Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-18
INQUIRY HAS A
CALIFORNIA END
FORMER GOV. BUDD BROUGHT
INTO INVESTIGATION
Assistant Registrar Mecurdy Of the
Equitable Testifies as TO Expenses
Of Company In This state
Some Years AGO
Nv Ansociated Press.


NEW YORK, Nov. 17.-with the end
of the morning session today Senator
Armstrong; committee on insurance
investigation finished a weeks service
which has not been eclipsed since the
Investigation was inaugurated. The
witnesses have been the most impor-
tant, including the big guns" in the
financial world, as we'll as in the In
surance business. Early in the week
James II. Hyde was examined and
and Ex-Governor Odell, who successive
ly appeared and denied Mr.. Hyde's
statements, and Mr.. Hyde, being re-
called, affirmed his testimony. Then
Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew was heard
and when the session opened today II
was expected that before the day was
over Senator Platt would be called. He
is wanted to testify as to the collection
of contributions to political funds by
the insurance companies, Mr.. Odell
having testified yesterday that Senator
Platt collected all such moneys up to
last year. 1t is now expected that the
senator will be heard early next week,
possibly on Tuesday, when the sessions
will be resumed.
Samuel S. McCurdy, assistant register
of the Equitable, and not related to the
McCurdys of the Mutual Life, said he
had charge of the vouchers for legal
of trouble in California in 1897 when
the insurance commissioners of that
state demanded an investigation.
Thousands of dollars were spent by the
Equitable in this matter as recounted
by Mr.. McCurdy, and he justified the
expenditure on the ground that 1t would
have cost the Equitable about $4,000
had no defense been made, hence the
expenditure for counsel. He seemed to
think the demands of the California
commissioners were exorbltant
Learn Little From Depew
Senator Depew was called to give
any information he might possess as to
a number of vouchers for legal SER
vices, but his knowledge in the matter
was rather limited and many of the
expenditures and signers of these
vouchers he had never heard of.
One voucher to John A. Nichols for
legal services was accompanied by q
letter to Senator Depew referring to
"Our friend who comes around once a
year." and your rambunctious friend
up the river" The senator said he
knew Nichols had been retained at diff
ferent times by the Equitable but he
did not know in what connection. Mr.
Nichols, he said, was once quarantine
commissioner and used to be active in
politics.
Gage E. Tarbell was on the stand
when adjournment until Tuesday was
taken.
Frank B. Jordan, son of the forme,
comptroller of the Equitable Life AS
surance society, was the first witnes:
called before the investigating commit
tee today. He had testified at pre-
vious session that he did not know tht
whereabouts of his father and mother
and that he did not know whether they
were living or dead. Today he said M
had not since learned of his father:
whereabouts He had received a lettel
from his mother who is in Canada. Sh'
said nothing about his father AS t
his profit from fire insurance written OF
properties mortgaged to the Equitable
he said his father received none o
them. He had no idea what proportion
of his business the Equitable furnished
him.