The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-22

Al EW YORK. Nov. 21.-The identity
IN OF Senator Depew's "cantankerOus
friend from up the river" was
disclosed in the session of the state
legislative insurance investigating
committee today by the testimony of
John A. Nichols. a lawyer under re-
tainer by the Equitable Life Assurance
society. Mr.. Nichols had written Sem
ator DepeW a letter referring TO an
Individual in the above terms, and this
letter was read at the session of the
committee Friday when Senator De
pew was on the stand. The senator
was unable 10 recall who was meant
by the "cantankerOus friends" but to-
day NJ. Nichols disclosed a series of
payments TO W. $. Manning of Albany,
a former actuary who had been con-
nected with the investigation of in
suranCe companies in 1877. Mr. Hughes
inquired as 10 a report that Manning
had been IN possession OF information
that was suppressed during this inVes-
legation and that would have been Diet
rimental TO the Equitable. Mr. Mich
OILS could not recall the suppression
OF Information but he deLi ed the Iay-
ment OF sums of money over a con-
siderable period to Manning as an in
actuary. in which capacity he believed
Manning was a menace TO the Equi-
table company.
Appearance of Plat.
Aside from the disclosures made by
Nichols ON the witness stand. the fea-
ture of the day was the appearance OF
United States Senator Thomas G.,
Plat who did not hesitate q tell of
the contributions of insurance cOmpa-
MES 20 state campaigns. The Equitable,
the Mutual and the New York Life
We're the only insurance companies
that made such contributions, The
Equitable contributed regularly $1,000
In state campaigns. the Mutual Life
the same sum frequently and the New
York Life a sum not as large, and Uc-
VaSiOnally, These moneys were always
delivered I'm cash to Senator Platts
Office by messenger. and he turn d
them over 10 the state committee. TIE
senator said he was expected to in
.flueuce the .legisla ture when anv LEXIS
latiOn appeared thar was hostile u the
insurance companies. Senator Platt
said ne believed ne had asked Pres
ijeut H. 4. McCurdy of the Mutual
d.ife FOR a contribution when the needs
{ M ere very great. He had however,
lDever been asked TO use his influence
~ any measure before the legislature,
Nor had he ever done So He knew
nothing about contributions 10 the ma
ttOnal campaign.
Tarbell Tells More.
Gage +. Tarben, the second vice
president of the Equitable, was also
"a witness again today. His testimony
Friday was Interrupted by the ad-
iournment, and today he continued his
explanation of the agency system. Of
which he had charge, and the man
ner OF arriving at the commissions.
one part of his testimony caused
much amusement 10 the committee As
we'll as the spectators. when he de-
scribed a fight with the New York Life
over the taking of agents. In this
statement Mr.. TaUbell told how he had
won over a general agent and 20l sub
agents OF the New York Life in This
city without the cost TO she Equitable
of so much as one dollar. The only
inducement offered was that the agents
could make more on "a commission ba-
isis than under the salary of the New
York Life. Mr.. Tarbel detailed this
deal with the agent i'm lis various
steps, and said that he closed The deal
on a Sunday He thought il was
Eood job, and II was done on a good
day.