The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-18
DepeW'S Memory Fails at
 Critical Time. INTERESTING LETTERS
A Rambunctious Individual
 from Up the River.
Senator Chauncey N. Can Not Think who He Was, But Is Sure That He is Not . Poli-
 tIcian.

the morning session today Senator Armstrong's committee on insurance investigation finished week that TOT strenuousness and importance has been eclipsed by no one week since the in- vestigation was inaugurated.
 Besides being the week In which the most sessions have been held, the wit nesses have been the most important. including the Dig guns" in the finan- cial world as well as in the insurance business.
 Early in the week James Hagen Hyde was examined and made charges against E.. H. Hartman and former Governor Odell who successively ap- peared and denied Mir. Hyde's state nents and Mir. Hyde, being recalled, affirmed his testiniony. Then Senator Chauncey M. Depew was heard and when the session opened today. it was expected that before the day was over Senator PIatt would be called. He IS wanted to testify as to the collection of contributions to political campaign funds by the insurance companies. MT. OdeII having testified yesterday that us to last year. It is now expected that the Senator will be heard next week, possibly on Tuesday, when the sessions will be resumed.
 Hasn't Heard from Father.
 Frank E. Jordan. son of the former
  a previous session said he did not know where his father was or whether eith- CT his father or mother was living, was called again today and said that he kaA received a letter from his mother who was in Canada since he first tes- fiied; but that she said nothing of his father. He could tell nothing as to the amount of fire insurance business he had done for the Equitable or why he got it, but Is going to supply that information later.
 Samuel s. McCurdy. Assistant Regis tsar and not related to the McCurdys of the Mutual Life, said he had charge of tue vouchers for legal service. From him was gleaned a story of trouble in Caljfornia in 1897 when the Insurance Commissioner of that State demanded an examination. Thousands of dollars were spent by the Equitable in this matter as accounted by Mir. McCurdy, ana he justified the expenditure on the ssss sspnd tn. ths1 Equitable TSSf ssoaf .4oeSs sSs had no defense been made, hence the expenditure for counsel He seemed tu think the demands of the California Commissioner were exorbitant-
 Knowledge Rather Limited.
 Senator Depew was called to give any information he might possess as 10 q number of vouchers for legal ser vices but his knowledge was rather limited and many of the expenditures and eigners of these vouchers he had never heard of.
 One voucher to John A. Nichols for legal services was accompanied by letter to Senator Depew referring to "Our friend who comes around once a year." and your rambunctious friend up the river"
 The Senator said he knew Nichols had been retained at different times by the Equitable, but he did not know in what connection. Mir Nichols. he said. was once quarantine commissioner and used to be active in politics
 George E. Tarbell was called just be- fore recess and had hardly got started in his testimony when Senator Depew was called. When he resumed it was almost time for adjournment and Sena- tor Armstrong announced that the sub- committee of Senator Fully and Assem- blyman Cox would take the deposition of Mr. Squire at 3 o'clock, therefore no afternoon session would be held. |. MT. Tarbell told of his twenty-six years connection with the Equitable and his activities in the interest of the pol icyhoiders. He was opposed to money being spent for legislative purposes and thought the policyholders in a body could defeat any legislation inimical to their interests.
 Mutual Wouldn't Do It.
 He said he had tried to interest the New York Life and the Mutual Life in an agreement to appoint committee of one to look after such matters, but the officers of the Mutual Life said it was impracticable. MT. Tarbell knew of no money expended for legislative purposes. MT. Tarbell was on the stand when the adjournment until Tuesday was taken.
 Some Interesting Letters.
 Mir, HuEes counsel for the commit tee, read an extract from the letter which was written by Nichols to the Senator in which the following ap- peared:
 some one gets round this time of the year"
 Do you recall" asked Mir. Hughes, "who this some one isT
 T do not recall his name" said Senator Depew.
 Here Mir. Hughes again read from the letter:
 very rambunctious of late and wants to know, you know"
 Mir. Hughes asked if that referred to the same man,
 T believe so; but do not recall his name said the Senator.
 He added that the man was not con nected with the legislature and he
  politics but was an insurance man.
 Did you know Thomas D. Husted," asked MT. Hughes.
 T did; very well. He is now dead. He was the son of General Husted and he was retained by the Equitable up 10 the time of his death" said the Sena- tor.
 The letters concerning which MT. Hughes questioned Senator Depew were as follows:
 Copies of the Letters.
 New York. Dec. 19. 1896. My Dear Depew-My friend. who suaIly gets around at this time the year, has written me several Gters to which have not replied. He writes me that he will be here
 nday or Tuesday and desires to have
 help him as usual What shall
 Faithfully yours.
 John A. Nichols."
 New York, Dec. 1. 1900. My Dear Senator--Our friend up the q sr has been very rambunctlous of NtA