The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-23
THE MILLER INVESTIGATION.


Additional Testimony Taken by the Insurance
Commiitee-rhe superintendent in Lis Own
Dc.ence-He Denounces His Investigators.
ALBANY, N. Y, March %, 1872.
The House Insurance Committee held another
session In the case OF superintendent Miller this
afternoon.
Lucien Barnes was the first witness sworn and
testided:-Was clerk IN Insurance Department DUR
ing Barnes administrator; examined State Fire
Insurance Company OF Cleveland On the goth
March, 1869; was paid $50, which was intended to
cover expenses; also examined Commercial Mutual
OF Cleveland In 1867 was paid for that S43 90;
never examined any other companies
To Mr.. TObey-Was never paid any other sum;
was not paid $3.50 to S175 as testified BY Searla.
To Mr.. Mller-Paid my expenses and the compa-
MES paid me back my expenses.
z. 9. Fisher, President OF the Anchor Life lnsur
ance Company OF New jersey sworn and testined:-
Our company was examined In February, 1871;
Southwick and Carr made the examination; 1t took
from zen to twelve days; paid southwick $500 for
that examination; told him 1t was
LARGE CHARGE
put paid IT., nevertheless; drew check ami cashed
1t myself; James II. Goodse publisher oil the Spec
tdtor, calea on me to know II had my certificate;
told him had not; he said he hoped would hurry
up, he wanted 10 put 1t In the Spectator; told
him could not get 1t sooner than Miller woud give
1t; he said perhaps he could get 1t, ana asked how
much would give for II; said would be WILL
ing to pay $500 for 1t. as l was left In
q very bad fix; was lying idle, unable to do any.
thing, until / got the certificate; lie accepted my
proposition, and gave him a check Tor $1,000.
Witness here exhibited checks, together with check
books and stubs to checks. That was all paid;
this $1,000 was paid to get the certificate OF the
report.
Question by Mr.. Tobey-For what reason did you
pay this money to Goodsell ?
MIR. Miller did not the pertinency Of the CUES.
ton. we are TO go into reasons for acts we can
get no end TO evidence OF that character. Witness
answered that his reason for paying this
amount was that his business was at standstill,
aud Goodsell assured him he could get the report;
paid the money alter the report was handed ~ me
by SoutIwick; mad not made any special effort to
/ must not suppose dollar was TO go to
Miier; It was 10 pay for trouble he tGoodsen
would be to; do not know but could get the report
at less price; did not think II was actually neces
sary to pay this sum TO Goodsell; paid the money
OF the company has not yet approved OF the
transaction; knew Goodsell and Miller were
intimate terms; Mr.. GoO1sel asked me to subscribe
to o fund to carry forward what was known as
THE MILLER LIFE INSURANCE BILL
before the LEGISLATURE iast year. declined, as mine
Insurance Department can injure company by de-
talning report after examination Is made; sucn
Witness was cross-exsmlned by Mr.. Miller Re.
ceived only one certincate; endeavored 70 get
another more favorable certificate; sent oui coan-
sci, VINO was personal friend OF yours, to get au
other; you stated to me tnat circum.
stances rendered IL doubtful whether you would
told ne you could no! S!ve me another
AID bsiter tefiifcs:e have no knowledge v; Iy2gr
ever receiving any OF that MONEY; the exahihaiioi
ultimately resulted in GOOD to our eompanyi you
never approached me In any manner coacef1ing
TINS matter. witness here explained why ne mad
been absent IRON the meetings OF the committee.
He had met with an accident ana MS physician
said he renamed In this climate and In the midst
OF excitement az inc peril OF MS NE; he therefore,
perfectly satisfied with the explanation.
MI Miller here submitted 10 witness report
made In the case oil MS company, and took occasion
to say that he would OBJECT 10 Mr.. Barnes seeing 1t
COUNSEL FOR RIVAL COMPANY
He then proceeded TO speak OF the great damage
tnat could be done q company ana through the
company The public, by the dlvulgment OF ITS
secrets. Where public ofilcer ought to know all
use or them, an agent OF q rival company could
make q bad ana improper use or them.
The examination showed that there were second
mortgages offered, and witness explained that
tney were abundaDtly secured.
Witness continued:--I told Mr.. G0odse would
not pay cent to the department for ceruncate; l
paid the money only for the examiners services.
Witness examination mere closed.
Mr. Miller then read the certificate which ne had
granted, and also one written BY AIR. Fisher and
sought 10 be Obtained, but witch was not granted.
The latter endorsed tue honesty well the aDiity
or the management oil the Company. Mr.. Miller said,
In conclusion, that 81 500 procured sucn cerlln.
cate from the Insurance department Whine In his
Cnargc
Mr. Barnes made issue "a to these documents
being kept secret They were all pubic property,
open TO public examination.
MI. Mr. Miller In response proposed TO read the law,
which leaves 1t at the discretion OF the Superin-
,emdant whether he Will publish reports or not.
anc chairman Of the committee thought 1t I'M
Mr.. Miller then spoke at length and with much
""'"''" Vi Tue investigation aud denounced those