Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-18
Educated Legislators

details.
Mr.. McCurdy said:
Educated Legislators
"Mr. Lewis told me he had spent a
winter in educating the minds of legis-
lators in either Michigan, Wisconsin or
Ohio with regard to certain legislation
affecting the insurance company. He
proceeded to the capital of the state
and discovered the residences of polit-
ical god-parents, their relations and
neighborhoods of the legislators. It
down the state and the inducing of men
to go, too, who would expect their eX-
penses and something.
Then he went to Washington and
spent some weeks getting acquainted
with the senators and congressman
from the state. He got on a friendly
footing with them so that he might
speak to them of the damage the legis-
| lation would do the insurance business,
and got letters from them back to the
| legislators in the state assembly. For
this he received $4,000 for his own serv-
ices and employing men, but not one
dollar except for legitimate purposes"
"What did he pay men for?"
"Well many of them were laymen
and he had to pay them to sit and listen
to him. say this explains the matter
| and 1 resent the suggestion that the
money was spent in improper ways,
but l. think it would be improper to
publish the names of some of those he
| employed"
Can you recall at all what legislation
| you thought it necessary to oppose?"
THAT would not be in my province.
| If l undertook to run all the depart
ments would soon run myself under
ground"
do you recall the attempt last winter
to repeal section 81 of the insurance
law, under which no action to force
any domestic insurance company to
give an accounting could be brought
without the consent of the attorney
general?"
At first Mr.. McCurdy said he did not
remember such a bill, but finally said
he did remember that there was such
bill brought in by State Senator
Bracket.
What attitude did you take in the
matter?"
None that am aware of"
Did you not pay William Barnes,
ST.. of Albany a bill lately?"
mo. Yes, now I remember he said
he had appeared before a committee
and argued some questions before it..
He sent in his bill and L paid it," re-
piled McCurdy.
$4,000 for Three Arguments
Mr. Hughes produced a voucher and
correspondence. This showed that
$4,000 was paid Barnes for three ar
guments and certain documents drawn
up for the insurance committee at AL
bany. The correspondence explained
that the late Edward L. Short, solic-
| itor of the company, had arranged to
pay Mr.. Barnes for opposing the
Bracket bill, the New York Life pay
ing him a like amount. The letter
I1ka aAA1 L, ,ls,v Il
$1,000 from Judge Hamilton on behalf
of the New York Life and the bill to
the Mutual was for the same amount.
Mr.. McCurdy explained he had paid
more attention to this matter because
no permanent head of the law depart
ment had been appointed since the
death of Mr.. Short.
| "In what sense was it to the inter
est Of the policy holders to oppose the
repeal of this section?"
| "I do not suppose L paid the least
attention to what the services were. I
received a note from the acting head
of the department and so authorized
the payment"
"Is there any possibility if the mat
ters are left to the law department
of bills in the interest of the policy
holders being opposed?"
IF theyswere I should get another
general solicitor"
"Will you give your opinion of this
proposed repeal?"
II will abandon my usual habit OF
novel reading tonight and will give my
best attention to this matter. / do
not like to answer off-hand."
BowIes Sued Company
A voucher for $4,000 dated May %,
1902, for the first payment of a con-
tract on that date to Thomas H,
BoWles was brought up. Witness said
Bowles was an agent at one time.
The money was in part settlement Of
"a suit Bowles brought against the