Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-05-17
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY.

The most sensational testimony which
has been presented to the special insur-
ance investigating committee OF the
Wisconsin legislature was given yester'
day afternoon when lnsurance Cpmmls-
sioner Host, of the Wisconsin Depart
ment of Insurance, testified before the
committee in Milwaukee that on June
l6, 1903, the day on which The hearing
in the case of the State of Wisconsin
against the. Equitable Life Assurance
Society OF the Uuiled States for com
pulsory distribution of the surplus OF
that company to Wisconsin poiicyhold-
ers was to be held by him, Secretary
of State Walter l.. Houser entered the
insurance commissioner office and said
that if Mr.. Host would render decision
in sccordanre with a slip handed bv Mr.
Houser to Mr.. Host, which would have
been decision favorable to the Eqnita-
lie Company, that the Equitable Life
Assurance Society wculd give 81, 600 to-
ward campaign fund for a renomina-
ton of the state officers in the next
campaign.
The slip which Insurance Commits
sioner Host testified Secretary of State
Houser handed to him was presented to
the commission aud contained on Ii
these words;
"Petition is denied and same is dis
missed for The reason that determine
iion of the subject thereof requires the
exercise Of judicial function that ca nnot
be exercised by the defendant. 1t is
further announced as rule of this de-
partment that no similar proceedings be
entertained until final adjudication OF
the same is had in the courts of the
State"
Mr.. Host testified that he told Mr..
HOuser that he would think the matter
over. His decision was against the
Equitable Life Assurance Society,
which afterwsrd took the case into the
coprts and there obtained a rule adverse
TO Mr.. Hosts order for compulsory
distribution of the surplus on deferred
dividend policies at least once in five
years.
Insurance Commission er Host further
testified that Robert Lus cOnbe, who has
for years represented insurance COM
panies before various legislatures, tele-
phoned to him three times from Chicago
between June l6 and July 81, 1903, the
latter having been the day on which
Mr.. Host rendered his decision, and ask
ed Mr.. Host to come to Chicago, saying
be thought he had an argument which
would convince Mr.. Host that the
statute in question was not compulsory.
Secretary of State Houser took the
stand in his own defense and admitted
that he and Luscombe were friends and
declared that Luscombe had handed him
the written slip of paper which he had
handed to Mr.. Host and requested that
be give it to the insurance commissioner.
Mr.. Houser, however, emphstically de-
MED that any mention was made OF a
campaign-fund contribution at the time
Of his handing the slip of paper on
which the Equitable decision was written
to the insur, nee commissioner.
Mr.. Houser admitted that he had ask
ed Mr.. Host to request contributions from
insurance companies for political cam
psign fund against Congressman Joseph
W. Babcock, in the Third Wisconsin dis
trict, and said Mr.. Host had not taken
unkindly to the suggestion, but said he
would think the matter over. This sug-
gestion in regard to the BabcOck campaign
fund was, however, not made at the time
of the handing of the slip in regard to
the Equitable decision.
Both Secretary of State Houser aud In
surance Commissioner Host have been
among the supporters of United States
SenatOr La Toilette. Secretary Houser
is running for third time.