The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-02
Albany, n. Y, Dispatch. to New York
Post

Albany, n. Y, Dispatch. to New York
Post.
Albany, the town no less than Albany
the capital, followed with curious inter-
est the insurance testimony Of John A.
Mccall. He was born in First street,
went to public school in Gander Bay,
was first baseman of the Live Oaks nine.
He was a genial chap, and, his father
being democratic supervisor Of the
ward, he grew up breathing the air OF
butchers boy, at st the Corner Of cinton
avenue and North Pearl street, and tax
ing a course in a business school, the
friendship Of politicians obtained him a
place in the Albany asserting house for
state currency, and later, when he was
81, in the state insurance department.
There began his acquaintance with the
business which he has followed, now for
since-a period of thirty-fve years.
His salary at q was 5000; at Sc it
is 100000 His duty in 1870 was
checking up, on behalf Of the state, the
annual statements Of insurance corpora
tions. In, 1903 his company was win
dow undressing - making temporary
to give a false impression in the annual
statement. Public office, and his IA
miliarity with offceholders and politi-
clans and their ways, have been the
means of his progress charm by
which he made the doors of high finance
fly open to him., His progress has been
a marvel to the people Of old Gander
three, years ago, persisted in tending
the little corner grocery which his
father had bequeathed. He is one Of
the friendly and successful Albanian
randy" Hamilton, 5tTony" Brady,
ct al.
No Politics Except Business.
When Alton B.-Parker spoke of John
A. Mccall as one having no politics
except business, it was recognized that
Mr.. Parker was familiar with the man.
McCall's first appointment came me thru
the democratic organization. When a
republican administration came in he
induced republicans to preserve him in
his place in the insurance department.
Thus he served under three different
republican heads of the office until
Grover Cleveland, a democrat, became
governor. Wood and Brady and Hamil-
governor to elevate Mccall to be chief
Of the department.. AS soon as Hill
began to quarrel with Cleveland, Nc
Call sided with Hill, along with the Al
bany lobby ring Wood, McCabe, Ham,
ilton and the rest. Hill, as lieutenant
governor, succeeded to the governor
ship when Cleveland resigned to take
place till 1886. The Equitable offered
Mccall the position of controller at
$4,000 year; and he accepted. This
| is the position held by Thomas D. Jor
. dan; part of it's duties relate to legis-
lators and the handling Of politicians.
1 Mccall knew all of the ms and outs
Of Albany by this time: Those old
friends Of his, Wood and Hamilton,
| and the 1nensrorn committees whom he
/ had known for syearg assisted hin, with
their statesmahship. and he seemed SO
capable that when President Beers was
forced lout of the New York Life by
| exposure of decentralization in it's meth
| DDS, Mccall was selected for the va
cancy. Heads Of y. other great COM
panies, who had in way inherited
their offices, came to rely upon him in
matters of Hlegislation and taxation
and it was thru his advice, about 1895,
! that his. friend 'FAndy' Hamilton was
i appointed counsel, the, Mutual. the
Equitable and the New York Life shar,
ing the expense. Gone for all and all
for one" became the lobbying motto.
the hundreds Of thousands he has re-
ceived in the last seven or eight years.
Relatives Well Looked After.
Down in his old home district, where
HJohnny' Corscadden can show a
: democratic majority when he wants to,
J the people are disturbed oyer the fact
that a Mccall has practically become a
s'black republican, But they admire
the way he has looked after his rela.
tives in the days Of his prosperity. The
, district people long have known that
his sisters husband, F. A. Gremmler
. was an employee of the state insurance
department. His only surviving broth
er he employed in the New York
IIife's "real estate'' bureau, after
. ward using his influence with Croker te
get him nominated to the supreme
court. John A. McCall's testimony
yesterday shows that to his brothe1
, Edward, as well as to Hamilton
= something like 100000" was to come
!, as the result of rebate Of taxes wol
. from the state. John G. Mccall, sol
Of the president Of the New York Life
, was made secretary Of the company a
= $4,000 a year; his son-in-laW, AlbeI
. McClave, draws $4,000 as a New Yorl
q Life inspector; and his wife's brother
John A. Koran, receives a salary o
I; 81 500 per annum as auditor Of tn
Paris branch. Mccall IS kindness to hi
! -. ~ xy 0f hO11Cl