Arizona republican., 1905-11-18
PLATT NEXT
ON THE RACK
Expert on Insurance Gam.
pdign Contribution
An Equitable Attachs Describes the
Painful Experience Of His Society
in California.

New York, Nov. I7.-At the end OF
the morning session today. Senator
Armstrong; committee on insurance
investigation finished a week that for
strenuousness and importance has been
eclipsed by no one week since the in
quiry was inaugurated. Beside being
the week in which the most sessions
have been held, the witnesses have
been the most important including thu
big guns" in the financial world. as
well as in the insurance business.
Early in the week James ii. Hyde
was examined and made charges
against E. H. Hartman and former
Governor Odell. who successfully ap-
peared and denied Mr.. Hyde's state
ments. and Mr.. Hyde. being recalled.
affirmed his testimony. Then Senator
Chauncey N. Depew was heard and
when the session opened today IL was
expected that before the day was over
Senator Platt would be called. He Is
wanted to testify as II the collection
of contributions to political campaign
funds by the insurance companies. Mr..
Odell having testified that Senator
Platt collected all such revenues. IL
Is now expected that the senator will
be heard early next week. possibly On
Tuesday, when the sessions will be re-
sumed.
Samuel S. McCurdy, assistant regis
ter of the Equitable. and not related 10
the McCurdys of the Mutual Life. said
he had charge of the vouchers for le-
gal service. From him was CLEANED a
story of trouble in California in 1897.
when the insurance comm. .ssiOn Of that
state demanded an examination. Thou
sands of dollars were spent by the
Equitable in this matter, as recOunted
by Mr.. McCurdy and he justified the
expenditure on the ground that Il
would have cost the Equitable about
$4,000 had no defense been madc.
hence the expenditure for counsel He
seemed to think the demands OF the Cal
ifornia commissioners were exOrbitant.
McCurdy testified as to amounts paid
special counsel to represent Equitable.
He said approximately $4,000 had
been paid w. H. Chickering of CalifOr-
MIA, counsel for the Mutual Life. Al
the close of 1899 he said when the
Equitable filed its annual statement i'm
the California insurance department
the commissioners asked forty addi-
tional questions which the commits
sionerS knew it was practically impOs-
sible for the society to answer. The
witness said the company had no like
experience with the insurance depart
ments of other states. The witness
said he thought Governor Rudd had
appointed Glunie commissioner. He
did not think the man to whom $3.50
per month was paid did anything for
the Equitable. Asked how much Of
these monies was paid to Governor
Rudd, If any, the witness said he did
not know.
Senator Depew was called to give
any information he might possess as
to number of vouchers for legal ser
vices, but his knowledge was rather
limited as many of the signers of these
vouchers he had never heard OF.
One voucher to John A. Nichols for
legal services was accompanied by a
letter to Senator Depew referring 20
your friend who comes around once
Il year." and from your ranbunctiOus
friend up the river" The senator said
he knew Nichols had been retained at
different times by the Equitable. but he
did not know in what connection. Mr.
Nichols, he said, was once quarantine
commissioner and used II be active IN
politics.
Gage z. Tar5eu wSs IN the stand
when adjournment until Tuesday was
taken.