The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-21

Ass stant Registrar Of Equitable lel's
Of Fat Retainers-Tarbell Opposed
Money Being Spent to influence
Legislation.
New York. Nov 1S.-With the end
of Yesterdays session Senator Arm
strong's committee on insurance inyes-
tigation finished a week that for siren
uousness and importance has been
cclipsed by no one week since the in
vcstigation was inaugurated. 1t was
expected that Senator Plat would be
called. He is wanted to testify as 10
the collection of contributions to polit-
zeal campaign funds by the insurance
companies. Mr.. Cdell having testified
that Senator Platt collected all such
monies up to last year. 1t is now eX-
pected that the senator will be heard
early next week, possibly on Tuesday
when the sessions will be resumed.
Samuel s. McCurdy, assistant regis
trar OF the Equitable. and net related 10
the McCurdy's of the Mutual Life said
he had charge of the vouchers for legal
service. From him was cleaned a story
Of trouble in California in 1897, when
the insurance commissioner Of that
state demanded an examination. Thou
sands Of dollars were spent by the
Equitable in this matter. as accounted
by Mr. McCurdy. and he justified the
expenditure on the ground that 1t
would have cost the Equitable about
$4,000 had no defense been made
hence the expenditure for counsel He
seemed to think the demands OF the
California commissioners were exor-
bitant.
Mr. McCurdy said he did not know
when David p. Hills retainer as coun-
sci to the Equitable Society began. The
first voucher from Mr. Hill, the witness
had. was dated March 20. 1895. Mr..
HIS letter to J. w Alexander ac-
companying this voucher and acknowl-
edging the receipt of the retainer Great
ed much laughter In a note at the end
of the letter Mr. Hill wrote: Il am
feeling pretty we'll now that congress
has adjourned and the country is safe.
When the legislature adiourns the state
will be safe"
The package Of vouchers were gone
through by Mr. Hughes, who asked as
TO the legal services rendered by the
signers Of the various vouchers. Vouch-
ers for $4,000 and $4,000 in 1896, signed
by Tracy. BOardman and Platt were
found. The witness said this firm was
not regularly retained and he did not
know what legal services they per-
formed.
Senator Depew was called to give any
information he might possess as TO a
number Of vouchers for legal services.
but his knowledge was rather limited,
and many Of the expenditures and
signers Of these vouchers he had never
heard of. One voucher TO John a.
Nichols for legal services was accom-
panied by a letter to Senator Depew
referring to "our friend who comes
around once a year" and your ram
functions 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. Mr.. Nichols, he said, was
once quarantine commissioner and used
to be active in politics.
Gage r. Tarbell told of his 26 years
connection with the Equitable and his
activities in the interest of the policy
holders. He started as solicitor in
Greene. n Y, and later was given
general agency for the southern tier OF
counties Of this state, with headquar-
ters at Binghamton He was opposed
to money being spent for legislative
purposes. and thought the pOlicyhold-
ers in a body could defeat any legisla-
ton inimical to their interests. He said
he had tried to interest the New York
Life and the Mutual Life in an agree
ment to appoint a committee Of one to
look after such matters, but the OIL
GERS Of the Mutual Life said it was i'm
practical. Mr. Tarbell knew OF no
money expended for legislative pur-
poses.