The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-18
EleIds Recuperatina.

legal expenses. and replied, Every right
in the world If he knew about them.
Fields Recuperatins.
Witness could give no further informa-
ton on this voucher IL was shown that
Fields has been superintendent of the sup
ply department for fifteen years, and
more or less under the direction of the
Law department to look after legislation
Witness approved of this. lie did not
know where MIR. Fields is now, bur saw
him last summer, when he was helped
into the office of the witness.
At this point Mr.. Beck presented an af-
fidavit from Mr. Fields physician stat
ing that Fields was advised in April 10
take a long trip. either to southern Cali
fornia or southern France. The ply
stefan further deposed that he has not
seen Fields since July. and that ne Is
informed he is now in southern California.
Other vouchers for payments for legal
services that had been verified by Fields
were shown to Mr.. McCurdy. but he was
unable 10 explain any of them.
Authorized by Mecurdy.
A voucher for money for professional
services, paid to j. H Howard. jr.. of
$3.50, was marked ION account" and re-
payable on demand
This was authorized by Mr.. McCurdy.
but he did not know who ordered it
charged TO legal expenses. Asked who
Howard was, witness said he conducted
literary ana correspondence DuFedu anu
wrote for newspapers. Mr.. McCurdy fur
Their testified that he paid Howard about
$500 year for his services, and that
the $3.50 paid on the voucher in question
or a loan" Asked if he knew that Mr.
Fields had house in Albany, witness
said that. owing to his health, il was
thought better to live IN a private house
rather than at hotel, and SO Mr. Fields
with three other men, hired a house fer
a season and paid $500 for It, MIR. Nc
Curdy thought il was in the winter.
Pressed further. he stated that Mr.. Fields
was there on executive matters.
Mr. McCurdy did not know Andrew
Hamilton and never saw him. He was
surprised TO learn that the Mutual Life
Insurance company had ever paid him
any money.
Recess
Looked After Legislation.
At the afternoon session Mr.. McCurdy
was questioned. concerning Mr.. Fields
business in Albany, He replied;
He was looking after legislation. IL
legislation was not watched in every state
every corporation would be culpable TOR
not protecting Its interests. If legisia-
ton was not watched the insurance COM
panies would be legislated and superin-
tended out of business in five years. IL
is the duty of Insurance companies to
watch legislation in all the states.
Mr.. Hughes showed TO Mr.. MeCurdy a
petition for the payment of 5000 to e.
Frieke formerly insurance commissioner
OF Wisconsin, and a letter from Charles
Lewis, an attorney of Madison, Wis. The
letter stated that Mr.. Fricke would ac-
cept a retainer ito see that the interests
of the Mutual Life should come TO no
harm IN that state
Mr.. McCurdy did not remember the de-
tails.
Mission of Lewis.
Mr. McCurdy said Mr. Lewis told
me he had spent winter in educating
the minds of legislators in either Mich
igan Wisconsin or Ohio with regard to
certain legislation affecting the insurance
company. He proceeded 10 the capital
of the state and discovered the residences
OF political godparents, the relations and
neighborhoods of the legislators. Ii
meant journey after journey up and down
the state and the inducing of men TO 60
too, who would expect their expenses and
something.
spent some weeks getting acquainted with
the senators and congressman from that
state. He got on a friendly footing with
them so that he might speak TO them or
the damage the legislation would do the
insurance business, and got letters from
them back 10 the legislators in the state
assembly. For this he received $1,000 Tor
his own services and employing men, but
not one dollar except for legitimate puF-
poses"
Had to Pay the Men.
What did he pay men for?'
"Well, many of them were laymen ana
he had to pay them to sit and listen TO
him. | say this explains the matter ana
/ resent the suggestion that the money
WAS spent in improper ways but ! THINK
it would be improper to publish the names
of some of those he employed"
Can YOU recall at all what legislation
You thought it necessary to oppose
That would not be in my province.
If / undertook to run all the depart
ments ! would soon run myself under
ground"
to repeal section 81 of the insurance law
under which no motion TO force any do
nestle insurance company TO give an ac-
counting could be brought without the
consent of the attorney general?'
AT first Mr.. McCurdy said he did not
remember such bill, but finally said he
did remember That there was such bill
brought in by State Senator Bracket:
What attitude did you take IN the
mstter?"
None that ] am aware of. >"
Did you not pay William Barnes ST.
Of Albany, bill lately?t
mo. YesI'
mo Yes, now 1 remember he said lac
had appeared before committee anu
argued some questions betore-it. He sent
in his bill and / paid II, replied MI
McCurd..
Mr. Hughes produced a voucher and COR
respondence. This showed that SlJ,Uo was
paid Barnes for three arguments and GER
tain documents drawn up for the insur-
ance committee at Albany. The cores
pondence explained that the late Edward
l.. Short solicitor of the company. had
arranged to pay MIR. Barnes for opposing
the Brackett bill, the New York Life pay
ing him a like amount. The letter stated
that Mr.. Barnes had received $1,000 from
Judge Hamilton on behalf of the New
York Life and the bill to the Mutual was
for the same amount.
Mr.. McCurdy explained he had paid
more attention to this matter because
no permanent head of the law departmenr
had been appointed since the death Of
Mr.. Short.
in what sense was it to the interest
of the policy holders to oppose the re-
peal of this section?'
Simply Paid the Money.
Il do not suppose paid the least at
tention TO what the services We're. l ie-
ceived note from the acting head Of tbs
department and so authorized the pay
ment.
us there any possibility If the matters
are left 10 the law department Of bills
in the interest of the policy holders he
ing opposed"
IF they were. should get another sen
eral solicitor
''Will you give your own opinion of this
proposed repeal!
~ viii abandon my usual habit of novel
reading tonight and will give my rest at
tantion in this matter. do not like to