANY advantages which any oh
erTWalf Street firm Eht not have. ~
ceived," Pliny Fisk admitted that the
federal reserve bank had leased one.
es in a building owned by his firm.
after he had suggested to Secretary
McAdoo that the Offices were th0
"best adapted of any in the street, %
Fisk, member of Harvey, Fisk &
Sons, bankers, was the first witness
called at the reopening of the leak
inquiry here today. -; -
Controlled McAdoo. D,,
Thomas w. Lawson declared at tho
hearing in Washington that Archi.
bald White told him Fisk had boast.
ed to him that he controlled Secre.
tary McAdoo and had offered late one
night to summon McAdoo from his
bed by telephone. Lawson also said
that he had heard Fisk was connect
ed with the peace note leak"
Decision to call Fisk was reached
today at an executive session Of the
and it's counsel, Sherman
l.. Whipple. The meeting was entire.
ly harmonious and all agreed that the
inquiry now should be directed speci.
fically to the alleged peace note leak"
Have you ever purchased or caus'
ed to be purchased in the last four
years, any securities In which Secre.
AIRY McAdoo was interested?" coun.
eel Whipple asked.
Il have not, SIR" Fisk declared with
great emphasis.
As one OF the bankers for the Hud.
son & Manhattan terminal, of which
Mr.. McAdoo was president, Fisk said.
le came in contact with McAdoo, and
Harvey, Fisk & Sons; also closed up
ome Of the secretary's business when
le entered the cabinet, but since that
ime he has had virtually no business
citations with him.
Made No Requests.
I'm the last four years." Whipple
sked, have you made any requests
Il the secretary?'
Il have not" Fisk said. ITO use q
lonely expression, I have leaned
ackward in that respect"
Fisk said that he had personal cor
with the secretary, but
ad preserved none of it.