New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-23
ORDERS SENT TO FIELDS.
Jordan's Instructions to Agent ON
Watch at albany.

Some spicy information is given in the report
regarding the activity of Andrew c. Fields as a
| watcher of legislation at Albany while ne was In
charge of the Mutual Life Insurance Company
supply department" The report says OF Fields
For many years the company maintained under
his care a house at Albany, and through him and
his agents a close watch was kept upon the pro-
ceedngs of the legislature The rent OF this house
the supplies there consumed and the wages of the
cook and other servants were a8own soon after
the committee began its hearings, and II mas not
however. that he acted also for the Equitable. and
from It's records have been produced rtaa series les
Thomas D. Jordan. its Controller. whose where
tain although It has made diiigent effort to
1t may be supposed that Fieldss work on behaIf OF
the case of the Equitable. and his instructions
from the latter show an exceedingly wide range OF
There were general instructions and also numer-
that particular bills should be opposed. killed"
or supported
memorandum sent to Fields by Jordan on
March 25 1898. was the following:
bills. boIh Of which Sfli are obectiOnaSIe to
Bill 7Os introduced by Mr.. Sullivan, to B 1ncor-
Company and to define it's powers This mas been
Bl 1senatej inIrouced March Is, No 49, sena.
tor Munzinger to incorporate the OK aver
powers, which came before the Committee OF the
Whole of the Senate
Other memorandums with their dates, are
the following: ~ ,.oo
Please note the following three bills recently
introduced in the legislature which we do not
Assemby, No $50 by Mr. Ten EyGk referred aeat to
the Stock Lev by nsePtin ne to
Furnishing of statements OF lots of stockholders
Assembly, No. 7S2, by Mr.. Hill, referred to Com
e of the on law s In relation to actions and
proceedings against INSURANCE cGrR9TaI9hs ~ c+
to amend the Insurance Law IN regard 10 actions
'-NN - April 4. 1899
Senate. No 6S5-Mltchell.. This bill should be
domestic life insurance company shall exceed
sta RGi os such excess sha be distriRated
senate n0tf thnt 70 keep track
Of this measure until 1t is killed. .
desire to again. call your attention to Senator
measure tooth and nail.
We are of course decidedly opposed to Mr..
QNeills Assembly bn Int 55s amending the
surplus OF life insurance corporations
Following the memorandums. the report says:
Fields for some time was member Of the Demo-
taken active part in the politics of Westminster
County, but his work in connection with legisla
2e to- es Of i
Senate while serving on its Insurance Gommittee;
maintained,, This was true Of Senator William J:
Charles P. McCieiland Mr.. McCielland testified
that he consented to be Fiedss guest at Albany
because of friendship of long standing. and that
he knew nothing of any effort Fieldss part i'm
properly influence legislation. Mr.. McCleland
was under retainer Of the Mutual for some years
and rendered services relating to proposed or pend
ing legislative bills, but this not while ne
member OF the legislature. A former clerk OF
Fields his recommendation and that of Mr.
McClelland. appointed in 1896 examiner in
the State Insurance Department, and still con-
tinues in such service.
The testimony taken by the committee makes II
abundantly clear that the large insurance com
panies systematically attempted to control legisa-
ton In this and other States which could affect
their interests. directly Indirectly and that in
this effort Fields, who concerned himself mainly
with this State, played a most important role
The three companies divided the country, outside
OF New-York and few other States SO as to avoid
a waste of effort each looking after legislation in
its chosen district and bearing its appropriate part
OF the total expense