The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-06
Al, rs IN THE
INSLs s..,,,CE WORL D
McCurdys Got $2,400,-
900 in Commissions.
PAID BY MUTUAL LIFE
Robert McCurdy Manager Of This Com
pany, and Attorney W. r. Thummel
Tells of Contributions Solicited
by and Paid TO the Republican
Campaign Committee.
Campaign Committee.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
New York, Oct 5.-That the as
founding total of more than $2,400,-
600 has been paid as commissions by
the Mutual Life Insurance Company
To two members of the family of
Richard a. McCurdy and the promise
of District Attorney Jerome that the
insurance scandals certainly will be
submitted later to an extraordinary
grand jury wer9 the sensational de-
VelopmentS in tile insurance situation
today.
II was brought out by testimony be-
fore the Legislative Insurance COM
mittee, that Robert II. McCurdy a
son OF Richard A. McCurdy, has re-
ceived as commissions on foreign bus
mess $1.163.S29 and on domestic busi-
ness $541,S52, and that Louis A. The
baud, son-in-law Of Richard A. Nc
Curdy. has received an aggregate of
$920.113 in commissions from the
company. 1t was also brought out
that Robert H. McCurdv expected his
income this year would be about
$4,000.
Previous to this testimony w. F..
Thummel, an attorney of the Mutual
Life Insurance Company, testified that
he had paid to the chairman of the
Republican Congressional Campaign
committee the sum of $2,500 in cash
as a campaign contribution.
Another incident of the days devel-
opments was the publication of a letter
from Charles E. Hughes, counsel of
the Legislative committee to Samuel
UnternGyer. counsel for James H.
Hyde, the former controllingN stock
holder of the Equitable Life Assurance
Society, in which Mr.. Hughes said
the committee would make no dis
elimination in favor of Mr.. Hyde in
his examination before the commit
tee.
The Chamber of Commerce at its
meeting today adopted resolution de-
claring that additional legislation is
necessary for the proper regulation OF
Lille insurance companies.
To Aid the Republicans.
w. +. Thummel, the attorney who
was associated with Judge Andrew
Hamilton, in looking after legislation
for the New York Life, the Equitable
Life. and the Mutual Life Insurance
Companies, in the so-calied legislative
pool that was exposed last week, testl-
fled before the committee that he was
now employed as an attorney for the
Mutual Life Insurance Company at a
salary of $1,000 a year. hI*. Thum-
mel said that he personally placed in
the hands of the chairman of the Re-
publican Congressional Campaign
committee, $4,000 in cash which had
been given the witness for that pur-
pose by Vice-President Robert A
Grannis OF the Mutual Life Insurance
Company. Witness said the contribu-
tion had been suggested by the danger
of Democratic House, that would
result i'm tariff and other legislation
OF a character to upset business and
affect policy-holders. He said other
companies had been asked to con-
tribute. but he did not know how
many did. Mr.. Thummel denied pay
ing any money to any legislator for
the purpose of influencing legislation
or to any other person for that pur-
pose.
lie described the legislative poor,
and said the expenses were met by
the company looking after the terri
tory in Whic expenses were incurred,
and later an adjustment of these ex-
penses were made between three
companies He had received money
om the New York Life in these ad-
Justments, but kept no account of his
disbursements.
He said the Mutual Life had paid
out in 1904 about $4,000 for legis-
lative work.
In repl yto a question as to the
division OF legal expenses among the
New York Life Insurance Company,
the Mutual Life Insurance Company
and the Equitable Life Assurance So
ciety. Mr. Thummel said:
The Mutual Life has Virginia,
North Carolina, Alabamy. Kentucky.
Ohio, Michigan. Minnesota. Washing
ton, Oregon, New Mexico.
The Equitable attends to Mary
land. South Carolina, Georgia. Loui-
siana. Mississippi. Texas, Colorado,
Aransas, California, Nevada
New York Life has Indiana, Illi-
nois Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas. Mis-
souri,. Tennessee, and Oklahoma. The
rest of the territory is open.''
Revelations by Mr.. Curdy
1t was at this point that Mr.. Robert
H. Curd ywas called. He had a num-
ber of documents in his hand as he
mounted, the platform, and when he
had been sworn. he testified that he
was the general manager of the Mu-
tual Life Insurance Company. His
mowers. he said, were delegated to
him by the president and vice-presi-
dents of the company. His duties
were principally confined to the su-
nervision of the agency system of
the company in this country ana
cbroad like Mr.. Perkins. of New
York Life Insurance Company he an
reared To be theo ne factor that built
up the foreign business of his COM
pany. His salary was $50, 900.
Mr.. McCurdy had a typewriter