The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-11


 the free silver menace. Asked to approx innate the contributions to the last re- publican national committee, witness said he did not think it would exceed $20,OOO The vouchers for $25000 expenditures were here presented and one of these was signed by MT. Grannis. Witness said no contributions were made to the state campaign fund.
 MT. Grannis said he had instructed MT. Thummel from time to time relative to attention to legislation in various states, but he could not recall the particulars.
 "Is your mind a blank on this sub iect?' Mr. Hughes asked.
 Not entirely"
 well, will you please state anything that might be in It..
 You mean in my mind?" asked the witness.
 "Yes."
 .Well. out of respect to you I won't speak it. hotly retorted the witness. MT. Grannis described fthe legislative
 work similar to the testimony Of Attor- ney Thummel last week and said the ex- penditures for this work did not always come under his direction
 Gillette Takes Stand.
 MT. Grannis was excused for time and Dr, Walter R. Gillette, vice president of the Mutual Life Insurance company was called He said he made the con tract with the firm of c. H. Raymond & Co.,, agents, of his own volition, and no one was responsible for this contract nrior to 1903, but the witness and the nresident. The $25,00o vouchers were shown the witness. All of them had been anproyed by the witness except the one authorized by MT. Grannis.
 Dr. Gillette said they were for legal ex- penses. He did nothing to ascertain TOT what confidential purposes these moneys were used. He did not know any one wno could tell what legal matters required the payment of $10O.0oO in one year to the oaneral solicitor MT. Hughes then asked if the general solicitor could not get s95 900 whenever he pleased without ois- closing the purpose for which 1t was used. and the witness replied that ne could. o. norted at s3s4. .ooO while those of the New york Life Insurance company were $lI2,- mn and those of the Equitable $2O4, ooo Dr Gillette said he never inquired into | inc reason of the Mutual Lifes legal ex- nenses being so much greater than the | other companies. He said the general | solicitor never made report or what be did with moneys paid him; that he r,,as never asked for a report and re- | oeiyed no vouchers or receipts. Witness l stated he did not know where cent oi
 
 l the money went.
 Made Campaign Contributions. Dr c;l,ette testified that the Mutual | I5fe Insurance company contributed s4o, | o0o to the republican national committee l camnaign fund in the last eiection III 1 1904. 4os tho, | Vice President Gillette also stated Una | the Mutual Life Insurance company oon, | tributed s35 900 to the republican natioha pd 115 nn0 in lS9b. ua justified these contributions on the ! same ground as did President John A. I Mccall of the New York Life insurance 1 company in the contributions or Una. I company, saving the St. Louis piatlorni | of the democratic party and the free sll- i yer issue were a menace to the pones | holders. Dr. Gillette said he authorizeu :, l these expenditures after consulting with l the president, vice presidents ana some members of the board of trustees or the I Mutual Life Insurance company The l campaign contributions, Dr. Gillette saio' | came from the fund controlled by the I committee on expenditures. 1 Dr. Gillette said that whe he secured I the $1O0.OOO in 1904, he told MT. Oliphant what he intended to use 1t for. lie salo | that no money had been expended in any l state or municipal campaign. nor had there been any contribution to any con- pressional committee beyond the one | heretofore mentioned.
 Dr. Gillette testified that the Mutual | Life Insurance company paid 72,S61 last year for luncheons for its clerical force l in this city. This was at the rate of al 1 most S250 day.
 l An item of S36,0O0 for committee fees pr. Gillette said. was for compensation of committee members who are not off 1 cers of the company. Mir Hughes point l ed out that in 1901 s243 900 was paid foi I legal expenses, while in 1903 it was $347,- 000. Witness said this was because of the | growth in the business. The fact thai 1 for the last two years the legal expenses were S1O00O0 or more greater than ever l before. witness said, occasioned an in yestigation "only in a general way.' but | there were some cases of litigation ir other states, some frauds upon the com pany that had to be fought, and caused l large expenditures.
 Expenses Are Large. The expenses of the company in 1S0 were s, ,47s,92s, in 1908, they were $6,721.' ss3. and in 1904 they were $.1995S0. Wit ness was asked what he had done tc reduce the cost of insurance and received the reply that he had done nothing nlor' than he had explained in holding up an, item of expenses until he was assured | was necessary. Just before the reces
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