New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-19
TELLS OF FIRE
INSURANCE FUND
GIFT TO 1LDREDGE,
says UITNESS.
". L.. For. for State Commit
tee, Got Money. Testifes
II. ". Kennedy. et

~
Of the state Insurance Department. be-
gan yesterday in his New York Office an
investigation OF the legislative activities
OF fire insurance interests OF the state.
which brought out testimony in the frat
few hours Of its existence 10 show that
those interests had contributed $4,000
20 various sources I'm the early part OF
19oI for the purpose Of influencing lcgis-
latiOn.
Five thousand dollars Of this amount.
according to the testimony. was handed
over 10 the late Reuben T.. Fox for the
Republican state Committee and the
other 5000 went 20 the politicians in
the state.
OF this latter amount $500 il appeared
in the testimony. had been presented 90
George w AIdridge, of Rochester. and
though his name was the only one men,
toned as the personal recipient OF any
part of the $j.O0O il appeared from
questions put by superintendent HOtch-
kiss and his counsel. Alfred Hurrelle.
that the department. officials had evil
dence Of other recipients and possibly
other funds used for similar purposes.
toned frequently during the opening ses-
sion OF the investigation. az which Elitah
r. Kennedy. Of the firm OF Weed & Ken
nedy. fire insurance brokers' was the
chief witness
Mr.. Kennedy was. in 1901, a member
of the Committee on Laws and Legisla-
tion Of the New York Board Of Fire
Underwriters. and il was in that capac-
ity that ne handled the $4,000 and other
smaller funds mentioned IN the session
yesterday From his testimony IL ap-
peared that h> mad received what ne
thought was the approval Of Governor
OdeI TO a measure allowing the fire I'M
surance companies To deduct the amount
Of their unearned premiums from their
taxable assets. lie had talked with the
Governor in regard 10 the BILL and later.
after il had been passed through both
houses. Mr.. Kennedy returned 90 New
York satisfied that the bill would soon
become law. -~
Special Trip 20 Albany.
II was a thirty dsy BILL left in tho
hands Of the Governor after the ad-
iournment OF the Legislature. which oc-
CURED that year on April q. but later'
he testified. when twenty Eight OF the
possible thirty days had passed and the
bill had not been signed by the Gov
erpor. he made a special trip TO albany
with senator George r. Malby. now IN
Congress. and Commodore p Neccef 70
learn from the Governor why the bill "a
not been signed
They found that the Cover So had
written his veto on the measure. VI
Kennedy said. and ~ was "u'y atesr a
vigorous and exciting discussion -'th
him that they induced him TO sisd the
bill
In the mean time. he testified. he had
talked with Reuben T.. Fox. who had
suggested 10 him that the FIRE Insurance.
interests had received substantial as-
sistance from the organization. and that
a contribution of about $4,000 TO the Re
nubJican state Committee would be IN
order
Supcrintendrrt Hotchkiss found the
cIeVs which led him 10 the present in
vestieatior when he was going over ths
affairs Of the Phenix Insurance Com
panv. 0f Brooklyn. recently. and the
facts disclosed there prompted him 70
gather his entire force of thirty exam
incrs IN New York carly in January.
About the fth Of that month these
thirty examiners went out in twos ami
descended simultaneously on fifteen Dir
fercnt fire insurance Offices, among them
TIE office OF the New York Board OF Fi-e
Underwriters. where various records %
legislative influence hy the fire insur-
ance interests we've found
Mr.. ksnu-dy's Bill found.
Among these was the following OH
nut i'm by Mr. Kennedy 10 the board.
"New York. MAY 2. 1901.
..NeN York Board Of Fire Underwrit
ers. 20 r. Y. Kennedy. DR.
..For counsel fees. telegrams. tcle-
phones and travelling expenses for scit
and others. during the current year CO
date. S13.Stt %"
Attached 70 the bill vas a receipt
which read as follows:
New York. june -, 19oi
Received of tie New York Eoard ~
Fire Underwater for CishursemeutS
and travelling expense in matters ~
legislation approved by the Finance
committee. SS.Sl1 9S.
p r. KENNEDY
The examiners thercupou seized the
minutes of the finance committee "t TIRE
hazard and found under dates of May -.
gS and st and june g. 1901. records Of the
discussions aueut the payment TO Mr..
Kennedy Of the sum mentioned IN his
bilI
From tho testimony ot Mr. kennedy
on the stand yesterday it appeared that
the $4,000 which the finance committee
oG the board chopped o0 his hiu was
later contributed by various companie1
and turned over 90 him. and by MN
turped over 90 Mr. Fox.
Mr. Hotchkiss opened the iuvestiss-
tIon with Mr. Kennedy on the stand
with thc following statement
1t appcurs here that you put m a oii
nI, Nav :. 1901. To tho board for expenses
a, regard % legislative matters az AL
bany Of Sl3.Slt 9S.'
THAT 4 did" qucried Mr.. Kennedy.
Yes"
~,~est mpossiblc." responded the Wit
ness.
Yes, the bill is here" continued Mr