The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-11
THE INSURANCE TANGLE
Astonishing Admissions Made by
President Mccall.
Says Money HASN'T Been Improperly Used,
But Admits That Hamilton
Got $255,OOO.

New York City.-John A. Mccall,
president of the New York Life Insur.
ance Company. was on the rack of the
legislative investigation for nearly two
hours and half.
He denied that the New York Life
ever had made political campaign con-
tributions during the period of his
presidency. except in the three in
stances which Mr.. Perkins had al
| ready detailed. and he could not ex-
plain to what account these donations
| had been charged to.
He volunteered the additional state
ment that Alton B. Parker. when Dem
ocratic Chairman in this State, had
| never missed chance to collect cor
poration money for campaign purposes.
and that even during the National cam
| paiyn of last year the Parker mana
gars-among them some Of the very
m2M recently quoted as his critics
had been 4 source of continual annoy
ance to him. dOgging lin with their
solicitations for money
Mr.. Mccall denied with vehemence
that . dollar of the New York Life's
money had ever been used. with his
knowledge, i'll the effort to influence
legislation in this or any other State.
but admitted that hundreds Of thou
sands of dollars of the company's
money had been advanced solely on his
order to Andrew Hamilton, of the New
York Life's law department. and that
Mr. Hamilton represents the company
in Legislative and taxation" matters
in the various States Of this country as
we'll as in Canada.
Mr.. Hughes brought out admissions
that S235.000 thus advanced remains
unaccounted for, ard tIat it is custom
ary for Mr. Hamilton to report his ex-
penditures exclusively to Mr.. Mccall.
who takes Mr. Hamilton's receipts as
vouchers The witness admitted that
the company has on record no vouch-
crs for any of these expenditures made
by him and has not had since tie be-
ginning Of Judge" Hamilton's con-
nection with it.
Sums aggregating this amount, $685.
900, We're charged to the home office
annex account with the exception of
100000 which was carried in the ''sus-
pense account" The payments to An
drew Hamilton, aggregating $23o.00O.
were made between December, 1903,
and March, 1904.
Just as Mr. Mccall was about to be
excused for the day he asked the priv
ilege of correcting the popular impress
sion as to his large wealth. He said
that he is not in the millionaire class;
that the greater part Of his estate, If
he were to die to-day, would consist of
his life insurance. and that he had
never personally participated in one OF
the many underwriting syndicates Ill,
which the New York Life had realized
large profits.
During the entire portion of the ses-
sion District Attorney Jerome was an
interested listener.
President Mccall in his testimony
took the question Of political contribu-
tions boldly by the horns. He defended
his three contributions of $4,000 each
to the Republican national campaigns
of 1896, 1900 and 1904 on the ground
that he was working for the success Of
the gold standard. Mr.. Mccall ad-
mitted he did not consult the policy
holders about contributing to the
Roosevelt campaign fund, adding, Il
didn't care what they thought"
In answer to Mr.. McCalls charges
that he had been "wOrn out" with the
frantic appeals of the campaign man.
ayers of eX-JudSe Alton p. Parker to
contribute New York Life Insurance
money to the Democratic campaign
fund, former Judge Parker says: 1T
is evident Mr.. Mccall was laboring
under great excitement in making his
reply, for it is very incoherent. But
if his answer is intended to convey the
impression that in the campaign of
1904 I. either directly or indirectly, So
licited from him or his corporation. or
any other corporation. any money pr
valuable thing, his statement is abso-
lutely false"
President Roosevelt called to con-
sultation in Oyster Bay Secretaries
Root ard Cortelyou, Senator Lodge. and
Joseph H. Choate. They discussed
the use Of corporation money in cam
paigns, and it is declared that Presi-
dent Roosevelt believes that to avoid
a far reaching scandal the S4S,O00 col
lected from the Ne~ York Life in the
last campaign should be restored.