New-York tribune., 1910-03-24
FOREIGN WITNESSES
ON THE RACK.
TeU-Tale Gable Messages Pro-
duced at Fire Insurance
Inquiry.

Of the American direct insurance COM
ranies when IL went through the , sgis-
Iature Of 1904 was the poin. around
which most OF the testimony given az
yesterdays session Of the hre insurancs
investigation was thrown.
Representatives Of the largest two for
eign reinsurance concerns. the two com
panles which were credited by previous
witnesses with extraordinary activities
IN connection with the passing %
Grady's measure. appeared 20 defend
their interests. ard each Of them de-
eIared that he did not know. and never
did know, Tammany's silver tOngued'
orator
So far az the testimony % ycstsrcav
throws any light on the subject. il SEEMS
that Senator Grady must have stool
aIore when he got the reinsurance bill
through. for no man Of the reinsurance
field would volunteer. the information
that he had offered him the slightest
help. even though the fact was admitted
that the bill created presumption tn
favor OF those interests as against the
terests. which Appropriated 20 per cent
on their necessary reserve funds.
William II. Buckley. al one time thirf
deputy IN the Insurance Department
later a lawyer lowering between this city
and Albany. and finally a lawyer with
headquarters in the latter city. onere't
some testimony relative TO the fact that
the PheniX Insurance Company in gen
eral and George p. sheldon in particular
had lent 20 him at various times an ag-
gregate OF S61, 600. but he also touched
upon the Grady bill. though lightly
Husres Inquisition Echo.
Buckley is a man whose value as. an
insurance lawyer, particularly in con-
nection with legislative matters. first
became public property during the in
vestigation Of the life insurance scan
dals by Governor Hughes He appeared
then as a counsel retained by various
life insurance companies. notably the
New York Life. whose president. John
A. Mccall. testified that Buckley re-
eeived $500 a year for two years. and
think he got $1,000 a year more than
that" from that company.
Prohting. perhaps. by his experiences
in that other insurance inquiry. Buckley
appeared yesterday with counsel TO look
after his interests and be Of general as.
sistance 20 him when Mr.. Hotchkiss. tina.
Superintendent OF Insurance, should put
him on the stand.
John H Dugan. OF Albany. who came
with Buckley in that capacity. did not
take any hand in the proceedings until
&r. HOtchkiss got down TO the Grady
bill in particular and Strike" legislation
in general. and then he leaned over with
2 few words Of advice for his client.
Il state here. for the record" inter-
EOsed Mr.. Hotchkiss. that The depart
ment does not recognize the right OF
witness 70 counsel"
Mr.. Dugan. nothing abashed. got q
his feet. and. with the formula OF a law
yer in a court trial. made formal obie--
ton 20 the line OF questions being
directed at Buckley. on the ground that
the inquiry into the Legislature or int,
its method OF passing or defeating leg
islation was not within the scope OF tho
authority OF the Insurance Superin-
tendent.
Hotehkiss Undisnayed.
The Superintendent win risk that
said Mr.. Hotchkiss. Il repeat the ques-
tiOn: Does the Grady bill improve ths
position OF the poIcyholder?
Buckley refused point blank 20 answer
the question.
II you want to dodge il. go ahead and
dodge it, was the comment or the Su-
William =. Hutchins. president OF the
North River Insurance Company. a wit
ness at the morning session appeared 10
have as bad a memory as most Of tho
fire insurance officials who have an
peared hitherto. However he was able.
when his recollection had been logged
BIZ the perusal Of various letters and
bills handed 70 him by Mr.. HOtchkiss.
90 remember that a bill Of Buckley for
Slj.O00. vOuched for by Sheldon. was for
services rendered az Albany in 1908. and
In various districts. particularly Sena-
tOrial districts. following the 1898 ses-
sion.
II appeared that these invasiOns Of
certain districts between sessions had
been necessary in order % show the folly
Of lining up against the IRE Insurance.
and il was costly work.
Hutchins evidently thought well Of L.
for he admitted in his testimony that hs
had helped Sheldon collect Buckley's
fees. which were gathered IN by cOntri-
buttons from the companies.
Also Hutchins had contributed Sl2uD
himself as from his company. in items
II 81 600 on september l. 19ssi. and S2UO
IN December ,. 1904
In a letter Co HutchI1s about this tiEss
sheldon put down the significant com
neut, This method was more effective
han the employment Of eminent cOun-
-el." but Mr. Hutchins on the stand yes
erday could not recall anything % mo-
nent along that line. and the letter
stood with Buckley's Teceipted bin as
he best record OF matters Of that period.
Seward Back on Stand.
George y Seward. the aged president
y the Fidelity and Casualty Company.
no testified on Tuesday IN regard 90
he attempt made by one MIR. Brown
% strike" him for S1OO0p. in considers-
ion of which Brown guaranteed thas
Big Tim" sullivan would kill an amend
nent which would have curtailed tho