The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-11-14
HEGEMAN RECEIVED
A RAKE-OFF


islative insurance commission that
members of the firm of vermilye C
Co. had rebated to him part of the
interest they charged him on an ac-
count he kept with the firm, which
account represented the interests in
his charge OF from twelve to tweney
persons, including widows and or
phans.
Mr. Hughes had gone deeply into
transactions between Vermilye &c Co.
and the Metropolitan Life and after
a short examination OF the relation
existing between the insurance COM
pany and its subsidiary banks he
asked: Have you or any officer of
your company In any way, directly or
indirectly, received any payment from
Vermilye C Co or William A. Reid &
Cor"
Il have had monetary affairs and
have had for great many years. per-
haps twenty people to care for, or
phans and widows and many people
In Europe, out of business, not In
actual business. Their affairs with my
own have necessitated the keeping of
an account. l have had an account
with the old firm of Vermilye G. Co.
for perhaps ten years. On that ac-
count they have charged me interest
from six per cent down to some low
er rate, think two per cent.
when they have charged, the ex-,
treme rate they have at times rebated
me part Of 1t, which have received
In checks. And that is all the money
| have ever received from them. the
reduction of interest on a running ac-
count"
Mr.. Hegeman said that all fire In
surance on property on which the
Metropolitan Life makes loans is
placed through the firn of butcher
& Edmister. He was uncertain wheth-
the butcher In that firm was Silas B.
butcher, vice president of the Metro
politan. or his son.
That the Metropolitan, Life Insur-
ance Co.. like others. had contributed
money to national campaign funds,
and that large amounts, records of
which were placed In evidence, had
been paid to Andrew Hamilton as a
legislative agent, were two of the
striking points in the testimony be-
fore the legislative Investigating COM
mittee today. They were brought out
through questions put to President
Hegeman by Mr.. Hughes.
Has your company ever made any
political contributions"
I'VE made two contributions; that
was In 1896, That is the only time
we have ever made contributions"
ITO what campaign committees?"
I'VE gave $1,000 to the Palmer
Buckner Sound Money Democrats. We
also gave $1,000 to the Republican
committee. That was in
the year Of the 16 to heresy. We
believed 1t more a matter of morals
than Of politics. The board of di-
rectors felt that, being stock COM
pany and they being responsible to
the stockholders they were justified
In meeting the situation in that way"
Has your company made any pay
ment to Andrew Hamilton?"
1t has.
Mr.. Hughes then read bunch of
vouchers about 20 In number. rang
ing In amount from 5000 to $4,000,
for moneys paid to Mr.. Hamilton
for services and retainers.
Has Mr.. Hamilton been under
retainer by your company"
"Yes-since 1892. We have paid
him $1,000 a year. In addition he has
been paid for special services"
What has been the purpose OF the
general retainer2"
'The general--to keep us posted as
to all bills hostile to the company,
Or to the business in any of the states
Of the union, andsto appear before the
on our behalf when 30 Or
dered, and to do anything else with
reference to pending or proposed bills
that we might direct him to do"
I'm 1897. there appears to have
been a special work required In Ave
states-New York. Wisconsin, Illinois,
Michigan and Missouri, for which Mr..
was paid $1,000 and others
10000. What was the nature of those
matters requiring those services?"
do not now recollect."
President Hegeman was asked re-
Industrial policies in which
provision is made that the company
may pay money at the death of q poll
icyholder to any person who may have
Incurred expense In his behalf during
life or incident to his burial.
"Mr. Hegeman, We are in receipt
Of many letters complaining that the
Metropolitan pays the undertaken
when the insured person dies and that
usually the undertaker's bill equals
the insurance. Is this true?p
mo. sir, 1t Is not"
DO you never pay the undertaker?"
mo. SIR" was the answer.
A letter was read which stated that
In 1889 the writer's premium was
raised without notification to him.