Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-20

OF 100000
President Of New York Life
On the Stand.
Asked to Account for the Money He Spent
and Say, il Is Cu'tomary for Him to
Give Checks Without Author y.

New York, Sept 20.--John A. Nc.
Call, president Of the New York Life
Insurance company, was witness to-
day before the legislative investigat-
ing committee. District Attorney
Jerome was an interested spectator
who said he expected to make a pub
lie statement on the subject of the
investigation in few days. Mccall
testified that it was true that he had
Drawn checks on the New York Life
without approval Of the finance COM
mittee. He said that this was an
almost daily occurrence. He him
self was the sole judge of what
checks should be drawn without au-
thorization. Andrew A. Hamilton, he
said, has charge of the company's real
estate throughout the country on a
salary of $4,000 a year. Taking up
the 100000 in checks sent to AL
question, that he gave them 70 Ham
bany, Mccall said, in answer to a
ilton to make payment on the block
in the rear of the home office which
the company wished to secure.
"Vouchers will show what they were
drawn for" said Mccall. He pro-
duced vouchers and identified them.
Words "For temporary use" on one
of the vouchers, Mccall said, meant
the money was to be used for pur-
pose to be decided and to be reported
back to the board He said the $780,
900 has been accounted for by Hamil-
ton. Mccall here wanted to make an
explanation but Mr.. Hughes, counsel
for the investigation committee want
ed the account as reported. The &C.
count, the witness said, was rendered
orally to him at his office. He said
Hamilton has paid out 100000 on the
Elm street property and there is still
s235 900 unexpended. Checks were
produced, four to the order of John
IN. Golding, a redl estate broker, and
five to the order of Andrew A. Ham,
ilton.
Hughes was insistent that the re-
port made by Hamilton as to disposi-
ton of the 100000 should be pro-
duced Mccall persisted saying the
account was given him verbally In
| his office. "The money hasn't all
been expended" he said.
Mccall said various sums making
up $235,O0O had been given Hamil
| ton in connection with real estate
deals but Attorney Hughes, after
considerable questioning developed
1.-THE fact that none of the money had
been actually applied to such deals
Mccall said Hamilton was allowed
money for expenses at Albany and
| his accounts were not subject tC
audit. Mccall denied that he gave
Hamilton money to Influence any
member of the legislature or that he
| advised such course. The $235,00(
Mccall said he was sure would be
paid by Hamilton on demand Of thf
New York Life company. IF 1t IL
not" said Mccall, I'm responsible and
| I'll pay it, Hamilton received fol
legal services about 100000 a yea
from the New York Life. The cam
paign contributions were given, Nc
Call said, for the support of the golt
standard rather than for the republi
can party.
That s235,000 has been paid by th'
New York Life Insurance compan.
to Andrew A. Hamilton of Albany
that no accounting for this none.
has been made except to Presiden
| Mccall verbally and that Hamilton
|attends sessions Of the legislature a
Albany In the interest Of the Nev
\ York Life company was brought ou