The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-18
IMPORTANT WEEK
Of INVESTIGATION
PIatt Will Go on Stand
Next tuesday.
BIG GUNS TESTIFIED
Jordan Heard Yesterday That His
Mother Was Living. McCurdy
Tells of Trouble in CaIiforn-
ia. Depew and TarbelI
Oh the Stand.
Oh the Stand.
(By thaAssociated Press }


New York, Nov. 17..,With the end
OF the morning session today Senator
Armstrong's committee on insurance
investigation finished a week that for
strenuousness and importace has been
eclipsed by no one week since the in
vestigation was inaugurated. Be-
sides being the week in which the
most sessions have been held, the wit
nesSeS have ben the most important
including tn big guns in the finan-
cial world as well as in the insurance
business. Early in the week James
HaZen Hyde was examined and made
charges against e. H. Hartman and
former Governor Odell. who success
sively appeared and denied Mr.. Hyde's
statements and Mr.. Hyde being re-
called, affirmed his testimony. Then
Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew was
heard, and when the session opened
today it was expected that before the
day was over Senator Platt would be
called. He wanted TO testify as to
the contributions to political cam
paign funds by the insurance COM
panies, Mr.. Odell having testified yes
terday that Senator Platt collected
all such monies up to last year. 1t is
now expected that the Senator Will
ne heard early next week possibly
on Tuesday, when the sessions will be
resumed
Frank r. Jordan. son OF the former
comptroller fthe Equitable, who, at
previous session said he did not
know where his father was or whether
either his father or mother was living,
was called again today and said that
he had received letter from his
mother who was in Canada, snce he
first testified. but that she said moth
ing of his father. He could tell moth
ing as to the amount of the fire in
surance business he had for the
Equitable, or why he got it. but is GO
ing to supply that information later.
Samuel :. McCurdy, assistant reg
lister of the Equitable, and not related
TO the McCurdy's of the Mutual Life,
said he had charge of the vouchers
for, legal service. From him was
CLEANED a story of trouble in Cali
fornia in 1897, when the insurance
commissioner of that State demanded
an explanation. Thousands Of dol
lars were spent by the Equitable in
his matter as accounted by Mr.. Nc
Curdy. and he justified the expendi-
ture on the ground that it would have
cost the Equitable about $40,00 had
no defense been made, hence the ex-
Denditure for counsel He seemed
commissioners were exhorbitant
Senator DepeW was called to give
any information he might possess as
To Il number of vouchers for legal
services, but his knowledge was rath-
or limited. and many of the expendi-
lures and signers of those vouchers
he had never heard of
One voucher to John A. Nicholas
for legal service was accomnanied by
e., r..
our friend who comes around once
Il year and your combunctious
friend up the river" The Senator said
he knew Nicholas had been retained
AT different times by the Equitable,
but he did not know in what connec-
tion. M. Nicholas, he said was once
Quarantie commission and used to be
active IN politics.
George E. Tarbell was called just
-;TefO7e eeasts and had hardly got
started in his testimony when Senator
DepeW was called. When he resum-
ID it was almost time for adjourn
'f'2r" and tlenrsk rStA.rmstrong tan
nounced that the sub-committeeS of
Senator Tu'ly and Assemblyman Cox
would take the disposition of Mr..
squire at O'Clock. therefore no af-
tefnoon session would be held.
Mr.. Tarbel told of his 26 years con-
tiVities in the interest of the policy
holders. He started as a solicitor in
Greene. New York and later was Civ
en- Il general aeencv for the South
ern tier counties of this State with
headquarters at Binghamton. He was
opposed TO money being spent for
legislative purposes and thought the
policy holders in BODY could defeat
NV legislation amical to their inter-
est.
He said he had tried TO interest the
New York Life and the Mutual Life
in an agreement to appoint a COM
nittee of one to look after such mat
tars. but the officers of the Mutual
Life said il Wis impractical Mr..
Tarbell knew of no money expended
for legislative purposes.
Mr. Tarbell was on the stand when
-7iournment until Tuesdav was Ia
ken.
--V,rG-W