The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-22
MR. MURPnY TO MR. OLCOTE
Explaining why he Thinks he should be raid
sO,sOO Instead of S72O.

ALBANY, March 21.-Scnator Thomas Muir
ply will soon publish n letter in answer to
Comptroller 0lcott'e. printed exclusively in
THE Sun OF to-day The Comptrollers COM
munication explained that Murphy. as ngcnt
for the Insurance Department. appraised prop
erty for the Manhattan Insurance Company.
and charged $500 for his services In so doing.
This bill was audited by the President Of tho
company and by Insurance Superintendent
John f. Smyth. Whom II reached the Comp
troller however, he caused investigation to be
mode. which resulted in the changing OF tho
sum from 90 800 to t720. Tho Comptrollers
comments upon the charges made by Murphy
are very scathinR.
The Senator says that the COMPTROLLER. In re-
ducing his bill. has done him great injustice. as
will be shown. why" said the Senator this
evening, my bill for carrago hire while ex-
Amining property for tho Manhattan Life Com
pany amounted to 800. This property was
scattered all over Long Island. Staten Island.
and Manhattan Island. and In tho six weeks
was in the work had to use two teams almost
cvcry day. The examinations made wcro in
every instance thorough. ana was frequently
engaged until n late hour nights. with clerk.
~ n "Tltng out the results OF my searching in
. SEQ tho Comptroller compares your bill in
tins cnsO with ono you rendeted for Hppraising
property for tho homeopathic Life Insurance
modcrate How about that2"
., IN the caso OF the Homeopathic Life" re-
piled the senator. the mortgages were upon
sInull nul uinEs or plots running ~ amount
from tl 400 TO SjOO0 and IL was only little work
To- appra,,sss t9g value Of !he prop'rly. In the
some OF the mortgages We're for amounts rang
Ing from si0o 900 10 1850 900. and covered build
ihgs ana property which took whole days to
thoroughly examine and apprais". Any ma n
VINO f. accustomed to apprais NJ real estate will
readily see the difference In the two casscs."
WY wis not your bill paid tho 3
similar bills had beon. without the audit OF the
% After had done tho work called at tho
onicc Of tho company and they asked me what
my Pill wns. told them that for years bad
rather OF paying bills. That / did not know
ANYTHING as TO what thcv had been accustomed
10 pay Tor similar work. and that while did
not wish 10 do them any injustice. neither
could then AFFORD TO be unjust to myself, as
company to mako out the bill themselves at
what they cons sdered would he fair compensa-
ton, aud had no doubt that should be salts
items OF the service rendered by me and then
showing the bill to me asked whether was
satisfied, ltold them that ! WAS. and should
have been had it been less The
resident J., ,,i en- Of the company then certified
surance Department for the approvnl OF Mr.
Smyth. Before attempting TO draw the money
upon It. which aitempt did not make for over
company and my own was called by Deputy
Superintendent, Mccall TO the fact that Il was
bill before II was paid Conscious that my
claim was Just ono. did not object nor would
] II could. But the fact il am victim OF the
political ileht that is going on between the Su.
perintendcnt Of the lnsur nee Department and
certain Democratic officials, Here Is my bill
made out 10y the officers OF the company them
selves. and the payment OF which has been
urged upon tho Comptroller by Democratic
Senators and other conspicuous Democratic
officials, as we'll as the officers OF the company.
and which know and can and will demon
strate was fair one cut down from 80 500 TO
500. and done. Rs | believe. & punish some one
else aud not me-. II was as well situated As
was few years ago | would not care SO much
about H. but need the money.
But that Is not the worst of H." the Senator
continued as tho tears wc.lcd up into his eyes.
The letter OF the Comptroller touches me in
yery tender part have been unfortunate. but
bcIcye have always maintained the rrputa-
ton Of being an honorable man. II what the
Comptrollcg asserts is true. thsr ! rIus, forget
that, and ! will not yiold up tunf reputation
without struggle. ask the puh'i" 90 Su-pcn
Judgment uufii ! cHa grt MI t.c ultt. 10. tai-
matter into proper shape. IN 'n wal ''ly my
aid" OF the story before tlem. Uli th.s can
lui i-c wariher merit the treatment Wil.h the
comptroller in what believe 20 Dee Dis J. .url
. .ul has given me-.