The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-28
Declines to Make an Account
 ing of Expenditures
EXPENSES NOT QUESTIONED
Secretary Mccall Is Unable to Throw Any Additional Light on Hamilton's Statement Before lnvesti-
 gating Committee.

New York, December 27.-Andrew Ham, ilton, the legislative agent for the New York Life Insurance company, who. ac- cording to testimony. has been entrusted with hundreds of thousands of dollars by the company and has not accounted for $235OOo, has been heard from by the legislative insurance investigating eom- mlttee but has declined to make an ac- counting
 A statement by Mir. Hamilton was read today. It was presented by Secretary John C. Mccall of the New York Life, who went to Paris to secure an account ing from Hamilton. In his statement Mr. Hamilton says that he is unable to pros duce any books or accounts because he understook the legislative matters for the life insurance companies with the express understanding that he was to make no accounting. Absolute secrecy was neces- sary in retaining assistance, therefore no checks were used in making payments.
 Calls It Confidential Service.
 MT. Hamilton went into an exhaustive explanation of the reasons for organizing this confidential service, as he character ized 1t. covering his methods of work and citing n number of legislative bills In which he had been interested. list of expenses from 1899 to 1904 was appended to the statement The sum of s235. 900 un- accounted for. he says would be greatly reduced by his running account still un- settled and open, and matter of good faith pending a settlement he offers to deposit slO0oOO with the company.
 Secretary Mccall was quetioned by Mir. Hughes as to what further light he could throw on the statement of MT. Hamilton, but he said he could give no Information. He did not question MT, Hahiltons fig ures, nor the large amounts for traveling expenses.
 He asked MT, Hamilton for a full statc- ment and relied on his honesty to expaIin everything He did insist that Mir Ham, llton produce checks or check books but MT. Hamilton had none.
 Says Morgan Is Liar.
 When MT. Mccall was excused, Henry D. Appleton of the state insurance de- partment was called. He completed his testimony begun last Friday. and during the examination was told that MT Nor gan, former president of the Bankers Life Insurance company. had testified that MT. Appleton had said it would cost the Bankers Life $50000 to reincorporate MT. Appleton, somewhat heatedly, said: If Morgan said that he Is a liar"
 He was called to order by Chairman Armstrong.
 Louis F. Payne. former superintendent of insurance of the state of New York, was called to the stand late in the day, and explained large number of appoint ments of confidential examiners on the ground that an unusual number of ex- aminatons made during his tenure of office
 MT. Hughes produced a list which showed that in 1897 two examinations i made and in 1898 two more were made. while In 1890. the last year of Mir. Payne's administration, the number had not yet been brought out when adjourn ment taken.
 The affairs of the Mutual Reserve Life Insurance company were taken up with the witness. and during his line of ex- animation MT. Payne stated that he had been opposed to MT. Burnham pres ident of Mutual Reserve. and said he had tried to get him out
 MT. Hughes asked why he had tried to | get him out and MT Payne fatly stated | "because l thought him crook MT. Payne will resume tomorrow. Mccall Is First Witness.
 John C. Mccall. secretary of the New York Life Insurance company was the first witness in the insurance investiga- ton today, when the last week of the committees work was taken up. Mir Mccall said he saw Hamilton in France, and that MT. Hamilton was seri- ously i'll. though able to walk about. MT. Mccall also presented q physicians tifcate describing MT. Hamilton's ill- ness and stating that the patient could not undertake voyage or leave France within two months. Mir. Mccall said he asked Hamilton for his check books but Hamilton refused to give them up. say ing that the stubs related to his own personal business. MT. Mccall did, how ever. get statement from Hamilton re- gardlng the expenditures of funds en- trusted 10 him by the insurance com panies. The statement was then produced and put in evidence.
 MT Hamilton in his statement tells why he cannot produce vouchers or can celled checks to show to whom and in what amounts he had poid out money. The statement Is to the effect that in consequence of accepted understanding with the companies interested with the New York Life in watching legislation and No demand was made by me for vouch- mo demand was made by me for vouch- CTS from other people. nor were there any books or accounts kept by me cover ing same.
 No Checks to Produce. If continues: Nor are there any of my checks to produce. Payment by my check would necessarily have disclosed the fact that the person receiving the check was under retainer by me and would thus necessarily have hampered that portion of my work that was most effioiaclous namely. absolute secrecy Cash drafts and certificates were general ly preferred. I cannot produce my check books or cancelled checks. which relate to affairs other than the New York Life Insurance company. I cannot produce any books of these particular accounts because none were kept by me Even If l did possess them. 1t does not appear to me that the demand for them would be fair and honest one. The under standing that had undertaken this was distinct and thorough. If 1t had