INSURANCE SCANDALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13353, 6 December 1906, Page 5

INSURANCE SCANDALS.

THE POLITICAL PAYMENTS.

New York. December 4.

Mr. Roosevelt has decided that unless the Republican party's managers refund the thirty thousand pounds sterling received from the Mutual Life Society of New York, the Equitable Society, and the New York Life Insurance Company towards his election expenses in 1904 he will personally repay the money.

The three insurance companies mentioned had been contributing annually to the Republican funds, not only for national but also for State purposes. Every year Bills dealing with insurance matters were placed on the notice paper of the New York State Parliament, and these were not withdrawn until blackmail had been paid. Before the Investigation Committee it was proved that altogether the New York Life, had paid away 148,000 dollars in political bribery. Thou it was shown that the New York Mutual had paid 15,000 dollars in 1896, 35,000 dollars in 1900, and 40.000 dollars in 1904 to the election fund of the Republican candidate for the Presidency. The Equitable also had paid large sums for similar purposes. In October of last year it was reported that President Roosevelt' had met the managers of the Republican party and had insisted upon the return of all contributions made by the insurance companies towards the expenditure of the parly at the last. Presidential election. It was added that the managers had agreed that the money should be returned, but this, it appears now, has not been done. The managers he consulted were the present Secretary of State, Mr. Elihu Root. Mr. (Jortelyon, a. member of the Cabinet and chairman of the Republican Convention, Senator Lodge, and Ml. CMioate, 4-x - Ambassador to London.