The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-10
For Clerical Force Of the n. Y.
Mutual Life.
TO BEAT DEMOCRATS.
Forty Thousand Dollars Was
Contributed in 1904.
$35, 900 in 1900 and $4,000 in
1896.


lette, vice president Of the Mutual Life
Insurance company. testified before the
insurance investiga ting committee to-
day that the Mutual Life Insurance
company contributed $40, 900 to the Re
publican national committee campaign
fund in the last election in 1904.
Vice President Gillette also testified
that the Mutual Life Insurance com
pany paid $72,861 last year for
luncheons for it's clerical force in this
city. This was at the rate Of almost
$3.50 a day.
Vice President Gillette also stated
that the Mutual Life Insurance com
pany contributed S35OOO to the Repub-
lican national committee in 1900 and
$4,000 in 1886.
He justified these contributions on
the same ground as did President John
A. Mccall, of the New York Life IN
surance company, saying that the st.
Louis platform of the Democratic
party and the free silver issue were a
menace to the policy holders. DR.. Gil
lette said he authorized these ex1endi-
lures after consultation with the presi-
dent, vice president and some mem bers
of the board Of trustees Of the Mutual
Lie insurance company. The cam
paign contributions. he said. came from
on expenditures.
No Limit on Expenses.
Sir John Long. member of the Brit
lsh parliament, was a guest of the in
surance Investigating committee at its
session today The first witness was
Robert Olyphant chairman of the ex-
penditure committee of the Mutual
Life Insurance company From him it
was expected to learn what became of
$4,000 charged to legal expenditures.
This sum was spent in three install
menIs OF $Z5,00O each, the last install
ment being paid the day after the
presidential election last year.
Mr.. Olyphant said there is no limit
TO the money! the committee on expendi-
lures may authorize TO be paid out.
The Mutual Life Insurance company
maintains q confidential fund for legal
expenditure The details Of payments
tor this fund were not brought before
the board OF trustees but merely the
total amounts
Bills came to this committee from
the law department after being duly
authorized by the executive officers.
The moneys were usually drawn in
cash.
An entry of $4,000 on the books
January 30 1904, witness said was
paid to him in cash. He was assured
this was needed for the policyhoIders'
benefit and that all was regular DR.
Gillette, one of the vice presidents. told
him it was for law purposes. Wit
ness did not feel responsible to the
company. an executive officer having
told him it was perfectly legal He
took no vouchers for this payment nor
Tor others In August and December,
1904.
Money was similarly expended. Mr..
Olyphant said, in the term of office of
his predecessor, J. Hobart Henry, and
It never occurred to Mr.. Olyphant to
ascertain to whom the money went
beyond the word of an executive
Mr. Hughes then read the bylaws
governing the expenditures committee
and calling for reports of expenditures
70 TINS committee. Witness said no
reports were made.
They "Have To-
In reply to questions by Mr.. Hughes
the witness said he had heard con
ulbutions were made to campaign
committees. and he supposed they
came out of this confidential fund
DIR. Gillette had told him that cam
palgn contributions had been made
and there had been no other fund
that this money could be taken from
MI Hughes then asked that DR.
Gillette be summoned. James M
Beck, counsel for the Mutual Life In
suranee company. asked that Mr.
CFrannis be excused if DR.. Gillette an
peared, as there were already present
the president, two vice presidents and
the general manager of the company
and somebody was needed to run the
business Ar- Hughes insisted, how
ever, that he could excuse nobody but
would put the company to as little in
convenience as possible
Questioning Mr.. Olyphant further
Mr.. Hughes brought out that there
We're I'VE payments in 1903, of $25. .OOC
each, all made in the same xvav AS
those in 1903, and out of the conf
Dental fund
Mr.. Olyphant was asked if it wa,
Asr,-.
penditures when approved by a vice
president, and witness replied: I'VE
have to-
Vice President Robert A. Grannis,
was then called. He was asked about
the $4,000 contribution to the con.
gressional committee. previously dis.
covered. He presumed it was charged
TO law expenses, as that would be the
natural course. Mr.. Granniss knew
or contributions to the Republican
campaign fund in 1896, 1900 and
19O4, but did not know the amounts
contributions could be made without
ms knowledge. Witness considered
me company was justified in making
contributions TO the various campaign
1unds because of the free silver
menace. Asked to approximate the
contributions to the last national Re
publican committee, witness did moi
lhlnk 1t would exceed $4,000
Heavy Legal Expenses.
Mr.. Grannis was excused for a tint
and Dr. Walter r. Gillette. vice presi
dent of the Mutual Life Insuranc,
company, was called He said ht
made the contract with the firm of c,
H. Raymond & Co.. agents of his owr
vOlition. and no one was responsibIt
for the contract prior to 1903. but tht
witness and the president
The $4,000 vouchers were showr
the witness All of them had been an.
proved by the witness except the on,
authorized by Mr. Grannis DR.. Gil
lette said they were for legal expenses
IA ala nothing 60 ascertain for wha