Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-20
KENNEDY MOST FORGETFUL
Recalls That It Was 81 900 Paid to
Republican Machine.
$4,000 HE CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR
Indelicate Letters From Malby Ex-
planned by Friendship-Wood-
ruff Wrote One Letter.

NEW YORK, March 19.-Mercilessly
hurting question after question at re-
luctant witnesses and reading to them
in rapid succession letters and kilograms
| that told In unmistakable terms OF the
activity Of fire insurance companies in
influencing legislation at Albany, Will
| liam H. Hotchkiss. state superintendent
| OF insurance, and his attorney. Alfred
Hurrell. forced startling revelations at to-
days session of the fire insurance inquiry
1t was shown that large sums of money
had been raised to procure or thwart
legislation between 1901 to 1906 These
payments. the majority of which were to
Three Big Payments.
The three largest payments were of
$17,5OO to the law firm of Sherman &
Sterling in 1905 for work at Albany in
connection with legislation then pending;
| OF $4,000 in 1905 for the same purpose.
and Of ss.311 to Elijah R. Kennedy, mem
ber of the insurance firm of Weed &
came out yesterday when Mr.. Kennedy s
bill to the New York board of underwrit-
ers for 1891 was produced
The witnesses examined today were Mr..
Kennedy, Charles L. Case. former chair
man Of the committee on laws and legis-
Iation of the board of underwriters, and
William n. Kremer of the German
american Fire Insurance Company. who
was vice chairman of the committee on
laws and legislation of the board from
1900 to 1907 and chairman In 1907 and
1908.
Timothy L. Woodruff. now chairman
OF the republican state committee, the
late Senator John Raines. Representative
George r. Malby, and former Assembly
man James A Riardan of New York
were among those mentioned in the testi-
mony.
Woodruff's Letter to Kennedy.
Mr.. Woodruff. swore Kennedy, wrote
letter In 1901 telling him that the in
surance tax bill. which the companies
were oposing might and main, would not
be pressed. Representative Malby, then a
member of the Legislature, evidenced a
kindly interest in the bills. as shown by
letters to kennedy. an old friend Of his
Senatoh Raines was amicably disposed
toward Mr.. Kennedy in his efforts to de-
feat undesirable legislation
AS Tor Riordan. Kennedy said he came
to him with such a show of interest
that he, Kennedy. became aroused. like
chain lightning" and cut short the in
terview, refusing as a representative of
interests affected to discuss pending
legislation with member Of the legisla-
ture.
One interesting statement made by Mr..
Kennedy was that he had given q
present" Of $1,O00 to Gorge W. Aldridge
of Rochester, republican leader Of Mon
roe county. This item was part of the
5000 officially disallowed by the under
writer's. but later reimbursed to Kennedy
by assessments levied on the insurance
companies individually.
Kennedy said yesterday that Aldridge
got $500. Today he corrected his testi-
mony Every effort to force Kennedy
to tell who received the remainder Of the
S.. 600 was futile
Friendship Excuses Indelicacy.
While Kennedy was on the stand he
was shown three letters from Malby
In the first, written at Rochester March
10. 1901, he refers to. "our friend"
again, and told Kennedy that he sup
posed that he noticed Malby's appoint
ment as chairman of the committee
In the last letter Malby wrote:
My dear Mr.. kennedy:
We had conference yesterday, at
which the question Of insurance was
broached. | made the suggestion. as
you suggested, that no tax be made on
be deeply impressed by what 1 said
Il should like to see you before you
go before the committee When you
do go before the committee you must
treat the matter as being complete
surprise to you, and you must say that
the legislation is not what you wanted" !"
Kennedy was somewhat disturbed
while reading this letter. He admitted
1t was trine indelicate for Malby to
tell him how to argue: But he said
they were very good friends so that it
was done in that spirit rather than
any other.
Payments to Lawyers.
It was through the testimony Of Case
that the payments Of 81. 800 and $4,000
to Sherman Sterling were brought out.
When vouchers for these payments were
submitted Case said frankly they were
correct But when 1t came to telling
the exact nature of the services rendered
he was vague.
Sherman & Sterling. he said. was a
'high-priced firm." and the work en-
tailed on it as counsel demanded la
borfous research and many trips TO AL
bany TO argue before committee, inter-
view legislators and keep in touch with
the situation.
Mr. kremeras testimony developed little
new. His memory regarding the relm-
bursement of MIR. Kennedy was vague
Beyond admitting that his company had
paid 1875 toward such a fund, he could
| tell little.
Aldridge Admits and Justifies.
ROCHESTER,. n. Y, March 19.-George
w. Aldridge said today:
| IT recall that Mr.. Kennedy did make a
| contribution 70 me as he says. 1t was
used for the benefit of the republican
party of Monroe county
/ Furthermore. the contribution was
made, as Mr.. Kennedy testified. without
| solicitation on my part. There was moth
| Ing improper In the transaction.
| The legislation to which Mr. Kennedy
refers was, In my opinion. proper legisla-
tion and was greatly desired by the late
Frederick Cook. who was then president
OF the Rochester German Insurance Com
| pany. and H. F. Atwood, who was secre-
tary OF the company.
| Anything / may have done in the
effort to pass the bill referred to was done
for them and at their request"
Millions of Eggs on Market.
! CHICAGO, Ill.,, March 19.-Four million
seven hundred and seventy-four thousand
three hundred and twenty eggs were re-