Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-01

II. Buckley, and the late Andy Hamil-
| ton. keeper of life insurance yellow
dog" fund of former years, worked
shoulder to shoulder oilng the legisla-
tive Wheels at Albany for good and
substantial consideration was testified
today at the FIRE insurance inquiry con-
Quoted by William Fl. Hotchkiss, State
superintendent of insurance. Hamil-
ton, the evidence showed, received no
less thar &S999 from certain companies
in 1901
Halnilton's name was placed in the
record in the testimony of Henry G..
Wilcox, vice president Of the American
Security Co. In 1901, Wilcox. testified.
the fire insurance companies caused to
be introduced in the Legislature a bill
to exempt the unearned premium re-
serves from taxation. Mr.. Wilcox
wanted to have the casualty cOrnpancS
included and went 10 Albany to accom-
plish this. He was told that Hamilton
was the one to help him. Buckley
telcphoncd To Hamilton and said that
Hamilton had agreed to take it up.
Wilcox left Albany and the ane ndment
went through as desired When ii was
all over Hamilton sent Il bill for S10-
900 to The American Surety co.
Oil nc toll you he had to pay out
any of the money" the witness was
asked
"Hc conveyed to me the suggestion
that he had assumed obligations which
he could not meet unless the full
amuunt were paid" This was as strong
as Wilcox would put it. He thought
the bill was too large but as a COM
promise hc said, he sent three checks
to Hamilton, a2gregating $6469. The
bulk of that amount was paid by the
Ailf' fican surety 90, which mate Gut
its check to Hamilton for $5676: Will"
the United States Guarantee Co. paid
S419 and the Lawyers Surety Co. 1914
Other surety companies, although ben
Gifted, declined to contribute.
Besides what he turned over to Ham
ilton. Wilcox testified. he agreed to get
another $1,000 for him if possible. Ham
ilton angered him by his pcrsistency-
however, until he dropped the matter
Then, he testified. Buckley took il
up for his friend Hamilton, and wrote
a number of letters about $1,000. IL
December. 1908. he said, Buckley was
last he heard of it.
Did Andy Hamilton hang out il
the insurance department" >" asked Mr.
HOtchkisS.
"IIc was there frequently"
At the time referred to, Buckley was
still connected with the insurance de
partment.
1t was William j. Griffin. vice pres
ident and general socilitor of the Ma
tional Surety CO.. who told of his com
pany's contribution of $3.50 to Hamil-
ton The check was produced at the
bearing. it was signed by Buckley for
Hamilton.
Mr.. Griffin showed correspondence
which indicated that in 1901 Buckley
was trying to get back into the mar
ness" as Mr.. Hotchkiss put it. III
that wear there were three bills before
the Legislature in which the National
Surety Co. was interested. The presi-
dent of the company William Il. Joyce
wrote to Buckley asking him to inter-
est some influential members OF the
Legislature in the matter. IF you want
any help hewrote, "call on Senator
Thomas ]. McManus, who will do all
he can to aid you
But Buckley failed with the three
bills. and Mr. Griffin said that the rec
ords of his company did not show that
any money was paid to Buckley for
the service.
Allah r. Kennedy, former legisla-
tive agent of the fire companies who
has been on the stand several times.
came back today to give some new de-
tails of the disbursement Of $13,311 in
1901 to bring about passage OF the tax
exemption bill. He accounted for all
but about $500 of the amount.
Kennedy had testified that he gave
$4,000 to Col. George Dunn, one time
chairman of the Republican State COM
mittee. In explanation of this gift he
said today: II have long deplored the
growth of the power eXerted by men
who hold high positions in parties, and
who exercises more power than the
Legislature itself, but | encountered
this condition of affairs when | went
to Albany in 1901. That was why | felt
1t necessary to seek the support of the
extra constitutional government.
went to Col. Dunn and gave him $4,000 "
Stewart Browne of this city. who was
the promoter of the International Bank
ing & Trust Co. sent a letter to Supt
Hotchlliss today defending the connection
of the now Justice Edward Mccall with
the company Mr. Browne said that not
a dollar was paid by the company TO any
one to put through the bill for the incor-
peraton of the American Bond and
Mortgage Guarantee Co.. its predecessor.
Mr.. Mccall, he said, had nothing what
ever do with the passage of the bill
and everybody who obtained stock in the
company. including Mccall and Buckley,
paid the full par value for it. Buckley
borrowed money twice from the company,
he said. and Mccall. out of friendship,
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