The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-24
PLATOON THE STAND
Tells Of Campaign Money Given
Insurance Companies
TO- BUY HIS INFLUENCE
Increasing Is All o. i; ,.ni or
New York Sena or

EqeltaDic, the Mutua! Lie and
the New York Life Were the Com
Dan;es That Have Made COntribu-
tons to the State Campaign Funds.
Scnator Plat Wa Expected to In,
fiucnce the State Legislature Against
Legislation That Was Hostile to the
Insurance Observation-Disclosures of
Senator DeDex's "Rambunctious
Friend UD the River" Revealed
Vice President TarbcIl Explains the
Agency System OF the Equitable.
New York, November 21.-The idcn-
tity Of Senator Depew's "rambunctious
friend UP the river was disclosed in
the session of the state legislative in
6urance investigation committee TO-
day by the Testimony of John A. Mich
OILS, a lawyer under retainer by the
Equitable Assurance Society. Mr..
Nichols had written Senator Depew a
lette:' rafe, ring to an individual in the
above terms, and this letter was read
at the session of the committee Fri
day when Senator Depew was on the
stand. The Senator was unable to re-
call who was meant By the "rambunc-
tiOus friend" but today Mr.. Nichols
disclosed a series Of payments to w. S..
ltann1nS, of Albany, a former actuary,
+ nad been connected with the IN
yesSVefion of insurance companies in
1877 Nh. Hughes inquired as 20 d re-
port that Manning had been In possess
sion of the information that was sup
pressed during this investigation, and
would have been detrimental to the
Equitable. Mr.. Nicholas could no. re-
call the suppression of the information,
but he detailed the payment of sums Of
money over a considerable period to
Manning as an inducement to give Up
his business, as actuary, in which ca
pacity ne believed Manning was a me-
mace to the Equitable Life. Mr.. Mich
OILS said he was paid a retainer from
hekNutual and the New York Life for
tfSsme duties, that of taking care
Of Manning" as Mr.. Hughes character
lied it. He added that the payments
by the Equitable for Manning were
made to Mr.. Nichols on vouchers bear
ing false James which Mr.. Nichols
said was done to protect Mannine.
Aside from the disclosures made by,
Nichols on the witness stand, the fea-
ture Of the day was the appearance
Of United States Senator Thomas c.
Plat, who did not hesitate to tell of!
the contributions of the insurance,
companies to state campaigns which
he said had been made for Is years
The Equitable, the Mutual Life and the
New York Life were the only insurance,
companies that made such cOntribu-
lions. The Equitable Life, the Senator
said, contributed regularly $4,000 to
the state campaigns. the Mutual Life
the same sum frequently, and the New,
York Life a sum not as large, and oc-
~casionally. These moneys were always,
delivered in cash to Senator Platts Of
flee by messenger, and he turned them
over to the state committee. The Sena-,
tor said he was expected to influence
the legislature when any legislation
appeared that was hostile to the insur-
ance companies. Senator Plat said he.
believed he had asked President r. A
MGCurdy of the Mutual Life for a CON-
1atiOn when the needs were very
gTsA He had, however, never been
asked to use his influence on any mea-
sure in the legislature, nor had he ever
done so. He knew nothing Of co1triI
buttons to national campaigns.
Senator Plat said he did not know
Of receiving contributions from any
other insurance companies doing busi-
ness in this state. III reply to another
question he said he did not know of
any contributions that had been made
to any one to favor the candidacy of
any candidate for the legislature
Neither had any suggestion been made,
to him as to the candidacy of any man
for judicial office.
Mr.. Plat said that he did not know
anything about Andrew Hamilton to,
whom the New York Life Insurance,
Company had paid large sums for legoli
expenses, o did he know anything
about his work at Albany. He knew
A. G.. Fields, who had charge of the
house maintained by the Mutual Life.
Insurance Company at Albany, but he
did not know anything about services
at Albany, o about any money paid
by insurance companies to Fields.
80 far as Gil know, Senator, what
have the insurance companies done in
regard to shaping legislation or pre-
venting legislation in this state?" ask
ed Mr.. Hughes.
Il don't know anything about it, sir!
done. I never inquired into that nor
have they sought my influence at all
in reference to it, said Mr.. Plat.
DO you know what disposition has
been made of the contributions by the
insurance companies for state cam
~Daigns?"
vi don't know anything about it, sir
7 turned these contributions over to the
staaSncemmittee, and then my connec-
tjoJ4 18th them ceased"
DO you know whether by virtue OF
such contributions any .allottments OF
money were made for the purpose of
helping the campaign candidates for,
the legislature?"