The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-17

eurance Department Of the State reassembled at
the rooms OF the Fire Under writers yesterday, a.
ten A. NJ. The evidence gwen yesterday WILL be
found below in q condensed form. The chairman,
Mr.. T0bey, who IN the past has been somewhat
lat sea-" yesterday struck the keynote of the
inquiry, IN the exanna. ION OF Mr. Crawford, Of the
Westminster County Insurance Company, from
whom ne elicited the fact that ne, as insurance
0f1cer. did not know that all fees for Examinations
OF companies should be paid INTO the Insurance
Department OF the State instead OF 10 individual
cxamlners-this after Crawford mad sworn that the
treasurer OF his company had informed him That
the fee for examination-$50o- been paid by
eneck to Miller's ORDER IL Is due to Mr.. Superin-
vendent Miller TO state that alter the adjournment
Of the committee ne declared most positively 10 the
HERALD reporter Mr. George 4. Hope ana another
gentleman that II ans check bearing his name was
paid by the company mis- endorsement was a
forgery. 1t is probable that Mr.. Miller Will be able
TO verify his declaration before the close Of the In
Quiry ana the evidence Of the treasurer, who paid
the cneck, VIII be looked for with interest.
THE EVIDENCE. ~
The nrst witness called was Mr.. Ecclesine, who
had previously testified; was cross-examined at
length In regard t. certain articles published by HIM
In mis- Insurance Journal. In answer 10 the char.
man ne said that superintendent OF insurance has
power to harass and annoy even solvent companies,
II ne il willing 10 run the risk OF doing so; the
simple fact that life insurance company Is under
examination Is used TO its disadvantage by the
agents OF rival companies; during the superlntend-
ency OF Mr. Barnes. tho witness, IN company with
otner persons, was thrice appointed TO examine
companies at the Tine ol taelr formation: ia two
Instances each Of the commissioners was paid 500,
Wilnam r. MaitOy' Secretary Of the Corn Elk.
change Insurance Company, testified ms company
was examined IN October, 1870. by MI. Southwick;
the EXAMINATION occupied parJ Of one day, ana tine
charge was $3.50; the company was again examined
by Mr.. Miller aiJer the chicago tre, and the same
sum was paid TO him; the capital Of the company
was AZ TINS time reduced. On crosscxaminatiOn
by Mr. Miller, the witness testiied that he under:
stood Mr.. Miller was requested by tine President Of
me company 10 make the second examination,
but did not positively know so; he had no personal
It, except that LIE drew o cheek for him ny the
direction Of the presidents he did not know how
nor now many hours ne Was there each day in
regard to the first examination the Witness SAID
,hat Mr. SoatnwcR aa NOT an ne ASSETS 2.
witness and asked some Questions IN regard 20 IL;
he was NOT positive that Mr.. Southwick was there
only one day; the value OF some or the assets was
periouslv questioned. and ~ the second examina-
Won thirty or forty thousand dollars worth was
struck out by MI Miller ON the admission OF the
D. Il. Buod, formerly assistant secretary Of the
Hercules Mutual Life Insurance Company, testified
that ms company was examined by Mr. Miller and
Mr.. Eldrldge IN February, 1870; the examination
ne charge was made.fo it, but the company gave
NJ: Eldrldge gratuity OF 500 ana supper at
company was unrav0rape, the assets were
pideraDly cut down by 1t; the examination was
made al the request Of the company, and the sum
paid Mr.. Eldridge was charged on The company's
books to law expenses; the company mad been mucn
they were elated That It's condition aid not prove
oven worse than the report showed; however the
witness did not suppose that Mr.. SUutnwick would
perform his services Tor nOthia9.
william X. Wadsworth, secretary Of the Firemen's
Rany was examined by Messrs. Briggs and South
wick, IN July, 1870; the examination occupied but
or the company denurrea to the charge as excess
I'VE, referring the ulatter to counsel, aad CORE.
Mr.. Miller; the company finally compromised by
paying $500. although thus was consldered too large
for the work performed; the examination was not
made at the company request.
ON crOss.exalnnatf0n by MIR. Miller, the witness
said he had never heard any conversation between
Mr. Miller ana any other person IN regard to the
charge OF the Commissioners. he believed that the
With nin, nut did not positively know II; the CAPT
tAl OF his company at the time Oh the examination
William saser. formerly Secretary 81 the Home
Insurance Company. OF Columbus, testified that
bis company naa been examined ds oy the insurance
by Mr.. Sickles, who charged $500 Tor about days
services: Mr. sickIes fixed the charge himself say
ing that as only one company was examined ia
shat place, he considered 1t out reasonable compen-
patton; the witness considered me charge too nigh;
u was higher than that Of the Massachusetts Conn.,
missioner; Mr.. Sicklos gave MIN q card when he
Arst came which induced the witness TO believe
that he was a business partner Of Nj. Miller. On
Cr0ss-examinanon by Mr. Miller the witness SAID he
had conversed on the SUBJECT Of ms testimony with
Charles ", STANDARD. President Of the Brewers
ana Masters Insurance Company, testlled that his
company examined when II first started by
4essrs. Tappan Soutnwick ana Edridge; the ex-
emIners were paid 500 apiece; the witness
stood IT TO be The customary fee. The wit
pess testified IN regard TO claim made on fire
lnsurante companies Tor which he was agent by
two women named Miner, VINO were believed to
have 0vcrstated their loss; Mr.. Briggs called on the
witness TO ask why the claim Was not paid; ne
made no threats OF any kim; man named Miller,
VINO was relative OF the women making the claim,
came to the witness and SAID he was a relative OF
the Insurance superintendent; he threatened that
the companies should be examined every week II
atiached no Importance to ms words; no threats
were ever made TO him by the superintendent.
P,remen's FUND Company, testified That Mr. Miller
CALLED upon him to ask nus objections TO the charge
considered the charge Of 500 exorDitant; Mr.. Miller
oppressed 40 opinion on the amount OF tue blll.
Fund Company iesiincd thai 6e wro,e 10 Mr.. Miller
IN regard 10 the charge for the examination OF the
WHICH, me Charge was reply Mr. wroe
that the law ON the subject was very indefinite, but
e6srse he would SEQ That justice was done; the
amount finally paid was $500.
: J. h. Ecclesinc was recalled ana cross. examined
BY Mr.. Miller. lie iesliaed In regard TO some exam
nations Of COMPANIES py superintendent Barnes,
his actual expenses; he had no personal knowledge
that Mr.. Miller ever asked for anything more.
Resde FIRE WHICH w a. ; ex
emined BY the deputy VI Mr.. barnes IN 1868 ana ny
Mr.. Mrler's department. IN November last; the first
WOOdivrd and the last by Miller and Southwick;
the drst examination Dy woOdIord cost Us s25. and
occupied about an hour, the examination by
We paid for II $3.50; whlio Miller was retiring
asked him how much we were 20 pay, ana ne
answered, "Oh, we won't be exlravagani;n he left
It TO Southwick, who wanted $3.50, and we paid u
70 him; we had an impairment Of stock on account
81 the Chicago Dire and the examination was made
At our request; had heard that the practice was 70
pay about this sum- the bill was Tor services and
Expenses our capital was $500 900, our impairment
1fty per cent; Southwick cid not speak Of dividing
with Miller.
To Mr.. Miller-There was no charge made By you;