The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-19
HUGHES HAS TILT
 WITH LAWYERS
fcontinued from First Paee)


 ~--->------~-~>S-~--~~~ ouestions today were spoken in so low a tone as to be inaudible at the news papers mems table.
 Does any of your company including yourself have any commission on busi- ness written, as well as the agent?' asked Mir Hughes.
 No"
 Did you get any share of your sons commission on foreign businessE
 NO sir; not a cent"
 "Or of your son-n-law's commissioner None whatever
 You may have seen statements in the press accusing the Mutual of great eX- travagance in furnishing your office. You have now an opportunity to make as full an explanation as you wish,' said MT Hughes.
 MT McCurdy declared that there were many erroneous statements made in the press about the Mutual. He said the furniture and fittings of his office was in every respect proper and fitting. The company published a book with photo- graphs of nearly every room and office in the building, except the wine cellar, he said; they could not photograph that because it did not exist The policy holders and those seeking insurance ex- pressed satisfaction the witness said that the home office should be furnished In a proper and fitting manner. He had | no private elevator in his office
 Mir Hughes asked why applicants for .ioans on policies to the home office were referred to c. H. Raymond Co. II. McCurdy said they were not, but were ' referred to the policy department. If you wish to imply does anyone receive any commission on loans on policies, l would answer distinctly, mo-" he said,
 But policyholders write me and say they are referred on asking loans to C.. IT Raymond x Co.," said MT. Hughes. 7 q doubt 1t. There may be isolated eases" replied Mir. McCurdy
 Taking up the matter of the real estate holdings of the company. the witness was asked where he made his winter residence. He said it was the Grosvenor apartment on Fifth avenue. This house is owned by the Mutual Life statement of the return on the investment in the apartment was asked for, and Hughes was about to leave the subject, when Mir. Beck counsel for the Mutual Life Insurance company, protested and said 1t was not fair to MT. McCurdy to lead up to his occupancy of the apartment of the building, and destroy his opportunity to testify as to whether he paid fair rental for it.
 4 MT. Beck Makes Protest.
 "Without intending to do so, no doubt, MT. Hughes" said Mir. Beck, your fre- uuently lead up to a point that gives the newspapers opportunity to put in an ugly imputation against MT. McCurdy and then you drop the inquiry, and that l do not think is entirely fair to MT. Me Curdy especially when, if all the facts were brought out it would be impossible for any one to cast a reflection upon him."
 MT. Hughes replied
 ''I have tried to give MT. McCuray an abundant opportunity to tell everything he knows about this business. and il he does not realize this fact l don't know what l can tell him further"
 At this point Chairman Armstrong oi the committee intervened, saying:
 Chairman Armstrong Explains.
 ''It has occurred to this committee that both counsel and the witness are entitled ito make the fullest and the best possible suggestions so that there may be nc divergence from fair and full examina- ton of the subjects for which we arc here to examine. This witness justifies his attitude by his own declaration of his purpose in stating how much he woulo answer of the inquiries made because oi the belief that this committee was an Tn uuisition, and was conducting an unfail hinaury and your remarks, MT. Beck, ar' ito the same effect. This committee l: here to make a fair and honest inquiry into the facts concerning the business and affairs of life insurance companies and the witnesses and counsel that appear before the committee will have just th' position before the committee that they