The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-14
Ex.PRESIDENT BREWER talks.
"They Have Killed Mccall and Made Alex
andPr and Mcturdy H." He Says.


souTH ORANGE, y, j., April l3-WilIiam
A.. Brewer, Jr.. former president of the
Washington Life Insurance Company Of
New York, who has been n resident of this
village for nearly forty years. broke his
silence On the matter of insurance investi-
cation this afternoon and made n state
ment in which he defended himself and his
son, Graham H. Brewer, against allega-
tons which have resulted in action on the
part Of District Attorney Jerome of New
York. Seventy-one years old, with gray
hair and beard, Mr.. Brewer is to-day
erect and strong, and his voice is as steady
asi I was when he first came to South Orange.
They have killed Mccall and made Alex
ander and McCurdy i'll, and now | suppose,
because | am strong and healthy | must
be the next" he said when asked il he knew
why District Attorney Jerome had started
another investigation after the troubles
of the company had apparently been ended,
the company recognized and the capital
stock increased 100000 through the in
strumentality OF Harry Payne Whitney, Levi
P. Morton and Thomas F, Ryan.
When the New York State Insurance
Department charged Mr.. Brewer with mis-
mans cement Of the company's affairs he
was silent to the newspapers. He made no
comments, but after renting his home,
Aldworth, at South Orange avenue and
Grove road. went abroad with Mrs. Brewer.
He returned last week. Mr.. and Mrs. Brewer
are at present making their home at the
! residence Of their son-in-law, Eugene V.
Connect.
Examiner Vanderpoel's report to the New
York State Insurance. Department that a
surplus of $500. 900 had been wiped out by
extravaganza was directed to the attention
of Mr.. Brewer, Mr.. Brewer replied that all
expenditures for salaries were made by vote
of the executive committee and directors.
so that no expenditures of that kind were
made without their knowledge. ExDendi-
lures for agency mana cement were made
under a different arrangement, Mr.. Brewer
said.
1.-THE big companies" he added. were
paying big commissions to agents for new
business and the Washin gton Life was COM
PEELED to do the same in order to hold its
agents and get business"
In regard to the allegation that has been
made in the eXamlrers, report that the
salaries of Mr.. Brewer and his % Graham
Fl. Brewer, had been increased $45, 900.
Mr.. Brewer said that the statements were
wholly untrue, but that this was not the
proper time to enter into a discussion of it
As has been demonstrated said Mr..
Rre wer, figures can be made to say almost
anything. 1t altogether depends upon
how they are used, and a wrong construc-
ton has been placed on the si5, 900 in this
case. My salary as president of the Wash
ington life was s25 ,O00, and when | com
! pleted my t~wenty-ffth year in that capacity
the executive committee Increased it 5000,
making il $40. 600. SO ! had nothing to do
with any increase, When f. A. French
died my son, Graham II. Bre wei was chosen
to succeed him as vice president at the
salary of sli 500 that had been paid to Mr..
( French.
! My son was formerly secretary at a
I salary of $500. and he continued as secre-
tary when elected vice pre- sident, although
he 70 longer received the $500 salary for
the secretaryship. 1t will he seen that IT.
ste ad Of an increase there was really a de-
crease in salaries Besides, all thes mat
tiers we're regulated by the executive COM
mittee and directors of the company
Mr.. Brewer declared with emphasis thai
there had been no mismanagem ent on his
part, and declared that his state ment would
be corroborated when the nves tigation
was concluded.