Milford chronicle., 1905-11-24
PLATT TELLS OF
CONTRIBUTIONS
Equitable Gave 10000 Regularly to
New York Republicans.
DEPEw's FRIEND A MENACE

New York, Nov. 22.-The identity Of
Senator Depew's "rambunctious
friend from up the river" was dis
closed in the session of the state legis-
lative insurance investigating COM
mittee by the testimony of John A.
Nichols, a lawyer under retainer by
the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
Mr. Nichols had written Senator De-
pew q letter referring to an individual
in the above terms, and this letter was
read at the session of the committee
Friday, when Senator Depew was on
the stand. The senator was unable to
recall who was meant by the ram
bunctious friend" but Mr. Nichols dis
closed a series of payments to w. s.
Manning, of Albany, former actuary,
who had been connected with the In
Vestigation of insurance companies IN
1877. Mr.. Hughes enquired as to a re-
port that Manning had been in posses
sion of the information that was sup
pressed during this investigation and
that would have been detrimental to
the Equitable. Mr.. Nichols could not
recall the suppression of the informar
tion, but he detailed the payment OF
sums of money over a long period to
Manning as an inducement to give up
his business as actuary, In which po-
sition he believed Mr. Manning was
menace to the Equitable Life. Man
ming was employed by certain people
10 bring charges against the Equitable
Society that the reserve was not so
large as it ought to be. Manning was
paid $3.50, Mr, Nichols said, so that
he would be favorable to the COM
pany" Witness later said this was
paid to keep Manning from being en-
ployed against the company.
Mr.. Nichols said he was paid re-
tainer from the Mutual and the New
York Life for the same duties-that
Of taking care OF Manning as Mr..
Hughes characterized it. He added
that the payments by the Equitable
for Manning were made to Mr.. Nichols
on vouchers bearing false names,
which Mr.. Nichols said was done to
protect Manning.
Aside from the disclosures made by |
Mr.. Nichols on the witness stand, the |
feature of the day was the appear
ancs of United States Senator Thomas
o. Platt, who did not hesitate to tell |
OF the contributions Of the insurance
companies to state campaigns. The
Equitable. the Mutual Life and the
New York Life were the only insur-
Ance companies that made such con-
tributions. The Equitable Life, the
senator said, contributed regularly
$40 900 to the state campaigns, the
Mutual Life the same sum frequently,
and the New York Life a sum not as
large and occasionally. These monies
were always delivered in cash to Sen
ltor Platt9s office by messenger, and
he turned them over to the state COM
mittee. The senator said he WAS ex-
Dected to- influence the legislature
when any legislation appeared that
was hostile to the insurance COM
Danies. Senator Platt said he believed
he had asked President R. A Nc
Curdy, of the Mutual Life, for a con-
ribtution when the needs we're very
great He had, however, never been
lsked to use his influence on any
Measure before the legislature, nor
lad he ever done so.
Gage B. Tarbell, the second vice
resident Of the Equitable Life, was
.lso a witness. He detailed a history
f the agencies of insurance COM !
anies and his own efforts to reduce !
he cost Of getting business. During
is testimony Mr.. Tarbell made a very U
Extensive explanation of the good that 9
insurance companies have done and I
be difficulties under which the work D
} carried on.