The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-21
MORE ROTTENNESS
FOUND IN NEW YORK
Insurance Scandals Promise to
Take on Real Life
LAWMAKERS GET MONEY
witnesses Arc Examined Before Stnte
Superintendent of Insurance and
Admissions of Startling
Nature Are Made
LAWMAKERS GET MONEY

New York, March 20.-Mercilessly firing
question after question at the reluctant
witnesses and reading to them in rapid
succession letters and kilograms that
told in unmistalSabe terms of the activi-
ties of fire insurance companies in in
fluencing legislation at Albany, William
Hotcnkiss, state superintendent of insur-
ance, and mis- attorney Adred Hurrell,
forced startling admissions at today's fire
Insurance investigation.
1t was shown that large sumo of
money had been raised to procure or
thwart legislation between 1901 and 1906.
These payments, the majority of which
were to law firms ranged from 500 to $l7-
500 The three largest payments were ST.
800 to the law firm of Sherman & Sterl-
ing in 1905 for work at Albany in con-
nection with leglslatnin then pending;
of $4,000 in 1906 for the same purpose
and of sSs11 to Elijah R. Kennedy. mem
Der of the insurance firm of Weed Il
Kennedy. 1t was this latter payment
that came out yesterday when Mr.. Ken
nedys bill to the New York board of
underwriters for s13,331 was produced
The witnesses examined today were Mr..
Kennedy, Charles L. Case, former chair
man of the committee on laws and leg
islation of the board of underwriters, and
William N Krerer. of the German
American Fire Insurance company, who
was vice chairman of the committee OF
laws and legislation of the board from
1900 to 1907. and chairman in 1907 and 1905.
Timothy L. woodruff. now chairman OF
the republican state committee; the late
State Senator John Raines, Representa-
tive George E. Malby and former As
semblyman James A. Riordan OF New
York were among those mentioned in the
testimony.
Mr. woodruff. swore Kennedy, wrote
letter in 1901 telling him that the insur-
ance tax bill, which the company's were
opposing, would not be pressed Repre-
sentative Malby, then a member of the
Legislature. evidenced a kindly interest
in the bills as shown by letters to Ken
nedv. Senator Raines was amicably dis
posed toward Mr.. Kennedy in his enorts
to defeat undesirable legislation. As for
Riordon, Kennedy said he came to MIN
with such show of interest tnat ne,
Kennedy. became aroused and cut short
the interview, refusing, as representa-
tive of interests affected, to discuss pend
ing legislation with a member of the leg
islature.
One interesting statement made by Mr..
Kennedy was that he had given "a pres
ent of $1,000 to George w Aldridge OF
Rochester, republican leader OF Monroe
This item was part of the soo0o
officially disallowed by the underwriters
but later reimbursed to Kennedy as as
levied on the insurance CONF
pa MES individually Kennedy said yes
terday Aldridge got 5000, but today cor
rected his testimony
I Every effort TO force kennedy 10. teil
who received the remainder of the Soooo
was futile.
IL was through the testimony or case
that the payments of $500 and $4,000 10
Sherman and Sterling were brought out.
When vouchers for these payments were
submitted. Case said frankly that they
were correct, but when 1t came to tell
ing the exact nature of the services rem
dered he was vague. Sherman and Sterl-
ing he said. were a high priced firm,
and the work entailed on them as
demanded laborious research and
many trips to Albany to argue before
interview legislators and
keep in touch with the situation.
Mr.. kremers testimony developed little
new. His memory regarding the reim-
bursement of Mr.. Kennedy was very
vague. Beyond admitting that his COM
pany had paid 1915 toward such fund he
could tell little.