The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-22
"RanbunctIous' Man Was an
 Ac uaTy in Albany
EQUITABLE "AXED' HIM
Nichols Says He Was Paid to "Take Care of Manning" Because He Was a Menace-Platt
 On the Stand.

of Senator DepeW's "rambunctious friend up the river" was disclosed in the session of the state Investigating insurance com- mttee by the testimony of John A. Nich- ols, a lawyer, under retainer by the Eauitable Life Assurance society MT. Nichols had written Senator Depew let ter referring to an individual in the above terms, and the letter was read at the ses- sion of the committee Friday when Sen- ator Depew was on the stand The sen- ator was unable to recall who was called the "rambunctious friend" but today MT. Nichols disclosed a series of payments to w. H. Manning of Albany, a former ac- tuary, who had been connected with the Investigation of insurance companes 1T, 1877. MT. Hughes inquired as to a report that Manning had been in possession of information that was suppressed during the investigation and that would have been detrimental to the case of the Equ table MT. Nichols could not recall the suppression of information, but he detai- ed the payment of sums of money over considerable period to Manning an in- ducement to give up his business as &C., tuary, in which capacity he believed Ma1- ming was a menace to the Equitable Life.
 Took Care of Manning.
 Mir. Nichols said he was paid a retain CTS fee from the Mutual and, New York Life for the same purpose-that is, "tak- ing care of Manning as MT. Hughes characterized 1t. He announced the pay ment by the Equitable for Manning was made to Nichols on vouchers bearing false names, which Mir. Nichols said was done to protect Manning.
 Aside from the disclosures made oJ Nichols on the witness stand, the feature of the day was the appearance of United States Senator Thomas c. Platt. who dld not hesitate to tell of the con optributions of insurance companies to state cam paigns. The Equitable society and the New York Life were the only insurance companies that made such contributions. The Equitable contributed regularly $10,- GOO to state campaigns, the Mutual the same amount frequently and the New York Life sum not as large, and occa- sionally. The moneys were always de- livered in 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 shat was hostile to the insurance companies. Sen ator Platt said he believed he had asked President McCurdy for contribution when the needs were very great
 TarbeIl on the Stand.
 Gage E. Tarbell. the second vice presi- dent of the Equitable. was also witness today His testimony Friday was inter- rupted by the adjournment, and today ha I,ir xyr,Ia n 2 t1, system of which he had charge, and the manner at arriving at commissions. He detailed history of the agencies in the insurance company and of his own effort to reduce the cost of getting bus mess.
 During his testimony Mir. Tarbel made a very extended explanation of the good the insurance companies have done and the difficulties under which the work is carried on One part of his testimony caused much amusement to the commit tee as well as to the spectators alike, when he described fight with the New York Life over agents. In this statement MT. Tarbell told how he had won over a general agent and two hundred sub agents of the New York Life in this city, without the cost to the Equitable of so much as one dollar. The only inducement offered was that the agents could make more on commission basis than under the salaries of the New York Life MT. Tarbell detailed this deal with the agents in it's various steps, and said that he closed the deal on a Sunday, but that he thought 1t was good job, and it was done on good day.
 Apgar Called.
 Mir. Tarbells testimony was again in- terrupted during the afternoon. and As semblyman James K. Apgar of West Chester was called. His card with the inscription Hyde says to pay him was attached to voucher for $1000 which the Equitable paid Thomas Husted, and the voucher bore Husted's endorsement. MT. Apgar knew absolutely nothing about the money, nor did he know how his card came to be used for such a purpose.
 It was expected today that the deposi- ton of George H. Squier. the former fi- nancial manager of the Equitable Life, would be read for the record, but MT. Hughes explained that the subcommittee had not completed the examination, MT. Sauier being too feeble to stand any lengthy examination.