The news & observer., 1905-11-22
GOLD TO SEAL THE
'ACTUARY'S L|PS2
And Gold to Run the
State Campaigns.
EAA ni ATT lC E0AAK
LEAN PLATT is FRANK
The Senator Does Not Hesitate to Tell
of Contributions by Insurance Com
panies Toward Turning Political
Wheels. John A. Nichols Gives
Interesting Information.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
New York, Nov. Nov 21.-The iden-
tity of Senator Depew's ''rambunc-
tious friend up the river" was disclos-
ed i'm the session of the State legisla-
tive insurance investigating committee
today by the testimony of John a.
Nichols, a lawyer under retainer by
the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
Mr. Nichols had written Senator De-
pew letter referring tOan individual
in the above terms, and this letter
was read at the session of the COM
mittee Friday when Senator Depew
was on the stand. The Senatorf was
unable to recall who was meant by
the 'rambunctious friend" but today
Mr. Nichols disclosed series of pay
ments to w. S. Manning. of Albany,
former actuary who had been con-
nected with the investigation of the
insurance companies in 1887. Mr..
Hughes inquired as to a report that
Manning had been in possession of the
information that was suppressed dur
ing this investigation and that would
have been detrimental to the Equita-
bic. Mr.. Nichols could not recall the
suppression of the information, but
he detailed the payment OF sums of
money over considerable period to-
Manning as an intluccment to give up
his business as actlIary i'm which ca
pacity nc believed Manning was Il
menace TO the Equitable Life. Mr..
Nichols said he was paid retainer
from the Mutual and the New York
Life for the same duties, that of
taking care of Manning as Mr..
Hughes characterized it. He added
that the payments b" the Equitable
for Manning were made to Mr. Mich
OILS on vouchers bearing false names
which Mr.. Nichols said was done to
protect Manning.
Senator Plat Testilies.
Aside from the disclosures made
by Nichols on the witness stand the
feature of the day was the apear-
ance of United States Senator Thos.
c. PIatt VINO did not hesitate to tell
of the contributions of the insurance
companies to state campaigns which
he said had been made for fifteen
years. The Equitable, the Mutual
Life and the New York Life were the
only insurance companies that made
such contributions. The Equitable
Life. the Senator said, contributed
regularly $4,000 to the State cam
paigns. the Mutual Life the same sum
frequently and the New York Life t
sum not as large and occasionally.
These moneys were always delivered
i'm cash to Senator Platt's office by
messenger and he turned them over
to the State committee. The Senator
said he was expected to influence
the legislature when any legislation
appeared that was hostile to the in
surance companies. Senator Platt
raid he believed he had asked Pres-
dent r. A. McCurdy of the Mutual
Life for a contribution when the needs
were very great. He had. however,
never beenasked to use his influence
before the legislature, neither had
he ever done so. He knew nothing
about contributions to the national
campaign.
Senator Platt said he did not know
of receiving contributions from any
other insurance companies doing bus
mess in this State. In reply to an
other question he said he did not
know of any contributions that had
been made TO any one to favor the
candidacy of any candidate for the
Legislature. Neither had any sugges-
ton been made to him as TO the cam
dl"acy- OF any man for judicial ofhce.
Mr.. P!att said that he did not know
anything about Andrew Hamilton to
whom the New York Y.fe Insurance
1VhipdiiS iiete. Dd,Q large SulIlS lOi
legal expenses. nor did he know any
thing about his work at Albany. He
knew A. &. Fields. who had charge
of house maintained by the Mutual
Insurance Company at Albany but he
did not know anything about services
at Albany, nor about any money paid
by insurance companies to Fields.
Asked No Questions.
$50 far as you know Senator. what
have the insurance companies done in
regard to shaping Legislation or pre-
venting legislation in this State p"
asked Mr. Hughes.
II don't know anything they have
done; | never inquired into that. nor
have they sought my influence at all
i'm reference to it. said Mr.. Platt
"Do you know what disposition has
been made of the contributions by the
insurance companies for State cam
paigns?''
II don't know anything about it. sir
l turned these contributions over to
the State committee and then my con-
nection with them ceased
DO you know whether by virtue of
such contributions any allotments of
money were made for the purpose of
helping the campaign of candidates
for the Legislature?
There was not tha. ] know Of
Enquiries have been made from
time to time here with regard to the
insurance department.; what Influence
had the insurance companies in re-
gard to the appointment of the super