The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-10-20
KNOW where he was today.

Lie, stepped up and handed Mr..
Hughes physicians affidavit which
said that Mr.. Fields was suffering from
an incurable disease and went to Cali
fornia last May. Mr.. McCurdy couldn't
explain the discrepancy existing In the
affidavit and his testimony.
For several years Mr.. Fields has been
In the employ of the Mutual Life to
look after legislation at Albany. He
had received large sums from time to
time from the company, but did not, so
| far as known, render an itemized ac-
count OF his expenditures. They were
all put down under the head of legal
expenses" It was to get the details of
his transactions with the Mutual Life
that the committee wanted Mr.. Fields
Declaring that the legislative inves-
tigating committee was conducting its
examination in way to suggest q
medieval inquistion, and that 1t was
departing from the line of inquiry con-
| templated by the legislature when the
committee was created, Mr.. McCurdy
refused to answer many of the ques-
tions asked him by Charles e. Hughes,
counsel for the committee.
! Mr.. McCurdy took the position that
MIR. Hughes was endeavoring to lead
him into making a bad show before the
public by asking him technical ques-
tions which could be much better an
swered by the actuary of the COM
pany. lie refused absolutely to be lei
into any discussion CT The statement,
| m hu
Hughes, that since he had been presi-
dent Of the Mutual the dividends baii
to policy holders have diminished .
Neither would he say whether in fix
ing salaries of officials 1t was not prop
or to consider this question of dimin-
ishing dividends to the policy holders.
Frequently he laughed pleasantly
when refusing to give the information
desired. and once in somewhat ag-
grieved tone he said that he dill not
wish to lmpugn the motives Of the
counsel for he committee or the COM
| mittee itself in questioning him, rs he
thought, improperly.
Mr.. Hughes had read letter from a
| policy holder which stated that !.c had
received dividends amo1nt.ng to $50 !
4 year on his policy before Mr.. McCurdy
became president of the company; that
since then the dividends had dimin-
ished until last year he had received
only ST.
Launching into long speech, Mr..
McCurdy said that the proper man to
call would be the actuary of the COM
pany, IL he wished an answer to that
question.
1--WE will call your actuary," fairly
shouted Mr. Hughes, "but you have
been 40 years with this insurance COM
pany; you are the president of the
company. and you get for your respon-
sibility $150,000 year. Now | want
to know what you know about the
business of the company"
"Arc you trying to prove me fool?"
without comment upon that, which
obviously requires no comment, | want
you to tell me some of the considera-
tions which are applicable to the course
of the business of your company"
Mr.. Hughes then repeated his ques-
tion in somewhat different form, and
Mr.. McCurdy answered. 81 refer you to
the actuary."
Mr., Hughes then explained that his
purpose in asking the question was to
give Mr.. McGurdy an opportunity, of
which he had supposed he would avail
himself, to say that the marked differ
ence between the dividends credited at
the time that premiums are paid and
the much smaller premium credited af-
ter payment had ceased, is due to the
tunity for return of what In effect was
an overcharge.
Mr.. McCurdy, who had been leaning
forward listening intently to Mr.
Hughes, suddenly dropped back in his
chair and, with an expression which
suggested disgust, said
"That is your object, is it? If 1 may
say it without disrespect, / am some
what in doubt about your object, and
must decline to answer?"
What is the salary of this man you
refer to?" Mr.. Hughes asked
Mr.. McCurdy flushed, and his mouth
moved several times before he finally
answered: "Thirty-five thousand dol.
lars"
Immediately ripple of laughtei
passed over the council chamber, and
Mr.. McCurdy grew very red
"Oh. you're entitled to the laugh,
he exclaimed, addressing Mr. Hughes.
Mr.. McCurdy was still on the stand
when the hearing adjourned for the
day. In explanation of the attitude oi
the legislative committee In not com.
pelling Mr.. McCurdy to answer GER
tain question which he refused to reply
to- Senator Armstrong, chairman oi
the committee, said:
1--WE have power to compel the wit
ness to answer questions, but don't In
tend to exercise that power so long as
we can obtain the information desired
from other sources with less trouble