Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-11-22
Senator Doesn't Ba|k al Lille
Thing Like Campaign Funds.
MUTUAL EQUITABLE AND
NEW YORK PAID REGULARLY
W. S, Manning Of Albany Identified
as Depew's "Cantankerous
Friend Up the River"

New York. Nov. 21.--The identity CT
Senator Depew's "cantankerous ffien
from up the river was disclosed in the
session of the state legislative insur-
ance investigating committee today by
the testimony of John A. Nichols q
lawyer under retainer by the Eduita-
Bile Life Assurance society. Mr.. Nichols
had written Senator Depew letter
referring to an individual in the above
terms, and this letter was read at the
session of the committee Friday when
Senator Depew was on the stand. The
senator was unable to recall who was
meant by the 'cantankerous friend,
but today Mr. Nichols disclosed a se-
ries of payments to w. s. Manning. of
Albany, a former actuary who had
been connected with the investigation
of insurance companies In 1877. Mr..
Hughes inquired as to a report that
Manning had been in possession of in
formation that was suppressed during
this investigation and that would have
been detrimental to the Equitable. Mr..
Nichols could not recall the suppress
sion of information. but he detailed
the payment of sums to give up his
business as actuary. In which capacity
he believed Manning was menace to
the Equitable.
Aside from the disclosures made by
Nichols on the witness stand. the feat
ure of the day was the appearance OF
United States Senator Thomas G..
Platt, who did not hesitate to tell Of
the contributions of Insurance compa-
nies to state campaigns The Equita+
BILE, the Mutual and the New York Life
were the only insurance companies
that made such contributions.
Equitable Regular Contributor.
The Equitable contributed regular
~ $4,000 to state campaigns. the
Mutual the same sum frequently, and
the New York Life a sum not as large
and occasionally. These moneys were
always delivered in cash to Senator
Platt's office by a messenger. and he
turned them over to the state COM
mittee. The senator said he was ex-
pected to influence the legislature
when any legislation appeared that
was hostile to the companies. Senator
Platt said he believed he had asked
President r. A. McCurdy. of the Mu-
tual Life for contributions when the
needs we're very great. He had. how
ever. never been asked to use his infiu-
ence on any measure before the legis-
lature nor had he ever done so. He
knew nothing about contributions 10
the national campaign.
Gage e. Tarbell, the second vice
president of the Equitable was also
witness again today. His testimony
Friday was interrupted by the ad-
yjournment and today he continued hiS
explanation OF the agency system. OF
which he had charge, and the manner
of arriving at the commissions.
one part of his testimony caused
much amusement to the committee as
we'll as the spectators when he ie-
scribed a fight with the New York
Life over the taking Of agents. In this
statement Mr.. Tarbell told how he had
won over a general agent and 200 sub
ordinate agents of the New York Life
In. this city without cost to the Equit-
able of so much as one dollar. The
only iniucement offered was that the
agents could make more on percent
age basis than on salary. Mr.. Tarbeli
gave this scheme in detail ana said he
closed the deal on Sunday.