The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-17
VOUCHERS REVEAL
-: INSURANCE LOBBY
Policyholders Of the big Three"
Paid Thousands for Legal
Services
AMBASSADOR SENT
TO FOREIGN LANDS
Ambassadors Also Dispatched to
Missouri, Michigan and
Other States. =

Other States. =
New York, Nov. 17.-Frank B. Jor-
dan, son of the former controller of the
Euuitable Life, was the first witness
called before the legislative insurance
investigation committee today. He had
testified at a previous session that he
did not know the whereabouts Of his
father or mother and that he did not
know whether they were living olr dead.
Today he said he had not since learned
of his fathers whereabouts. He had re-
ceived letter from his mother, who is
in Canada. She said nothing about his
father.
Samuel s. McCurdy, assistant regis.
trar of the Equitable, was next called
He had formerly been secretary to Sec
retary William Alexander. AS assist
ant registrar he had custody Of vouchers
for moneys paid out for legal expenses
He produced such vouchers for the last
ten years.
In the vouchers for 1895 was letter
to James W. Alexander from Robert b,
McCurdy of the Mutual Life, which ac
companied bill for the Equitable i
share of salary and expenses of George
F. Batcheller as "plenary legal repre-
sentative' Of the Equitable Life, New
York Life and Mutual Life. The salary
of Mr.. Batcheller from this combination
was given in statement at $77,70O. II
was brought out that Mr.. Batchelelr y
huties were broad. -..e-> re.....-
David Bennett Hills Job.
{ Mr.. McCurdy said he did not know
when David B. Hill's retainer as eoun
Bel to the Equitable began. The first
voucher, from Mr.. Hill the witness hae
was dated March 90, 1895. Mr.. Hill :
letter to J.. W. Alexander accompany
Ing this voucher and acknowled dying the
Teceip Of the retainer created muct
laughter. In note at the END, of the
letter Mr.. Hill wrote:. -.
~ ",I am feeling pretty we'll, now thai
congress has adjourned gand the country
is safe. When the; legislature adjourns
the state will be safe"
The packages of vouchers were gon
thru by Mr.. Hughes, who asked as t
the legal services rendered by tn
signers of the various vouchers. ::
Vouchers for $4,000 and $4,000 il
1885, signed by Tracy, Boardman (
Platt, were found. The witness sal
this firm was not regularly retained
and he did not know what legal serv
Ices they performed.
J y. Envoy to Missouri.
A voucher from James NJ; Lewis
dated Jan. 27, 1899, was for $1,000
full for services rendered during tn
coming session of the general assen
bly, in Missouri Witness did nc
know Lewis nor the services ne pei
formed.
Another voucher, dated Milwaukee
in 1899, from R. Luscombe, was tic
1854, covering legal services and e.
Denses. This voucher was indorsed b
s'A. Hamilton Witness knew notl
ing of these services, but said; the1
was no litigation in Wisconsin at ths
time.
S. s. Olds of Lansing, Mich, was ais
paid 81 900 in 1899 in connection wit
| tax suits in that state. James NJ: Lew
was also paid $3,333 on June 8, l69
for consultation fees and services !
Missouri. Witness could not explal
The odd amount, but said it looked lik
one-third of $4,000.
Maybe They Shared Expenses.
Mr.. McCurdey was asked about
voucher for 81 ,6e666s f9 for payment IT.
! 1908, but he said he. did not kno
4 whether it indicated division of $500
4 among three compan1es.-
; Mr.. McCurdy was asked if he ".
I familiar with moneys paid to state i
surance departments by the Equitah
society, more especially IN Caflforn]
He replied that he was i, and on this ms
1897, when Andrew J. Clunie, who "
then insurance commissioner Of Calift
MIA. complained to the attorney genel
of that state that the Equitable s
ciety was not entitled to dc. buslne
in that state because it's capital stO
was too small. The attorney gene1
said the commissioner then request
the company to furnish him with a l.
of policies it had issued in Califorr
fam 1880 to 1897, and much inform
{ ton concerning them. It was Mr.. N
Curdy's recollection that the comm
sioner wanted the society to review
the lapsed policies and death clal
for seventeeen years to see if larg
( amount could not have been paid
I / each claim.
Demand from California.
The Equitable engaged counsel
! represent it at a hearing in San Frs
! cisco, and the subject dragged alo
I for three years. In 1900 Commlsslo1
i, Z Clunie demanded that the society ma
! a list Of all it's outstanding policies,
{ ! that he could estimate the value
/ : those held in California. The comm
sioner's fees for this, Mr.. McCurdy sa
3 / would have been $4,000, and it wor
; have cost the Equitable society $4O,O @
to get the information together.
4 Finally the commissioner became s.
isfed by sending former Governor Blu
Of California to make an examinati
III and the society got a renewal of
l. license. Mr.. Budd visited the N
York Life and the Mutual Life.
Mr.. McCurdy said that $3.50
month had been paid to special COZ
| sci to represent the Equitable soci!
la h before the commission at the suggest
j of E. s. Pillsbury, the society's re,
lar attorney, who had told the with
~ it was paid to brother of the ms
! ance commissioner. The total amol
paid in that way was $4,000. The "
| ]: ness also said that approximately S.
~ 900 was paid to w. III. Chickering
NJ " California, counsel for the Mutual Ii