The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-11-18
INuRANcE INVESTIGATORS GO
: THROUGH VOUCHERS OF THE
EQUITABLE LIFE.
SENATOR HILLS SIGNIFICANT LETTER
HIS RECEIPT FOR RETAINER L
READ AND is THE CAUSE OF
RI EE
MUCH LAUGHTER.

dan, son of the former comptroller OF
the Equitable Life Assurance society
was the first witness called before the
legislative insurance investigation
committee during the day. He had tes
tilted at previous session that he did
not know the whereabouts of his father
or mother and that he did not know
whether they were living or not. He
said he had not since learned of his
fathers whereabouts. He had received
a letter from his mother, who is il
Canada. She said nothing about his
father.
Samuel S. McCurdy, assistant regis
trar of the Equitable society, was next
called. He had formerly been secre'
tary to Secretary William Alexander OF
the society. AS assistant registrar he
had custody of vouchers for moneys
paid out for legal expenses. He pro
duced the vouchers for such expenses
for the last ten years. In the vouchers
for 1856 was a letter to James w.
Alexander from Robert H. McCurdy
of the Mutual Life Insurance company
which accompanied bill for the EQuit.
able's share of salary and expenses
of George S. Batcheller as ''plenary
legal representative" of the Equitable
society, New York Life Insurance com.
pany and Mutual Life Insurance com
pany. The salary of Mr.. Batchelle1
from this combination was given in a
statement as $77,7OO. 1t was brought
out that Mr.. Batcheller's duties we're
abroad
Dave HiII's Significant Note.
Mr.. McCurdy said he did not know
when David B. Hills retainer as coun
sci to the Equitable society began. The
first voucher from Mr.. Hill the witness
had was dated March 20, 1895. Mr..
Hills letter to j. w. Alexander eX.
planning this voucher and acknOwl
edging the receipt of the retainer ere.
ated much laughter. In a note at the
end Of the letter Mr.. Hill wrote:
Il am feeling pretty we'll now that
congress has adjourned and the coun'
try is safe. When the legislature adj
journs the state will be safe. -
The packages of vouchers were gone
through by Mr.. Hughes, who asked as
to the legal services rendered by the
signers Of the various vouchers Vouch.
ers for $4,000 and $4,000 in 1896 sign.
ed by Tracy, Boardman & Platt were
found. The witness said this firm was
not regularly retained and he did not
know what legal services they per-
formed.
A voucher from James M. Lewis,
dated Jan. 27, 1899, was for 1000 'in
full for services rendered during the
coming session Of the general assem-
bly, in Missouri Witness did not
know Lewis nor, the services he per-
formed. s-
Vice President TarbeII Testifies.
Gage E: Tarbell, second vice presi.
dent Of the Equitable society, was call
ed when Mr.. McCurdy had finished.
He told of his connection with the
Equitable, which has continued twenty
six years. Mr.. Tarbell said he knew
nothing of the memoranda given by
Mr. Jordan to A. G. Fields. He did not
know Fields and knew only that he
looked after the legislation in New
York for the Mutual. He had confer
ences with representatives Of other
companies relative to legislative mat
ters and enGeavored in 1903 to have a
committee appointed to look after the
interests o. policyholders that would
be affected By any bills in the legisla-
ture., He knew Indirectly that Andrew
was Of the opinion that no company
should have an expense in connection
with legislative matters. He never
knew of a dollar being expended in
that way. He took the position that
it improper legislation could not be
defeated by remedial means the com
pany should refuse to do business in
the state. Mr. Mccall of the New York
Life agreed with him and the Mutual
Life was approached to come to some
agreement on this subject, but the Mu-
tual would not go into such a combina-
tlon on the ground that it was not
practical.
Senator Armstrong announced that a
subcommittee had been appointed to
take the deposition of George Fl.
Squire, the former financial manager
OF the Equitable society. The session
was then adjourned until Tuesday
next.