The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-30

to the transactions with the Treasury
Department?
'.Nevsr advantages which any other
Wall Street firm might not have re-
ceived," replied Fisk.
Els 1t a fact that the Federal Re-
serve Bank occupied building be-
longing to your firm?"
Yes. during the first year and q
half of its existence
The witness said the negotiations
for the lease of the Offices to the
bank were conducted by the agent of
the building.
Ibid you talk to McAdoo about the
NATTER"
Best Available Onices.
II think / did. I told him that our
offices were best adapted to the bank
of any in the Street at that time.
said l would be very glad to have the
Federal Reserve Bank take a lease on
our offices. 1t was just after the out
break of the war. Wall Street was
closed up and very few Offices were
available"
Did you ask 1t as a favor?"
Il didn't ask it as favor. thought
We had right, however. to use any
proper influence we could use"
Two other concerns, he conceded,
sought to lease offices to the bank.
Mr.. Fisk could not recall the price
charged. but said he would procure
the Information for the committee.
Mr.. Whipple placed before the COM
mittee the accounts Of the market
dealings of the Fisk firm during the
leak" period and asked If they con-
tanned the names of any public on
cial. The witness replied in the mega
tive.
Fisk said that since the teak" in
quiry started Mr.. McAdoo once de-
clined to converse with him over a
telephone and again. in a Washing
ton hotel. said publicly that until the
investigation was ended they would
have no communication with each
other.
A week ago last Tuesday. after hav-
ing been excused temporarily from tes-
tifying before the committee in Wash
ington. Fisk said, he telephoned Nc
Adoo's Office that he would like to
see McAdoo.
Mr.. McAdoo," Fisk testified, said
through a clerk that he was busy and
would call me. Later. McAdoo wrote
me that II would he only wise and
proper for us to have no communica-
ton until the leak inquiry was over"
Asked by Representative Campbell
l.
Fisk said II was a week ago last Fri
day. II was leaving the New Will
lard Hotel when Mr.. McAdoo came
in he said. II said good morning
to him He turned and said to those
about him Until this leak inquiry is
over MIR. Fisk and / will have no
further communication.
Newspaper Man Retained.
Fisk said his firm retains in WASH
ington n newspaper man whose name
he could not recall. to keep IL in
formed regarding governmental &C
tivities in which II Is interested. lie
promised to furnish the representa-
tive's name later. He denied that his
firm ha,to received any communication
from the Washington representative
between December 10 and December
% relative to the peace note.
Mr. Whipple requested to look
through his files for previous COM
n1unications from the firms Washing
Ton representative, indicating pos
sibility OF "a search for other leaks"
Market Was OyerlpOught-
Fisk said that II was his 1udg-
ment that the market. prior to the
publication Of tho Presidents note
was tn an "overbought condition and
ready for a violent drop. All It want
ed was an excuse.
II never" he declared, talked.
dreamed OF. imagined pool for stock
market speculation with McAdoo or
any other government official Our
business IL not stock gambling"
In closing his testimony. Fisk said
he still thought Lawson's statement
probably was the result OF dis
ordered brain" and severely criticised
him for dragging the name OF Harvey
Fisk & Sons into the inquiry.
Lawson should be taken at his
word" Fisk said land placed behind
the bars on the basis OF perjury when
he wantonly handles the name OF a
reputable citizen. II his statement is
the result Of disordered brain. as II
appears to be, perhaps the good Lord
will take care OF 1t in His own way"
lawson. Il developed today. had
been ordered 70 remain in touch with
the committee as he may he recalled
at any time.
HasS Mass Of Records.
A mass Of records OF dealings on
the exchange from December 10 TO
December 20. when persons In pos
session OF advance Information re-
garding the peace note are said to
have profited by selling short" IL in
tho hands OF the committee. Returns
from Wall Street brokers OF records
for this thirteen day period requested
last week, have been satisfying. men,
hers of the committee said Expert
accountants in committee employ have
laid bare much information which It
is believed will be valuable IN tracing
the leak" II there was one
Declaration by Representative Ben
nett, OF New York. Republican, last
night that there was leak" forty
eight hours before the President mes
sage was released for publication
aroused much speculation as TO the
nature OF proof OF his statement