The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-10-10
FRIGHT At SILVER
MADE MUTUAL AID AID
CAMPAIGN FUNDS
Witnesses Tell Why
Company Helped
Republicans.
SECRET FUNDS COMMON
All Companies Keep Them
for Legal Purposes, Says
Trustee Olyphant.
SECRET FUNDS COMMON

NEW YORK, Oct. I0-Robert Giy-
phant, a trustee of the Mutual Life In
surance Company, and chairman of the
committee on expenditure, was a wit
ness today before the legislative lnvesti-
eating committee.
Mr.. Olyphant said he had authority as
chairman to draw money on his own
vouchers for legal expenses He said.
''All corporations maintain a conf
Dental legal fund.-
When asked about the nature of the
confidential fund the witness said tat
many times, counsel was employed who
appeared only in particular case, and
that counsel was paid out of the conf
Dental fund.
Is Not Posted.
why was not the money paic to the
general solicitor for disbursement
II do not know"
II call your attention to an entry of
$4,000 paid to Robert Olyphant, chair
man, of January so. 1901
Mr.. Olyphant in reply said that he
thought he turned the money over to
either the vice president or general
solicitor. He said it was for legal busi-
ness In the United States.
Whom did you turn the money over
TOP
Probably one of the vice presidents.
DR.. Gillette
Mr. Oiyphant said that the payments
of SIS 600 IN August and December Of
1904 were made I'm the same way. He
was told the moneys went for legal ex-
penses-
Not His Lookout.
Don't you think it was your duty, as
chairman, TO ascertain where the money
went beyond the mere statement that
II was for legal purposes?"
NO. sir
Mr. Hughes quoted article Al OF the
company's bylaws. which provides that
all expenditures must be passed upon by
the committee ON expenditures. The
witness was not able to say that the
committee had passed on these payments.
Mr.. Olyphant said he recalled that eight
payments of $4,000 had been made TO
him.
Mr.. Olyphant SAID later.
''I have heard that contributions were
made to the Republican national com
nittee. | suppose the money came from
why do you suppose SOP
We'll, l never saw that the money
was taken from any other fund
Mr.. Olyphant said that the money was
contributed to aid the gold standard. He
did not say what campaign.
Vice Presidents Privileged
Then. II vice president comes 10
you and says a thing is all right, do
you give him money without knowing
anything about what it is for?"
I'VE have TO.
Robert A Grannis. vice president of
the Mutual Life. said that contributions
had been made in 1886. 1900. and 1904 10
the Republican campaign fund but he
did not know the amounts Grannis said
that the president Of the company. as
well as the finance committee. knew of
the contributions.
Tell us further of these contribu-
tions"
Il would refer TO let Mr.. McCurdy
make = statement.
.'Why did you contribute!
FREQ silver was being agitated. and
tie policyholders needed protection.
WAS there any agitation in 1S04?'
well. talked 1t over with Congress
man Babcock."
"I take II the amount Of your con-
tributIon 70 the Republican Congress
sional committee indicates the amount
OF agitation
Matter of Taste.
THAT is matter of taste"
What amount approximately did you
contribute to the Republican campaign
fund last Year,
81 don't think IL exceeded 5000"
Mr. Grannis was asked about the pay
ments of SIS. 900 to Robert Olyphant. but
he only vaguely recalled them. He said
II was very likely that he or DR. GIL
lette authorized them.
The committee heard this morning
that George w. Perkins. vice president
of the New York Life and member of
J. p. Morgan e. Co, has sailed for