Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-28
lHECK BOOKS NOT SHOWN
Andrew Hamilton Refuses to Take Young
Mccall Iuto His Confidence,
NEW YORK LIFE OFFICIAL 1EsTlFItS
Presents Physicians Certificate show
ing Condition of Health
of the Political
Agent.

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-John c. Mccall.
secretary of the New York Life Insurance
company, who a few days ago returned
from Europe, where he went to get an ac-
counting of money advanced to Andrew
Hamilton, was the first witness in the in
surance investigation today, when the last
week of the committees work was taken
up.
Mr.. Mccall said he saw Hamilton in
France and that Mr.. Hamilton was Sc
riously ill. though able to walk about. MI
Mccall also presented a physicians GER
tifcate describing MIR. Hamiton's illness
and stating that the patient could not un-
dertake a voyage or leave France within
two months.
Mr. Mccall said he asked Hamilton for
his check books, but Hamilton refused to
give them up, saying that the stubs re-
lated to his own personal business. MT
Mccall did, however. get a statement from
Hamilton regarding the expenditures or
funds entrusted to him by insurance com
panies. The statement then was produced
and put in evidence.
Reasons for Secrecy.
Mr.. Hamilton in his statement tells why
he cannot produce vouchers or cancelled
checks to show to whom and in what
amounts he had paid out money. The
statement is to the effect that In conse-
| quence Of the accepted understanding Of
! the companies interested with the New
! York Life in watching legislation, mo
| demand was made by me for vouchers from
| other people, nor were there any books or
accounts kept by me covering same 1t
| continues:
Nor are there any Of my checks to pro-
essarily disclosed the fact that the person
! receiving the check was under retainer by
me, and would thus have necessarily ham
pered that portion of my work that was
most eficacious. namely. absolute secrecy.
Cash. draft and certificates were generally
preferred l cannot produce my check
books or cancelled checks which relate Ia
/ affairs other than those of the New York
Life Insurance company. ] cannot produce
any books of these particular accounts
because none were ever kept by me.
Demand Not Fair and Honest.
Even if ] did possess them. it does not
appear to me that the demand for them
would be fair and honest one The under
standing that / had undertaken this work
was distinct and thorough. II 1t had not
been so / would have declined the task.
Mr.. Hamilton in opening his statement
expresses regret that he cannot return tc
the United States at present because of hi.
health.
At the time of his employment I'm charge
of the bureau of taxation and Legislation
| OF the New York Life. the. lifs Insurance.
companies feared that unless concerted
action was taken they might be PRACTICAL!
legislated and taxed out Of existence.
"The usual practice OF depending alon,
upon counsel 20 attend and present argu
ments was determined to be insufficient.
says Mr.. Hamilton. Tho very fact tha
the great life insurance interests of New
| York favored or opposed pending legisla
tive propositions would itself often con
centrstc the opposition against their views
so likewise did the knowledge that W
were represented at the capitals OF variou
states lead to demands that political ia
vorites should be employed in the role o
= counsel, which, if acceded to, placed ou
affairs at the mercy of those who did no
possess our confidence. These and othe
: considerations led the TIN ee companies I
but one conclusion. We felt that if
secret service was permissible govern
= mental agency, confidential service woul
, ! be the only effective and at the same tim
= proper plan to guard the welfare of tn
: : most extensive commercial interests
u the fle-the life insurance companies {
the state of New York. This contidentis
II secret service was decided upon as I'll
- only feasible plan of protection. / ca
l. planned to the president of the New Yor
. Life Insurance company. as did the otht
. gentlemen who were associated with n
e in this work. to the officers of their r,
spective companies, that itemized account
: by names, or amounts by separate voucl
1g ,Ia,p =.
n demanded if we were 10 be held respons
.s BILE The protection Of the companies undt
J. such a plan was ample
a Some Hostile Measures.
~ Mr.. Hamilton gives a long summary
the various styles of bills hostile 10 il
surance companies. many Of them tax.
N tion measures. Bills to compel the con
~ panies' reports to be repeatedly and III
o. necessarily published in newspapers are a
vocated." says Mr. Hamilton ito ga
favor with the press by increasing the
revenues. Outrageous propositions. such
10 per cent tax proposed in Arkansas,
s. absurd propositions like the Michigan hi
s. where a doctors certificate of i'll heal
p would excuse the payment of the insu
X ance premium and keep a policy in fore
Of or the Virginia bill, making il actionat
e. for life insurance agent to enter L
&c office of a man where the sign no agen
ge allowed is displayed. find legislative fave
h. However ridiculous these bills may see
VI they demand attention. In Indiana the a
~ tempt was made to pass law placing I
o. surrender value OF life insurance poIi
upon the list of personal property wbi
sn was taxable TO the owner. Compani
y, which offered no such advantages to poIic
Mt holutIs supPoIteu IL as an attack up
Mt their rivals who offered this adyapta,
~ The measure. however, was defeated. Il
he lnediatey the state assessors proceeded
rk tax policy holders, proclaiming that I
existing law was broad enough in it's ter,
rs 20 cover this: If this was true OF India
X II was probably true OF many other STA