The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-11-18
Senator Confidently a Can
tankerOus" Man
WHO WANTED THINGS
Every Year-"wanted to Know, You
Know7-Tarbell Against Legis-
lative" Doodle at
Albany.

New York, Nov. Senator Chaun-
cey NJ Depew, called to the witness
stand by the insurance. investigating COM
mittee yesterday afternoon, developed a
new and interesting puzzle which ap-
pears to figure in the line of the Equit-
abIe,s unexplained legal expenses"
Letters to him from Lawyer John A.
Nichols, retained by the Equitable in
which reference was made to myteri-
Gus "friend up the river" who was grow
ing "cantankerous" because his annual
demand on the society was not receiv-
ing prompt attention were read, but
the senator could not recall who this
man was or what was the nature of his
claim upon the Equitable.
This mysterious person in pressing for
attention was quoted as wanting to
know, you know" and not earring a
hang, etc But Mr.. Hughes made no
progress whatever toward uncoyering
his identity.
Second Vice President Gage E. Tar
bell of the Equitable was also wit
ness. He declared ignorance of the PEI
cuiiar trustee" accounts, said he never
made dollar out of syndicate participa-
fion, was opposed to insurance legisla-
tion doodle" and believed that unjust,
inimical legislation could best be prevent
ed by companies exerting influence upon
the legislature through sentiment Great
ed among policy holders.
When the committee met yesterday
morning Inquisitor Hughes promptly TN
covered, through Assistant Registrar
Samuel S. McCurdy Of the Equitable,
the fact thousands Of dollars paid out
for "legal expenses" we're not matters
of record in the registrars department
although these records are supposed to
be complete Mr.. McCurdy was absolute
" ignorant Of these transactions, and in
some cases did not even know who the
lawyers were whose names appeared on
the vouchers produced by Lawyer
Hughes.
Among the lawyers figuring as having
received money for legal services, no
record of which has been furnished the
accountants of the society, are John "A.
Nichols, Thomas d. Hustled, Robert Lus-
comb, James M. Lewis, S. S. Odds, and
Charles r. Brayton.
Tracy, BoaYdman & Platt, although
not under regular retainer from the
Equitable, so far as the witness knew,
received $4,000 early in 1896, and $4,000
later in the year The witness said he
did not have any record to show what
services had been performed.
Mr.. McCurdy developed information
regarding surprising leak in the Equit-
able's treasury amounting to something
more than $4,000. Former Governor
Budd of California it appeared, figured
very extensively in the litigation that
brought about this leak.
Governor Bndd was one of the prorni-
nent campaigners for William Jennings
Bryan in the latter's last campaign, and
made many addresses in this city for
William Fl. Hearst when he was running
for congress.
The witness was questioned regard
ing an attack upon the Equitable's bust
ness in California about 1900, made by
Andrew j. CIunie Of San Francisco as
insurance commissioner. Witness testi-
fed that following the attack, in which
Mr.. Clunie claimed that the Equitable
should be stopped from doing business
in California, former Governor James
Budd Of California was appointed as
special commissioner TO 20 to New York
and examine into the conditions. After
he made his examination the objection
TO the Equitable in California was with
drawn.
Soon after this the sum Of s14,166.66