New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-19
TALK OF CALLING PARKER.
FUND SECRETS WANTED.
Suggestion That He Should TEL OF
Contribution Before Committee.

IF ex-Judge Alton B. Parker knows. as he
says in his newspaper interview, that the New
York Life was not the only insurance company
that made a contribution to the Republican cam
paign fund last year, but that other great lire
insurance companies. such as the Equitable and
Mutual, also contributed of the policyholders
funds for campaign purposes, 1 suggest that the
latest Democratic candidate for the Presidency
be called as a witness before the Armstrong
committee and asked to tell what he knows"
said director OF the Mutual Life Insurance
Company yesterday.
The suggestion will be made to the Armstrong
committee in all probability. when the insurance
inquiry is resumed at the City Hall tomorrow.
1t is expected that John A Mccall. president OF
the New-York Life, will follow George W. Per-
kins in the witness chair before the committee
and be asked to give details regarding the
alleged contribution OF $4,000 by his company
to the campaign fund Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee.
Paul Morton, the new president of the Equita-
BILE was asked yesterday If he knew OF large
contribution by the company to the Republican
campaign fund last year. and he replied: Il
cannot say to that I am concerned only
with the future of the Equitable, not with its
past"
VIII the Equitable give campaign contribu-
tons in future?' was asked.
Not while am here, he said
Senator Depew attended a meeting of the
Equitables executive committee. and as he was
leaving the building he said in reply to in
quiry:
I don't know ANYTHING about these contribu-
tons alleged to have been given by the insur
ance companies. Personally, 1 would be against
it I against insurance companies making
contributions. and have always been so. am
in favor Of the English law, which not only
compels the candidates to make sworn state
ments as to their election expenses but also COM
pels the political campaign managers 70 te!-
what sums they have received. and how they
have disbursed them.
Perry Belmont said yesterday that he was
glad to observe sentiment in favor of amend
ing and extending the law, IN order to compel
a disclosure of all campaign funds, adding:
The enactment of such legislation these
disclosures imperatively demand was attempted
with some success at the last session OF the
Albany legislature. Mr.. Jerome must have been
incorrectly quoted in saying that bills of this
character had always died in committee. On
the contrary, Identical bills were introduced
February %, 1905, in the Assembly by Mr..
Palmer, and in the Senate by Senator Bracket.
The purpose of those bills was to compel pub
Hcity of campaign contributions and expendi-
lures on the part of the State, county and local
committees in the State of New York The bill
passed the Senate, was reported favorably from
the Judiciary and Rules Committees of the As
sembly, and was defeated in the Assembly it
self. in the last days of the session, only on a
technicality and not on it's merits Therefore,
the measure stands in an excellent posi-
ton for action at the next session Of the fegisa-
ture.
"The money Of widows and orphans" Judge
Cowing said yesterday Should not be used for
political purposes Life insurance companies
should conf1ne their operations with money that
they have in trust solely in maintaining that
trust 1 doubt the propriety of contributions for
any such purpose"
Senator Armstrong not in town yestSr-
day, but Mr.. Hughes, of the committees coun-
sci had a long conference with persons inter
ested in the investigation. Mr.. Hughes would
not tell what his plans were for to-morrows
session of the committee