Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-21
Company's Intermediary Called.

the lntermedllTy
menis and the Equitable Society, and the
witness replied: Whenever they required
anything
Mr. Comaus said he is a member of Tam
many Hall. He said ne looked after get
ting the tax assessments of the officers of
the Equitable Society reduced. Among
these he said were Henry 3. Hyde. James
II. Hyde and Gage e. Tarben. He, had
never received money for political purposes
nor any contributions to Tammany Hall.
At this point Senator Thomas G. Platt ar
rived and Mr.. Comans was temporarily ex-
cused.
Senator Platt's entrance created a stir in
the committee room. He walked slowly IN
on the arm of Robert c. Morris, his coun-
sci, and leaning heavily on a cane. He
took the witness chair and was sworn. Mr.
Morris started to address the committee,
but stopped upon Chairman Armstrong
explanation that counsel are not heard
formally by the committee.
Senator Platt on the Stand.
Senator Platt had been carried up the
stairs of the city hall to the door of the
committee room in chair. When he was
seated and sworn Mr.. Morris said that the
senator would answer all questions freely
and frankly
In reply to questions by Mr Hughes SEN
ator Platt said that he had received contri-
buttons more particularly from the Equita-
BILE Life Insurance Society solely for the
state campaign fund, and during period
of at least the last ten years the contrlpu.
tions were of $4,000 each He could not
tell when they commenced, but they con-
tinued every year for some time. he re-
ceived no money from the Equitable Tor
the local campaigns nor for the expenses
of any candidates to the legislature. me
money was divided as seemed expedient.
The packages of money, he SAID, were sem
over to his Office by messenger ailn ne
Immediately turned them over 10 ellrei
the chairman, secretary OF Treasures VI 'Ae
fat committee.
Thev were all cash contributions. all
came by messenger and all came Voiun-
farily Senator Platt said he could not re-
member whether he made request iol me
contributions at the very beginning 1 od
them They were a fixed sum OF sloooV
year.
Dealt With McCurdy.
Senator Platt said he occasionally re-
ceived contributions of $4,000 each from
the Mutual Life Insurance Company. put
that he could not tell in what year nor no"
often. These contributions did not come
annually, but at different times within the
last ten wears. He turned the money over
10 the state committee. The senator sald
that he believed that he had dealt with
President r. A. McCurdy in receiving these
contributions.
II simply asked him at various times
when necessities were very great for money,
and he said he would be glad t0 subscribe,
said the senator. The money the senator
said. was always sent 20 iliIi pS q AtSSoStt7
ger, and was intended for use In the state
campaign. President McCurdy understood,
the senator said. that the senator was not
representing the national committee.
i The Mutual Life, he said, made no con-
tributions to the local campaign, nor in the
interest of any candidate for state office,
other than by the general contributions de-
scribed.
Also Dealt With Mccall.
While testifying about the gifts of the
Mutual Life the senator once replied that
he understood that he was talking about
the New York Life Insurance Company, but
afterward said that he meant the Mutual.
When he was asked when he had received
any funds from the New York Life lnsur-
ance Company he said he thought he had
very seldom He had dealt with President
John A Mccall. Asked directly whether
Mr. Mccall gave him any money, the sena-
tor replied: II cannot say positively whether
he did or not. l cannot remember.
1T has been suggested to me that you
had something to do with the collection OF
funds for the Harrison campaign the rais-
ing of fund OF $4,000" said Mr.. Hughes.
do you recall that?'
II do not said the senator.
''Or any fund.-"
mo My memory could not tell, me
whether it was the Harrison campaign or
what campaign it was.
No Money for National Campaign.
You are clear in your mind that you
never had any contributions made to you
for the purpose OF national campaign
Yes, sir; they never were given to me for
a national campaign; although l sometimes
In talking with gentlemen about It said |
thought 1t would be good thing for them
to subscribe. because of the bearing OF the
national campaign on state campaign.
"And with whom have you had such con-
Yersations-I mean connected with insur-i
ance companies, of course?
II am not sure as to whom talked" said
Senator Pfatt.
The senator said he did not think he had
talked with President McCurdy about that
matter, but he may have talked with Presi-
dent Mccall. though he did not remember.
Senator Platt said he did not know of re-
ceiving contributions from any other In
surance companies doing business in this
state. In 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 legis-
lature. Neither has any suggestion been
made to him as to the candidacy of any
man for judicial office.
Knew Nothing About Hamilton.
Mr. Platt said that he did not know any
thing about Andrew Ha4ilton to whom the
New York Life Insurance Company had
paid large sums for legal expenses nor did
ne know anything about his work at Albany.
He knew A. c. Fields, who had charge of
Insurance Company at Albany, but he did
not know anything about services at AL
bany nor about any money paid by insur-
anee companies to Fields.
80 far as you know, Senator. what have
the insurance companies done in regard to
shaping legislation or preventing legisla-
ton In this state?" asked Mr.. Hughes.
'T don't know anything they have done;
never inquired into that, nor have they
sought my influence at all in reference to
IT," said Mr.. Platt.
"Do you know what disposition has been
made of the contributions by the insurance
companies for state campaigns?
II don't know anything about 1t, sir.
turned these contributions over to the state
committee, and then my connection with
them ceased.
'sDo you know whether by virtue of such
contributions any allotments of money were
made for the purpose of helping the cam
paign of candidates for the legisAture?'
There was not that know of.
influence Of Companies.
Inquiries have been made from time to
time here with regard to the insurance de-
partment. What influence had the insur-
anee companies in regard to the appoint
nent of the superintendent of insurance. so
far as you know2
'sI don't think they had any influence so