Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-03-22
THE WORM TURNS.
JudgeH Hamilton, ''IegislativeA Agent, y
Becomes insurance RefCrmer.
APPEARS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
Ne Denounced the Directors Of View
York Life Insurance Company
and Advocated LegisIating
Them Out Of once.

Albany, March 16.-Andrew Hamil-
| ton appeared before The insurance IN
yestigating committee Thursday af-
ternoon and broke the silence which
he has maintained, except for his state
ment brought from Paris BY John G.
Mccall, ever since his name was frst
mentioned in the investigation In con-
| nection with the great sums Of money
shown to have been paid to him during
the past tan years on account q mis-
| legal and legislative work for the New
York Life and other insurance COM
panies.
It would be difficult to exaggerate
| the sensation produced BY his unex-
pOcted appearance and by the speech
which he made, or the intensely dra-
| matte character Of the whole episode.
His face flushed and his voice trem-
bling with passion, his arms appraised
and his fists clenched. Judge Hamil-
ton poured forth a food Of denuncia-
ton and invective upon the members
of the board of trustees Of the New
York Life Insurance company, several
of whom were present, designating
them "curs and traitors" and paying
especial attention to one, unnamed,
whom he described as "the pecksniff
of three administrations, the confident
Of the Beers scandal and author OF
the Beers pension whorotates through
one administration and another and
thinks that he is going to be an in
despensible member Of yet another"
"And do you think" he demanded,
that the man who held the same rela-
ton to Mr.. Beers that did to Mr.. Nc
Call could sit for the thirteen years
since and not know how the expendi-
lures that were made were to be and
were disbursed? Yet he and such like
him sit, not Judging me as peers, but
judging me as conQuerors, talking
about yellow dogs"
The only name he mentioned was
that of the late President Mccall, In
the reference to whom and to whose
death he displayed marked emotion.
He spoke Of Mr.. Mccall as a victim, as
having been shouldered with the blame
-"the only one, the dead man, killed,
that they drove to his grave and de-
serted" and declared that the memory
Of this man had appealed to him TO
come down here and say something
for him and just a word for myself"
He declared uneQuivocally that every
payment to himself by. the New York
Life was made with the knowledge
and approval Of the trustees, especial
| ly Of the finance and auditing COM
mittees. He pointed out that If there
had been anything the matter with his
vouchers for these payments, 1t was
their duty to bring him to book for
it-yet, he said, month after month,
and year after year, for ten years.
they passed them, and then, when the
| cry at last comes out, they say,"Well,
we did not know anything about IT.;
this is the fellow; this is the man that
has done 1t ALL" When they say they
did not know what was going on, II
excites. laughter and derision.
He declared again and again that
the payments were proper and legit-
innate, and that he had no apology 10
make for himself or for President
Mccall.
One Of his most interesting state
ments was that in spite Of reports ia
y the contrary, the so-called Paris &C
count" was actually reported and ap-
proved by the auditing committee.
The first applause from the bic
crowd that quickly filled the great as
sembly chamber as soon as the fact
of Judge Hamilton's presence became
known about the building, broke out
, with a roar Of laughter after his ref
erence to the enthusiasm with which
he said his victories for the New York
Life were received by the oficials Of
the company.
They would come and pat me on
the back" he said with q bitter sneer;
, these men who would not know inG
now; they would come in and pat me
| on the back and say, You did it,"
A storm of applause followed hi,
scathing reference to the yellow
} dog" as a dog of courage and loyalty
: He said: "They may talk about tn,
: yellow dog but the yellow dog is 1
dog Of courage and loyalty, but III.
ours who stood around this funera
that has occurred, and the ours wht
know Of these transactions ant
shrank into their shoes-they are tn
curs-and that Is the reason that
come to speak before you and say tina
the great interest Of two billions o
dollars Of life insurance and four hun
dred millions Of dollars Of assets car
, never be safely entrusted to the hand
: and administration OF q lot Of cura."
H".