Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-10-18
Newspaper Men as Well as Legis,
IatOrs on company's
Pay Roll.
$4,000 PAID TO COMMISSIONER
President of Mutual Just Misses Being
Indicted for Refusing to Answer
!, Questions About How the Policy.
| Holders Are Deprived OF Their pivi.
dends-spectators Get Excited.
tBy AssocIatcd Press.N


NEW YORK. Oct. 17-Testimony In
the insurance investigation, which
was resumed today after weeks
adjournment taken because of the
death of S. Fred Nixon. was most ex-
citing, and only the repeated threats
of Senator Armstrong TO clear the
room, prevented violent demonstri-
lions of disapprobation of the witness,
who was Richard A. McCurdy, presi-
dent of the Mutual Life Insurance
Company.
Crowd Causes Scene.
AS it was, however. there were
jeers at several periods that tempo.
rarily interrupted the testimony
These came when Mr.. Hughes. she
counsel for the commission, asked the
questions that Mr. McCurdy was re-
luctant to answer. or evaded, and
were made by the crowd that stool
back of the room.
In Mr.. McCurdy's testimony today
feature entirely new was disclosed,
aud this was that the Mutual Life In.
surance Company employed literary
bureau to send out to the press of
the country news matter that was OF
benefit 20 the company.
Newspaper Man on It's Staff.
This information came out when
voucher for the payment of $4,000 to
Joseph Howard. Jr.. in 1904, was pro-
duccd. Another voucher for the same
amount paid in May, 1905. was mark
ed "rcpayabIe on demand" and for
professional services"
An attempt was made to obtain from
Mr. McCurdy the reason for reducing
the dividends on policies AS the bust
ness increased, and the assets piled
up. This question was prompted by
letters which came from all over the
country. Mr.. Hughes explained.
PoIicyhoders Wronged.
The examples cited were principally
on the policies of the l0.payment life
plan. One in particular, for $4,000,
that I'm 1876 drew dividend OF $55.75,
had been gradually cut. until In 1904
1t received only SO. The writer In.
closed tables and statements from the
company's reports, and said this was
In the face of the reserve increasing
year after year.
To all the questions on this matter
the witness said he was not fortified
with the information required. He
refused to discuss the question or to
enter any discussion.
is 1t Only a Farce?
Mr.. McCurdy's demeanor was so
insistent, and at times defiant, that
the spectators bent forward to catch
every word and stood on tip toe, ex-
pecting every moment to hear him
directed by counsel to answer the
question. His proffer of another wit
ness was all that prevented steps be-
Ing taken toward his Indictment
MIR McCurdy thought that putting
witness Under oath made him feel
he was on the rack. He. said his an
swers were published in distorted
form, that appeared like an attempt
to ruin him.
Goaded by Attorney He is Insulting.
After taking up the questions of tho
reduction of dividends, Mr.. Hughes
read a long list of policy numbers
with the amounts of the face of the
policy what had been paid In and the
dividends received by the policy
holders. Asked what nc had to say
to these, Mr.. McCurdy said, Figures
don't lie. but liars can figure He
then hastily explained that he meant
that facetiously and that he would be
glad to verify the figures.
Insurance Commissioners Paid.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Nc
Curdy was on the stand concerning a
payment of $4,000 to VIM. A. Fricke, n
former insurance commissioner of
Wisconsin. Mr.. McCurdy testified that
this payment was made after the re-
ceipt of letter from Chas. r. Lewis,
saying that Mr. Fricke would accept
e retainer. ITO see that the interests
of the Mutual Life should come to