The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-17
MIR. MILLER'S DEFENCE.
MI. Millsr's Explanation The Relative Merits
of Barnes and Miller's Examinations.
ELIJAH WRGAT'S FIVE DOLLAR REPORTS.
The Author of the Charges Volun>
tarily Appears and Retracts.

Inc AuJnOr OF the Charges VOIunA
tarily Appears and Retracts.
The Assembly SUBJ Committee on Insurance met
yesterday to take further evidence for the defence
in the charges against superintendent Miller.
Present, Messrs Aikens and BabcocK.
The FIRST witness called and examined by Mr..
Miller was ol4
Charles E. Whitehead, who. on being sworn
said-I am counselloI.atlaw; have acted as counsel
in examination Of titles under Barnes; Mr.. Ward.
formerly Minister TO China occupies similar po-
sitlon under you; made some ten or fifteen ex.
aminations, one alone In the case Of the Hen"
drick HUDSON Fire Company; charged for 1t $780,
or IS per day; examined the Globe Fire in 1858,
with two assstants I charged but IS per
day for the Hendrick HUDSON Company,
as Mr.. Barnes said That was the law;
charged for the Globe examination 500 for
my share; examined the Yonkers Fire IN
1863 and got $50; examined the Arctic also in
1868, and received the same sum; had two assist
ants in both OF the latter examinations; examined
the Greenwich Fire Company with two others and
received SIS each. Witness gave prices tor other
companies examinations and declared thai he was
not aware OF there being any law limiting the
charge to IS per day.
Mi. Barnes arose and complained Of an Associated
Press despatch reporting A. ST. Clair's testimony,
stating that scores Of presents were made 10 Mrs.
Barnes; he asserted that no such evidence was
given; that he thought 1t outrageous to drag IN the
name OF q lady into the investigation. b.
MIR. Miller responded, declaring that no such
evidence was given; that If it appeared IN the
press dispatches 1t was one OF those errors that
creep III in teegraphing. For his part he had had
great cause to complain OF dispatches about HIM.
but he had not risen to complain. He would here
say that last Saturday despatch appeared III the
Times signed 49," which is the letter used by It's
Albany correspondent Mr. Snow. That gentleman
denies that he ever sent the despatch. which an
nounced that Governor Hoffman had called upon
him (Miller) to resign. The Governor assured him
Mlller) that he had never breathed lntimatiOn OF
the kind TO any one. lie had learned while IN
AlDanystnat three members Of the Legislature had
AT the dragging OF lady into the case he should not
nave taken shelter behind a lady's skirts.
Inc Chairman, MI Babcock, ended the discussion
by calling for the termination OF nOstlteS.
Thomas A. Oakley, member OF the National Board
or FIRE Underwriters was examined as TO the action
Barnes ana Miller. There was q resolution passed
endorsing Mr. Mers EFFORTS securing uniform
had called to interview him, but ne declined to say
aaytang to MIN; Here witness was shown 1.-The ths
by Miller. and the New England Mutual made by
Elijah Wright, under Mr.. Barnes. and questloned s
as 10 the relative merits OF each. That OF
the Firemens' Fund was very volumInOus,
while Mr. Wrght's Tor which he charged So only, was
but page and hall OF letter press; other repOrSS
completeness or Miners examinations ana the in.
completeness of those made under Barnes regime.
He said. In response 70 question from the chair,
man. that the Board OF Fire Underwriters DO not use
funds Tor any improper purposes 70 secure ieglsa-
Ashbury Searle: sworn-l was secretary Of the
State FIRE Insurance company in 1Se7-S-9; the COM
pany was examined by Lucen Barnes, brother OF
the tnen superintendent; IL occupied about six and
hall hours; we paid either $l25 or $3.50 Tor IT; 1
Peter hoffman, sworn-I was President OF the
WICK ior 500 coasdered that far price as he was
there parts or four days.
couniant, expert. lie was shown q number Of re-
ports including the Firemens' Fund, Hoffman and
Lancaster Fire ana testified that they were very
full and accurate; he would not undertake to make
the examinations and reports for less than $500
each; he did not consider the report OF EiaN
Wright ut to put before company.
John l.. BrOwnell, sworn-I ain one OF the firm Of
penfield, Of the WESTMINSTER Fire insurance Com
pany; we cashed check for HIM In May last; on
CHECK; we casned It ana gave him Bills Tor it; can't
recoilect the endorsements on the cheek; can't say
whether Penfeld endorsed ON The back; tie check
X. NJ. Buchannan, sworn-I am cashier of the
Fulton National Bank; There Is check Of $500
charged to the Westchester Fire Company on the
26tn OF May.
Edmu1d briggs, sworn:-I am President of the
Williamsburg City Fire Insurance Company; we
were examined under Mr.. Barnes administration
for OF capital; there were three OF them
1t; 1t was on February 2S 1867: Charles Z. Wnlte-
head, Seth E. Cole aud - Walton; they were
sent by Mr.. Barnes; have never heard COMPLAINTS
mace Of your extortionate charges or oppresslons3
nave heard IN the street some complaints relative tO
Mlller's treatment Uf the New Amsterdam, but nod
from the officers; that the only exception. pe-
lIeve IN many cases officers OF companies have
been appointed as receivers put 1t Is always under
stood In the business that you have no voice III mans
ing the receivers.
Shepherd HOmans sworn for and examined by
the prosecution, testlfed:-l am an actuary; was III
the Mutual Life; examined the pOncies OF thd
American Mutual; he then detailed very fully ina
character OF examinations and the Valuations, InaG
are OF no interest to the general reader.
E. J. BRYANT testified that the total assets undeg
the New York Department, fire. life and marine. Isl
about x4l0,000,0 ZOO; he had examined many OF the
reports made by Miller's orders by Messrs. Briggs
ana Southwick, and he considered them nrst class
In every particular witness testified that ne was
telegrapned for by MI. Miller to go to London, Eng-
land, and look into the Commercial UNION, OF
that city, but no examination was made, although
he looked ut the books OF the company: witness ass
Certained some facts ABOUT the Liverpool, LOndof
and Globe; the officers OF the Commercial Union
were anxious for an examination, hut none was
made by Mr.. Mller's orders or by himself; the ex-,
penses OF the insurance department. have been leSa
| than $50, 000 paid my own expenses 10 Europe.
| Z. W. Crowel American manager OF the Imperial
Insurance Company Of England. testlned That ME-;
Miller made no examination OF the company nor
had It Contributed TO his expenses; witness joined
IN the request for Miller TO urge the passage OIL the
act for the foreign insurance companies doing busl-
ness In this country; MAD no complaints 10 make ID
MIXERS administration, nor had he heard any COM
| plant OF extOrtion by HIM.
| The evidence of William A. Ross manager OF the
| Queens Insurance Company, gave testimony OF
| similar purport. The only grievance he had was
that Mr.. Miller favored the Dill Of 1870 relating To-
| foreign companies.
! the New York Times written by him complimentary
| and uncompllmentary TO Miller; at the time he be.
| lleved he was doing public duty In writing the
articles and believed them, but he had watched the
| evidence and now lett that he had done Mr. Mlller
an injustice; he certainly. as a man OF honor, re-