Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-18
INSURANCE INQUIRY
Son Of Former Equitable Con-
troller on the Stand.
TODAY'S REVELATIONS
EFFORT TO FIND OUT WHERE
ABoUTs OF JORDAN PERE.
President McCurdy of the Mutual Life
Recalled as a Witness-The Mat
ter of Commissions.

dI1llS dt the insurance investigation
IN New York today between Chair
man Armstrong of the committee,
Counsel Hughes and James NJ.
Beck, acting for Richard A. McCur-
dy, president of the Mutual Life In
surance Company. Mr. Beck pro-
tested that Mr.. Hughes had fire.
quently led up to points which gave
the newspapers opportunity ito put
an ugly imputation against Mr..
McCurdy,' and that then Mr..
Hughes dropped the inquiry before
Mr.. McCurdy had opportunity to
explain.
Chairman Armstrong said Mr..
Beck could make requests or sug-
gestions to Mr.. Hughes privately
or to the committee, but the COM
mittee intended to carry out its
purpose to make life insurance
safer and did not desire the work
obstructed. The committee wanted
all the helpful information it could
get.
Mr.. Hughes then said that if he
had erred at all it had been by
showing courtesy when circum-
stances justified other measures.
NEW YORK, October 1s.-Frank p. Jor-
dan. son of Thomas D. Jordan. former con-
troller of the Equitable Life Assurance So
ciety. was the first witness before the leg
islative insurance investigating committee
today. He is in the fire insurance and real
estate business in this city
From him an effort was made to obtain
information as to his fathers whereabouts.
Mr.. Hughes, counsel to the investigating
committee, desires to question Mr. Jordan.
ST. as to the mysterious s6S5, 600 loan made
to Jordan and James w. Alexander former
president Of the Equitable. as trustees
The loan has never been explained. Mr..
Jordan said he had not seen his father
since September and did not know where
he is He had made no effort to learn
where his father Is.
Answering Chairman Armstrong witness
said he knew Of one who could tell
where his father is at present. In reply to
Mr.. Hughes. Mr.. Jordan said he forwarded
no mail to his father. All the mail is ac-
cumulating at 100 Broadway and the fam
ily's city residence at IS West Ssth street
He did not know, he said, whether his
father and mother were living or dead.
Cunningham's Testimony.
John ]. Cunningham of Dobbs Ferry, N
Y, an examiner of the New York Life in
surance department. who was next called,
said that fer five years prior to 1893 he had
been employed by a livery firm at Dobbs
Ferry, of which Andrew c. Fields was a
member. Fields is superintendent of the
supply department of the Mutual Life In
surance Company.
,,-it,o TO 11,ay,x TO ant
as secretary to Fields and take care of the
house in which Fields lived. After the leg
islature adjourned he returned with Fields
to Dobbs Ferry and acted as his secretary,
but had transacted no business with Fields
for two years.
Cunningham said he was appointed in
surance examiner by Superintendent of
Insurance James F. Pierce, who was In
Office from 1891 to 1897, and that Fields
and Charles P. Mcclellan. former state
senator. recommended him for the ap-
pointment. He testified that he had ex-
amined the New York Life insurance
Company, the Mutual Life Insurance
Company and the Equitable Life Assur-
ance Society.
Mr.. McKeen, associate counsel for the
committee, then offered correction as to
his statement of yesterday relative to the
salary of the foreign bank heads. He said
the salary of the president of the BANK
of Germany was 10000 marks and official
lodging, Instead of dollars. and that of
the governor of the Bank Of England was
1000 pounds.
McCurdy Recalled.
President Richard A. McCurdy Of the
Mutual Life Insurance Company, who was
on the stand at adjournment yesterday,
was then recalled. The firm of Sewall
and Pierce, he testified. was counsel for
the Mutual Life Insurance Company be-
fore Mr. Pierce was superintendent of in
surance. He said that he knew nothing
about a voucher for the payment Oh
81 667 by Edgar w. Rogers In Decel aber,
1902 for legal services, nor about several
other vouchers for a similar purpose,
drawn by others. He declared he Knew
nothing about special notices IN the I,eWs-
papers C. ]. Smith and Walter sullivan
had charge of the advertising. He" was
unable to say that the advertising COW
cred the press notices. He said he knew
for the insertion In the newspape s OF
reports of this investigation or ans re-
ports favorable to the company.
A letter from the Mutual L,ife insurance
Company to an applicant for Insurance, re-
ferring him to c. H. Raymond & Co, be-
cause the application came from the dis
trict covered by the metropolitan aEency,
was read. Witness said this was a matter
of convenience to the applicant.
The Commissions.
Asked why he gave the agency the oppor-
tunity to make large commission when
there was iHdCLiutIy dt tiC iiOIiC oiiiSe W
care for applicants for insurance. witness
denied that opportunity was given the
agency to make the commissions beyond
what was its due. All applicants for in
formation. he said. do not take out in
surance. and they are referred to the
agency for Information they desire II the
agency writes the policy, he said 1t is en-
titled to the commission.
Mr.. McCurdy denied that he abolished the
free lance agents In the metropolitan dis
trict and referred such agents with their
business to c. III. Raymond Co. after
Louis A.. Thebaud became partner of that
firm.
It was brought out that Mr.. Thebaud was
in charge of the department of agents that
handled the exceptionally large risks be-
fore he became q partner. This department
was known as the executive speciaIy de-
partment Special books were kept for this
department. and witness thought any In
terest In the business Mr.. Thebaud might
have was on the regular commission basis.
He did not know, however. that Tbobaud