The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-05
FEARED THE
DEMOCRATS.
Why Mutual Life Contributed
TO Campaign Fund.
Danger of Republican Defeat
and Tariff Tinkering.
MORE THAN A MILLION
Paid to Young McCurdy in Com
missions
On Foreign Business for Period
Of - Years.

New York, Oct. 5.-W. r. Thunrnel
legal counsel for the Mutual Life IN
surance company of New York. testi-
ned before the legislative Investigating
committee today that he had received
$4,000 from Vice President Robert A.
Grannis in 1904, and had paid it per
sonally to the chairman of the Repub-
hcan national campaign committed
Mr.. Thummel said said the contribu-
ton had been suggested by the dan
ger of Democratic house which
would result in tariff and other Iegis-
lation of such a character as would
upset business and affect policyhold-
ers"
Other companies, Mr.. ThummeI said,
had been asked to contribute but he
did not know whether they did or not
Payments amounting to $1,O59,267
i'm commissions were made to Robert
II. McCurdy, son Of President Richard
A. AIcCurdy of the Mutual Life Insur-
auce company, by that company during
the years 1898 to 1905. Mr.. McCurdy
was superintendent of the company's
foreign department and received a
commission on all foreign business.
His rate of commission was reduced
several times at his own request, but
despite the reduced rate, his compen-
sauOn grew until it amounted to S99,-|
15S for the year 1902 alone.
DevIin Testifies.
Edward Devlin. the real estate man
agcr of the New York Life Insurance
company, today resumed his testimony
which was Interrupted at the adjourn
ment last night of the legislative com
mittee appointed to investigate the life
insurance business.
Mr.. Devlin testified that an apart
ment house at Park avenue and Sixty
second street cost the New York Life
Insurance company $1,0O9 S66 and IS
carried ON the company s books at
$450,000 The loss he said, was due
TO TO administration preceding Mr.
McCalHs. The Office building at Kan
sas City cost S1.90l7SI. 1t is carried
on the books at $1,000, 600 and its net
income is $50. 003, or 800 per cent re-
turned on the investment. The COM
pany charges itself with 1892 rental
FOR six Offices.
The Omaha building cost S1,246.641,
and is carried on the books at S650,000
and pays a return of d little under 5
per cent The company's rental is ST.
200. The net income is $34,803- All
these figures are for tn year 1904.
The building at Minneapolis cost
$l,O2Sf752, and pays a return of y
per cent The net income is $25.9SO-
In ST. Paul the building cost S922,-
440, and has a net income of $8,122,
or a little less than per cent.
The Montreal building cost $81S.329
and is carried at S35O,0OO and has a
Fl
cent on the actual cost.
Paid Four Per Cent.
MI Devlin said that in 1908, the real
estate of the New York Life returned
per cent In 1904 the return fell to
81 per cent. This. witness said. was
due to the home Office annex which
was taken over in that year. This year
MI Devlin expected the real estate in
vestment would amount to 4 per cent.
The Plaza hotel in this city cost the
company a loss of S129 OBS. Mr.. Devlin
said. 1T lent money to original build
ers ON mortgage and after $500, 600 had
been expended they failed and the
company took over the proprty in
1902 and spent 81 1000, 600 on the con-
struction. The total cost to the COM
pany was $500 $40 and they got out
of the investment with the loss of
S12e OBS.
Following Mr.. Devlin. Cornelius c.
White, an auditor of the New York
Life Insurance company was called.
Iie presented records of the account
with Andrew Hamilton showing that
two entries of $4,000 each were charg-
ed to taxes, New York insurance"
account and later one of these $500
entries was transferred to the con
tingent expenses account. Mr.. White
said that the later account consisted
of items that We're paid to the presi-
dent to reimburse him for what he
had paid out.
W. F.. Thummel, the lawyer engag-
cd with Mr.. Hamilton in legislative
work for both the New York Life In-
sUrance company and the Equitable
Life Assurance society was next call
&C..
Nj Thummel said he was now an
attorney for the Mutual Life. He re-
ceives a salary of 1920 and looks af-
ter taxes and legislation for this COM
pany throughout the United States
Mr.. ThummeI said he had received
money from the New York Life Insur-
ance company i'm the adjustment of
expenses. The last time he received
year ago. The witness said Mr. Mccall
was mistaken in his testimony yester-
day that he paid money to the witness
for work in endeavOrlng to secure
federal supervision Mr.. IhummeI
said he had a talk with Nr. Mccall on
that matter and asked him if his COM
pany would contribute to such a cause.
Mr.. Mccall said it would but witness
was paid no money.
Paid $4,000 for Legislation.
Mr.. Thummel testified that Vice
President Robert A. Csrannis of the
Mutual was the executive who had
supervision over the legislative work.
He said he believed that in 1904. the
Mutual Life paid out for this work
probably $4,000.
Answering Mr.. Hughes he said ne
had Travelled about the country and
kept track OF legislative measures af-
fecting insurance. When asked what
he did to defeat strike measures or un-
desirable legislation, he said he tried
to keep ia touch with the persons in
terested. He became acquainted with
as many members Of the legislative
committees as possible and presented
such arguments as he could. He kept
no account of disbursements. He told
Of his inability to defeat general
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