New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-06
ATTACKS THE MUTUAL.
Er-Manager Charges use" Of In
surance Department.

Thomas IL Bowles ex-manager of the Mutual
Life, makes serious charges against the company
and ex-President McCurdy in open letter ad-
dressed to the legislative insurance committee.
Relating garbled "tripe-terrapn" dispatches, the
company's of the Insurance Department to
stife opposition to mismanagement and the sup
preston of the report OF States supple
mental examination Of the Mutual Life In 1888, are
among the many allegations made.
Regarding the last named charge Mr.. Bowles
declares that in 1898 the Mutual Iifes manage
ment refused to furnish list of salaries Of OFF,
GERS, contracts etc. Moreover. "diligent search,
says Mr. Bowles, fails to reveal the book In which
1t (the minority supplemental reporO was re-
corded notwithstanding the fact that 1t was writ
ten and presented
Mr. Bowles declares that in 1900 an official who
submitted to Mr.. McCurdy exhaustive report
extending fourteen pages. and showing i'm
proper management, suspended being con-
tinued, however. in his service under pay.
Regarding the cessation of Mr.. Bowless policy
holders movement against the company. following
settlement OF claims, to which Mr.. McCurdy
testified recently before the committee Mr.. Bowes
says that his compensation against loss OF agency
plant adjustment OF contract accounts. etc,
$50 900. Mr. Bowles declares that Immediately fol-
lowing the presentation of his paper criticising
the management the intervention of Superintendent
Hendrfcks's department sought and obtained
Mr.. Bowles says 1t appears that keep the policy
holders from knowing the truth large of
their money employed to obtain misleading
report from the Insurance Department.
Lou Payn reappears in Mr.. BowIes's letter. at
tached to which afidavits from Mr.. BowIes's
counsel and physician, well list OF policy
holders who interested in the movement and
copies of certain of their letters expressing dis
satisfaction with the management. Regarding
Ellis B. Usher of Milwaukee, who was appointed
secretary of the movement. Mr.. Bowles says that
President McCurdy, though he found his record
Clean had published at great expense to the policy
holders article attacking his attempt to get
proxies Later, however, Mr.. Bowles says. another
press dispatch sent out retracting the implied
charge of blacknal against Mr.. Usher Mr.. Bow1es
continues:
How many thousands of dollars these two tee-
grams and their publication cost have never been
able to ascertain. Another means to discredtt and
impede the movement of the policyhoders was used
by calling into play the large detective force which
the Mutual Life Insurance Company maintains
throughout the country. which, had to be SUPPLE
mented for the occasion, and for which even the
hotel employees subsidized These seuths for
more than six months logged every footstep, the
footsteps of those actively engaged with me and
those with whom associated socially, even pene-
trating into the sanctity of my family life
In anticipation of q poicyhoiders movement the
power of the great State OF New York was invoked
nv the president, and he deliberately intrenched
of the companys affairs. Commissioner Hendricks
was called in TO examine the company at this time
also at the cost of the policyholders- the pur
pose of protecting the president against any intru
sion by them into the sacred precincts of his own
and his farnily,s contract relations.