The Washington times., 1905-09-21
Mccall Describes Democrats
As Wearisome Beggars

NEW YORK, Sept. 21.-John A Nc
Call. president of the New York Life,
was on the witness stand in the council
chamber OF the City Hall before the
insurance investigating committee for
two hours and a half yesterday.
In many respects he proved the equal
If not the master of Chief Inquisitor
Charles f. Hughes.
T1me after time when Mr. Hughes had
seemingly jammed him into a corner
and was apparently sure of wringing a
damaging admission from him MIR. Nc
Cali would give some Irrelevant answer
and in this way lead his Questioner into
a long complicated dispute which would
carry Mr.. Hughes far away from the
crucial point.
Again and again Mr.. Mccall worked
this trick on Mr.. Hughes. using the
complicated bookkeeping system OF his
company TO involve the lawyer.
Prepared on 100000 Mystery.
The head of the New York Life
showed the most careful preparation
for every emergency that might be
sprung upon him in connection with the
mysterious payment of 100000 20
'.J;:aase'' Andrew Hamilton. the Albany
lawyer He never hesitated a second
for an answer though often what he
said was not specific reply TO a speci-
fic question.
Mr.. Mccall was intensely nervous the
first half hour he was on the stand. 1t
was physical more than mental ner-
vousness. for he was never at a loss 10
deal with his opponent. BY the end of
the f1rst half hour he seemed to have
measured up his man TO his own salts
faction and his nervousness gradually
Mr. Mccall, sleek, well dressed and
Well groomed. did not fence with Mr..
Hughes all of the time by any means
He met certain things sQuarely and
bluntly, with a vehemence that almost
amounted to scorn. On the subject of
ed many times. On the subject of the
New York Life's political contributions
nothing could be more direct or clear
headed than his answers
Chief Points Brought Out.
While Il was not established that
penny of the New York LIES payments
TO Andrew Hamilton went for lobby or
kindred purposes, the examination of
Mr.. Mccall was not barren of results.
Summed up. the days revelations were:
First-That between December g 1903.
and March 1s. 1904. $685. was paid to
Andre andrew Hamilton; io not OF dollar OF
pose of the appropriation, and not
dollar of which has been returned TO the
company.
Second-That Hamilton's- balance In
the State National Bank of Albany. In
which nearly all of this money had been
deposited. was on September 19, 1905, the
day before yesterday, S176.
Third-That in addition to a yearly
retainer of $4,000, the New York Life
paid Hamilton for legal services
$4,000. during 1904 and that. his bills for
this work sometimes amount TO 100000
onnually
Eourth-That Hamilton is not required
20 make a detailed statement of his ex-
penditures for legal services. He
merely gives receipt for the money
paid to him and his accounts are never
audited by the company.
F1fth-That Hamilton is in charge of
taxation and legislation for the company
IN every State Legislature in the United
States. and hires his own attorneys and
assistants TO help him in this work.
Jugglery for Annual Report.
Sixth-That on December 81 1903
Hamilton gave the New York Life two
checks for $4,000, as an offset 10 81. 900
that had been paid him earlier In the
month. These checks were never de-
posted. being simply put IN the cash
drawer and counted as cash in the