New-York tribune., 1878-02-21
LBANY y.
SUPERINTENDENT sMYIH ARRAIGYED.

CONTROLLER OLCoTI'S REPORT IN RESPONSE 10 THE
ASSEMBLY observation-disclosures OF MAIFFAs-
AECE AND VIOLATION or THE oAiH OF Optic L
PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR.
IPRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
ALBANY, Feb. 20.-C0ntroller Oicott sent
reply to-day TO the request OF the Assembly, mnde
February T. that he should what bills Of Tie In
suranee Department had been audited by him. and also
whether bills for the examination Of severl insur
ancc companies had passed through bis hands IL was
well known at the time OF lis being made that this
pareutly innOce.t request intended TO give
an opportunity 10 tho Controller, Democrat,
20 strike blow at Superintendent smytb, Of
the Insurance Department, Republican There
had been a technical violation OF the law
respecting the auditing the bills OF the
this Mr.. smyth at frankly acknowledged, but
showed that ne had the authority OF Judge OF the
Supreme Court OF Attorney General and Of eminent
counsel action aud fur hcrmOTe, that the het
interests Of tho State demanded sueh extensive
animation OF the insurance companies the law hc
| disregarded did not permit him to make Mr.. Olcott
might have obtained the bulk OF the information he
asked 10 get from the Insurance Department Offices,
which are situated below stains in the same building
the Controllers Department Offices he chose rather to
send a circular the companies named in the
Assembly, resolution Informing them Of his quest Mr.
smyth at once prepared, from the complete records
kept in his department Of all examiners bills
audited by him, statement showing every bill that the
companies had paid since he entered upon the
administration OF the Office This statement was made
public and 1t did not disclose any immoral act what
ever the public have naturally thought that MI Olcots
statement would confirm the rumors iDdustriously
spread by Smyths political enemies that the Insur
ance Department had been very corruptly managed
But the statement sent TO the Legislature by the Con-
trOller to-day does not contain any revelation OF wick
edness II is in the merely repetition OF Mr.
smyths own statement made last Friday, and its only
charge is that technical dsobedience to law II
tains what Mr.. smyths did not, statement Of the bills
audited by the Controller and paid to clerks Of the
Insurance Department itself for examining insurance
companies amounting TO only S6,267 90 This was not
even a technical violation Of the law being, indeed in
strict compliance with It,
The Controller after elabOratey detailing these small
bills audited by him, makes a more condensed statement
of the bills not audited by him. but certified to by the
Insurance Department As stated above, full account
Of this last class Of bills given In all the papers OF
the State nearly week ago The Controller closes mis-
report with these words
deem it only respectful to your honorable body TO
say that regard the presentation aud collection OF
these bills Without my audit as wilfu invasion Of the
functions OF Office believe NATL would do less than
y s swo5n m Gy Rare nerefore rransSied
to the Governor duplicate OF ms communication ana
have based upon its facts charges of 0nical allcas-
against JOhn f. smyi. tue superintendent OF the
Insurance Department and have requested the Govern
take such action III the premises as III Ills Judg
ment may seem legal ana proper.
The Democrat Governor Will unquestonably resent
this terrible "Invason by Republican superintendent
OF Democratic Controllers preserves by sending in the
above charges The charges may be and probably will
he sent TO the Senate The Senate viii then
have TO decide whether not the charges Of such
beuous nature as to require trial OF the accused
Superintendent.
The Controller in his report gives n detailed list Of the
bills audited By him. and paid for the examination Of in
surance companies Following is summary of the
amounts paid to invvidual examiners of insurance
companies from January l. 1877 to February o, 1878,
inclusive: