Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1905-09-16
PERKINS ON STAND
Morgan's Partner Tells OF
Campaign Contributions.
NEW YORK LIFE GAVE $4,000.
Contributed That Amount to Repub.
licans the Last Three Years-BIiss
Got $4,000 to Aid Election
of Roosevelt,

NEW YORK, Sept 16.-Admittine
that in the last three elections the New
York Life Insurance company had con.
tributed to the Republican national
campaign fund nearly $150000, George
W. Perkins, partner in the firm of ].
T. Morgan & Co. and vice president of
the Nee York Life Insurance company,
told the members of the legislative in
vestigating committee In the same
breath that law preventing such con-
tributions should be enacted.
Mr.. Perkins admissions, followed up
by his important suggestion, impressed
the committee greatly. After the wit,
ness had been excused and the session
adjourned until Wednesday the COM
mittee went into executive session to
consider Mr.. Perkins remarks. The
most important revelations produced
concerning the methods of business
conducted by insurance companies in
this city have been forthcoming since
the committee began its inquiry.
1t was Assemblyman Rogers who
caused Mr.. Perkins to give his opinion
regarding the curbing of contributions
to campaign funds. His question was
as follows:
SIS it your view, Mr.. Perkins, that
contributions to political organizations
should be prohibited?"
at most certainly is my view," was
the answer, land think it a pernicious
practice that has grown up in that re-
gard. think that you gentlemen could
do nothing better-among other things
which have occurred to me-than to en-
act law to meet that condition.
81 believe that any institution thus
paying out money should make out a
schedule to show what it pays that
money out for. / believe that in coun-
try like ours that situation will arise
such as arose in the Mckinley cam
paign, and If we are to contribute 10
cents, rs cents, so cents or 81 of the
money of each policy holder to protect
his interests l think when it is done
that it should be generally known that
1t is done. think there ought to be a
law on that point. 1t is hobby of
mine. l think the best way to control
these companies is by the greatest pub
licity."
THAT is what am trying to get an"
said Mr.. Hughes.
Now, If we had law of that ma
ture," Mr.. Perkins continued, 81 be-
lieve that it would be justified and that
every policy holder would indorse It,"
you do not think it safe to leave
that to the self restraint Of the COM
panies themselves?"
II would put it In a different way. l
think it best to leave it to the judg-
ment of the officers themselves. Now,
Mr.. John A. Mccall is the best demon
stration. He is a Democrat. In the
first campaign in which he was presi-
lent of the New York Life he did not
because there was nothing
1t issue, but when it came to the Nc
kinley campaign be did contribute, al |
.hough a Democrat, and he voted for |
Mckinley. He contributed his own
money and the company's money, be- |
,ause he believed there was great peril |
which threatened the assets Of the pol !
cy holders"
Mr.. Perkins said positively that all |
# the big insurance companies In this |
'ity contributed to campaign funds at |
very national election. He said that |
made by the company
lie represents had been in three lots of /
bout $4,000 each. The two cam
,aign funds of President Mckinley !
rot two contributions Of $4,000 each,
nd the Roosevelt and Fairbanks cam
,aign fund received a similar sum
rom the company.
Mr.. Perkins said that the contribu-
ion had been authorized by John A.
dcCall, president of the New York
life Insurance company, and he had
ersonally paid the Roosevelt contribu-
ion to Cornelius n. Bliss. The exact
um paid last year wac $4s, T02.50.
Mr.. Perkins citation on the witness
tand of the affairs Of his company
vas at all times interesting. He was
ontinually standing up and sitting
own, showing nervousness and at
Their times eagerness to let himself be
card ali oypr the room