Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-10-20
Mutual Life President Chafes Under
Hughes Questioning.
PROBING is GOING TOO FAR
He Vigorously Protests Against Man.
ner of Insurance Investigatlon-An-
other Day of Sensatlons-Where
Will investigation Lead To?

New York Oct. iS.-Testimony in
the insurance investigation, which
was resumed Tuesday after weeks
adjournment of the legislative COM
mittee, taken because OF the death last
week of S. Fred Nixon, speaker of
the assembly of the state of New
York, was most exciting throughout
the entire day, and only the repeated
threats of Senator Armstrong, chair
man of the committee, TO clear the
room prevented violent demonstra
tions of disapprobation OF the witness,
who was Richard A. McCurdy, presi-
dent of the Mutual Life Insurance Co.
AS ii was, however. there were jeers
at several periods of the days testi-
mony that temporarily interrupted the
Hughes, the counsel for the commit
tee, asked questions that Mr.. McCur-
dy was reluctant to answer, or eval-
ed, and were made by the crowd that
stood at the back of the room, which
long ago proved inadequate TO accom-
modate the counsel and witnesses
summoned, and the crowds of specta-
tors that Increases with every hear
ing.
Where Will 1t End7
Where this important Investigation
is going to lead, or where II will end,
has caused no small amount OF con
lecture, and, doubtless. in some quar-
ters. anxiety. With the many threads
that have been taken up and dropped
before they have been followed to
their ends. in order that some new
lead may be taken up, and with the
additional features that are disclosed
with almost every days hearing, the
interest grows more intense.
In Mr. McCurdy's testimony Tues-
day a feature entirely new was dis
closed, and this was that the Mutual
Life Insurance Co employed a liter
airy bureau 10 send out TO the press
Of the country news matter that was
OF benefit to the company.
During the earlier session OF the
lay an attempt was made TO obtain
from Mr. McCurdy the reason for re.
ducing thS~dividends on policies as
The bushes increased and the assets
piled up. Examples were cited prin-
clpally on The policies OF the ten-pay-
ment life plan One in particular for
$4,000. that in 1876 drew a dividend
of $55.76. had been gradually cut until
In 1904 ii received only So
Not Prepared.
To all the questions on this matter
the witness said he was not fortified
with the information required: that
these were actuarial matters; and,
when pressed for his opinion, replied
that he refused to discuss the question
or to enter any discussion. He would
prefer witness. his actuary. whose
business It was to know these things,
but as for himself he would not dis.
cuss the question" Mr.. McCurdy's
demeanor was SO insistent and ut
times. defiant. that the spectators bent
forward to catch every word end stool
on tiptoe. expecting every moment 10
hear him directed bp counsel to an
swer the question. His proifer OF an.
ether witness was all that prevented
steps being taken toward his indict.
ment
Mr. McCurdy also. during the effort
to induce him to answer the questions
as 10 the reduction of dividends
launched forth into protest as to
the manner in which the investigation
was being conducted
He said the committee was going
beyond the scope intended when IL
was appointed by the legislature, and
that the investigation had assumed