The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-10-11
REPUBLICANS
GOT $4,000
From Mutual Life in Three
Campaigns.
COMPANY FED EMPLOYEES.
Chairman of Expense Committee Paid
Out Large Sums on Verbal Au-
thorization-He Made No
Report Whatever.
COMPANY FED employees.

New 1Orks Oct. ll.--ihe first witness
before the insurance investigating com
mittee at the session yesterday was
Robert ELEPHANT, chairman of the ex-
penditure committee Of the Mutual Life
Insurance Company From him it was
expected to learn what became OF S75,-
600 charged to legal expenses. This
sum was spent in three installments of
900 each, the last instaIment being
paid the day after the presidential cleo.
ton last year
MIR. Olyphant said there is no limit
to the money the committee on expendi-
lures may authorize to be paid out. The
Mutual Life Insurance company main
tains a confidential fund for legal ex-
penses. Details of payments for this
fund were not brought before the board
Of trustees, but merely the total
amounts. Bills come to this committee
from the law department after being
duly authorized by the executive officers.
The money is usually drawn in cash.
The entry of $4,000 on the books Jan.
so, 1904, witness said, was paid him in
cash. He was assured that this was
needed for the policy holders benefit and
that all was regular. DIR. Gillette, one
OF the vice presidents, told him it was
for law purposes. Witness did not feel
to the company, the execu-
tive officer having told him it was per-
fectly legal. He took no vouchers for
this payment nor for others in August
and December, 1904. Money was SINH
larly expended, Mr.. Olyphant said, in
time of Office of his predecessor, J.. Ho-
ha ial~ nj .
Alr. Olyphant to ascertain to whom the
money went, beyond the word of the
executive officers.
Mr.. Hughes then read the bylaws
governing the expenditure committee
and calling for reports of the expendi-
lures of this committee. Witness said
no reports were made. In reply to
questions by Mr.. Hughes, witness said
contributions were made to campaign
committees and he supposed they came
out of this confidential fund. Dir. Gill
cite has told him that campaign contri-
buttons had been made and there was
no other fund this money could be taken
from.
James M. Beck, counsel for the Alu-
tual Life, asked that Mr.. Grannis be
excused when Mr.. Gillette appeared, as
there were already present the president,
two vice presidents and the general man
ager of the company and somebody was
needed to run the business.
Mr.. Hughes insisted, however, that
he could excuse nobody, but would put
the company to as little inconvenience
as possible. Questioning Mr.. Olyphant,
further, Mr.. Hughes brought out that
there were five payments in 1908 Of
$4,000 each, all made in the same way
as these in 1904 and out OF the con-
iidential fund.
Walter r. Gillette, vice president of
the Mutual Life, testified that the Mu-
tual Life Insurance company contributed
$4,000 to the Republican National com
mittee's campaign fund in the last cleo
ton in 1904. He also stated that the
Mutual Life contributed $4,000 to the
Republican National committee in 1900
and $4,000 in 1896. Mr.. Gillette iusti-
fed these contributions on the same
ground as did President Mccall of the
New York Life in the contribution Of
that company, saying the st. Louis plat
form of the Democratic party and free
silver issue were menace to the policy
jlQAQIiSs NIL AfiitGbtC S<tAA Ng dItf4tIiZtQ
these expenditures after consultation
with the president, vice president and
some members Of the board of trustees
of the Mutual Life. The campaign con-
tributions, Mr.. Gillette said, came from
a fund controlled by the committee on
expenditures.
He testified that the employees were fed
at the expense Of the company, and that
in 1908 nearly $4,000 was spent for
luncheons and in 1904 nearly $4,000
was SO spent.
Mr.. Hughes asked if tile general So
lieitor could not get $4,000 whenever
he pleased without disclosing the pur-
pose for which it is to be used and wit
mes replied that he could. The legal ex-
penses for 1904 were reported as 1864,
000 Mr.. Gillette said the general soli
citor never made report OF what he
did with the money paid him. that he
was never asked for report and received
no vouchers or reports. Witness said
he did not know where a cent Of the
money went. lie said no money had been
expended in any state of municipal cam
lpaign. Witness said a. G. Fields, super
intendent Of che supply department, re-
eeiyes a salary of $4,000 year, but
had not looked after this department for
several years owing to i'll health His
duties were transacted by Mr.. Norris,
whose salary witness did not know.
Vice President Robert A. Grannis was
asked about s., 500 contribution to the
congressional committee previously
discovered He presumed II was charged
to law expenses. Contributions could
be made without his knowledge. Witness
considered the company justified in max
ing contributions to various campaign
funds because of the free silver menace.
He said no contributions were made TO
state campaign funds.