Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-10
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
 LISTENS TO TESTIMONY
Britisher Was Guest of the Insurance In vesigating Committee--Robart Olyphant of the Mutual Life Expenditure Department Was the First Witness To-Day

New York, Oct. 10Sir John Leng. member of the British parliament was guest of the insurance investi- gating committee at it's session to- day.
 The first witness was Robert Oly- plant, chairman of the expenditure committee of the Mutual Life Insur- ance Go. From him it was expected to learn what became of S75,000 charged to legal expenses. This sum was spent in three instalments of $25,000 each, the last instalment being paid the day after the preside~tial election last year.
 Mir Olyphant said there is no limit to the money the committee on expen- ditures may authorize to be paid out The Mutual Life Insurance Go main tains q confidential fund for legal ex- penses. The details of payments for this fund were not brought before the board of trustees, but merely the total amounts. Bills came to this commit tee from the law department after being duly authorized by the executive officers. The moneys were usually drawn in cash.
 An entry of $25,000 on the books January 30, 1904, witness said, was paid to him in cash. He was assured this was needed for the policy holders benefit and that all was regular. T)r Gillette, one of the yice-presider ts, told him it was for law purposes. Wit ness did not feel responsible to tho company, an executive officer having told him 1t was perfectly legal. He took no vouchers for this payment, nor for others in August and December. 1904
 Money was similarly expended, Mir Olyphant said, in the term of office of his predecessor, I. Hobart Herrick, and it never occurred to MT 0lyphant to ascertain to whom the money went be yond the word of an executive. MT Hughes then read the bylaws govern ing the expending committee and call ing for reports of expenditures of this committee. Witness said no reports were made.
 In reply to questions by Mir Hughes the witness said he had heard contri- buttons were made to campaign com mlttees and he supposed they came out of this confidential fund. Dr Gil- lette had told him that campaign con tributl0ns had been made and there was no other fund that this money could be taken from.
 Mir Hughes then asked that Dr Gll- lette be summoned. James M Beck, counsel for the Mutual Life Insurance Co. then asked that Mir Grannis be ex- cused if Dr Gillette appeared as there were already present the president two vice presidents and the general manager of the company, and some body was needed to run the business. Mir Hughes insisted. however, that he could excuse nobody, but would pu' the company to as little inconvenience as possible.
 Questioning Mir Olyphant further. Mir Hughes brought out that there were five payments in 1903. of $25,000 each. all made in the same way as those in 1904, and out of the confiden- tial funds.
 Waiter R. Gillette. vice president of the Mutual Life Insurance Co. was before the insurance Investigating committee today and testified that the Mutual Life Insurance Co contributed S40.O00 to the republican campaign fund for the last national election in 1904 He also stated that the company contributed S35.O00 to the republican campaign fund in 1900 and like sum in 1896. Mir Gillette gave the same reasons for these contributions as did John n. Mccall of the New York Life. saying the St Louis platform and the free silver bill of the democratic party was a menace to the policy holders. He also testified that the company paid s72.S61 last year for luncheons for the clerical force in this city. This Is at the rate of about S250 day.
 Richard A. McCurdy. president Of the New York Mutual Life Insurance Co. was called as witness this after. noon.