The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-22
IDENTITY OF DEPEW'S
 GANTAHKEROUS FRIEND
IF. S MANNING, OF ALBANY, A FORMER ACTUARY,
 THE MAN

Money Paid to Him by the Equitable to
 Give Up His Business as He Was a
 Menace to the COmpany-Senator
 PIatt Tells Boldly of the Contribu.
 tions of the Various Insurance Com
 panies to Republican State Campaign
 Funds-Expected in Return to In-
 fluenee Legislature When Any Legis-
 Iation Appeared Hostile.
 New York. Nov. 21.-The identity of Senator Depew's "cantankerous friend from up the river'' was disclosed in the session of the legislative insurance in- vestigation committee by the testimony of John A. Nichols, lawyer under re- tainer by the Equitable Life Assurance company MT. Nichols had written Senator Depew a letter referring to an individual in the above terms, and this letter was read Friday when Senator Depew was on the witness stand. The senator was unable to recall who was meant by the "cantankerous frfend." but to-day MT. Nichols disclosed a ser- ies of payments to w. s. Manning. Of Albany, former actuary who had been connected with the investigation of in- surarce companies in 1877. MT Hughes enquired to-day as to report that Manning had been in possession of in- formation that was suppressed during this investigation and that according to report would have been detrimental to the Equitable. MT. Nichors could not recall the suppression of the infor- nation but he detailed the payment of sums of money over considerable per- iod to Manning as an inducement ia give up his business as actuary. in which capacity, according to the wit ness, he was a menace to the Euurtable Life.
 Mr Nichols said he was paid d re- tainer from the Mutual and the New York Life for the same duties, that of taking care of Manning, as Mir. Hughes characterized 1t. The paw ments 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 testimony of Nichols. the interesting testimonx If tIae day. was that of United States Senator Thomas c. Platt, vino did not hesitate to tell of the contributions of the in- surance companies to state Campaigns. The Equitable, the Mutual Life and the New York Life were the only insurance companies that made any contributions. The Equitable Life, the senator said. contributed regularly $10,0O0 a year to the state campaigns, the Mutual Life the same sum frequently, and the New York Life a sum not as large. and oc- casionally. These monies were always delivered in cash to Senator Platt,s of- fee by messenger, and he turned them over to the state committee. The sen ator said he supposed he was expected to influence the legislature when any legislation appeared that was hostile to the insurance companies, but he has never been asked to do so nor had he done so. Senator Platt said he believ- ed he had asked President R. A. Me- Curdy of the Mutual Life for a coYltri- button when the needs were very great. He knew nothing about contributions to the national campaign.
 Gage E. Tarbell, second vice presi- dent of the Equitable, was also a wit ness again to-day. His testimony Fri day was interrupted by the adjourn meT1t, and to-day he continued his ex- planation of the agency system, of which he had charge. and the manner
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