The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-21
TRYING To FIND
WHO GOT MONEY.
Fire Insurance Probers Seek Light
on Disposition of Thou
sands.
TESTIMONY INTRICATE
Witnesses Given to Frequent
Lapses of Memory-Riordan
nu~.~- Clo-xn
TESTIMONY INTRICATE

NEW YORK, March 21.---when
State Superintendent of Insurance
William RI. Hotchkiss renewed his In
yestigation to-day of the seeking
light" fund OF the fire insurance COM
panies. used to pass favorable and
XIII inimtcai legislatio IN Albany, II
was with avowed determination of OBJ
tanning at all hazards the names Of
the men who got money from E. r..
Kennedy. New York insurance brok-
er. also lobbyist for the insurance
interests.
Kennedy has been excused until
Tomorrow morning, when, according
to Superintendent Hotchkiss, his fail
ing memory must have refreshed It.
self.
You Will simply have to recall the
names of the men TO whom you paid
money" was Superintendent Hotch-
kiss parting shot. as Kennedy left
the witness stand Saturday.
Il have not yet been able to re-
member any one but George w. AL
dredge, the Republican leader OF Ro-
chester, who got $1,000" said Ken
nedy to-day, but am trying to re-
member"
Kennedy turned in a bill for }13,-
31l.SS for his Legislative work" for
the New York Board of Fire Under
writer's In 1901. OF this amount $6,-
900 went to the Republican State
committee. Another $1,000 went to
Aldredge. About $4,000 could be
charged to railroad fare, hotel bills
and entertaining. This leaves $1,000
unaccounted for, and superintendent
Hotchkiss Is determined to know
where 1t went. During the same year
Kennedy spent the s13,3lI.sS. the al
lied fire companies. through the Board
OF Underwriters, was spending i'm
mense sums for attorneys whose work
was to kill bad" bills and pass ia
vorable ones.
1t Was intimated to-day that Su-
perintendent Hotchktss had an i'm
portant witness, hitherto unnamed,
who would. before the hearing ended,
the money Kennedy spent went.
Deflnes Attorneys Duties.
William NJ. Kramer. Of the German
American Fire Insurance Company, a
member Of the laws and legislation
committee of the New York board of
underwriters, was asked to define the
duties of the paid attorneys of the
board in connection with legislation.
He said that they appear before legis-
lative committees and argue for or
against insurance bills. In 1901, he
bach were sent to Albany to argue
against the one time compact bill aim
ed to prohibit agreements to MAIN
tain rates. This bill is recognized as
a favorite strike" bill, and Kramer
said 1t Is introduced in most legtsla-
lures every year by the firm that fav-
ored the Lewis bill exempting the re-
Insurance. funds from taxation.
Returning to the $1,000 which Z. J
Avava AN- 10. H.. ~ Ga A.
committee in 1901, which the state
| board refused to pay and which was
later made up by private contribu-
tons, Kramer said his company paid
1926. In 1903 his company paid 81 800
to George p. Sheldon, OF the Phoenix
Fire Insurance Company. as its pro-
rata Legislative Assessment.
why did you pay all this money to
| ShefdonT was asked did you know
what Sheldon was doing?'
Il do not know definitely what MIR.
Sheldon was doing with the money
We merely paid him upon his reques,
that he needed money In connection
with legislative work he was DOING
A bill OF $4,000 rendered in 1904
for Legislative work" by Attorney
Buckley WAS rejected by the board
and later made up by individual con-
tributions. witness said At this point
witness was excused and K. j. Ken
nedy recalled.
Mistaken Identity.
Kennedy was asked regarding his
Saturdays testimony, In which he
told of Assemblyman Richardson call
ing on him and seeking light
Mr.. Riordan Is in the room now"
he replied. HE says did him q
cruel injustice. He declares that on
the year In question he did not intro
duce the anti-compact bill, and that
he never called on me. The man
who called on me that year seeking
light was big. heavy-set man. The
Mr.. Riordan who Is here with me IL
not the man knew. and now
believe the real Mr.. Riordan never
called on me-"
James A. Riordan. chief clerk to
Mayor Gaynor. the man referred to
by Kennedy Saturday, was called. He
was shaking with rage.
II never saw this man Kennedy be-
fore in my life" he shouted. Il never
called on him. For nifty years / have
fought for my honor and character.