The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-12-14
Run Into Insurance Scandals
WieIds Pitchfork.
ASKS POINTED QUESTIONS
Calls on Secretary Shaw to Know it
National Banks Contributed
to Campaign
Funds.

tions by insurance companies occu-
pied the major portion of the time
of the senate Thursday. 1t came up
in connection with Mr.. Tillman's res
olution calling for an investigation OF
national bank aid in politics, and was
exploited b. the South Carolina SEN
ator in a speech of some length. 1t
was eeuched in characteristic Ian
guase and attracted considerable at
tentlon. The resolution, directing
the secretary of the treasury to re-
port whether the reports OF the ma
tional bank examiners show that the
banks have made campaign contribu-
tions in recent years, was adopted at
the close of Mr.. Tillman's remarks.
Outlining his reasons for the in
quiry, Mr.. Tillman called attention to
the recommendation made by the
president in his annual messages OF
1904 and 1909 for the enactment OF
law for protection against bribery and
corruption in connection with elec-
Nous. He quoted with especial en-
phasis the presidents remarks con-
cerning campaign contributions by cor
porations. "Our chief executive has
taken very progressive stand to Sc
cure purity in elections" he said, and
added: Every good American will
say well DONE and look for progress
along that line"
He concluded that the secretary
might not have the facts wanted, but
he thought he ought to have. Ino-
dentally, Mr.. Tillman said that he had
been informed that the comptroller
of the currency has been investigat-
ing the subject of bank contributions
with the view of instituting legal pro.
ceedinss. i,
Continuing, Mr.. Tillman said that
the comptroller has means Of getting
information which others have not,
and AIDED that if he. would push in
his probe he can make discoveries
that wsuld be worth while" He ad-
ded that his reasons for requesting
the Information are founded in the
revelations concerning the insurance
companies.
ut has been shown by the testimony,
or confession of a member Of this
BODY he ssid, that for ten years the
insurance corporations have been max.
ing annual donations to the republi-
can party, with the understanding
that they should be protected from
adverse legislation at Albany" He
went on to say that such revelations
were not agreeable.
Il am the holder OF small policy
in one OF the mutuals," he said, land
I don't like to have my dividends cut
down in order to give Mr.. McCurdy
$15O,o0e and his sisters, his cousins
and his aapts $4,000 each.
Mr.. Bailey asked whether the in
surance company contributions to the
national republican campaigns had
been returned to the donor.
81 understand" said Mr. THlman,
"that the president was going to have
Mr. Cortelyou return them. But 1 do
not know whether he has done SO.
do know that I haven't got my
share"
Mr.. Bailey said he had not supposed
that the president would make a Sec
ond Recommendation on the subject
of punishiHg campaign contributors
until the money had been returned.
"Ah, Mr.. President" responded Mr..
Tillman. "all the Turveydrops and
Peclksniffs are not dead yet, although
would not for a moment be under.
stood as comparing our strenuous oc.
cupant of the white house with those
characters. What we want is results.
and these we do not seem to have
procured 50 far