Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-11-24
He KNEW OF
IT LONG AGO.
U. S. Manning From up the
River on Stand in InSur-
anCe Matter.

NEW YORK, Nov. CIV. $. Man
ming of Albany, Chauuccy NJ. Depew's
friend from up the river" who gets
"~rantanlSerous about this time every
year." was on hand in the city hall
when the legislative insurance commit
tee resumed its hearing.
Mr.. Manning is seventy-one years
old. Thanks 10 a pair of mild blue
eyes, his flowing beard and snow white
hair, he is much more friendly in up
pearance than ADVANTAGEOUS" Before
the session began he had. by his re-
quest. a two minute consultation with
Charles Il. Hughes, counsel for the
committee. He said that he wanted TO
tell everything he knew. and seemed
to anticipate much pleasure in The OPP
portunity to do 50.
Il fear nothing as The result of this
investigation" he said TO Il reporter he
fore the session was convened. MY
record IS clear. | have been a consist
ent opponent of these people for years.
My arguments will show that.
why this Investigation should have
been forestalled long ago. If they had
listened TO me the whole insurance
matter would have been ventilated in
the eighties.
"As TO Nichols and his testimony, !
shall dispose of that when l get on the
stand. He must have been suffering
from lapse Of memory when he testl-
hn1 If I an st1 a Yl-op.n,TC : IN. IL tho
insurance people think | am, | guess
it's because they realize their own
shortcomings. But the public knows of
their shortcomings by this time"
Manning emphatically denied that he
had ever received moneys from the
Equitable. In this he directly contra
dicted the testimony of Mr.. Nichols.
Mr.. Manning also declared that he
had never received more than $3.50 Il
year from Mr.. Nichols and that for a
time he received $3.50.
Mr.. Nichols had said that he had paid
Mr.. Manning $3.50 for Il time and later
$50 a year.
III you have been Il consistent antag-
onist of the insurance companies, how
is ii you accepted money from them
for so long?' was asked.
The money I received was as a reg
ular retainer to safeguard the interests
of policy holders and to represent life
insurance companies for that purpose.
My record is clear, as | said. There is
nothing wrong in accepting Il retainer
to represent policy holders. l will tell
all | know. | have nothing to fear"
George ID. Eldridge, vice president of
the Mutual Reserve Life Insurance
company. was one of the witnesses.
This company is credited with Il desire
to reform old evils. Frank II. Plat
and Frank Il. Lawrence represented
the company as counsel. When Mr..
Hughes gets along in the investigation
of the Mutual Reserve disclosures are
expected which will involve the state
Insurance department.
1t was brought out that when l.. Il.
Harper, former president of the AIu-
tual Reserve. died in 1894 he had been
receiving 10 cents on every $1,000 of
insurance written by the company.
These commissions continued five years
after his death.
In 1893 they aggregated $4S, 100, In
his will Mr.. Harper left one-third of
his commissions to the company, pro
vided Frederick A. Burmham, its vice
president. should succeed him as presi-
dent. Mr.. Burnham was elected prcsi-
dent. Mr.. Harper also be%Queathed Mr..
Burnham all of the proxies given him
by policy holders, so that Burnham
could continue his control of his com
many