New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-20
TO PUSH ALBANY PROBE.
COMMITTEE after FACTS.
To Put John Il. Mccall or Dir.
Perkins on Stand To-day.

g. Y a
informal meeting of the legislative insurance
investigating committee and their counsel at
the Hotel Seville, yesterday afternoon. John A
Mccall. president OF the New-York Life Insur-
snce Company has been asked to take the stand
at the reconvening OF the committee at City
Hall this morning. Mr.. Mccall will, at that
time be asked for all information he may pos
sess as TO the ultimate purpose and use of the
two checks for $4,000 and $4,000 drawn to the
order of Andrew Hamilton. of New-York and
Albany, and paid by the New-York State Bank
at the latter city. Mr.. Mccall viii be asked to
clear up the mystery to why. IL the money
was used to purchase real estate in New-Hork
City. e was sent to Albany. The possibility
that this fund may turn out to be a portion OF
that great insurance corruption fund concern
ing which Senator Edgar T. Bracket Of Sara
toga, made sensational charges last year is still
talked Of.
If Mr. Mccall is unable TO attend the hear
ing tomorrow, George ". Perkins the vice
president OF the New-York Life. and a member
OF the firm Of ] P. Morgan & Co. win be asked
10 continue his testimony, and it is believed
that new sensations. as great as those he precip-
litated last week. will be forthcoming, when
rious records and books he promised to produce
are shown in evidence Mr.. Perkins has com
pleted his testimony regarding the $4,000 cam
paign contribution 10 three successive national
Republican campaigns. If Mr.. Mccall appears
he viii be asked to outline the way in which he
decided the need and ordered the payment Of
these contributions.
In the audience to-day for the first time will
be District Attorney Jerome. whose Illness has
kept him away from the proceedings so far. It
has not been generally known how cordial the
relations between the committee and the Dis
triot Attorney were, but before the beginning
Of the hearings Senators Armstrong and FULLY
had several talks with Mr. Jerome. and only
iastFwesk the former wrote the District Attor-
ney g. cordial note expressing regret at his ILL
ness and extending to him every courtesy of
The commission. This means, among other
things, that Mr.. Jerome will receive a complete
official record of the proceedings for any posi-
bic use In prosecution Attorney General Mayer
is also supplied with such a copy.
Mr.. Jerome has not yet received a. COPY of
the testimony OF George W. Perkins regarding
: campaign contributions and queer reports to
the Superintendent Of Insurance and therefore
he has declined to speculate as to whether this
/ affords q chance for criminal action. This was
the explanation he made yesterday when his
attention was called 10 the fact that it was
charged that the submission of a sworn report
TO the State Superintendent Of Insurance which
did not contain statement of the "non-ledger
assets was a crime That he is looking into
this point, however, is known.
But the pursuit Of the mysterious "a Harnil-
ton" checks. now traced to Albany. will not
end with the testimony Of Mr.. Mccall. subpoenas
have already been issued summoning officers
of the Albany State Bank through which the
checks were cashed to appear before the COM
mittee and supply all their information and
records These witnesses will not appear to-
morrow. but may come later in the week. Then
Andrew Hamilton who is in Europe. will in
the opinion of members Of the committee return
and testify to his share in the affair
In the mean time the committee has declared
its intention to continue its policy of going to
the foundation Of every possible source of cor
ruption Misrepresentation in insurance affairs
everything that is symptomatic." to quote Sen
ator Armstrong; phrase This intention is
held IN spite Of the fact that the committee is
constantly receiving advice that would limit
Its field, advice which II acknowledges but will
not follow.
The session to-day will be brief and adjourn
ment viii be taken soon after noon. This ac-
ton was decided on out of respect to the mem
DRY OF Senator Amber, late chairman OF the
Senate COMMITTEE on Insurance whose funeral
will take pace this afternoon. The meeting
viii take place in the room Of the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment, the sale
will continue to-day
Yesterdays meeting of the committee was
entirely of an informal character. The counsel
for the committee. Messrs. Hughes. McKeen
and Fleming all called at Senator Armstrong;
and Senator TulIy, who lives at the Seville,
present. Assemblyman Wemple came in, but
Senator Rordan and Assemblymen Cox Nc
Keown and Rogers We're all absent, indicating
that regular meeting had been called.
Senator Armstrong; attention called
late yesterday afternoon 10 the letter made
n public by Paul Morton, Of the Equitable, re
u garding the S6S50o0 yellow dog fund" All
Gr. Armstrong cared to say about this that
in due course the committee would on its own
account carefully examine into this whole mat
ter. There was night meeting Of the com
nittee. Senator Armstrong went TO Coney
Island and Senator TuIly attended private
dinner party Assemblyman Rogers viii prob
ably be absent the whole week as his county
nominations made this week.
When Mr.. Perkins resumes the witness stand,
Il ia said, the o. II. annex real estate con-
tract will be put in evidence and viii disclose
just how much of the 81. 325. 600 charged up
Centre SITS. and how much for other purposes
While Attorney General Mayer, who returned
TO town yesterday. would not discuss any action
IN contemplation by his office in view OF the
Mayer will take go action until the legislative
committee shall have adjOumed-that Is until
January, 1905, at the earliest.
II is understood that the Attorney Generals
Office will not consider the institution of any
proceedings until the testimony is complete.
From now on. however, the Attorney Generals
Office will follow the evidence closely.
Regarding the institution OF suits for the
restitution Of S150O00 paid by the New-Yo
Life to the Republican National Committee in
Che last three Presidential campaigns, It is
6erstood that the two principal questions in
Volved are the authority of the two New-York
Life officers TO make such contributions and the
uroDrfety of doing. Il, reported. Attorney
General Mayer has been told that this money IS
10 be restored, it is pointed that the restitu
lion will not stand off legal action.
HR. NORTON'S REPORT.