Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-22
Mr. Nichols Says He is an Aotuary Who
Promotes Holdup Bills,
loNEY IS PAID TO KEEP HIN QUIET
Manning Makes a Denial Saying Pay
ments Are for Watching Legislation
SENATOR PLATT TAKES THE STAND
says Equitable, New York Life and
New York Mutual Each Cone
tributcd 10 the New York
state Campaign Fund.

NEW YORK Nov. H-The identity OF
Senator Depews "rantalSerous friend from
up the river" was disclosed in the session
of the state legislative insurance investga-
tion committee today by the testimony OF
John A. Nichoa. a lawyer under retainer
by the Equitable Life Assurance society.
Mr.. Nichols had written Senator Depew
a letter referring TO an individual In the
above terms and this letter was read at the
session of the committee Friday when
Senator Depew was on the stand. The
senator was unable to recall who was
meant by the "rantankerous friend" but
today MIR Nichols disclosed a series of
payments TO W. s. Manning of Albany. q
former actuary who had been connected
with the investigation of insurance COM
panies in 1877 Mr, Hughes inquired as 20
a report that Manning had been In pos
session of the information that was sup
pressed during this investigation and that
would have been detrimental to the Eqult-
able. Mr.. Nichols could not recall tho
suppression of information, but he detailed
the payment of sums Of money over a
considerable period to Manning as an in
ducement TO give up his business as actu-
AIRY In which capacity he believed Manning
was menace to the Equitable Life. Mr..
Nichols said he was paid q retainer from
the Mutual and the New York Life for the
same duties, that OF taking care of Man
ming" as Mr.. Hughes characterized IT, lie
added that the payments by the Equitable
for Manning were made to Nichols on
vouchers bearing false names which Mr.
Nichols said was done to protect Manning.
PIatt on Contributions.
Aside from tho disclosures made by
Nichols on the witness stand, the feature
of the day was the appearance of United
States Senator Thomas c. Platt, who did
not hesitate TO tell of the contributions
Of insurance companies to the state cam
paign. The Equitable, the Mutual and the
New York Life were the only insurance
companies that made such contributions.
The Equitable contributed regularly $4,000
to state campaigns the Mutual Life the
same sum frequently and the New York
Life a sum not as large, and occasionally.
These monies were always delivered in
cash TO Senator Platts ofice by messen-
ger and he turned them over 10 the state
committee The senator said he was ex-
pected to influence the legislature when
any legislation appeared that was hostile
/ 10 the insurance companies. Senator Platt
said he believed he had asked President
r. A. McCurdy Of the Mutual Life for a
contribution when the needs were great.
He, however, had never been asked to use
his influence on. any measure before the
legislature nor had he ever done so. He
knew nothing about contributions to tho
national campaign.
TarbeI on Commissions.
Gage f. Tarbel was also a witness again
today. His testimony Friday was inter
| rupted by the adjournment and today he
continued his explanation of the agency
system of which he had charge and tho
manner of arriving at the commissions.
He detailed a history of the agencies Of
| insurance companies and his own efforts 10
reduce the cost of getting business.
During his testimony Mr.. Tarbell made
| a very extensive explanation of the good
that 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 committee as we'll as
! the spectators when he described fight
I with the New York Life over the taking
of agents. In this statement Mr.. Tarbell
told how he had won over a general agent
and 800 subagents of the New York Life
in this city without the cost to the Equit-
| able of much one dollar. The only
, inducement offered was that the agents
! could make more on a commission basis
! than on the salary of the New York Life
/ Mr. Tarbell detailed this deal with the
! agent in its various steps and said he
| closed the deal on a Sunday. He Thought
/ it was a good job and was done on good
day.
| Mr.. TarbelFs testimony was interrupted
again during the afternoon session and AS
| semblyman James X Apgar Of Westchester
was called. His card with the inscription
! Mr.. Hyde says to pay him" was attached
] %. Q .F,t.
paid Thomas ID. Hustled, and the voucher
bore Husted's endorsement Mr.. Apgar
knew nothing about the money nor did he
know how his card CANE to be used for
| such "a purpose. nor had he ever heard OF
| any money being paid by the Equitable or
any one else lie knew Fields, but never
knew OF his receiving money for political
purposes. Fields was politically active In
Westchester, where he also lived, Mr.. Ap-
gar said, and generally elected any one he
set out 10 elect. Mr.. Apgar had talked with
Fields at Albany while a member of the
insurance committe, but never on any mat
ters In the legislature TO which Fields was
opposed He had also called on Fields
socially in the house maintained by Fields
Mr.. Apgar said his relations were some
what strained with Thomas d. Hustled and
as he is dead he asked TO be excused from
entering into an extensive explanation OF
the matter.
II was explained today that the deposition
OF George II. Squire, the former financial
manager Of the Equitable, would be read
for the record. but Mr. Hughes explained
that the subcommittee had not completed
the examination OF MI Squire because It
had TO be taken in parts. Mr.. Squire be-
ing too feeble 10 stand any lengthy con .
versation. The deposition will therefore be
read when it Is completed.
Manning Knows Things.
! ALBANY. y. Y, Nov. u.-When William
s. Manning Of this city was told OF tho
part his name had played In the New
York insurance investigation, he replied
with considerable heat. II they want 20
hear from me, let them call me before
the committee. / can toll Mr.. Hughes a
few things The place where he should
! turn his sesrchlight IS not N much on tho
officers Of the insurance companies a. q