Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-30
NEVER IN JOINT ACCOUNT
WITH SECRETARY M'ADOO
Statement That Banker Boasted
of Controlling Official
Called "Rornancing."
BERNsToRFF AGAIN MENTIONED
AS Result Of Developments, Com.
m'tteemcn Believe Hearing Is
Materially Shortened.
IBv Associated Prcsn.l

~ NSSOCtated Press.
NEW YORK. January oa.-Somc q,
the most sensational charges Tbo,,..
W. Lawson made IN tcstifyinS recently
IN the House Eulcs Committee .lealen
investigation were vehemcntly denied
to-day by Fliny Fisk and Archibald s.
White. two widely known New YorI,
Hhancicrs. when they appeared here
before the congressional inquisitors
Fisk. named by Lawson as tho
banker member OF an alleged trio
composed OF Cabinet member. Secre-
tary McAdoo: a member OF Congress.
known as Senator o." and a banker
VINO had Joint account in Wall Street.
declared emphaticaliy that no such
combination ever existed
White. who was declared by Lawson
TO have told him that Fisk had boosted
to him that he controlled Sccrctarv
McAdoo. and had offered to call tho
secretary from his bed BY telephone
at 1850 o'clock in the morning to prove
his assertion. insisted that Lawson wa,
"romancinG."
As result or these dcnials. commit.
'een'cn tonight expressed belief that
the length of the hearings here had
been shortened materially Some said
they would close within three or four
not arise. Examination Of certain
Stock Exchange records for thirteen
days preceding the sending of the
PRESIDENTS peace note. or several
bankers and brokers regarding gem
eral financial conditions during this
period and further examination Of
Barney Baruch, heavy short" seller,
and FEW minor witnesses is expected
to bring the end here. The commit
tee now Is intent on bringing the In
quiry to close with an investigation
only OF the alleged pcace-note leak"
NAME or NON BERNSTORFF
AGAIN BROUGHT INTO PROBE
The name OF Count Won Be-rstorfr
was again brought into tho inquy to-
day In questions put to White, but
with what purpose was not made
known. sherman l.. Whipple, counsel
for the committee. wanted to know il
just prior to the publication OF the
Presidents note White had arranged
Il meeting between the German ambas-
sador and Lawson. White. after say
ing that he had frequently entertained
Won Bernstorff at his home here and
they were friends of long standing.
testified that Lawson had sought to
nave him arrange meeting with tho
ambassador. but that the request had
been made at least a year and a hnlr
ago. White said he did not arrange
the meeting and did not know whether
il ever took place.
Whipple inquired closely into Whites
friendship with Lawson, and devcloped
that the two frequently met i'm New
York. but White would not admit that
they had discussed stock market spec-
ulation. except in general terms
Il never operated in the market with
Lawson or participated in any OF
his deals" volunteered the witness.
Neither did he know the Presidents
note until il was published. he said.
While MIR. Fisk admitted close bus
mess associations with Mr.. McAdoo
prior to the latter's entering the Cab
met. the banker insisted that since
that zine their "clations had been
largely social. and that he had leaned
backward" III SO Gar .ts seeking favors
from the *crreiar. were concerned.
The last business dealings he had with
Mr.. McAdoo was in connection. he said,
with the sale Of in excess of $4,000
worth Of securities which the secretary
left with the firm OF Harvey Fisk &.
Sons for disposal when he became a
Cabinet member. This account was
FEDERAL RESERVE RANK
IN FISK OFFICE BUILDING:
Whipple. however. elected from the
banker ii statement that the Federal
Reserve Bank OF New York had taken
II lease for a year and a half OF offices
owned by the bankers firm Mr. Fisk
admitted that he had suggested to the
secretary that the offices were we'll
adapted TO the use OF the bank, but
said that this suggestion had been
made weeks before the lease was exc
cutcd"
The committee then called the man
agcr of the Fisk office building Kenyon
Il. ConSer, who rccited tho ncgotta-
tions for tho lease. lie said he had
broached the subject TO Secretary Me-
Adoo and told him that Mr.. Fisk WAS
anxious TO lease the offices. The sec
rctary told him. he testified. that he
wanted nothing to do with the mat
ter. but when pressed for an opinion
said: "All things considered. | don't
think il would make bad place"
According TO MIR. Fisk. the superior
vault facilities of the offices were the
reason for the choice made
MIR. Fisk said the negotiations
for the lease of the Offices to the bank
we're conducted by tho agent OF the
building.
Did you talk to Mc.Adoo about the
II think | did. told him that our
offices were best adapted 70 the bank
OF any in the Street a; that time. g
said would I've very glad TO have the
Federal Reserve Bank ,akoa lease OF
our offices. 1t was just after the OUT