Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-11-21
FORMER RISK MAN
Is Still MISSING
SON OF FRANK B. JORDAN RE.
PORTS NO TRACE OF HIS
FATHER.
is PLACED ON RACK
IN NEW YORK PROBE
Mccurdy Tells of knowledge of Pay
ments in Equitable Society-Ac-
counts with Michigan Lobbyist
Told of-Gage Tarbell on Stand.

.-~S~
ments in Equitable Society-Ac-
counts with Michigan Lobbyist
Told of-Gage Tarben on Stand.
New York, Nov. 1S-Frank B. Jor-
dan, son of the former comptroller of
the Equitable Life Assurance society,
was the first witness called before the
legislative insurance investigation COM
mittee Friday.
He had testified 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 dead.
Friday he said he had not since learned
of his fathers whereabouts. He had
received a letter from his mother, who
is In 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 1895 was letter to James w.
Alexander from Robert II. McCurdy,
Of the Mutual Life Insurance company,
which accompanied bill for the
Equitable's share of salary and ex-
penses Of George S. Batcheller as
'plenary legal representative" Of the
Equitable society, New York Life In
surance company and Mutual Life In.
surance company. The salary of Mr..
Batcheller from this combination was
given in a statement as $77,70O. It
was brought out that Mr.. Batcheller's
duties were abroad.
Knew Nothing Of Services,
A voucher from James M. Lewis
dated January ~, 1899, was for $1,000
'in full for services rendered during
the coming session of the general as
sembly in Missouri" Witness did moi
know Lewis nor the services he per.
formed. Another voucher dated Mil.
waukee, in 1899, from X. Luscombe
was for 1854, covering legal services
and expenses. This voucher was in.
dorsed by "a. Hamilton Witness
knew nothing of these services, but
said there was no litigation in Wiscon
sin at that time. S. S. Odds, of Ian.
sing, Mich, was also paid $1,000 IL
1899 in connection with tax suits il
that state. James M. Lewis was also
paid $3,335 on June 8, 1899, for con
sultation fees and services in Missouri
Witness could not explain the ode
amount but answering Mr.. Hughes
said it looked like one-third of s1O
600. 1t was brought out that David B
Hills retainer in 1900 was fixed al
1880.
Gage Tarbell on Rack.
Gage E. Tarbell, second vice presi.
dent Of the Equitable society, was
called when Mr.. McCurdy had finished
He told of his connection with the
Equitable, which has continued q
years. Mr.. Tarbell said he knew moth.
ing of the memoranda given by Mr.
Jordan to A. G. Fields. He did moi
know Fields and knew only that he
looked after the legislation in New
York for the Mutual. He had confer.
erees with representatives Of other
companies relative to legislative mat.
tiers and endeavored in 1903 to have 9
committee OF one appointed to look
after the interests of policyhoiue that
would be affected by any bills in the
legislature that would be inimicable,
He knew indirectly that Andrew Ham.
tlton had been employed. He 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.
knowledge of Cash Spent.
Mr.. McCurdy was asked about 8
Voucher for $l,666.66 for payment to
Edward F. O'Brien, of Chicago, on
June l. 1903, but he said he did NOT
know whether it indicated a division
OF $4,000 among three companies.
Mr.. McCurdy was asked If he was
familiar with moneys paid to state in.
surance departments by the Equitable
society, more especially in California,
He replied that he was, and on this
matter said that the trouble in Cali
fornia began in 1897 when Andrew ].
Clune, who was then insurance com.
missioner of California, complained to
the attorney general of that state that
the Equitable society was not entitled
to do business in that state because
its capital stock was too small.
McCurdy's Salary Cut.
New York, Nov. 1S.--At a special
meeting of the board of trustees OF
the Mutual Life Insurance company in
this city Thursday, at which prelim.
mary report of the recently appointed
special investigating committee was
submitted, President Richard A. Nc
Curdy caused a stir by announcing that
at his own request his salary had been
cut In half, from $150.O0O to 5000 a
year. This action was taken at meet
ing of the finance committee and Mr..
McCurdy said was the first step in re-
ducing the expenses Of the company,
Salaries of the other executive officers
OF the company also have been re.
duced, the saving amounting in all TO
between $145,0O0 and $4,000 per an
Tom.
Must Serve Term.
Sacramento, Cal, Nov. Is. - Harry
Bunkers, the former San Francicco
senator, convicted last April of bribery