The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Depew's "Rambunctious" Friend
Before Insurance PrObers.
PROTECTED THEIR INTERESTS"
Ne Also Published Book Of Proceed
inos Of investigation Of 1877, Which
Reflected On Companies, and Sold
w., -. lIi.h pr;ce 20 Officials.

Reflected On Companies, and Sold
Them at High Price to offoias.
New York. Nov. "a - Mr.. >Hughes'
rounsel of the legislative insurance IN
vestieating committee, called to the
witness chair William S. Manning OF
Albany. referred to in letters addressed
bv John 4. Nichols to Senator Chauncey
NJ. pepew at a previous session as the
examinations friend up the river
Mr.. Manning was the most interest
ING witness of the day, and was ques-
toned closely by MI Hughes. lie de-
tailed his work for various companies
for many years. and came gradually to
the time when he took mp insurance
work in Albany and, as he tos1Aed,
was paid $3.50 year by John \.
Nichols "to protect life insurance in
terests. always in the interests of the
business. hut not in,the interests OF
the officers.
After several years. he said. this
amount was reduced to $500. He did
not know where Mr.. Nichols was get
ting the money and had never inquired
He denied that ne had ever received
money from the Equitable Life Assur-
ance Society. When his fee was re-
duccd. however he understood that the
Equitable the Mutual Life and the
New York Life had each paid $50 and
that the reduction was due to the iact
that the New York Life had dropped
out of the agreement
An interesting part Of his testimony
was reached when Mr. Hughes inquired
concerning the state insurance investi-
cation of 1877. Manning said he acted
as an expert there. and found that The
reports of the proceedings were gar
bled and untrue" He testified that he
secured a corrected report of the pro-
ceadines from the official stenographer
and had a volume printed. the alleged
earblod parts being printed i'm italics
This rpport was sold 10 some insurance
comnanies for $50 a copy The volume
was copyrighted. bat Mr. Manning de-
clinod to admit that this copyright was
secured 10 prevent the publication of
testimony contained in the work. He
denied also that ne had ever made ar
raneoments with insurance companies
10 stop the publication of his book i
Just gave it MP" he said when Mr..
Hughes inquired
Mr.. Hughes called attention TO the
fact that there was correspondence IN
Manninc's book that was not part OF
the official report. The witness said
that il was data relating 20 the subject
which he thought proper TO include
1T reflects seriously on The insur-
ance companies"
ut reflects on the officers Of the COM
panies." replied the witness.
"Have you seen Senator Depew
lately"
mo. I guess he won't come TO me,
and / certainly won't go to him"
He added that the only time he had
seen Senator Depew was when he made
arrangements TO appear as an expert
in opposition to the Graham bill before
the senate committee on insurance in
1877.
Il might say" said the witness. that
the bill would have ruined the insur-
ance companies
When the bill came ont Of commit
tee. the witness continued, there re-
NAMED but a few hours Of the senate.
and two Of the senators took that time
up in talk.
That's one of the ways they have OF
killing a bin" he added with a smile.
Gerard r. Brown, of the bond and
mortgage department Of the Equitable
Life Assurance Society. was recalled,
and submitted a statement of the S26,-
900 paid to the janitor of the sOcietys
main building in this city
The statement showed that Is as
sis;ants were paid out of this, and
the janitor received for himself ac-
cording to his last statement Sl2SS
year. Asked if the care and cleaning of
the building could be done for less
than $4,000 annually, Mr.. Brown said
ne would not care to undertake it for
the same price.