New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-15
CAMPAIGN FUND SUITS.
n. Y. LIFE TO BRING THEM.
Unpublished Mutual Report Rec
on,mends actions for RecoUery.

supplemental report adopted unanimously by
the board of trustees of the New-York Life yes
terday recommended that counsel be retained
forthwith TO sue ex-oficers of the company for
the recovery of s14s.702 so contributed by ex-
president Mccall to the Republican National
Committee in 1895. 1900 and 1904
The thus far unpublished suit" report of the
Truesdale committee of the Mutual Life II was
learned, recommends the bringing of suits
against ex-President McCurdy. Robert H Nc
Curdy Louis A Thebaud and other members of
the firm of Charles H. Raymond & Co. These
men are named specifically in the recommended
ton which the Peabody management has not
permitted to be published up to date. deferring
the question of bringing the suits to Joseph II.
Choate.
SOME OFFICIALS CRIMINAL"
An opinion written by ex-Justice D. Cady
Herrick and William G. Choate, which is
bodied in the report declares that the actions of
certain unnamed persons connected with the
company fall not only within the civil but within
the criminal laws. The Truesdale report like
wise holds the former legal department respon-
sible for the Mutual Lifes campaign contribu-
tons. 1t recommends the institution of suits
for the recovery of syndicate profits. stating.
however. that the company's compliance with
the committees request made in December is
necessary to ascertain the precise nature of
these profits.
A well known insurance lawyer declared yes
terday that despite the Fowler committees re-
port the New-oYrk Life had paid out Cf the
policyholders' money for campaign contributions
in the last seven eight years not S14S,IO2 90.
but between $6oO,OOO and 100000.
Interests close to the Armstrong legislative in
surance investigation committee said positively
that the committeeman would adopt the report
unanimously.
District Attorney Jerome may submit to the
grand jury to-day the evidence gathered by his
assistants in the case of the Mutual Reserve
THE LAWSON PROXIES.
Stuyvesant Fish denied the printed report
that he had been asked to lead the Lawson Pol
icyholders' Committee movement 1t was init
mated that Mr.. Fish would decline to head the
committee. Lawson himself is said to be about
to resign from the committee.
It is understood that John G.. Milburn and
William A Keener. counsel for the Fowler
Committee, have been retained the special
counsel TO the ex-officers and trustees OF
the New-York Life. There was no discussion on
the report, Regarding the campaign contribu-
tions the report says:
These contributions were made by direction
OF President Mccall, and on the witness stand
he frankly stated that they made on his
sole order as president and without the
thority of any committee or board Of trustees
The report states that the contribution Of
1904 aggregating SIS 102 50. was originally
advanced by direction of President Mccall.
nv Vice-President George ". Perkins. and
he was reimbursed IN December. 1904, out
of the funds of the company by a pay
rnent of which there is entry in the ledger
of the company kept in the treasury depart
ment in the Hanover Bank Building which reads
BY order of president. S48.7O2 5V; but no other
explanation is given any Of the books of the
company of the purpose to which the money
applied"
In view Of the Fowler committees previous
Hamilton report. this may mean that Mr. Per-
kins will be sued for more than 100000.
The report states that there is no record on
the books of the company to show what cam
paign contributions were made. but against this
is the information obtained from the testimony
OF Messrs Mccall and Perkins before the Arm
strong committee.
TEXT OF THE REPORT.
The report follows:
1t appears from the testimony taken by the
legislative committee that there were contri-
buted from the funds of the company to the
Republican National Committee for campaign
purposes the sum of $4,000 in 1896 of $4,000
in 1900, and of $4S. 7O2 80 in 1904. These trans
actions made by direction of President
Mccall: and when he was on the witness stand
he frankly stated that they were made his
sole order president and without authorization
from any committee or the board of trustees.
His justification of these contributions was the
financial issue which was paramount in the
campaign of 1898 and 1900 and the affirmative
declaration in favor of the gold standard in the
Republican platform of 1904, Contrasted with
the rejection of such declaration by the
Democratic convention of that year: and the
vast interests which the company had at stake
Tba OfS tO he amor of rvrO
or three hundreds of millions of dollars, con-
stituting the reserve fund for the benefit and
protection of its policyholders
There have been discovered no entries in the
books Of the company of the contributions made
in 1896 and 1900, and in fact, the information
this committee has as TO campaign contribu-
tions is derived almost exclusively from the
statements of Mr.. Mccall and Mr.. Perkins be-
fore the Legislative investigating committee
The contributions in these years made
according to Mr.. Mccall. by the treasurer of the
company, now deceased, and IL is unknown to
what account, If any. he directed them TO he
charged. 1t is unknown from what source he
tribution of 1896. The same is true with
spect 10 a part of the contribution of 1900
The contribution of 1904. aggregating $4S. T02 80
was originally advanced. by direction of Presi-
dent Mccall. by Vtce-President George w. Per
kns and he reimbursed in December. 1901
out of the funds of the company by payment
of which there is entry In the ledger OF the
company, kept In it's treasury department in the
Hanover Bank Building. which reads, BY
order of president. S4S IO2 90; but no other
explanation is given any of the books of the
company of the purpose TO which the money
applied.
The Investigations Of your committee have
not disclosed any other contributions of the
kind. Whether any Of the sums charged 10 the
policy fee account on the books of the Paris
office were used for such purposes cannot he
known until il is ascertained through legal pro-
ceedings otherwise what disposition was
made Of them. If il should hereafter appear
that any of these sums were so used their re