Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-13
Insurance HEADS
MAY Be Indicted
GRAND JURY TO TAKE HAND
IN M'CALL-HAMILTON
CASE.
STATE ADMINISTRATION
is kEENLY INTERESTED
Should Mayer Action Not Satisfy,
New York Officials Will Doubtless
Conduct Investigation = Political
Contributions Said to Be Theme.

New York, Feb. IL. - Following the
return of Attorney General Julius M.
Mayer from Albany it is learned that
the state administration is keenly in
terested in the possible criminal phases
of the Andrew Hamilton expenditures
in the New York Life Insurance COM
pany as disclosed by the report of the
Fowler investigating committee. 1t
was even limited that the Indictment of
Hamilton by special grand jury called
by the governor and his eXtradition on
charges of grand larceny may be consid-
cred in the near future, unless this course
is rendered unnecessary by similar ac-
ton on the part of District Attorney Je-
rome
The proceeding in such a case is for
the governor, either on the application
of the attorney general or otherwise, to
appoint a special prosecutor in connec
tion with the assembling of the special
grand jury, but such an undertaking is
state officials are convinced that the
local district attorney has failed to act
within reasonable time.
Mayer Gives Interview.
What Judge Mayer thinks of the dis
closures against both John A. Mccall
and Hamilton contained in the Fowler
committees report may be judged from
an interview that he granted at his Of
flee here. He said: The character of
the report of the Fowler committee for
thoroughness and candor is most en-
couraging, and indicates the good faith
OF the committee
Have you arrived at any conclusion
as to political contributions" he was
asked.
.'Yes," was the reply. After study
Ing the legal propositions involved
am convinced that the courts will hold
that the payment of political contribu-
lions was unauthorized and in violation
OF law. | have no reason to believe tina!
a contrary view is entertained by thu
Investigating committees of the insur-
ance companies"
do you place Legislative expenses
for which no satisfactory accounting is
rendered in the same category as po-
litical contributions" was another
question.
81 do" replied the attorney general.
Engaged in Another Phase.
Pending the decision of the state au-
xhorities whether it will be necessary to
take up the Hamilton expenditures in
dependently q District Attorney Je-
rome, Judge Mayer is engaged with the
civil side OF the life INSURANCE. matter.
The report which the trustees os the
New York Life adopted at the meeting
on Thursday contained Recommended
tions that suits be brought to recover Or
obtain an accounting for some $1,074..
TIA of the money Hamilton spent, and
fl is the announced policy Of the attor-
ney general to allow the tfast@ss Of the
companies to bring such suits OF thsis
own accord if they care to do so. Tbs
question, therefore, whether he will in
stitute suits against New York Life trus
tees on account Of thsse matters will de-
pend on the result of whatever suits the
company may bring.
Confidence in Committee.
judge Mayer, 1t is learned, has con
fidence In the Fowler committee and it,,
counsel, but the probability that John
"A. Mccall and Hamilton would never be
able to satisfy judgments for the mon
ey Hamilton spent, even if judgments
were obtained in all cases, has brought
up the ultimate question of the respon-
sibility of the New York Life trustees
themselves 1t may be said that if such
q situation arose, after the determine
tion of the proposed litigation against
Mccall and Hamilton, the courts would
be asked to determine whether the trus-
tees were not required to make good the
difference between the total illegal pay
ments and the amount recovered.
Davidson Quits Service.