Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-01
Evidence Indicates that Both Men
Received Goodly Fees.
WHO ACCEPTED THE BRIBEs Z
Mr.. Hotchbiss Wants Names of New
York Legislators Who Sold Out.
BIG TIM OFFERED TO KILL BILL
Charge that New York Senator Asked
Ten Thousand Dollars II CorrOb-
Orated-MOre About Buck
ley's Big Bill.

NEW YORK March 3.-How William Il
BI ckley, accelerator of insurance legisa-
tion and the late Andy" Hamilton, keeper
Of the life insurance yellow dog" fund OF
former years. worked shoulder to shoulder
oiling the legislative wheels at Albany for
good and substantial consideration was
brought out today at the fire insurance
inquiry conducted by William H. Hotch-
kiss, state superintendent of insurance.
Hamilton, the evidence showed received
no less than 1893 from certain companies
in 1901
Hamilton's name was put on the record
| through the testimony of Henry c. Wilcox,
vice president of the American Surety COM
pany In 1901, Wilcox testified the fire in
surance companies caused to be introduced
in the Legislature q bill to exempt the un-
earned reserves from taxation. Mr Wilcox
wanted to have the casualty and surety
companies included in the exemption and
accordingly went to Albany He tried to
get Senator Raines and Assemblyman
Lewis interested. but failed. Then he hunted
up Buckley and told him his troubles.
Buckley, he said told him that Hamilton
was the one to help him. Buckley tele-
phoned to Hamilton and said Hamilton
agreed to take 1t up.
Wilcox left Albany and the amendment
went through desired. When it was
all over Hamilton sent bill for $4,000 to
| the American Surety company.
Did he tell you he had to pay out any
Of the money!" the witness was asked.
| He conveyed to me the suggestion that
he had assumed obligations which he could
not meet unless the full amount was paid, "
This was as strong as Mr.. Wilcox would
put It.
He thought the bill too large, but as a
compromise, he said, he sent three checks
to Hamilton, aggregating 80, 469 Later the
National Surety company paid $3.50 to
Hamilton,
With the resumption OF the Investigation,
Elijah r. Kennedy, the legislative agent
who made the first revelations in the in
| quiry, was expected back for further Ques-
tloning. Mr. Hotchklss was anxious to
learn Il the dsburser of the fire insurance
companies fund Of 1901 had refreshed his
memory sufficiently to remember the names
OF some other individuals besides George
! w. Aldridge, to whom he made payments
while seeking to further the passage Of q
bill in the interest Of the companies.
Superintendent Hotchklss was also ex
pected to go into the his,ory of casualty
and surety company legislation at Albany.
He had a long list Of witnesses ready be
fore the days session Of the inquiry opened
Charge Against Big Tim.
George F. Stewards charge that Edward
A. Brown offered in 1892 in behalf of
! Senator big Tim Sullivan. to have an
insurance bill killed for $1,000 was cor
roborated in some details by e. z. Clapp,
formerly OF the Fidelity and Casualty
company where Mr.. Seward is president
John B. Lunger of HARTFORD, Conn, who
is vice president OF the Travellers Insur-
ance company of Hartford, testified that
the Travellers first employed Buckley in
January 1903. He declared he had never
known of Buckley's activity in connection
with legislation at Albany. Buckley was
retained to get the liability reserve bill
through solely on account of his familiarity
with insurance matters
When the bill had been passed Buckley
called on the company for the payment of
the s2l,40O The company thought the bill
excessive.
What did Mr. Buckley say to Justify
such bill?" asked Mr.. Hotchkiss.
He said he had been kept busy for sew
eral months and had met much opposition.
as we'll as to do a great deal Of explain
ing"
Big Payment for Legal Work.
Did he tell you that he had paid out
any money to any one in connection with
the passage of the bill'
'He did not"
And so your company paid to a lawyer
who had been practicing law for less than
two years, s2i, 400 for services covering
less than five months?"
The witness assented
1t was shown that Buckley rendered
two bills, one OF $4,000 in his New
York office and the other of $4,000 from
his Albany office, covering about the
same period of time. Later the bills for
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