The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-01-17
HAMILTON ADMITS GRAFT
Agent at Legislature of the N. y.
Lite Makes. Confessions. ::
Comes Before Investigating Committee
Of che Company-MoOall Makes
Staten ent.

New York City andrew Hamilton.
the legislative agent Of the New York
Life Insurance Company, in his report
to the trustees Of that institution which
was presented to the Armstrong inves-
tigating committee offers to put up
100000 to cover any adjustment of
the account between himself and the
company which stood open when be
sailed for Europe last summer.
The report was considered by the
New York Life's own investigating
committee at a meeting in the Hano-
yer Bank Building offices of the COM
pany in the afternoon which lasted
from luncheon to long after dinner
time. Although neither the trustees
who constitute the New York IIife's in
vestigating committee nor President
John A. Mccall, who attended their
meeting; would say anything about the
report, it was learned that in addition
to the offer to put up 100000 to cover
the settlement Of his account. Hamil.
ton makes in the report a statement
somewhat in detail about the purposes
for which he has expended the com
pany's' money.
He does not, however. render a inan-
cial statement amounting to an &C
counting in the ordinary sense of the
word, and does not disclose the names
of the people to whom he paid the
money, for reasons which, he says in
the report, are obvious.
One important feature Of the docu-
ment is that no attempt is made to
disguise the fact that much Of the
money that Hamilton spent. for legis-:
latiVe. purposes did, not go to lawyers
appearingIbefore committees. In fact.
i is. understood! that Hamilton re-
marks specifically that at times in his
activities it was essential to employ
men who were not lawyers. but who
had relations with legislators. Details
which would lead to disclosing the
identity of individuals so employed are
lacking.
All Of the members of the New York
Life's self-investigating committee
Thomas P. Fowler, Norman B. Ream,
Clarence II. Mackay, Hiram Steele and
Augustus G. Paine-with the commit
tees counsel, John G. Milburn and ex-
Judge William H. Keener. met Presi-
dent McCaL in the Hanover Bank
building offices of the company to take
up the Hamilton report, which John e.
Mccall. secretary of the New York
Life, brought home from Europe with
him last week. The body Of the docu-
ment was gone over in detail with Mr..
Mccall so that he might throw as
much light as possible on the subject
matter. President Mccall. it is under
stood, was not. however, aware Of the
details Of Hamilton's doings except as
to what was contained in the report.
for, as lie testified on the stand. Ham
iltOn ran his end ct the business him.
self. and lis decisions in matters Of eX-
pe%nditures were unquestioned by the
administration. President Mccall left
the meeting for 9 few minutes before G
o'clock. TO reporters he said:
ut would not be courteous to the
Armstrong committee to divulge the
nature of the report more than to say
that it is very thorough"
'Is the report satisfactory 20 you"
one of the reporters asked.
II should say it was" replied Mr..
Mccall.
1t was said that a possible, if not
probable. result of the Hamilton re-
port will be a movement to start a
general Doodle investigation in the
Legislature to see if the names, which
Hamilton declines to disclose can be
brought out by other means.
Influences are at work to force this
question upon the attention of the
Legislature.