Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-11-22
SENATOR DENIED c0-W0RKER
Plat, the One Republican Boss, Tells
How Easy He Got Gold to Down
Democrats From the Various insur.
ance companies-came unsousht,
He Says.
tISy Associated Press,

NE WORK, Nov. 21.-The identity
OF Senator Depew's "rambunctiou,
friend up the river was disclosed IN
the session of the State Legislative,
insurance investigating committee to-
day by the testimony of John a.
Nichols. Il lawyer under retainer by
the Equitable Life Insurance Society.
Mfr. Nichols had written to Senator
Depew a letter referring to an i'll
uividual 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 to recall who was meant
by the "rambunctious friend" but TO-
day Mr.. Nichols disclosed n series Of
payments to w. S. Manning. of Al.
bany, a former ~actuary, who had been
connected with the investigation OF
insurance companies in 1877.
Mr.. Hughes inquired rs to Il report
that Manning had been in possession
Of the information that was suppress
sed during this investigation and that
would have been detrimental TO the
Equitable. Mr.. Nichols could not re.
call The suppression of information.
but he detailed the payment of sums
Gf money tn Manning as an induce
ment 10 give up his business as act.
nary in which capacity ho believed
Manning was a menace to the Eoui;.
able life.
Money Always Easily SECURED.
Mr.. Nichols said he was paid a re.
tainer from the Mutual and the New
lorw Life for the same duties. that
OF taking care of Manning" as Mr..
fluShes characterized it. He added
mat the payments by the Equitable
Tor Manning were made to Mr.. Mich.
OILS on vouchers bearing false names,
which Mr.. Nichols said was done 10
protect Manning.
Aside from the disclosures made b..
h on the witness stand, the fea.
ture OF the day was the appearance of
united States Senator Thomas C..
Plat, who did not hesitate to tell of
The contributions of the insurance
companies to State campaigns. which
he said, had been made for 15 wears.
The Equitable, the Mutual Life and
tho New York life were the only in
surance companies that made such
contributions.
Equitable Extremely Liberal.
The Equitable Life, the senator
said, contributed regularly $4,000 to
the State campaigns, the Mutual Life
the same sum frequently and the New
YORK Life a sum not as large, and
occasionally. These moneys were al.
ways delivered in cash to Senator
Platt's Office by messenger and hs
turned them over to the State COM
lhittee. The senator said he was ex-
pected to influence the legislature
when legislation appeared that was
hostile to the insurance companies.
Senator Plat said he believed he
a asked President McCurdy, of the
alutlal life for Il contribution when
inc needs. We're very great. He, how.
ever. had neve been asked to use his
influence on any measure before the
legislature or had he ever done so.
lie knew nothing about contributions
to the national campaign.
Others Companies Mot sribers.
Senator Platt said he did not know
OF receiving contributions from any
other insurance companies doing bust.
less In this State In reply TO an.
other question he said he did not
Know of any contributions that had
been made TO any one to favor the
candidacy of any candidate for the
Legislature. Neither had any sugges-
tion been made to him as TO the can.
didacy of any MAJ for judicial Office.
Mr.. Platt said that he did not know
anything about Andrew Hamilton, 20
whom the New York Life Insurance
Company had paid large sums for
legal expenses, nor did he know anv
thing about his work at Albany. He
knew A. c, Fields, who had charge OF